In Preaching Articles: "Real"

Do You Preach To Real People Or Straw Men?

By Chris Surber on Nov 7, 2024

Preaching in the abstract means missing real lives and real people. Here are four ways to connect to real people.

Tags: Sensitive, real people, straw men, preaching, Holy Spirit, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Preaching Grace Empowers Real Obedience

By Ron Forseth on Jun 5, 2025

Some pastors fear that emphasizing grace will weaken holiness. In reality, biblical grace empowers obedience, motivates generosity, and leads believers toward lasting transformation.

Scripture: Romans 3:5-8, John 1:14, Romans 6:1-2, Galatians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Preaching, Gospel Preaching, grace, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Will The Real Jesus Stand Up? Part 1

By Lance Witt on Dec 27, 2023

"It may be that the great sin of the church in our generation is the trivializing of God. The Jesus Christ, in whom the fullness of deity dwells, is not to be boxed in, airbrushed, made over, tamed, explained or explained away. I am deeply convinced that the way you live will be a direct consequence of how you see God."

Scripture: Hebrews 12:28-29, Colossians 1:15-17, Jeremiah 23:23

Tags: Jesus is Lord, Deity of Christ, christian testimony, authority of Christ, Identity of Christ, False View of God, God of the Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Will The Real Jesus Stand Up? Part 2

By Lance Witt on Dec 28, 2023

"In the last thirty years within the church world, there has been a subtle shifting of the spotlight. Inadvertently, in many places, it has become all about the bride (the church) rather than the groom (Jesus)."

Scripture: Genesis 19:9, Revelation 19:9

Tags: bride of Christ, Deity of Christ, Jesus as Bridegroom, Lamb marriage supper, Identity of Christ, The Real Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Does Your Preaching Draw A Line From The Bible To Real Life?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Feb 2, 2023

Every sermon should ask the people for some sort of response, a response in real life.

Tags: preaching, bible, Bible, Preaching, Homiletics, real life  (view more)  (view less)

Real Love Encourages Others To Do The Right, Most God-Glorifying Thing

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 7, 2022

Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love, not to withhold the truth in love. Real love doesn’t quit or give up; it will offer help and point to Jesus Christ as the only true source of healing and forgiveness.

Scripture: John 1:14, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Abortion, friendship, Real Love, speak truth in love

Preaching Real Gospel Change In A World Obsessed With Self-Improvement

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 6, 2025

True transformation is not moral effort but new life in Christ. Preachers must translate “change” into gospel terms, clarifying how God recreates, reshapes, and renews His people.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Church, Growth, Discipleship, Preaching, Change, Transformation, Christian Growth, New Life In Christ, counsel, Christian growth, new life in Christ, Spiritual Transformation, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Theology? Philosophy? What Do They Have To Do With Real Preaching?

By Mike Miller on Nov 24, 2024

Our theology of preaching is what we believe the Bible says about preaching. Our philosophy is how we put our beliefs into practice.

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:1-20, Jonah 3:1-10

Tags: Preaching, Theology, philosophy, preaching

10 Ways To Preach About Lust—and Get To The Real Issues

By Jared Moore on Nov 22, 2024

There's only one way to solve this: Get to the root of the problem. Jared Moore shows us how.

Tags: sexual immorality, sexual desire, Marriage, Lust, Intimacy  (view more)  (view less)

There's More Than One Way To Prepare A Sermon: 5 Approaches

By Brandon Kelley on Oct 15, 2025

Listen in as pastors share real-life examples of sermmon prep.

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

Stop The Revolution. Join The Plodders.

By Kevin Deyoung on Jan 23, 2022

It’s sexy among young people—my generation—to talk about ditching institutional religion and starting a revolution of real Christ-followers living in real community without the confines of church.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:21, Romans 16:8

Tags: Church, Commitment, endurance, Faithfulness, church  (view more)  (view less)

A Dozen Bad Easter Eggs: 12 Mistakes We Should Avoid This Year

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 16, 2026

Joe McKeever gets real with advice learned by the hard experience of many Easters.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Tags: Easter, Preaching, mistakes, Fail, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Keys To Overcoming Barriers To Bible Engagement In The Church

By Paul Caminiti on Jan 17, 2025

In North America, we have more Bibles than ever, but less and less real engagement. Why?

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-21

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Preaching, BIBLE STUDY, Biblical, Bible Study, bible study, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

What Really Makes A Spiritual Leader?

By Bob Hamp on Apr 4, 2023

Spiritual leadership is not defined by position or productivity, but by transformation, presence, and the ability to lead others into real encounters with God.

Scripture: Mark 10:42-45, John 15:4-5, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Thessalonians 2:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Power, leadership, Counselor, Leadership, Christian Formation  (view more)  (view less)

Why Great Preachers Are Not Always Great Leaders

By Adrian Pei on Oct 11, 2020

Confessing weaknesses can impress a crowd, but true leadership maturity requires repentance, accountability, and real change.

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-31, James 1:22, 1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 27:6, 2 Corinthians 7:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humility, leadership, Preaching, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)