In Preaching Articles: "Up Your Game"

What Are You Improving At Your Church Right Now?

By Karl Vaters on Oct 26, 2022

"Every church should constantly be improving. And not just in general terms. We should always be working on specific action plans to make our church better tomorrow than it is today."

Tags: leadership, Church Growth, Healthy Church, effective, productivity, pastoral leadership, church leadership, good leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Need Help Reading Your Bible?

By C.j. Mahaney on Jun 7, 2024

"If more people approached the Bible with a deep sense of helplessness, and hope-filled reliance on God’s merciful assistance, there would be far more seeing and savoring and transformation than there is.”

Tags: Bible, BIBLE STUDY, priorities, bible reading, Bible Study, Growth in Christ, Christian growth, Spiritual Discipline, dependence on God, bible study, bible  (view more)  (view less)

9 Hidden Factors That Impact Your Life And Leadership

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jun 10, 2024

"What hidden factors threaten to make or break you as a leader and as a person?"

Tags: Growth, leadership, sleep, productivity, Rest, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

God Wants To Shape Your Wants: An Invitation To The Psalms

By John Piper on Nov 30, 2022

Try to imagine the Bible without the Psalms. What a different book it would be! What a different place the church would be. And what a different person I would be.

Scripture: Psalm 1:3

Tags: Psalms, Emotions, Heart, taste and see, Delight, Personal Growth, Delight in the Lord, sovereignty of God  (view more)  (view less)

How Do You Prepare Your Child For Adulthood?

By Brian Croft on Jan 2, 2023

Many of you knew I was on a trip with my 13 year-old son recently. What was the occasion? My wife and I promised each of our children when they turned 13 years old, they would get to take a special trip with one of us.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:8, Ephesians 5:22-23, 1 Peter 3:1-7

Tags: protection, Shepherd, parenting, discipling, Role of Men, Christian fathers, teach children, Godly Fathers  (view more)  (view less)

How To Modernize Your Church Communication With Digital Signage

By Optisigns - on Feb 26, 2024

Bring your communication strategy into new light with modern digital signage.

Tags: Announcements, announcements

4 Reasons Why People Leave And 3 Ways Pastors Respond

By Greg Surratt on Apr 29, 2020

In the early days of starting Seacoast, I used to wince when someone asked for an appointment. “Was this another ‘core team member’ hanging up their spurs?”, I’d think to myself.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25-35, Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Church, Church Growth, Connect, Assimilation, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

7 Phrases Christians Like To Say That Aren’t True

By Lori Hatcher on May 31, 2024

"We’ve all heard them—phrases that sound wise, insightful, and biblical. But are they really? Let’s look at some common sayings, compare them to the Bible, and see if they hold up."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, James 1:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 John 3:10, Daniel 10:11, Psalm 148:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Theology, Know the Truth, Biblical truth, chosen people, Enduring Hardship, help in temptation, guard the truth, Contending for truth  (view more)  (view less)

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

Remember This Christmas Season, There Is Always, Always Hope!

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 7, 2023

Jesus knows you. He knows your pain and your problems and your potential.

Scripture: Romans 4:18

Tags: Christmas, Advent, Hope, Christmas Advent

Relevant, Old Paths

By Rev. Burk Parsons on Nov 26, 2022

If we are to redirect the current paths of young people, we must begin in the church by taking up the charge to come alongside younger men and women, and teach them the old, ancient values of God's Word.

Tags: teach, BIBLE STUDY, bible truth, Bible Study, Bible Truth, pastoral leadership, teach children, call to discipleship, guard the truth, child training, bible study  (view more)  (view less)

What’s The Big Hurry?

By Lance Witt on Feb 9, 2021

I confess to you that I am a hurrier. I wish I had a dollar for every time my kids have heard me say in an agitated tone “Hurry up!” Sometimes I walk in a hurry and leave my wife behind. When I have to wait in line, or a flight gets delayed, or there is dead time in a worship service, or someone is telling a long story, I find myself internally saying, “Could you please hurry up?”

Tags: Busyness

Soul Cartography: Assessing Your Journey Toward Spiritual Intelligence

By Alan E. Nelson on Mar 3, 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)

Eight Ideas For Reaping The Fruit Of Your Vacation Bible School

By Hal Seed on Jul 8, 2024

Hal Seed helps pastors and church leaders measure the success of their children’s ministry outreach events and retain unchurched families as a result.

Tags: Church, Children, Outreach, family, VBS, Evangelism How To, church  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways To Make Your Preaching More Practical And Relevant

By Rick Ezell on Jan 31, 2025

Use these methods to practically reach people suffering from real hurts, problems, doubts, fears, and anxieties gnawing at their faith.

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34, Romans 10:4

Tags: Preaching, Culture, Self, Relevance, audience, application, preaching, culture  (view more)  (view less)