In Preaching Articles: "Putting Christ First"

Gospel-Centered Sermons Actually Work

By Jeff Medders on Nov 16, 2022

"I want to encourage every pastor reading this to keep preaching the gospel. Week in. Week out. Keep exalting, heralding, and lifting up our crucified Savior, risen from the dead, reigning in Heaven, saving all who will look to him and believe."

Scripture: Romans 16:25, Colossians 1:28, 1 Corinthians 2:2

Tags: Gospel, Preaching, teach, pastoral leadership, Entrust with Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, preaching Christ, power of the gospel, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

God’s Revealed Truth Is Something We Discover, Not Invent

By Randy Alcorn on Jun 29, 2024

“Truth is truth even if no one believes it; a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.”

Scripture: John 10:27

Tags: Lies, Jesus the truth, Know the Truth, Biblical truth, study bible, Abide in Christ, guard the truth, Applying Truth  (view more)  (view less)

The Greatest Gift You Give Your Team- Part 1

By Lance Witt on Jul 11, 2024

This week work at paying attention to your soul. Listen to your emotions. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what is going on beneath the surface of all your “doing”.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1, John 16:32, John 16:32

Tags: Approval, Growth in Christ, pastoral leadership, God's Approval, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care, personal holiness  (view more)  (view less)

Are You Giving Everyone A Big Church Welcome?

By John Gilman Ii on Jun 19, 2023

A proper welcome needs to have more than just a greeting. Churches need to create welcome pathways that guide people into more familiarity, connection, and relationship with the church. Creating a positive and effective welcoming strategy has never been more important. There is still time to put a great welcome process in place. Here are six tips to get you started in the right direction.

Scripture: Genesis 1:25-30

Tags: Visitors

10 Preaching Questions With Ray Ortlund Jr.

By Colin Adams on Feb 22, 2025

Ray Ortlund reflects on preaching’s centrality, the weight of the pulpit, and the spiritual realities that shape a faithful, believable, Christ-exalting ministry.

Scripture: Romans 10:14

Tags: Homiletics

Preach A Crisp, Clear Gospel Message

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Feb 26, 2025

Larry Moyer: "For me, it all starts by communicating ten words: 'Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.'"

Tags: Evangelism, Salvation, Gospel, Preaching, Lost, evangelism, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What You’ll Never Hear About Preaching In Seminary

By Mark A. Howell on Sep 24, 2024

Ten pastoral reminders on suffering, study, pride, family, and faithfulness to help ministers endure and honor Christ in long-term ministry.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-17, 1 Timothy 4:6-8, Psalm 19:7, Hebrews 4:13, 1 Timothy 3:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Spiritual Discipline, preaching

Preaching Is More Than Telling The Truth

By Peter Mead on Mar 19, 2024

Effective preaching is not about clever outlines but about proclaiming Christ, explaining Scripture faithfully, and leading hearers toward understanding and transformation.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 17:11, 1 Corinthians 1:23, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Truth, Preaching, memory, Outline, Homiletics, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Preach Like A Pharisee?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 28, 2024

Pharisaical preaching burdens people with opinions, moralism, and guilt while starving them of grace. The pulpit must reflect Christ, not control.

Scripture: Matthew 23:4, Matthew 23:5, Titus 2:11-12, Galatians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 4:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Preaching, guilt, spiritual leadership, grace, preaching, Spiritual Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Is Your Preaching Stained With Blood?

By Russell Moore on May 29, 2025

Modern Christianity often avoids speaking about the blood of Christ, yet Scripture places the blood of Jesus at the very center of redemption.

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 26:28, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 9:22, Revelation 5:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Atonement, Worship, blood, Preaching, teach, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

8 Marks Of A Truly Transformed Christian Life

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 3, 2021

A transformed life is not self-made holiness but Christ formed in believers. Romans 12 reveals eight visible marks of spiritual transformation.

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Galatians 2:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: justification, Transformation, Justification

Relational Leadership Part 1

By Lance Witt on Nov 6, 2023

What is the key to relational leadership?

Scripture: Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 1:22, Romans 12:10, 1 John 4:21, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews 10:24, Colossians 3:14, 1 John 3:14, John 13:34-35, Matthew 22:37-39  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, relationships, Ministry Work, pastoral leadership, relational leaders, church leadership, Transactional, Transformational, Leading Like Christ, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Those Frustrating Times With Church Members

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 14, 2023

"Any pastor can tell you about it. Even when you do your best to serve God by ministering to His people, some church members are not going to forgive you. You didn’t do it their way, weren’t there when they called, didn’t jump at their bark." So how do you handle these kinds of situations?

Tags: conflict, pastoral leadership, church membership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, ministry struggles, Difficult People, Love like Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Shepherd God’s Flock: Equipping God’s People

By Chris Pascarella on Nov 7, 2022

"According to Scripture, pastors are called to equip the flock to do the work of ministry!"

Scripture: Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: Called to serve, be the church, Church Body of Christ, pastoral leadership, equipped for service, Equipping Disciples, Equipping The Body, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Heads Up, Eyes Open, Everyone Looking Around Weekend Invitations

By Dean Hawk on Aug 3, 2023

I’m curious. When and where did ministers first begin asking people to bow their heads, close their eyes, and secretly raise their hand in a church service if they wanted to accept Jesus? Why do we feel like we need to sneak people into heaven?

Tags: Salvation, gospel invitation, Empowered churches