In Preaching Articles: "Urgent Questions"

5 Questions Before You Preach

By Joel Mayward on Mar 9, 2026

Strong preaching requires intentional focus. These five questions help preachers keep their sermons centered on Jesus, the gospel, the heart, and practical response.

Scripture: John 16:20-23, Ephesians 5:6-14, 1 Corinthians 2:2, James 1:22, Luke 24:27  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: points, preaching, Speak, Heart, Preaching, Homiletics  (view more)  (view less)

A Crucial Question: The Why Of Expository Preaching

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 31, 2024

It's not just academic; it's essential for life-giving sermons.

Scripture: Numbers 6:24-27, Joshua 6:6-27, Joshua 4:5-16

Tags: Expository, Essential, Academic, preaching, expository, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Sermon Feedback: 6 Questions For Better Preaching

By Peter Mead on Jul 19, 2024

Clear, simple sermon-feedback questions help preachers grow. These six practical prompts reveal clarity, engagement, biblical accuracy, and delivery strengths.

Scripture: Acts 8:25

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, experience, Improvement, evaluation, Homiletics, Communication Skills, WORDS THAT KILL, Pastoral Ministry, Communication skills, improvement, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Preaching Questions With Ray Ortlund Jr.

By Colin Adams on Feb 21, 2025

Ray Ortlund reflects on preaching’s centrality, the weight of the pulpit, and the spiritual realities that shape a faithful, believable, Christ-exalting ministry.

Scripture: Romans 10:14

Tags: Homiletics

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

5 Questions That Reveal Your Leadership Strengths

By Charles Stone on Mar 22, 2023

When we discover, develop, and deploy our strengths and gifts, we maximize our Kingdom impact and experience the greatest joy.

Scripture: John 19:28-29

Tags: preaching, Preaching

A Question Pastors Need To Hear From Jesus

By Lance Witt on Jun 12, 2022

Ultimately, if God is not working in you, the joy of his work through you will be short-lived.

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Tags: leadership, pastoral leadership, soul care, receiving, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Max Lucado On Questions, Suffering, Scripture, And The Heart Of Preaching

By Max Lucado on Jul 26, 2024

"I really believe the purpose of Scripture is to give us this authoritative handbook. We have a place where we can take people when they come to us with questions so we're not just speaking out of our own opinion."

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:16, Luke 5:1-11, John 21:1-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: BIBLICAL TEACHING, Biblical Teaching

Four Sharp Questions To Whittle Your Sermon Into Shape

By Tyler Scarlett on Jul 20, 2025

The sermon's not done until you sharpen the point. Here are four excellent ways to do it.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:22-24

Tags: Preaching, points, Sharpen, preaching

5 Questions A Pastor Should Ask Every Year

By Josh Reich on Jan 25, 2021

As leaders, we can sometimes stand in the way of change. Instead, let's take a hard look at our lives and ask these five questions to grow as leaders.

Tags: Preaching

When Pastors Misplace Their Identity: 10 Probing Questions

By Charles Stone on Sep 18, 2022

“No one is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do.” ––Paul Tripp

Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:1

Tags: Ministry, identity, Identity in Christ, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, Right Priorities, self assement, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

8 Questions To Ask Before You Preach A Sermon

By Josh Reich on Oct 16, 2022

8 questions to ask as you prepare to preach your next sermon.

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Preaching Help, pastoral leadership, preaching the Word, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, effective preaching, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Death By Ministry

By Eugene Cho on Jan 22, 2025

Pastoral ministry is rewarding yet deeply taxing. These insights and statistics reveal its strain, spiritual battles, and the urgent need to care for our pastors well.

Tags: Ministry, leadership, pastor, Servanthood, Church Body of Christ, Pastor, Pastor Encouragement, Clergy Wellness, Leadership, ministry challenges, ministry, pastor encouragement, Pastoral Health, Ministry Challenges  (view more)  (view less)

Francis Chan's – Seven Questions To Ask Before You Preach

By Francis Chan on Jan 17, 2024

Faithful preaching flows from love for God and people. These seven diagnostic questions help preachers prepare messages marked by truth, power, and humility.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10, Galatians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:15, Zechariah 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preaching, Christian teaching, Christian Teaching

Do You Answer The Right Questions When You Preach?

By Mike Glenn on Oct 22, 2024

Yes, we have the answer, but are we asking the right questions?

Scripture: Luke 23:40-45

Tags: Answer, Gospel, Preaching, Discontent, millennials, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)