In Preaching Articles: "Real People"

Great Preaching Needs Courage ... In The Pulpit And In The Pews

By Joe Mckeever on Nov 19, 2024

Can we talk about courage? This is as rare as plutonium these days, particularly among the very people who should demonstrate it most readily, the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tags: Preaching, Courage, compromise, pressure, Compromise, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why No One Cares About Your Mission Statement – And Neither Should You

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 8, 2021

Does your church have a mission statement? Could most of the people in your church repeat it? If the answer is ‘no’, I have one word for you. Relax.

Tags: Preaching, Mission Statement, preaching

How Leaders Encourage Cooperation On A Team

By Ron Edmondson on Aug 20, 2022

Do you want people to get along, support one another, and join forces to achieve the vision? Of course you do. All leaders want their teams to cooperate.

Scripture: Psalm 133:1

Tags: unity, Team Tension, Teamwork, Cooperation, Divisions, collaboration, church leadership, Team Dynamics  (view more)  (view less)

Sorry, Pastors – The Growth Of The Church Is Not Up To Us

By Karl Vaters on Jun 5, 2024

"Preaching the Word, training disciples and ministering to the community may or may not increase the number of people who sit in front of me from Sunday to Sunday. But it will produce a healthy church."

Tags: pastoral leadership, call to discipleship, church leadership, Church Growth, Surrender, Healthy Church, God's Church, God in control  (view more)  (view less)

Mapping Fault Lines In America | Micah 3

By Jerry Shirley on Aug 8, 2019

In Micah 3, the prophet maps the spiritual fault lines of a nation under judgment. Find what that means for America today, and what God expects from His people.

Scripture: Micah 3:1-12

Tags: Repentance, repentance, compromise, Complacency, Spiritual Renewal, Compromise, Corruption, America, Hope, corruption  (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)

14 Ways To Help Unborn Babies And Their Mothers

By Randy Alcorn on Mar 9, 2020

How do you help millions of needy people? One at a time. Learn how to start helping now, choose which ministry suits your gifting and your resources.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 139:1-24

Tags: Church, Preaching, Abortion, mothers, Sanctity of Life, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

2 Rules For Transparency In The Pulpit

By Brady Boyd on Feb 21, 2025

"I think it is great when pastors are candid about their own struggles. But there are times when the pastor can share way too much information and actually cause people to stumble."

Tags: Preaching, Honesty, Authenticity, Struggles, Transparency, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Power Of Saying: I Don't Know

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 6, 2020

As a pastor people often look to you for answers to life's questions, but you don't have to pretend you know it all--in fact, you really shouldn't.

Tags: Communication, Preaching, counsel

Preaching: A Ten-Year Conversation

By Ray Hollenbach on Apr 30, 2025

After we step down from the pulpit, we are still involved in the lives of our people. In fact, their lives become an indicator of how effective our preaching really is.

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:13

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Should Your Next Altar Call Be Focused On Private Prayer Or Public Confession?

By Jeff K. Clarke on Nov 11, 2019

If we tell people that all they need to do to become a follower of Christ is to bow their heads, close their eyes and repeat a 30-second prayer, what are we saying about Jesus?

Tags: private prayer, altar call, public confession, Preaching

Don’t Try And Improve On God’s Methods

By Ray Ortlund on Apr 23, 2024

True awakening or revival is a glorious season in the life of the church when for His glory alone, God causes the ordinary means of His grace to make an extraordinary impact on many people.

Scripture: Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, Isaiah 1:15, Luke 19:9-10, John 3:8, Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 2:47  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Prayer, revival, Church revival, spiritual awakening, grace  (view more)  (view less)

Top 10 Healthy Ways To Handle The Church Critic

By Charles Stone on Aug 17, 2022

“Two things you can’t avoid in ministry are…people late to the service and … church critics.” In this short post, I suggest 10 ways to handle the church critic.

Tags: church ministry, loving enemies, Disarming, criticism, Criticism, patience, offense, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

What Is Saving Faith?

By R. C. Sproul on Sep 1, 2022

Faith is central to Christianity. The New Testament repeatedly calls people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a definite body of content to be believed, which is part and parcel of our religious activity.

Scripture: James 2:14-17

Tags: God's righteousness, preaching the gospel, salvation by grace, Salvation, justification, Adoption, Reformation, saving faith, Preach Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Keeping Your Preaching Fresh

By Lance Witt on Sep 24, 2022

“Everything worthwhile is uphill. Everything that is valuable, you have to work for. No one ever coasted their way to success. Most people have uphill hopes but have downhill habits.”

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2

Tags: Teaching, Never Stop Learning, preaching, teaching, Preaching, hard work, Preaching Help, Pastoral Ministry, Powerful Preaching, effective preaching  (view more)  (view less)