In Preaching Articles: "Real Life"

Avoid The Wreck: 7 Ways To Crash A Sermon

By Carey Nieuwhof on Sep 23, 2025

What's the difference between a sermon that changes someone's life and one that no one can remember even as they drive out of the parking lot?

Tags: Preaching, Resistance, Ruin, call to action, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Change Lives By Preaching From Heaven's Viewpoint

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 3, 2025

Randy Alcorn: "We encourage believers to look at life differently—like Elisha’s servant whose eyes were opened."

Scripture: Hebrews 11:20-30

Tags: Preaching, preaching

4 Steps To A Friendlier Church (The G.i.f.t. Plan)

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 15, 2021

Genuine friendships are becoming more rare – and thus, of greater perceived value – than any other aspect of modern church life.

Tags: relationships, Friendliness, Friendship New Friends, Equipping Disciples

The Role Of Preaching In Church Planting

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 3, 2020

"Contrary to some conventional wisdom, I would argue that in many cases, public preaching needs to happen early on in the life of a new church."

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:21

Tags: Preaching, church planting

Preaching The Messy Way

By Chris Surber on Apr 23, 2025

The greater the distance between you and your listeners, the easier it is to preach at them. Sharing life with them leads you to preaching the messy way.

Scripture: John 6:66-71

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Pit Stops Required- Part 1

By Lance Witt on Sep 11, 2023

Many pastors and ministry leaders soar through life at breakneck speed. They give every outward appearance of being on course, cruising on autopilot.

Scripture: Proverbs 14:18

Tags: Prudence, Time of Reflection, New Year's Reflection, avoiding burnout

Pastoring From A Place Of Gratitude

By Lance Witt on May 28, 2024

Does gratitude flavor your life? Are the words that flow from your lips and the thoughts that race through your mind marked by gratitude?

Scripture: Psalm 118:24, Colossians 2:7

Tags: Leadership, gratitude, Grumbling, Ingratitude, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Evaluate attitude, leadership, Thankfulness  (view more)  (view less)

Lord, Search My Heart

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 3, 2022

Micah 6:8 exposes me: I can love abstract ideas of justice and kindness, and neglect their concrete expression. It admonishes me: I cannot “do justice” or “love kindness” without loving real people. It humbles me, which is just what the Doctor ordered, if I’m really ready to walk with him.

Scripture: Psalm 139:23, Micah 6:8

Tags: Humility, reflection, repentance, Conviction, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Are You Training Lay Preachers? You Should!

By Chris Surber on Jan 23, 2024

When we neglect to develop and maintain active lay ministry in the life of the local church, our churches miss out in at least five ways.

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17

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Do You Remember Why You Became A Pastor?

By Chuck Warnock on Jun 10, 2025

There are times in our life when the clarity fades, discouragement clouds our memory and we wonder, "Why did I ever want to be a pastor?"

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27

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Great Preaching Lives In The Tension: Here's How

By Brandon Kelley on Jan 4, 2021

A sermon speaks from the grand narrative of Scripture to the grand narrative of your life. These two stories have identifiable tension points: use them!

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Great Leadership Often Starts With A Broken Heart

By Brandon Cox on Oct 1, 2023

Usually, knowing what breaks your heart is knowing what you should do with your life, and how you should be leading others.

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:4

Tags: broken, Brokenhearted, authentic ministry, Call to ministry

When Pastors Misplace Their Identity: 10 Probing Questions

By Charles Stone on Sep 18, 2022

“No one is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do.” ––Paul Tripp

Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:1

Tags: Ministry, identity, Identity in Christ, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, Right Priorities, self assement, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Remembering Why You Said Yes To Pastoring

By Chuck Warnock on Dec 15, 2022

There are times in a pastor's life when the clarity of our call fades, discouragement clouds our memory, and we wonder, "Why did I ever want to be a pastor?"

Tags: Church, Call, pastor, Pastors, Small Church, Church General, Leadership General, Pastor, church  (view more)  (view less)

7 Pitfalls Of Being An Introverted Pastor

By Ron Edmondson on May 29, 2020

"I am an introvert. With all my public appearances on Sunday mornings, this surprises many people. But in my private life and with those closest to me, there is no questioning that fact."

Tags: Preaching