In Preaching Articles: "Self"

Don't Talk To Yourself -- Preach To Yourself!

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 7, 2023

Self-talking is self-defeating. Self-preaching is (biblically) powerful.

Tags: Powerful, self talk, preaching, Self Talk, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Prisoners Of Self: Incessant Autobiography In The Smartphone Age

By Tony Reinke on Jul 21, 2022

The man doting over a smartphone screen, scrolling through media with his fingertips, is like a gorilla meticulously picking out little bugs from his own hair. That was the subversive quip of anthropologist Thomas de Zengotita.

Scripture: Isaiah 14:12-13, Job 1:7, Job 2:2, Luke 10:18, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: social media, Cell Phone, Self Centeredness, Vanity, Technology, Appearance, Selfishness  (view more)  (view less)

How Does A Sermon Differ From A Self-Help Video?

By Peter Mead on May 16, 2023

When you finish preaching, where is your listeners' final focus? The answer makes all the difference.

Scripture: Matthew 16:18-19

Tags: Preaching, Self, focus, preaching

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

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 7, 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)

The Dangers Of Self-Righteousness: Lessons From Luke 18:9-14

By Josh Read on Oct 30, 2025

In today’s world, especially in the age of social media, it’s easy to curate a version of ourselves that looks impressive—sharing successes, opinions, and spiritual highlights while hiding our struggles. But Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:9–14 cuts straight through that façade. It reminds us that self-righteousness doesn’t bring us closer to God, it drives us further from Him.

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Romans 3:23-24, James 4:10

Tags: justification, sanctification, Repentance, Justification, Confession, Sanctification, Mercy, Parable, Prayer, confession, repentance  (view more)  (view less)

The Essential Me-First Of Biblical Preaching

By Ken Burge on May 9, 2025

Are you afraid to use yourself as the example for your sermon?

Tags: Preaching, Self, example, application, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

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

When The Message Ends, Where Are People Focused?

By Peter Mead on Jul 28, 2025

Where are people looking as they leave? If we're not careful, they will walk out with gaze firmly fixed on self.

Tags: Message, Preaching, Self, focus, listener, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Everyone's Least Favorite Preacher- The Cocky Kind

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 19, 2023

You’re sitting in his church listening to him preach. He’s not five minutes into the message before you realize Mr. Hotshot is appearing before you in the flesh. His words and mannerisms give him away.

Scripture: Isaiah 57:15, Micah 6:8, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Peter 5:3, Isaiah 6:5, Matthew 18:3, 1 Peter 5:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humility, Pride, Preacher, self importance, preacher  (view more)  (view less)

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: Accountability, Helpful Questions, Leadership, leadership

12 Things I’d Tell My 25-Year-Old Self (About Life And Leadership)

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jun 19, 2024

There are so many things I would do the same, but there are more than a few things I’d do differently.

Tags: leader, passion, godly character, productivity, Godly Leaders, pastoral leadership, church leadership, Leader, Security  (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)

You Are Not The Story!

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on May 3, 2022

People should not leave the sermon having learned more about the preacher than Christ. When we stand to preach the word, we should prayerfully whisper to ourselves, “You are not the story.”

Scripture: Colossians 1:28, John 12:20, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:1-2

Tags: Pride, God's Story, self importance, Bible as a story

5 Ways To Make Your Preaching More Practical And Relevant

By Rick Ezell on Jan 31, 2025

Practical preaching requires more than exegesis of Scripture. These five steps help you exegete your people—making sermons clearer, warmer, and more genuinely relevant.

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)