In Preaching Articles: "Putting Christ First"

Do You Pay Attention To God's Voice While You're Preaching?

By Mark Moore on Feb 1, 2024

Faithful preaching requires careful preparation, but it also requires attentiveness to Christ’s presence. Sometimes the most powerful moment in a sermon is stepping aside.

Scripture: Mark 6:34, John 10:11, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 2 Timothy 4:2, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Spiritual Leadership, God, Preaching, voice, spiritual leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

We Need A Clearer Vision Of Our Multi-Colored World

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 15, 2021

There is still plenty of racial tension remaining, fifty years after the signing of the Acts designed to put an end to it in America. As a matter of fact, ethnic tension exists almost universally around our planet. It’s not exclusively an American problem.

Tags: Sin, Divisions, racism, racial tensions

Why Faith Often Lives In The Tension

By Jonathan Martin on May 17, 2021

The Bible presents a world filled with complexity, flawed people, and unresolved tensions. Learning to live faithfully within that tension can deepen our understanding of God’s grace.

Scripture: Psalm 103:10-14, Romans 5:8, John 8:10-11, Hebrews 4:15-16, 2 Corinthians 12:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Living, Grace, Jesus Christ, Certain, ambiguity, christian living, grace  (view more)  (view less)

Your Weakness Is Not Meaningless

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 16, 2020

God has given you so many limitations because he loves you.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4, John 15:13, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:19, Ephesians 3:19, Luke 7:47, 1 John 4:7-8, Luke 10:27, 1 Corinthians 12:18, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Romans 12:4-5, John 3:16, John 13:34-35  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Human Weakness, Love One Another, Christ's Love for Us, Overcome limitations

The Secret Power Of Easter Still Available Today

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 25, 2026

Easter is more than remembering Christ’s sacrifice. The resurrection opens resurrection power for believers now, shaping how we live, obey, and continue Jesus’ mission.

Scripture: Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, Colossians 1:18, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Easter, Preaching, Holy Week, preaching, Holy week  (view more)  (view less)

8 Ways To Hook Your Congregation Into Your Message

By SermonCentral .com on May 12, 2020

Your sermon text is central, but it doesn’t always need to come first. Strong hooks help listeners connect their lives to Scripture before exposition begins.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:8, Luke 24:27, Ecclesiastes 12:10

Tags: anxiety, Bird, Preaching, Anxiety, Field, flowers, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Qualities To Seek In The Heart Of A Leader

By Ron Edmondson on Jan 29, 2022

Someone asked me recently what I primarily look for in the hiring of a staff position. I said, without reservation, first and foremost, I look for the heart.

Tags: leadership, Integrity, Innovation, pastoral leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

8 Preachable Marks Of A Transformed Life

By Philip Nation on Jan 9, 2025

Spiritual transformation is God’s work in believers, shaping them into Christ’s image. These eight biblical marks help pastors guide their people toward genuine gospel change.

Scripture: Galatians 4:19, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Church, Discipleship, Preaching, pastor, Transformation, transformed life, Pastor, preaching, church, Transformed Life  (view more)  (view less)

A Category You Won’t Find In The Bible: The Churchless Christian

By Thabiti Anyabwile on Oct 27, 2022

"It is important for Christians to be members of a local church because the New Testament apostles can’t conceive of anything called a Christian that’s not connected to Christ’s body."

Tags: Church, Discipleship, Christian Life, Healthy Church, Called to serve, local church, be the church, Church Body of Christ, Christian community, church  (view more)  (view less)

How To Craft Sermon Openers That Grab Attention

By Tyler Scarlett on Feb 27, 2025

A wandering introduction loses listeners before the sermon even begins. Strong, simple, and compelling first sentences draw people in and prepare them to hear God’s Word.

Scripture: Titus 2:2, Titus 2:1-2, Philippians 4:10-15, Romans 13:11-14

Tags: Pastoral Ministry

Five Ways To Turn Off Younger Listeners

By Adam Ramsey on Nov 7, 2024

If you're still in your first 5 years as a preacher, don’t give up! God has this wonderful way of drawing straight lines with crooked sticks.

Tags: God's Love, Laughter, Young people, good advice, young people, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Christmas: Not A Time For Inventing Twists On The Age-Old Story

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 14, 2024

Tell it with gusto and love. Tell the story of the birth of Jesus with all the excitement of someone hearing it for the first time. Tell the story without detouring into theories and guesses and myths and controversies.

Scripture: Luke 2:11

Tags: Christmas, Simplicity, storytelling, Christmas Advent

Learn How To Be Brought Low

By Scott Hubbard on Oct 15, 2022

"You don’t need to be anyone special to know what it means to be brought low."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:10, Isaiah 53:3, Philippians 1:3-5, Philippians 4:12

Tags: Faith, Humility, Hope, Grief, Sorrow, mature faith, Enduring Hardship, School of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Good & Bad Cases Of Church Discipline

By Ray Hollenbach on Mar 11, 2025

A real church incident exposes why believers distrust discipline. Yet Scripture shows discipline is meant to heal, not harm, calling us to restore one another with Christ’s presence.

Tags: pastoral care, Pastoral Care

Improvisation And The Art Of Preaching

By Joe Hoagland on Feb 20, 2021

When it comes to the art of preaching improvisation can play a big role, just like in music. Here at Rookie Preacher we advocate for a tight, well put together structure. But, that doesn’t mean you need to have every word memorized.

Tags: Preaching, Preacher, sermon, Sermon, preaching, preacher  (view more)  (view less)