In Preaching Articles: "Short Exhortation About Prayer"

25 Easter Follow-Up Sermon And Worship Ideas

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 10, 2023

One of the best ways to follow up with your Easter guests, as well as to encourage your church members, is by preaching about living out the new life we have in Christ.

Tags: Worship, Preaching, sermon series, after easter, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

If The World Ends Tomorrow, Here's What You Should Preach

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 18, 2020

I was pulled aside after a Sunday morning service not long ago by someone who wanted to know when I would warn the congregation about the impending crash of the world economy.

Tags: Preaching

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

A Novel Idea For Preaching Christmas

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Dec 1, 2018

We assume our congregations know the biblical story and doctrinal meaning of Christmas. So we avoid major texts and look for something new or novel to say about the old, old story.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-15

Tags: Christmas, Preaching, Birth of Jesus, storytelling

How John Piper Prepares A Sermon

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 12, 2020

What I take into the pulpit on Sunday is about 10 double-spaced pages that are so marked up they look like chicken scratch, and they function as my outline while I'm talking.

Tags: Preaching, Prep, preaching

If You Can't Apply What I Preach, I've Failed You

By Glenn Packiam on Aug 22, 2020

I have a hunch that if more of us preachers had to think about our sermons leading into a humble approach to the Lord's Table, we would end not with an empty challenge for people to "do better."

Tags: Preaching

Are You A Well-Defined Leader?

By John Holm on Jul 19, 2021

"I've rarely coached someone who decided that more knowledge or more skill would help them become a successful leader. Instead, what they needed to learn was more about themselves."

Tags: Leader, Character, define, Leadership General

Six Details To Include In Your Church Staff Bios

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 14, 2022

When we talk with first-time guests about church websites, many of them share their surprise that the website fails to include bios or any information other than a name for the church staff.

Tags: Healthy Church, Connect, Clarity, church ministry, Church Website, Digital Strategy, Executive Pastor, Church Bio, connect  (view more)  (view less)

You Exegete Your Text, But Do You Exegete Your People?

By Leslie Holmes on Mar 9, 2019

"Bob Easley may not have gone beyond sixth grade, but he taught this quasi-educated preacher that there's a lot more to be learned about preaching than I ever got inside a book."

Scripture: Job 1:1-10

Tags: people, Preaching, Text, exegete

Stop The Revolution. Join The Plodders.

By Kevin Deyoung on Jan 24, 2022

It’s sexy among young people—my generation—to talk about ditching institutional religion and starting a revolution of real Christ-followers living in real community without the confines of church.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:21, Romans 16:8

Tags: Church, Commitment, endurance, Faithfulness, church  (view more)  (view less)

How To Enjoy Christmas As A Pastor

By Lance Witt on Dec 19, 2024

About 3 years ago, it was the very end of December and I was not in a good place. I was frustrated and honestly I was mad at myself. Our schedule had been out of control and I was worn out.

Scripture: Luke 2:17-19, Luke 2:8

Tags: Mary, Christmas, pastoral leadership, Time of Reflection

Will The Real Jesus Stand Up? Part 2

By Lance Witt on Dec 29, 2023

"In the last thirty years within the church world, there has been a subtle shifting of the spotlight. Inadvertently, in many places, it has become all about the bride (the church) rather than the groom (Jesus)."

Scripture: Genesis 19:9, Revelation 19:9

Tags: bride of Christ, Deity of Christ, Jesus as Bridegroom, Lamb marriage supper, Identity of Christ, The Real Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Should I Leave My Current Ministry Position?

By Josh Reich on Feb 25, 2021

Too many pastors work at churches they would not attend if they didn’t get paid to be there. Think about this: If you work at a church, would you attend it if you didn’t get paid to be there?

Tags: Job, Preaching

How To Be Thankful As A Leader

By Josh Reich on Jul 10, 2023

Most of the time on blogs like mine or other leadership and ministry blogs you read about how tough ministry is, how difficult people can be and how hard it is to be a leader. All those things are true.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Psalm 103:1-5

Tags: Marriage, Thankfulness, gratitude, Pastors

5 Ways To Shorten Your Sermon

By Peter Mead on Aug 20, 2024

It's important to think about what to include in your sermon, but it's probably just as important to carefully decide what to exclude. Learn how (and where) to trim your sermon down with these tips from Peter Mead.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-58, Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Communication, Preaching, Edit, Time, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)