In Preaching Articles: "Putting Christ First"

Why Preaching Must Be God-Centered

By Bernie Van Eyk on May 25, 2021

Many sermons focus on human needs rather than God’s glory. Scripture calls preachers to proclaim the greatness of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, John 1:18, 1 Corinthians 2:2, Acts 20:27, Psalm 73:25-26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: God, Preaching, focus, Center, biblical theology, preaching, Biblical Theology  (view more)  (view less)

11 Mistakes That Take Your Preaching Focus Off Jesus

By Jared Moore on May 7, 2023

God-centered preaching helps hearers focus on the glory of God. These common preaching mistakes distract from Scripture and keep listeners from seeing Christ.

Scripture: Luke 24:27, John 5:39, Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 4:2, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: mistakes, focus, preaching, God centered, God Centered, Jesus, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Not Every Exhortation Is Necessary

By Peter Mead on May 8, 2024

It is important to discern when an exhortation needs to be given, and when the listener is already aware of their need for growth and working hard by faith to become more like Christ.

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, exhortation, Preaching Help, effective preaching, Effective Teaching, Know your audience, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Backyard Bbq Evangelism: A New, True Parable Of Outside-The-Church-Walls Ministry

By Karl Vaters on Sep 28, 2022

"Don't force people to do ministry your way. Help them with the ministry they're already passionate about."

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Spiritual Gifts, Body of Christ, Innovation, evangelism barriers, reaching the lost, evangelism planning, Conversational Evangelism, Unique Gifts, evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Dallas Willard: Preaching From A Satisfied Soul

By Dallas Willard on Apr 17, 2020

True preaching flows from deep satisfaction in Christ. When pastors rest in God, their message carries peace, power, and authenticity that programs can’t produce.

Scripture: Psalm 16:11, John 7:37-38, Philippians 4:11-13, Psalm 62:1-2, Jeremiah 2:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Peace, Preaching, Satisfaction, soul care, preaching, Soul Care  (view more)  (view less)

When The Applause Becomes A Drug

By Brady Boyd on Apr 19, 2020

Pastors face pressures that tempt them toward unhealthy escapes. One subtle danger is the craving for applause. True strength comes only from Christ, not the crowd.

Scripture: Galatians 1:10, John 3:30, 1 Peter 5:2-4, Psalm 73:26, 2 Corinthians 12:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Cross, Crowd, Leadership, preaching, Addiction  (view more)  (view less)

Powerful Preaching Means Transformation, Not Information

By James Scott on Jul 12, 2020

Being informed by Scripture can still leave lives unchanged. Biblical Christianity calls for Christ to be formed within us, producing real transformation, not mere knowledge.

Scripture: Galatians 4:19, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 1:27, James 1:22-25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: preaching, Pastoral Theology, Preaching, Transformation

3 Ingredients To Super Productive Sermon Writing

By Brandon Kelley on Jan 27, 2021

You have a ton of things to do every week. Wouldn’t it be great to have some super productive sermon writing time so you could put more time toward leading your church into the future? Sermon writing can be overwhelming when you have other major projects to worry about. But don’t worry anymore! There’s a way to get more productive in less time.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

7 Marks Of Great Preaching

By David J. Lose on Feb 3, 2025

Great preaching is more than speaking well—it engages Scripture, proclaims Christ, connects to real life, inspires imagination, and sends God’s people into the world.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2

Tags: Preaching, Prayer, BIBLE STUDY, father's will, Bible Study, Pastoral Ministry, Biblical Preaching, Gospel Proclamation, Effective Communication, gospel proclamation, biblical preaching, Sermon Preparation, bible study, preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

A Preaching Q&a With David Platt

By David Platt on Feb 14, 2025

David Platt explains how Scripture governs his preaching, preparation, and pastoral priorities, emphasizing clarity, Christ-centered exposition, and total dependence on God’s Word.

Tags: Biblical Teaching, David Platt, Learning, BIBLICAL TEACHING, Expository Preaching, Sermon Preparation, expository preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

10 Things Every New Believer Should Know

By Brian Mavis on Mar 6, 2025

New believers thrive when they learn God’s love, grace, Scripture, prayer, community, and Christ centered living early. These ten lessons safeguard a healthy start.

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, James 4:10, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:16, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship, spiritual formation, Spiritual Formation

Preaching A Wedding: The Practical Do's And Don'ts

By Jared Moore on Mar 23, 2025

Preaching weddings brings unique pressures and expectations. These clear do’s and don’ts help pastors keep Christ central, avoid distractions, and communicate the gospel well.

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-32, Proverbs 3:5-6, Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Matthew 19:4-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: preaching, love, Death, Love, Commitment, Preaching, forever, Weddings  (view more)  (view less)

When The Pastor Feels Unappreciated

By Chris Surber on Apr 25, 2025

Pastors who feel unseen must anchor their identity in Christ, practice wise self-care, and teach their churches about mutual care without sounding self-serving.

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Timothy 5:17, Acts 16:33, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 13:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: encouragement, Encouragement

Niceness Is Not The Gospel

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 30, 2024

Faithful Christians pursue kindness and humility, yet the gospel itself will offend some people. Disciples must be willing to face rejection rather than dilute the message of Christ.

Scripture: Mark 13:13, John 15:18, 2 Timothy 3:12, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: evangelism, gospel, preaching, Evangelism, Persecution, Gospel, Preaching, hate  (view more)  (view less)

9 Things We Can All Learn From Billy Graham's Preaching

By Dennis Phelps on Jul 2, 2021

Billy Graham’s global impact came through simple, Christ-centered preaching. His approach offers practical lessons on clarity, authority, integrity, and reliance on Scripture.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, John 3:16, Romans 10:17, 1 Corinthians 2:2, John 14:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: preaching, Holy Spirit, Preaching, prepare, Billy Graham  (view more)  (view less)