In Preaching Articles: "Preaching Challenges"

The Final Piece Of Sermon Prep: What To Cut, What To Add

By Peter Mead on Aug 22, 2025

Rookie preachers wonder how they will fill the time. Experienced preachers know the real challenge is in what to leave out.

Scripture: Exodus 6:1-9

Tags: preaching, Sermon prep, Preaching, Balance, information, sermon prep, selective, Sermon Prep  (view more)  (view less)

5 Mistakes More Likely To Be Made By Small Churches Than Big Churches

By Karl Vaters on May 26, 2022

Different sizes of churches serve different functions. And they face different challenges.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: strategy, Small Church, Equipping The Body, Traditions of Men

Do We Owe Every Wedding Ceremony A Fresh Sermon?

By Nathan Aaseng on Jun 5, 2023

The challenge is to make the wedding couple feel that the homily is not just a canned one, pulled out of the file and dusted off for the 35th time.

Tags: Preaching, preaching, Wedding, Fresh

Why Successful Churches Aren’t Turning The World Upside-Down – But The Outcasts Might

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 31, 2023

Jesus was the most culture-challenging, paradigm-shifting, tradition-breaking, change agent who ever lived.

Tags: leadership, Small Church, church in society, prophetic voice, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Kind Of Old-Time Religion The Church Really Needs

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 12, 2022

I often wonder what the church would look like if it really accepted the challenge to love everybody.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Love, Outreach, Religion, Generations

3 Ways Great Leaders Handle Tough Circumstances Differently

By Carey Nieuwhof on Dec 8, 2023

If you want to imitate the great leaders when you face challenging situations, do these three things.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:11, Psalm 62:5, Philippians 3:12

Tags: Tough Circumstances, Mindset, Leadership, leadership, success, Obstacles, opposition, pastoral leadership, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Your Struggling Church Can Turn Around Today – But Greatness Takes Time

By Karl Vaters on Aug 23, 2023

If you’re pastoring a church that has or is turning around, here's some great news - and possibly your greatest challenge.

Scripture: Revelation 21:5

Tags: leadership, renewal, patience, Church Health, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Success Is Never About Defeating The Giants

By Brandon Cox on Nov 27, 2023

Success isn’t about beating giants. It’s about building a life that grows through trials and challenges.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:34-37

Tags: Facing Giants, church ministry, success, goals, achievement, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, success in ministry  (view more)  (view less)

4 Ways Pastors Can Refill Their Depleted Souls

By Charles Stone on Apr 21, 2022

Although we intuitively understand how to refuel ourselves, we often don’t do it. He challenged us to ask why we don’t.

Scripture: Mark 1:35-39

Tags: relationships, Rest, soul care, intimacy with Christ

How To Tell If A New Volunteer Is Truly A Leader (Or Simply A Doer)

By Carey Nieuwhof on May 10, 2024

"I recently surveyed 1400 small and mid-sized church pastors to find out what they struggle with most as their church grows. They overwhelmingly identified developing leaders as their top challenge."

Tags: Leadership, Volunteer, church ministry, obstacles to growth, Barriers to Growth, Growing a Church, Leaders vs Doers, leadership, Church Growth  (view more)  (view less)

You Are Up To The Task Whether You Feel Like It Or Not

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 18, 2022

Deep in the heart of every man I’ve ever met lurks a daunting question that casts a shadow over every major challenge we ever face: Am I up to this?

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14, Philippians 1:6

Tags: leadership, Courage, Overwhelmed, confidence in God, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Preaching The Story Is Powerful Preaching

By Peter Mead on Apr 11, 2025

Frequently, God felt that having the truth clothed in the genre of story was the best option.

Scripture: John 12:21-34

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Preach The Way The Bible Preaches--Tell Stories!

By Ray Hollenbach on Nov 12, 2024

Those of us who feed God's flock must become God's storytellers. Here's the journey we must take.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-9, Exodus 17:8-16

Tags: storytelling, preaching, Parable, Preaching, narrative  (view more)  (view less)

Is Preaching Overrated?

By Charles Kiser on Jul 4, 2020

Preaching matters, but when it becomes the primary engine of discipleship, it may carry a weight it was never meant to bear.

Scripture: Acts 2:1-37, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 10:39, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Ephesians 4:11-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, church planting, spiritual formation, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership, Spiritual Formation, Church Planting  (view more)  (view less)

The Arrogance Of Preaching

By Kenton C. Anderson on Jan 20, 2025

Preaching appears arrogant to people overwhelmed by the limitations of their perspective. Perspective becomes an asset as the preacher bears witness to God in the flesh.

Scripture: Leviticus 5:2-6

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, pastor, Pride, Arrogance, Pastor, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)