In Preaching Articles: "Thom Rainer"

Thom Rainer: When Not To Respond To Your Critics

By Thom Rainer on Jul 28, 2025

Consider this: If you are not being criticized, you are probably not a leader.

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:2-4

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, Critic, thom rainer, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What Do Your Gestures Say While You Preach?

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 1, 2024

It's true: we speak with more than words, more than our voice. How does your body preach?

Tags: Preaching, effective, gestures, thom rainer, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Thom Rainer: Ten Signs A Pastor Is Becoming A Chaplain

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 31, 2025

How do you strike the balance between ministering to people's needs or equipping the folk?

Scripture: Philippians 1:1

Tags: Preaching, preaching

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

8 Vital Statistics You Should Track Every Week

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 16, 2025

Thom Rainer: "We can never know where the missing sheep are if we are not keeping track of them."

Tags: Preaching, preaching

6 Reasons Why Pastors Must Be More Courageous Today

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 13, 2026

Thom Rainer believes we are in the midst of a cultural shift--and it's no time to shrink back from our calling.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

7 Things Pastors Wish Church Members Knew About Their Children

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 9, 2024

Should Pastors' children behave differently than regular kids? Thom Rainer speaks from the heart in this powerful post.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

New Poll: What's The Average Length Of Sermon Prep?

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 15, 2021

LifeWay's Thom Rainer took a Twitter poll to see how much time most preachers give to sermon preparation. Where do you fall on the scale?

Tags: preparation, average, Prep, Time

Seven Deadly Statements Of Church Members

By Thom Rainer on Oct 12, 2022

"Words have meaning. And if church members start articulating words consistently, those words begin to reflect the priorities and passions of the church."

Tags: conflict, relationships, Church worship, pastoral leadership, church membership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, shepherding, Shepherding  (view more)  (view less)

The Top Ten Sources Of Discouragement For Pastors

By Thom Rainer on May 19, 2024

“Is this valley I am going through normal for pastors?”

Tags: Criticism, Discouragement, church conflict, pastoral leadership, Financial Management, family dynamics, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, criticism  (view more)  (view less)

Eight Reflections On 40 Years Of Marriage

By Thom Rainer on Nov 24, 2022

I want to share with you readers eight of the most powerful lessons I have learned in 40 years of marriage.

Tags: Marriage, Thankfulness, Personal Life, Marriage Commitment, Marriage Faithfulness, Lessons in life, marriage and family, blessing children  (view more)  (view less)

You Preach, I'll Doodle

By Thom Turner on Nov 3, 2020

Most sermons primarily serve auditory learners. Wise pastors consider visual, kinesthetic, and other intelligences so the whole congregation engages the Word.

Scripture: Romans 12:4, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:22, Colossians 3:16, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Learning, Psychology, Effectiveness, Versatile, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Perfect Length For A Sermon

By Thom Schultz on Nov 6, 2020

Length does not equal depth. A faithful sermon is measured by clarity, transformation, and alignment with its purpose, not by minutes on the clock.

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-4, 1 Corinthians 2:2, James 1:22, John 16:12, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, limit, length, Pastoral Ministry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Perfect Length For A Sermon

By Thom Schultz on Nov 24, 2020

Many assume longer sermons are spiritually richer, but length alone does not produce transformation. Effective preaching focuses on clarity, engagement, and lasting impact.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:8, Mark 4:33, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:27, John 16:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, length, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Won't Some Preachers Embrace New Methods?

By Thom Schultz on May 17, 2023

It's shocking: Only 29 percent of preachers or teachers are willing to embrace change--even if it's an improvement. Here's why.

Tags: New, Preaching, embrace, Preacher, Method, preaching, preacher  (view more)  (view less)