In Preaching Articles: "Preaching On Suffering"

7 Popular Sermon Stories That Aren’t Actually True

By Trevin Wax on Feb 5, 2025

Pastors often repeat memorable illustrations that sound helpful but aren’t historically accurate. Here are seven common sermon legends worth retiring for the sake of truth.

Scripture: Mark 10:25

Tags: Preaching, Integrity, false teaching, urban legend, Illustrations, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Francis Chan: We Need To Think Biblically

By Francis Chan on Mar 9, 2025

Francis Chan says that his life is not radical compared to the lives in the Book of Acts.

Tags: Commitment, Preaching, action, radical, weird, Bible Influence, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

8 Ways To Make Your Church More Accessible

By Rod Arnold on Mar 13, 2025

Learn eight practical, authentic ways to connect your church with your community, clarify your identity, and turn everyday members into bold inviters.

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16, Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Peter 3:15, 1 Corinthians 9:22, Acts 1:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Forgiveness, Church, Compassion, Preaching, preaching, church, love  (view more)  (view less)

5 Right And Wrong Ways To Deal With Criticism

By Ron Edmondson on Mar 20, 2025

Criticism is inevitable in leadership. Here are five wrong responses to avoid and five wise practices that help leaders learn, grow, and steward feedback well.

Scripture: Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 19:20, James 1:19, Ecclesiastes 7:5

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Criticism, Confidence, evaluation, criticism, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

4 Reasons Why You Should Share The Pulpit

By Kevin Larson on Aug 15, 2024

Sharing the pulpit strengthens the church, protects the pastor, and equips future leaders. Fear and pride keep pastors from doing it, but the cost is too high to ignore.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:12, 1 Timothy 5:17, 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Equip, training, Pastoral Ministry, preaching, Pulpit  (view more)  (view less)

Are You An Itinerant Pastor?

By Nathan Rouse on Sep 25, 2020

This addiction to "new" is breaking churches and ruining the credibility of those who minister in the pulpit. We need pastors who won't leave; we need pastors who will cleave.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Timothy 4:5, Hebrews 13:17, Galatians 6:9, Philippians 2:3-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Itinerant, Attrition, Pastoral Ministry, preaching, Pulpit  (view more)  (view less)

Why Your Sermon Lost Me: Five Reasons People Check Out

By Patrick Holden on Sep 2, 2020

Five common communication mistakes that cause audiences to disengage and how preachers can keep listeners attentive and responsive.

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-8, Ecclesiastes 12:10, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 4:2, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Leadership, Sermon Preparation, preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

3 Reasons Pastors Don't Connect With Millennials

By Tyler Braun on Sep 9, 2020

Millennial faith is declining, but blame is not the answer. Real change begins with relationships, honesty about doubt, and personal engagement.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Matthew 11:3, Mark 3:14, John 13:35, Jude 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Youth, Preaching, Relevant, church culture, preaching, Church Culture  (view more)  (view less)

Ed Stetzer: no Word, No Kingdom

By Ed Stetzer on Jul 14, 2021

Jesus’ parable of the sower reveals that the kingdom of God begins not with strategy but with seed. The Word alone produces lasting fruit.

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-8, Matthew 13:19, 1 Peter 1:23, James 1:21, 1 Peter 2:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, the word, seed, Parables of Jesus, preaching, Parables Of Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

3 Spiritual Lessons From Jonathan Edwards

By Kyle Strobel on Jun 6, 2025

If they were important to Jonathan Edwards, they should be important to you!

Tags: Preaching, practice, carnal vs spiritual, jonathan edwards, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Tim Keller: The Theology Of Revival

By Tim Keller on Feb 5, 2024

Dig deep with this full-length session from The Gospel Coalition's 2013 conference.

Tags: Preaching, revival, Theology, tim keller, preaching, Tim Keller  (view more)  (view less)

Why Bible Reading Is Down At Your Church

By Peter Mead on Jul 10, 2025

The most recent research presents troubling results. How does your church measure up?

Tags: Bible, Study, Preaching, Isolation, fragment, e, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

Practical Advice To Preachers And Writers From C S Lewis

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 23, 2025

Whether you are a preacher or an aspiring writer, master communicator C.S. Lewis has some suggestions for you.

Tags: Preaching, CS Lewis, Preacher, writing, writer, preaching, preacher  (view more)  (view less)

Jokes In A Sermon: Six Checkpoints For Every Preacher

By Nicholas Mcdonald on Aug 18, 2021

It may seem like the perfect way to lighten up a sermon, but perhaps you should run it through this helpful checklist.

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:3-4, Luke 8:22-25

Tags: Preaching, Good News, Appropriate, joke, joking, insensitive, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Does Your Church Have A Negative Reputation? You Can Reverse It

By Ron Edmondson on Feb 5, 2023

"Not that I seek the approval of man, but I wanted to be part of a church that would truly make a difference in our community, so much so that if we were gone, people would miss us."

Tags: Church, Preaching, negative, reputation, ron edmondson, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)