In Preaching Articles: "Spiritual Maturity"

Great Preacher = Great Leader? Not So Fast

By Adrian Pei on Mar 15, 2023

When a leader admits his or her weaknesses in front of an audience, I think to myself, "That's great ... how will you follow that up?"

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7-10, Matthew 21:18-22

Tags: Maturity, skill, great leader, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Journey In The Dark

By Peter Mead on Jan 13, 2022

God delights to transform lives. There are many ways to depict this journey of transformation, but let’s focus on one example from the Old Testament.

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3, Psalm 130:1-8

Tags: Psalms, Transformation, transformed life, Christian Maturity

Soul Cartography: Assessing Your Journey Toward Spiritual Intelligence

By Alan E. Nelson on Mar 2, 2020

Alan Nelson explains the concept of spiritual intelligence and offers pastors and church leaders a chance to assess theirs.

Tags: spiritual, Soul, relationships, Health, counsel, Gifts General  (view more)  (view less)

Thom Rainer: 3 Reasons Your People Are Spiritually Stuck

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 28, 2024

"When we lead our people in the process of transformation, we need to orient them to the reality of the war within them."

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Tags: Envy, striving, Spiritual exercise, preaching, Preaching, Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

6 Tips On How Pastors Can Help Others Discover Their Spiritual Gifts

By Charles Stone on Mar 31, 2023

The more pastors help people discover, develop, and deploy their spiritual gifts, the healthier our churches become. How have you helped others discover their gifts?

Tags: Preaching, Spiritual Gifts, preaching

Learn How To Be Brought Low

By Scott Hubbard on Oct 14, 2022

"You don’t need to be anyone special to know what it means to be brought low."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:10, Isaiah 53:3, Philippians 1:3-5, Philippians 4:12

Tags: Faith, Humility, Hope, Grief, Sorrow, mature faith, Enduring Hardship, School of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Check The Mirror, Pastor – After Five Years, Your Church Looks Like You

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 26, 2021

Show me a spiritually healthy church and I’ll show you a spiritually healthy pastor. Show me a spiritually unhealthy church and I’ll show you a spiritually unhealthy pastor.

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7

Tags: Humility, pastor, spiritual leadership, Pastoral Character, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach To The Heart

By John Bjorge on Nov 16, 2021

Faithful preaching requires more than good exegesis. When sermons speak to the heart with trust, integrity, and lived faith, real gospel transformation follows.

Scripture: Judges 3:15-7:6, Colossians 1:3-6, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Church Health, Pastoral Ministry, spiritual formation, preaching, Gospel transformation, Spiritual Formation, Gospel Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

The Dirty Truth About Honoraria

By John Stackhouse on Oct 31, 2025

Count up all of those hours: Is that what we really think our preachers are worth?

Scripture: Mark 16:1-20, Colossians 2:1-10

Tags: Preaching, honoraria, Worth, spiritual health, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Six Terrible Ways To Recruit Ministry Volunteers In Your Church

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 27, 2021

Sometimes I think church leaders take the most negative approaches in an attempt to encourage more people to get involved in ministry in the church.

Tags: Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Lay Leadership, Recruiting

Advent: How To Resist The Culture And Clutter Of Christmas

By Steve Smith on Dec 11, 2023

When I practice Advent, I get the opportunity to yet again, start my life over. I am invited to step out and away from my old ways and to begin new ways of living better–living in a different rhythm; living in a deeper–more sacred way.

Tags: Advent, Silence, Christmas Advent, spiritual clutter

Is Preaching Overrated?

By Charles Kiser on Jul 4, 2020

Preaching matters, but when it becomes the primary engine of discipleship, it may carry a weight it was never meant to bear.

Scripture: Acts 2:1-37, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 10:39, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Ephesians 4:11-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, church planting, spiritual formation, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership, Spiritual Formation, Church Planting  (view more)  (view less)

How Do I Study A Specific Topic In The Bible?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 6, 2022

Studying the Bible does not need to be complex. Simple tools can help us glean amazing insights from the word.

Scripture: Proverbs 2:3-6, Jeremiah 29:13, 2 Timothy 2:7

Tags: BIBLE STUDY, Concordance, bible study, Personal Growth, writing, spiritual growth, Bible Study, Spiritual Discipline, Journaling  (view more)  (view less)

What Kind Of Christians Will People Be If They Listen To Your Sermons For A Decade?

By Ray Hollenbach on Jul 22, 2025

Beyond the weekly phrase, "Good word, Preacher," the spiritual lives of the people in your church provide excellent feedback regarding the effectiveness of your preaching.

Tags: spiritual health, preaching, believer, Preaching, Congregation, Generation  (view more)  (view less)

Plan To Pray

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 27, 2023

I have been a pastor and spend a lot of time talking to pastors, and as I do I learn that one of the struggles many pastors have is prayer.

Tags: Prayer, Spiritual Discipline, Paul on prayer, Intentional Growth