In Preaching Articles: "Urban Church"

The Top 3 Reasons Church Growth Ideas Usually Fail In Smaller Churches

By Karl Vaters on Aug 30, 2022

We're often told that small churches are failing at church growth. But sometimes church growth ideas are failing in smaller churches.

Tags: Church Growth, Context, pastoral leadership, Church Attendance, church ministry, rural church, Growth Strategy, Urban Church, context, church attendance  (view more)  (view less)

7 Popular Sermon Stories That Aren’t Actually True

By Trevin Wax on Feb 5, 2025

Pastors often repeat memorable illustrations that sound helpful but aren’t historically accurate. Here are seven common sermon legends worth retiring for the sake of truth.

Scripture: Mark 10:25

Tags: Preaching, Integrity, false teaching, urban legend, Illustrations, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Slaves In Your Church’s Backyard

By David Batstone on Dec 13, 2022

Modern slavery hides in plain sight. These stories reveal how trafficking thrives worldwide and even locally, calling Christians to seek justice with persistent, sacrificial love.

Tags: Compassion, Culture, Slavery, Justice, traffic, injustice, Human Trafficking, abolition, culture, Modern Slavery, Abolition  (view more)  (view less)

Growing A Church

By Barry O. Johnson on Aug 18, 2024

Should church growth be our focus?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:12, Matthew 28:20

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, Church Growth, glorifying God, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Growing Church Series: 10 Characteristics Of Churches That Grow

By Brandon Kelley on Feb 4, 2022

Instead of sitting and worrying about the state of the Church in America, let’s begin asking the question, what are growing churches doing differently?

Tags: Church Growth, intentional, proactive, Dying Church

The Best Way To Promote Church Growth? Support Small Churches

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 26, 2021

I want as many people as possible, all over the world, to know Jesus. The good news of the gospel can’t be confined within the walls of my church, the distinctives of my denomination, the borders of my country, or the customs of my culture.

Tags: Support, Preaching, Church Growth, Small Church

The Benefit Of A Church Crisis

By Josh Reich on Feb 15, 2021

Nobody likes a crisis. No one likes bad news or being disappointed or being uncomfortable. We like when things work, when things are easy, when things go our way. Yet if you are a leader, at some point you will walk through a crisis with your church.

Scripture: Acts 12:1-10

Tags: Preaching, crisis

Who Is Lord Of The Church?

By John Macarthur on Jun 15, 2022

The church today is badly in need of reformation again. And Christ’s lordship over His church is still the central truth we must recover, which requires the unleashing of His Word among His people again. We cannot merely float along with the latest evangelical trends and expect things to get better.

Scripture: Acts 10:42

Tags: Church, Body of Christ, Christ the head, Lord Of The Church, church  (view more)  (view less)

6 Things Church Leaders Need To Know About Small Churches

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 14, 2022

Ninety percent of the churches on earth are under 200 people. Eighty percent are under 100. There may be no segment of the church that is more normative. But they may also be the most misunderstood.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:25

Tags: christian unity, Church Unity, Megachurch, Small Church

The 4 Most Overlooked Realities Of A Healthy Church Turnaround

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 12, 2022

Many pastors say “I want this church to turn around”, when what we really mean is “I want this church to get bigger.” Those are two different goals.

Tags: Church, church

Thinking Bigger: How One Outreach Weekend Reshaped A Church’s Vision

By Hal Seed on Mar 4, 2025

A reformed mob boss drew 1,000 guests, 50 salvations, and momentum that reshaped outreach, volunteers, systems, and future vision for church-wide evangelism.

Tags: Church, Preaching, program, Church Growth, Invitation, Visitors, Market, Ministry Leadership, preaching, church, Guest Speakers  (view more)  (view less)

10 Reasons Even Committed Church Attenders Are Attending Church Less Often

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jun 20, 2023

It comes up in a surprising number of conversations these days. And no one’s quite sure how to respond to it. The issue? Even committed church attenders are attending church less often.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3, Matthew 24:9-13

Tags: Technology, Culture, church decline, Church attendence, culture  (view more)  (view less)

5 Mistakes More Likely To Be Made By Small Churches Than Big Churches

By Karl Vaters on May 25, 2022

Different sizes of churches serve different functions. And they face different challenges.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: strategy, Small Church, Equipping The Body, Traditions of Men

The Hottest Thing At Church Today

By Tim Challies on Jul 18, 2022

According to a new study by Gallup, the hottest thing at church today is not the worship and not the pastor. So what is it?

Scripture: Romans 10:17

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Church Growth, Expository, Biblical truth, Teaching God's Word, BIBLICAL TEACHING, preaching, teaching, expository  (view more)  (view less)

Leadership And Church Size Dynamics

By Tim Keller on Jan 2, 2025

Tim Keller explores one of the most talked-about church issues: the relationship of size to church health and culture.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:9-11, Jeremiah 23:16, Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:22, Matthew 22:29, 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, Malachi 2:1-17, Isaiah 33:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, size, Leadership General, Pastor, Leadership, church  (view more)  (view less)