In Preaching Articles: "Tensions in Ministry" showing 16-30 of 228

7 Ways To Affair-Proof Your Ministry

By Ron Edmondson on Jul 7, 2020

Ron Edmondson: "It seems every day we hear of another big name celebrity, politician, or pastor who has fallen into the temptation of lust and had an affair. I think it is dangerous for any leader to assume this could never happen to him or her."

Tags: Preaching

Ed Stetzer: How To Fight Ministry Pornography

By Ed Stetzer on Jul 1, 2023

Are you easily distracted by high-profile ministries? You might be guilty of "ministry pornography." In this video Ed Stetzer discusses the dangers of ministry comparison with Jon Acuff.

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-17

Tags: Pornography, Preaching, Dreams, unrealistic, Expectation, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Reasons Ministry Isn't For Wimps

By Jared Moore on Dec 5, 2019

Check out this list. Do you still want to be a pastor? If so, then God has probably called you to the ministry.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Tags: Ministry, Preaching, challenge, negative, wimp, ministry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

You Can Love Ministry And Miss Jesus

By Marshall Segal on Dec 20, 2021

What captivates your heart more: what God does through you, or what he has done for you?

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:4-5, Philippians 3:7-8, Philippians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Luke 10:3, Matthew 10:7-8, Luke 10:17-20, Colossians 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Jesus, priorities, loving God, Christian Priorities

Five Tips For Sustaining A Men's Group Ministry

By Lisa Eifert on Aug 6, 2024

All church ministries share one overarching purpose: Regardless of age, gender or race, they exist in service of God. However, just because ministries have overlapping agendas doesn’t mean the means through which to form them are the same. In fact, depending on the type of ministry, optimal organizational strategies often vary wildly. Summer offers the perfect opportunity to focus on best practices for organizing one group in particular: the men’s ministry. Let’s count down five tips for forming—and sustaining—a vibrant men’s ministry within your church community.

Tags: vision, success, men's ministry, church leadership

How To Avoid Settling For Good Enough Ministry

By SermonCentral on Apr 5, 2022

You can take a stand against “good enough ministry” in your church with a simple practice adopted from the business world: writing down how things should be done.

Tags: Excellence, details, church and business, church organization

22 Things Learned In 42 Years Of Ministry

By Ron Edmondson on Jun 25, 2022

For those of you in the vocational ministry, let me offer some reflections on 42 years of ministry.

Scripture: Isaiah 26:12

Tags: Wisdom, leadership, advice, Pastoral Ministry, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Pastor’s Wife’s Greatest Ministry

By Joe Mckeever on Nov 9, 2022

"A pastor’s wife’s greatest ministry is to her husband first, and her children second."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5, Luke 14:14

Tags: Support, Godly Women, Godly Wife, admonish one another, Wife's Role, pastor's wife, Encouraging Wife, Speak the Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Every Church Staff Team Needs A Little Bit Of Friction

By Brandon Cox on Nov 20, 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)

How Leaders Encourage Cooperation On A Team

By Ron Edmondson on Aug 20, 2022

Do you want people to get along, support one another, and join forces to achieve the vision? Of course you do. All leaders want their teams to cooperate.

Scripture: Psalm 133:1

Tags: unity, Teamwork, Cooperation, Divisions, collaboration, church leadership, Team Dynamics, Team Tension  (view more)  (view less)

Is Modern Church Leadership Tilting Toward Bivocational Ministry?

By Hugh Halter on Feb 12, 2024

"The goal of our existence is to learn how to leverage everything God has given us."

Scripture: John 21:15-17, John 21:15-22

Tags: Ministry, Church, bivocational, leverage, mobile, ministry, church  (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

9 Bad Habits That Limit A Church's Ministry Capacity

By SermonCentral on Mar 14, 2024

It’s not about church growth. Or working harder. It’s about doing smarter ministry with our church’s current resources.

Tags: Lay Leadership, hindrances to prayer, ministry vision, Capacity, capacity  (view more)  (view less)

Eight Indicators That Pastors Are Expected To Do Most Of The Ministry

By SermonCentral on Apr 21, 2021

Contrary to most of the indicators today, the Bible says the laity (saints) are to do the work of ministry. Most of the ministry should not be in the hands of pastors, but in the hands of the church members. Unfortunately, we often reverse the biblical truth. We expect ministry to be done by the pastors and staff. Here are eight indicators of that reality.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: Laity, Church Health, attacking the pastor, High expectations

One Question You Must Never Ask In Ministry

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 7, 2023

Disciples of Jesus Christ must never try to calculate the cost/benefit of some act of ministry.

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24, Luke 18:8, Ecclesiastes 11:6

Tags: Faithfulness, Leadership General, questions, measuring success