In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Uses"

10 Must-Have Tips For Giving A Public Invitation

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 16, 2023

Every preacher needs these practical insights if he/she plans to offer a time of response after the sermons.

Tags: Preaching, Invitation, public, Speaking, preaching, speaking  (view more)  (view less)

9 Things We Can All Learn From Billy Graham's Preaching

By Dennis Phelps on Oct 21, 2025

Someone asked Billy Graham how long it took to prepare a sermon. He answered, "A lifetime."

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:1-2, 1 Corinthians 2:2

Tags:

How To Teach Old Testament Characters

By J.d. Greear on Feb 24, 2025

David’s life shows both the longing for a true King and the failure of every human ruler. His story presses us toward Jesus, the only King who never disappoints.

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: David, Christ As King, biblical theology, Biblical Theology, Old Testament Christology, Christ as King  (view more)  (view less)

Good & Bad Cases Of Church Discipline

By Ray Hollenbach on Mar 10, 2025

A real church incident exposes why believers distrust discipline. Yet Scripture shows discipline is meant to heal, not harm, calling us to restore one another with Christ’s presence.

Tags: pastoral care, Pastoral Care

Every Church Staff Team Needs A Little Bit Of Friction

By Brandon Cox on Nov 19, 2023

"Eliminate friction!!" That’s the goal most of us have when it comes to leading a team, or a church, or a company. But what if friction is actually the key to getting things moving in the right direction?

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Tags: leadership, strategy, conflict, Teamwork, Tension, pastoral leadership, Friction, Team Dynamics, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Three Types Of Bad Preaching (And Their Remedies)

By Chris Pascarella on Jun 8, 2022

What if there was a way to identify bad preaching? Having grown up in church, I have probably listened to over 1,000 sermons in my lifetime. In all my time listening to (and now delivering) sermons, I have heard three types of bad preaching:

Scripture: Luke 12:22

Tags: preaching tips, Preaching Help, Pastoral Ministry, effective preaching

Preach Like A Blade, Not An Anvil

By Peter Mead on Sep 15, 2024

Some sermons overwhelm without penetrating. Faithful preaching carries the weight of Scripture but delivers it with the sharp focus of a blade.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 23:29, Ecclesiastes 12:11, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, living word, Sword, Impact, anvil, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Pulpit Abuse: What It Is And How To Stop It

By Calvin Miller on Sep 22, 2024

Preachers must guard against hijacking sermons with hobbies, grievances, politics, or personal therapy instead of proclaiming Christ.

Scripture: Matthew 24:28, 2 Timothy 4:2, James 3:1, Colossians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 2:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Christ Centered, preaching

Do We Have To Be Perfect To Preach?

By Dean Shriver on Feb 9, 2025

True preaching power comes not from technique but from integrity. When our lives align with the truth we proclaim, God uses both our words and our example to change lives.

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Preaching, spiritual formation, Pastoral Integrity, Christian Leadership, preaching, Spiritual Formation, Expository Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

5 Easy (And Overlooked) Keys To Better Preaching

By Erik Raymond on Sep 29, 2021

"I have never met a preacher who did not want to increase the effectiveness of his sermon. The question is where to start?"

Scripture: Acts 1:1-21, Acts 15:6-19, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 2:42  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Plan, Preaching, preparation, Engage, Outline, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Everyone Else Is Preparing For Christmas--Are You?

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 18, 2025

It's not too early! Brandon Cox shares his ideas for a Christmas sermon series sure to connect with your congregation.

Tags: Christmas, Hope, Preaching, prepare, receiving, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Understanding Halloween: A Biblical Perspective For Believers

By Josh Read on Oct 27, 2025

As the autumn leaves start to crunch underfoot and the air is turning crisp, Halloween pops up on our calendars once again. For so many, it's all about the costumes, candy, and a bit of harmless fun. But for us as believers, it often sparks some thoughtful questions: Is this just a lighthearted holiday, or is there more we should consider in light of our faith? Let's dive into Scripture together and explore a gentle, biblical lens on Halloween that helps us navigate it with grace and joy.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 2:4, Matthew 22:39, Ephesians 6:12, Deuteronomy 18:10-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Halloween, advice, Pastoring, church leadership, Church Leadership, pastoring, halloween  (view more)  (view less)

Does Your Church Have A Negative Reputation? You Can Reverse It

By Ron Edmondson on Feb 5, 2023

"Not that I seek the approval of man, but I wanted to be part of a church that would truly make a difference in our community, so much so that if we were gone, people would miss us."

Tags: Church, Preaching, negative, reputation, ron edmondson, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

10 Things We Should Never Tell A Preacher

By Joe Mckeever on Oct 30, 2025

When I honor the Lord’s shepherd, I honor the Lord Jesus Christ. He takes personally my treatment of His servant. That should put the fear of the Lord into us. And keep it there.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Seven Simple Prayers

By Marshall Segal on Feb 13, 2022

God has given us all kinds of routes out of daily ruts in prayer. Take Psalm 86, for example. Here are seven simple daily prayers drawn from David’s prayer.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:10-18, Psalm 86:1-17, James 4:2, Jude 1:24-25, 1 Corinthians 15:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Psalms, Prayer, daily prayer, Disciplines Prayer