In Preaching Articles: "Up Your Game"

When People Compare Pastors

By Charles Stone on Mar 27, 2021

Many pastors secretly struggle with measuring up to very successful pastors and churches. It’s tough, but it comes with ministry. People compare pastors. In this post I suggest a few ways to deal with this “measure up mentality.” I begin with one pastor’s experience.

Scripture: Psalm 62:5

Tags: Discouragement, Approval, Comparison, High expectations

Trust Your Stuff: Two Ways To Know When Your Sermon Is Ready

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Mar 13, 2023

You could study and prep for 100 hours and still find something wrong with the sermon. Eventually, it's time to stand and deliver.

Scripture: Proverbs 3:20-30, Judges 6:1-16

Tags: sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching, Sermon prep, Preaching, prepare, practice, Edit  (view more)  (view less)

Managing The Clock In Your Preaching

By James O. Davis on May 29, 2020

James O. Davis reminds preachers that the length of a presentation is not determined by the clock but by the crowd.

Scripture: Ephesians 5:16

Tags: Church, Preaching, Time

Slaves In Your Church's Backyard

By David Batstone on Dec 14, 2022

Activist David Batstone urges pastors to focus ministry against the terrible prevalence of human trafficking in the U.S. and around the world.

Tags: Culture, Slavery, Justice, traffic, injustice, culture  (view more)  (view less)

Keep The Momentum In Your Preaching

By Peter Mead on Feb 24, 2025

Does your sermon keep building momentum as you progress or does it stall out in the middle or end? Peter Mead offers encouragement for preachers to avoid the common pitfalls to message momentum.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:13

Tags: Communication, Preaching, momentum, Communication Speech, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Uncovering Your Crowd Addiction

By Brady Boyd on Apr 20, 2020

How do you relieve ministry stress? Do you seek God for refuge or the adoration of crowds?

Tags: Preaching, Cross, Crowd, Addiction, leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Tear Your Sermon In Half

By John Mcclure on Jun 26, 2020

It's a daring move: slash your outline! Your congregation will love you, and they'll remember more.

Scripture: Acts 13:1-17, Acts 12:1-14

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Update Your First Impression

By Chet Gladkowski on Apr 4, 2023

First impressions still matter, but you don't have to use the same approach for three decades. Here are three areas to check if you're considering some changes.

Tags:

Is Your Preaching God-Centered?

By Bernie Van Eyk on Sep 11, 2024

Our preaching is a reflection of our theology. If the Word is theocentric (God-centered), how can our preaching be anything other than theocentric?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Is There Good News In Your Sermon?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Aug 12, 2020

If you have trouble finding something to celebrate, look for the Good News first. The celebration will jump out at you.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10, Mark 6:1-13

Tags: Gospel, Preaching, Good News

Share Your Sermon On Thursday

By Brian Croft on Sep 8, 2020

Discover a wealth of resources by inviting others into the process of your sermon preparation.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Is Your Preaching God-Centered?

By Bernie Van Eyk on May 26, 2021

"Therapy has replaced theology in much contemporary preaching. The self has acquired center stage, and God, if He is there at all, has been marginalized."

Tags: God, Preaching, focus, Center

Is Your Preaching Stained With Blood?

By Russell Moore on May 29, 2025

American Christianity is far less bloody than it used to be. Why?

Tags: Worship, blood, Preaching, teach, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Is Preaching Your Work Or God's?

By Peter Mead on Jul 29, 2021

Paul wrote and he wrote very strongly, but where was his confidence?

Tags: Paul, Preaching, work, action, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What Is The Purpose In Your Preaching?

By Ken Collins on Jun 12, 2025

Here are four reasons veteran preacher Ken Collins preaches. How many purposes do you have?

Tags: Preaching, Purpose, Glorify, ken collins, preaching  (view more)  (view less)