In Preaching Articles: "Urban Church"

4 Ways To Approach Unsaved Church Members

By Brian Croft on Jul 23, 2024

Pastors often meet sincere people who desire church membership but show little grasp of the gospel. This article offers four pastoral principles for wise, patient discernment.

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Tags: Discernment, Local Church Leadership

3 Simple Questions For Better Church Outreach

By Kevin Harney on Mar 17, 2025

Churches often pray, plan, and invest in outreach efforts, yet see little evangelistic fruit. These three diagnostic questions reveal whether a congregation truly has the biblical conviction, the gospel-driven love, and the sacrificial willingness needed to cultivate an outreach-shaped culture.

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 11:1-30

Tags: leadership, Leadership

Top 10 Tips For Handling Church Critics

By Charles Stone on Aug 8, 2024

Criticism is unavoidable in ministry, but how pastors respond shapes their health and leadership. Here are practical ways to face critics with maturity and grace.

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1, James 1:19-20, Galatians 6:1, Proverbs 27:6, Colossians 3:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ministry Skills

The Future Of The Church Depends On Developing Deep People

By Ray Hollenbach on May 7, 2020

Gordon MacDonald argues that preaching and programs cannot secure a church’s future. Only intentional disciple-making and leadership development can.

Scripture: Mark 3:13-14, 2 Timothy 2:2, Matthew 28:18-20, John 15:5, Ephesians 4:11-16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, training, Church Renewal, Leadership

The First Step In Bringing Change To Your Church

By John Holm on Jan 23, 2023

Change is difficult under the best of circumstances. Here's how to soften the blow and prepare your people.

Tags: Leader, Guide, difficult, Change, leader  (view more)  (view less)

Move Your Church From Consumers To Disciples

By Bill Couchenour on Mar 21, 2024

"Too often, we have allowed people to settle for giving 2 percent of their income, or attending 4 out of 5 Sundays."

Tags: Commitment, leadership, Body, Attendance, Church Discipline, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Bible Reading Is Down At Your Church

By Peter Mead on Jul 10, 2025

The most recent research presents troubling results. How does your church measure up?

Tags: Bible, Study, Preaching, Isolation, fragment, e, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

50 Forgotten Days The Church Desperately Needs

By Ray Hollenbach on Feb 8, 2023

The days between Easter and Pentecost are usually an afterthought, yet they can become an opportunity to preach the significance of the resurrection.

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Pentecost, Preaching, Significance, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Whisper That Made Me Leave My Church

By Tod Bolsinger on Sep 9, 2021

I would hear that line echoed in my mind long after each conversation was over: "Why didn't seminary prepare me for this?"

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-25

Tags: Preaching, prepare, Theology, Seminary, curriculum  (view more)  (view less)

Why The Church? Six Bold Preaching Points

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 27, 2025

The bottom line is this: Church is God’s idea, and we ignore it at our peril.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Preaching, Equip, Church's witness, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Stay At One Church For 40+ Years

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 16, 2026

Discover timeless wisdom on staying rooted in one church for 40 years. Learn key habits, mindset shifts, and relational tools that sustain long-term ministry.

Tags: Preaching, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, Conflict Resolution, how to stay, preaching, Church Leadership, Ministry Longevity  (view more)  (view less)

What Is The Church's Mission? And Why Does It Matter?

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jan 20, 2021

With the vast majority of churches struggling in some way, it’s time to rethink our future mission.

Tags: Preaching

8 Lame Excuses Church Leaders Make

By Carey Nieuwhof on Mar 27, 2023

One of the best practices you can develop as a leader is to identify your excuses and eliminate them. Start thinking and talking a different game.

Tags: leadership, Preaching, church culture, Explanation, Rules, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The "Measure Up Mentality” In Today’s Church

By Charles Stone on Dec 12, 2021

The ‘measure up mentality’ can suck the joy out of ministry. By applying a few simple ideas, you can stay positive and encouraged in your ministry even when you feel you don’t measure up in the eyes of others.

Scripture: Psalm 62:5

Tags: leadership, Preaching, pastor, Laziness, hard work, Pastor, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Church Growth Is A Shockingly Inexact Science

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 6, 2021

"There is no surefire method for numerical church growth. Period."

Tags: Preaching, Church Growth, preaching