In Preaching Articles: "Spiritual Exercise"

Why We Avoid Political Preaching

By Daniel Darling on Mar 19, 2024

To cut and paste partisan talking points or to substitute consistent exegesis with sample "election season" sermons is spiritual malpractice.

Tags: Preaching, Politics, preaching

Pit Stops Required - Part 2

By Lance Witt on Sep 12, 2023

Leaders who stay spiritually healthy long term are those who learn this sacred rhythm of advance and retreat.

Tags: Retreat, rhythm, Solitude, Rest, Disciplines Silence  (view more)  (view less)

The Call No One Wants To Get - Part 1

By Lance Witt on Sep 24, 2023

One of the spiritual questions every ministry leader must answer is, “Am I willing to serve in obscurity?”

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40

Tags: Faith, obscurity, Cost of Discipleship, success in ministry

Search And Rescue

By Lance Witt on Oct 22, 2023

Outside the walls of your church, there is a spiritual harvest waiting to be reaped. Like Jesus, we must be broken for the broken.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Tags: Evangelism, Reconciliation, pastoral leadership, Reaching out, To be disabled, evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Answering Claims That The Bible Contains Errors, And Why It Matters That It Doesn’t

By Randy Alcorn on Nov 21, 2022

I’m reminded of what the Huguenots said of the Bible and its critics: “Hammer away ye hostile hands; your hammers break, God’s Anvil stands.”

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16

Tags: study bible, defending the gospel, guard the truth, Be prepared, spiritual knowledge, Apologetics, Biblical truth, inerrant  (view more)  (view less)

The Battle Against Burnout

By Peter Walters on Feb 8, 2022

I think we don’t take seriously enough the fact that taking care of our bodies is a spiritual issue.

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-6, Mark 6:31, Leviticus 25:4, Exodus 20:8, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Proverbs 23:2, 1 Corinthians 6:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Body Temple, Rest, Commandments Sabbath, Pastoral Character

5 Marks Of A Mature Leader

By Brandon Cox on Jul 2, 2024

Your body’s physical maturity typically peaks in early adulthood, but your spiritual maturity will keep growing even into eternity.

Tags: church leadership, Leadership Traits, Humble, godly character, Godly Leaders, Leadership Listening, Encourage Others, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Top 13 Preaching Mistakes

By Bob Hostetler on Jan 12, 2025

A practical guide outlining 13 common preaching mistakes, with tips to avoid them and deliver sermons that are clear, Christ-centered, and spiritually nourishing.

Tags: Preaching, Homiletics, preaching tips, Pastoral Ministry, Expository Preaching, Sermon Preparation, preaching, expository preaching, sermon preparation, Preaching Tips  (view more)  (view less)

The Overwhelming Majority Of Pastors Don’t Have One

By Lance Witt on Jul 25, 2023

The truth is those of us in ministry often don’t do the friendship thing very well. One survey among pastors found that 70 percent do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor. Henri Nouwen wrote, “Most Christian leadership is exercised by people who do not know how to develop healthy, intimate relationships.” What an indictment.

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3 Things Our Culture Is Doing To Bible Reading And Discipleship

By Mary C. Wiley on Jun 23, 2024

"We live in a microwave meals, listen-to-podcasts-in-double-time world. We want more with less; work smarter not harder. However, the move forward or get left behind mentality of today is not a good transferrable principle for discipleship. Mostly because discipleship is all about people, and people can’t be boiled down to a series of tasks. People are messy and their needs aren’t linear."

Tags: TEACH THE BIBLE, call to discipleship, training disciples, guard the truth, Study the Bible, Discipleship, spiritual growth, church community  (view more)  (view less)

Overcoming Blind Spots In The Pulpit

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 21, 2020

Every preacher gravitates toward familiar themes. Identifying and addressing pulpit blind spots helps congregations grow into spiritual maturity and biblical balance.

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 4:13-15, Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Church Growth, Pastoral Ministry, sermon planning, BIBLICAL TEACHING, preaching, Biblical Teaching, Sermon Planning  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching That Transforms Lives—it Can Be Done—8 Ways To Start

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 7, 2023

"It's an issue that leaders and followers alike must wrestle through: How do I live out the spiritual transformation that has occurred in me?"

Scripture: James 1:1-15, Judges 11:1-20

Tags: Preaching, renewal, Transformation, Surrender, diligence, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Guard Your Heart In The Pulpit: 5 Ways To Stay Grounded While Preaching

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Jan 26, 2026

Preaching is a public act of worship, but it’s also a spiritual battleground. Learn five essential ways to guard your heart as you step into the pulpit.

Tags: preaching tips, Preaching Tips

Rethinking "Next Steps” In Discipleship

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 30, 2020

Churches often talk about “next steps,” but the phrase can become vague and ineffective. Meaningful discipleship requires clear, practical, and relational pathways for spiritual growth.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 10:24-25, James 1:22, Colossians 1:28, 2 Peter 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Story, success, step, next, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Beware Of Over-Hyped Intros!

By Peter Mead on Jan 27, 2026

Your message intro shouldn’t feel like a spiritual infomercial. Learn how to connect meaningfully with your audience without overstating your message’s impact.

Tags: Preaching, preaching