In Preaching Articles: "Senior Pastor"

Why We Preach: The Call That Won’t Let Us Go

By Leslie Holmes on May 3, 2020

Seminary is long, ministry is hard, and preaching can feel thankless. Yet pastors continue because God’s call compels them in ways nothing else can.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16, Hebrews 12:2, Romans 10:14-15, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:24  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Preaching A Wedding: The Practical Do's And Don'ts

By Jared Moore on Mar 23, 2025

Preaching weddings brings unique pressures and expectations. These clear do’s and don’ts help pastors keep Christ central, avoid distractions, and communicate the gospel well.

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-32, Proverbs 3:5-6, Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Matthew 19:4-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Death, Love, Commitment, Preaching, forever, Weddings, preaching, love  (view more)  (view less)

10 Suggestions For The Shepherd Of A Stagnant Flock

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 2, 2020

Most churches plateau or decline, but pastors don’t have to. These ten truths challenge leaders to grow personally and guide struggling congregations toward renewed health.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:6, Acts 2:47, James 1:5, Philippians 1:9, Zechariah 4:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Sheep, Apathy, lead, Church Purpose of, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Six Ways To Raise Up Preachers In Your Church

By Kevin Larson on Jul 5, 2020

Pastors must train and release future preachers. Equip elders, recruit gifted men, create opportunities, teach them well, and share the pulpit for the church’s good.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:2, Ephesians 4:12, 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 20:28, Titus 1:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Equip, church development, Leadership, preaching, Church Development  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Children’s Sermons That Kids Beg To Attend

By Mark Pierce on Sep 15, 2020

Four practical guidelines to help pastors create engaging, simple, and spiritually meaningful children’s sermons that connect with both kids and adults in just 7-10 minutes.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Psalm 78:4, Matthew 19:14, Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Children, Preaching, preaching

How Long Should A Sermon Be?

By Brian Orme on May 21, 2021

Pastors often wrestle with sermon length, but there is no universal rule. The most faithful approach considers the congregation, the preacher’s maturity, and the goal of feeding people without overwhelming them.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 20:7-9, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, length, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Smart Christians Believe Dumb Spiritual Cliches

By Larry Osborne on Jun 11, 2021

Many believers unknowingly build their faith on popular Christian sayings rather than the full teaching of Scripture. Pastors must help people test these ideas against the Bible.

Scripture: John 14:6, Colossians 1:28-29, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15, Matthew 7:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, advice, cliche, platitude, Christian growth, preaching, Christian Growth  (view more)  (view less)

New Poll: What's The Average Length Of Sermon Prep?

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 15, 2021

Sermon preparation is one of the most time-consuming and least visible parts of pastoral ministry. Many church members underestimate the hours required to faithfully prepare a single message.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Timothy 4:13-16, Acts 6:4, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, preparation, average, Prep, Time  (view more)  (view less)

When Passion Fades: 5 Reasons Preaching Becomes Lifeless

By Peter Mead on Aug 9, 2024

Passionless preaching drains a congregation. These five causes, from frozen delivery to cold hearts, reveal why sermons fall flat and how pastors can revive authentic zeal.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6, Romans 12:11, Psalm 34:8, Colossians 3:23, Revelation 2:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Spiritual Renewal, preaching

4 Preaching Myths That Undermine Sermon Preparation

By Brian Orme on Jan 26, 2024

Wrong assumptions about sermon preparation can quietly shape a preacher’s mindset. Recognizing common myths helps pastors prepare messages with greater clarity, freedom, and faithfulness.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:12, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Proverbs 15:22, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Hurt, Preaching, myth, hinder, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Is There A Word From God? Preaching Messages That Come From Heaven

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 22, 2021

Anyone can assemble a sermon from Scripture, but faithful preaching seeks more than a well-structured outline. Pastors must seek the message God wants delivered to their people.

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-15, Jeremiah 37:17, Jeremiah 23:22, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 15:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discernment, Preaching, difficult, hard, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

4 Keys To Increasing Giving In Your Church

By Jim Morgan on Jul 16, 2023

Redefining members (not pastors and staff) as the “church” and the community (not members) as the “customer” would reverse the lens through which churches evaluate nearly every decision they make today.

Tags: Money, Giving, Generosity, Perspective, perspective  (view more)  (view less)

The 4 Most Overlooked Realities Of A Healthy Church Turnaround

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 12, 2022

Many pastors say “I want this church to turn around”, when what we really mean is “I want this church to get bigger.” Those are two different goals.

Tags: Church, church

How To Tell If A New Volunteer Is Truly A Leader (Or Simply A Doer)

By Carey Nieuwhof on May 9, 2024

"I recently surveyed 1400 small and mid-sized church pastors to find out what they struggle with most as their church grows. They overwhelmingly identified developing leaders as their top challenge."

Tags: leadership, Church Growth, Volunteer, church ministry, obstacles to growth, Barriers to Growth, Growing a Church, Leaders vs Doers, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Is The Body Of Christ In Trouble?

By Barry O. Johnson on Sep 11, 2024

Barry Johnson offers some helpful insights into the state of the Church in America, and offers a loving call for pastors to take bold steps of faith wherever God has planted them.

Tags: Gospel, Truth, Preaching, Body of Christ, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)