In Preaching Articles: "Real People"

Death To Dancing Bears

By Lance Witt on May 31, 2022

“Sometimes as a worship pastor,” he said, “I feel like a dancing bear. It’s my job to get up and perform for the crowd, and as long as the performance is good, everyone is happy. Except me. Something is missing and I don’t know what to do.”

Tags: Ministry, burnout, pastoral leadership, Lost Focus, People Over Programs, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching: What To Cut, What To Add

By Peter Mead on Sep 24, 2020

Experienced preachers know the real challenge is in what to leave out of a sermon.

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-5

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Preaching: What To Cut, What To Add

By Peter Mead on Oct 8, 2020

Experienced preachers know the real challenge is in what to leave out of a sermon.

Tags: Message, Preaching, develop

Loving Muslims Begins With Honesty

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 24, 2020

Do Christians and Muslims worship the same deity? It has become one of the most pressing and controversial questions in the world in the last fifteen years.

Scripture: 1 John 5:12, John 8:19, John 5:42-43, John 5:23

Tags: Islam, World Religions, disagreement, loving people, Identity of Jesus, what Muslims believe  (view more)  (view less)

How To Be An Awesome Guest Preacher

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 18, 2020

If you're asked to guest-speak, you need these 10 real-life rules.

Tags: guest, Preaching, Courtesy, participate, Expectation, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Keys To Overcoming Barriers To Bible Engagement In The Church

By Paul Caminiti on Jan 18, 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 You’ll Never Hear About Preaching In Seminary

By Mark A. Howell on Sep 24, 2024

Perhaps you've heard these suggestions before. The real issue is whether they are active in your ministry week to week.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

The Final Piece Of Sermon Prep: What To Cut, What To Add

By Peter Mead on Aug 22, 2025

Rookie preachers wonder how they will fill the time. Experienced preachers know the real challenge is in what to leave out.

Scripture: Exodus 6:1-9

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

Randy Alcorn: Are You Willing To Be Hated For Speaking The Gospel Of Truth?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 13, 2022

"It's not our job to be popular. Let's represent the real Jesus, the whole Jesus, not just the culturally acceptable one."

Scripture: Mark 8:33-38

Tags: gospel of truth, preaching, Preaching, Hated

The Ultimate Character Test Any Great Leader Passes

By Carey Nieuwhof on Nov 14, 2023

Moral failure takes out more leaders than it should. But real success is deeper than just avoiding the ditch.

Tags: Leadership, pastoral leadership, church leadership, First Things First, Leadership Failure, True Success, e, leadership, Character, Faithfulness, Home Life, Integrity, Popularity  (view more)  (view less)

Are You Serving Slop In The Pulpit?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Aug 25, 2021

Sherman Cox warns, "There's an inclination today to resort to tactics and tricks to manufacture a connection to the congregation that is neither real nor helpful."

Scripture: Romans 14:1-23

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Insult, frown

A Preacher's Gut-Check: Seven Hard Questions About Your Sermon

By J.s. Park on Jun 20, 2025

After you have your three points, consulted all the commentaries and fit in your illustrations, then it's time to get real.

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Preaching, Good, questions, preaching

Pastor And Prophet

By Lance Witt on May 11, 2024

"When it comes to our preaching, we live in the constant tension between pastor and prophet. On one hand, as pastors we want to encourage and care for the sheep. So, in our preaching we want to be uplifting and hopeful. On the other hand, as prophets we must sometimes say the hard things that the sheep don’t want to hear."

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:30-31, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Galatians 1:10

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Pride, People pleasing, pastoral leadership, selfish ambition, Pastoral Ministry, Pulpit Ministry, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Phrases Christians Like To Say That Aren’t True

By Lori Hatcher on May 31, 2024

"We’ve all heard them—phrases that sound wise, insightful, and biblical. But are they really? Let’s look at some common sayings, compare them to the Bible, and see if they hold up."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, James 1:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 John 3:10, Daniel 10:11, Psalm 148:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: guard the truth, Contending for truth, Theology, Know the Truth, Biblical truth, chosen people, Enduring Hardship, help in temptation  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach To The Heart

By John Bjorge on Nov 16, 2021

Faithful preaching requires more than good exegesis. When sermons speak to the heart with trust, integrity, and lived faith, real gospel transformation follows.

Scripture: Judges 3:15-7:6, Colossians 1:3-6, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Church Health, Pastoral Ministry, spiritual formation, preaching, Gospel transformation, Spiritual Formation, Gospel Transformation  (view more)  (view less)