In Preaching Articles: "why go to church"

The Top Ten Sources Of Discouragement For Pastors

By Thom Rainer on May 20, 2024

“Is this valley I am going through normal for pastors?”

Tags: Criticism, Discouragement, church conflict, pastoral leadership, Financial Management, family dynamics, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, criticism  (view more)  (view less)

Why Didn't The Disciples Ask Jesus How To Measure Success?

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 27, 2024

Imagine this scenario. Jesus is meeting with the disciples. He’s been training them for three years. He’s died, risen again and walked with them in resurrection power for almost 40 days. As the day of his ascension draws near, he gathers them together to reiterate The Great Commission.

Scripture: Luke 14:23, Luke 15:7

Tags: Disciples, success, Church Growth, Measure success

The Whisper That Made Me Leave My Church

By Tod Bolsinger on Sep 10, 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)

Four Reasons To Slow Down

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 6, 2022

We cannot love what we do not linger over.

Scripture: Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:10, 2 Peter 3:9, Galatians 5:22

Tags: Transformation, Rest, soul care, Change is a Process, Looking back to go f  (view more)  (view less)

How (And Why) To Preach An Offensive Sermon

By Joe Mckeever on Oct 24, 2019

Every church has to choose whether it is willing to hear from God or to be rocked to sleep by the Lord's messenger.

Scripture: John 6:60-66

Tags: Preaching, Offensive, sermon

Why Preach?

By David J. Lose on Oct 6, 2020

Your sense of why you preach shapes each and every sermon you deliver. Do you know why you preach?

Tags: Preaching

Deal-Breakers: 7 Ways God May Tell A Pastor To Leave A Church

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 18, 2022

Long-term pastorates are almost always good for the church and the pastor. But when these things happen, it's time to go.

Tags: Discernment, Resignation, Knowing God's Will, church ministry

7 Dangerous Church Hiring Mistakes

By Brian Orme on Mar 28, 2024

We don’t want you to drop $300K (or more) of Kingdom funds on bad staffing when it should go toward Gospel-centered initiatives. So, here are seven hiring mistakes you want to avoid at all costs.

Tags: Church, Preaching, mistakes, church and business, hiring, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Why Pastors Shouldn't Read Anonymous Notes

By David Whiting on Dec 24, 2021

Pastors and church leaders often receive anonymous comments, mysteriously appearing in the church office,the offering plate, or the “comments” section of the Sunday communication card.A few years ago, I stopped reading them. They don’t even get passed onto me. Asa church leader, I recommend that you do the same thing.

Tags: leadership, Boundaries, ignore, influences in life, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Don't Go Stale: One Pastor's Keep-It-Fresh Tool Kit

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 17, 2023

"At hundreds of points, I have run out of things to say." What to do next is key.

Scripture: Esther 9:22

Tags: Fresh, Preaching, stale, karl vaters, toolkit, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Pastors Should Preach The Gospel In Every Sermon

By Greg Stier on Jul 18, 2023

Believe it or not doing something as simple as giving the Gospel in every sermon can literally transform your church.

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-28, Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:31-34, Acts 26:17-18, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, 2 Corinthians 5:11, Colossians 4:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Communion, challenge, preaching the gospel, gospel invitation

Memorial Day Is Not A Slam-Dunk For Preachers: Here's Why

By Kevin Deyoung on May 14, 2020

Kevin DeYoung: "Many churches could stand to think more carefully about their theology of God and country."

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Preaching Without A Net: Delivering Sermons Without Notes

By Bruce Salmon on Mar 3, 2025

It's a high wire act, one of which OSHA would not approve — preaching without notes. Only the most extraordinarily gifted speaker can pull it off, or so I used to think. Find out why.

Tags: Church, Preaching, manuscript, Fear and Worry, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Why The Cross Is Not Enough

By Ray Hollenbach on Jul 24, 2021

Preaching the cross is powerful and necessary, but there is more for us to say.

Tags: Jesus, Preaching, Cross, Enough, Powerful, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Those Frustrating Times With Church Members

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 14, 2023

"Any pastor can tell you about it. Even when you do your best to serve God by ministering to His people, some church members are not going to forgive you. You didn’t do it their way, weren’t there when they called, didn’t jump at their bark." So how do you handle these kinds of situations?

Tags: conflict, pastoral leadership, church membership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, ministry struggles, Difficult People, Love like Christ  (view more)  (view less)