In Preaching Articles: "self importance"

Preaching: It's Not All About You

By Bruce D. Johnson on Oct 14, 2024

Over the past five decades, an insidious trend has crept into American preaching--and not only are most pastors unaware of it, they've embraced it!

Tags: Preaching, pastor, Self, Pastor, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Pointers For Preaching On A Touchy Issue

By Peter Mead on Apr 12, 2021

Sometimes we have to preach something that is potentially controversial or that may not go down too well. Here are ten pointers to help when that is necessary.

Scripture: Acts 17:22-32

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Prayer, Self knowledge, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways To Make Your Preaching More Practical And Relevant

By Rick Ezell on Jan 31, 2025

Use these methods to practically reach people suffering from real hurts, problems, doubts, fears, and anxieties gnawing at their faith.

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34, Romans 10:4

Tags: Preaching, Culture, Self, Relevance, audience, application, preaching, culture  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Bad Leaders Say

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jun 24, 2020

Here are 7 things bad leaders say. I only know this, because, over the years, I’ve caught myself thinking or even saying some of these things.

Tags: Independence, gratitude, self awareness, Leadership General, Bad leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Think You're The Exception? Diagnosing Selfish Pride

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 19, 2022

At the root of many of our sins is an assumption that we are exceptional.

Scripture: Romans 8:21, Matthew 22:39, Romans 12:10, Mark 10:43-45, Hebrews 12:1, Matthew 5:28, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Matthew 7:12, James 1:19, Proverbs 15:1, Matthew 5:5, Hebrews 10:25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Pride, self awareness, Battling Sin Nature, Overcoming Pride

10 Questions For Leaders To Ask Each Week

By Chuck Lawless on Jun 15, 2022

Most leaders would benefit from more regular evaluations – particularly self-evaluations. Even daily and weekly self-evaluations merit our consideration if we want to lead well, regardless of our position.

Tags: leadership, Accountability, Helpful Questions, Leadership

How To Deal With A Preacher-Eater

By Joe Mckeever on Feb 22, 2023

Practical advice for dealing with the self-appointed church rulers who try to dominate your preaching and your ministry.

Tags: Preaching, Ruler, practical advice, sons of diotrephes, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

True Leadership Is Sacrifice, Not Privilege

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 4, 2022

Christian leadership — in the home, the church, and elsewhere — is not for those clawing for honor and recognition, but for those most ready to fall to their knees and be inconvenienced by the needs of others.

Scripture: Mark 10:45, 2 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Matthew 20:25-28, John 13:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sacrifice, leadership, Dying To Self, pastoral leadership, servant leadership, Others First, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Your Thoughts Will Betray You

By Christina Fox on Jun 14, 2022

A certain amount of self-evaluation can be good. We should have insight into ourselves, our motives, our choices, and our actions. But sometimes we can go too far. When self-evaluation ends with ourselves instead of pointing us beyond ourselves, there’s a problem.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Corinthians 11:28, Philippians 2:3-8, John 17:17, Romans 8:32, Psalm 139:23, 1 John 2:1, Isaiah 43:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Rely on Grace, Remember the Gospel

Fully Known, Fully Loved

By Peter Mead on Feb 24, 2022

If we are not careful we can paint our own self-at-the-centre approach in the colors of Christianity and assume all is well.

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Luke 19:10

Tags: known by God, Fully Known, Fully loved, narcissism

Dealing With The Preacher-Eaters

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 21, 2020

Joe McKeever shares practical advice for dealing with the self-appointed church rulers who try to dominate your preaching and your ministry.

Scripture: 3 John 1:9-10

Tags: Ministry, leadership, Prayer, affliction, Confrontation, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

Is Your Preaching God-Centered?

By Bernie Van Eyk on May 26, 2021

"Therapy has replaced theology in much contemporary preaching. The self has acquired center stage, and God, if He is there at all, has been marginalized."

Tags: God, Preaching, focus, Center

Live To Make God Look Good

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 2, 2022

The great tragedy of the universe is that while human beings were made to glorify God because of who they are and what they see, we have all fallen short of this purpose.

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Romans 3:23, Romans 1:23, Isaiah 40:4, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 48:9-11, Isaiah 60:2, Isaiah 49:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, glory of God, meaning of life, glorify Christ, what is the purpose of life, Eternal Purpose, Self glory  (view more)  (view less)

The Double-Edged Sword Of Ambition

By Lance Witt on Jul 10, 2024

Ambition is a blessing and a curse. When it is God-directed and Spirit-managed, it can bear tremendous fruit. But when it is hijacked by self and ego, it can leave a wake of destruction in its path.

Tags: Faithfulness, motivation, Ambition, Rest in Christ, pastoral leadership, personal holiness, entering God's rest, ministry vision  (view more)  (view less)

When Pastors Misplace Their Identity: 10 Probing Questions

By Charles Stone on Sep 19, 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)