In Preaching Articles: "Discipleship"

Rethinking "Next Steps” In Discipleship

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 29, 2020

Churches often talk about “next steps,” but the phrase can become vague and ineffective. Meaningful discipleship requires clear, practical, and relational pathways for spiritual growth.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 10:24-25, James 1:22, Colossians 1:28, 2 Peter 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Story, success, step, next, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Three Passages That Define Discipleship

By Ray Hollenbach on Jul 16, 2025

Discipleship is not a cafeteria option added onto the gospel. These three foundational passages reveal it as the mission, the destination, and the daily rhythm of life with Jesus.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 8:29, Matthew 11:28-30, John 15:8

Tags: Growth, Discipleship, Disciples, gospel, Jesus, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Lessons On Christian Discipleship From The Film Gravity

By Jacob Myers on Jan 13, 2023

The film Gravity offers striking imagery that parallels Christian discipleship, illustrating mentorship, guidance, encouragement, and the courage to release others to grow.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Hebrews 13:7, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Gravity, preaching, Faith, Preaching, Prayer, illustration  (view more)  (view less)

3 Things Our Culture Is Doing To Bible Reading And Discipleship

By Mary C. Wiley on Jun 23, 2024

"We live in a microwave meals, listen-to-podcasts-in-double-time world. We want more with less; work smarter not harder. However, the move forward or get left behind mentality of today is not a good transferrable principle for discipleship. Mostly because discipleship is all about people, and people can’t be boiled down to a series of tasks. People are messy and their needs aren’t linear."

Tags: Discipleship, spiritual growth, church community, TEACH THE BIBLE, call to discipleship, training disciples, guard the truth, Study the Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Smaller Churches Can Do Discipleship—without Wearing Out The Pastor

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 11, 2021

After a few hit-and-miss attempts, our church has discovered a simple five-step process that can work for any small church.

Tags: Preaching, Process, Small Church, Limitations, preaching, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching: Teaching People The Way They Actually Learn

By Wayne Cordeiro on Mar 14, 2025

Effective teaching isn’t just knowing your message; it’s knowing how people learn. Adjusting to generational learning styles strengthens how truth is received and lived out.

Tags: Discipleship

R. C. Sproul: Why Good Teaching Is Simple But Never Simplistic

By R. C. Sproul on Jan 2, 2023

Effective teaching does not avoid complexity but translates it. True mastery shows itself in clarity that simplifies without distorting truth.

Scripture: Proverbs 1:5, Proverbs 9:9, Luke 24:27, Matthew 13:34-35, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship

Why Relational Preaching Is Harder And More Powerful

By Chris Surber on Apr 23, 2025

Faithful preaching is not detached proclamation but relational burden-bearing. Pastors who live among their people preach with greater urgency, intimacy, and impact.

Scripture: John 6:66-71, Galatians 6:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 1 Timothy 4:16, Ephesians 4:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship

Six Reasons The Church Still Matters

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 8, 2024

Despite the failures of many congregations, Scripture presents the church as God’s design for spiritual growth, community, authority, and witness in the world.

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:24-25, Hebrews 13:17, Colossians 3:12-14

Tags: Discipleship

3 Reasons Why I Give My Listeners Homework (And Why You Should, Too)

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 20, 2025

When we ask something more of our congregation we will quickly discover whether we are preaching for spiritual entertainment or spiritual formation.

Tags: Discipleship

Preaching For Life-Change

By Rick Long on Mar 30, 2025

MacArthur warns against shallow preaching, but Scripture allows diverse methods. Faithful preaching aims at transformed lives, not uniform styles.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 8:29, James 1:22, Ephesians 4:11-16

Tags: Church Discipleship

Daring Preaching Engages The Culture: Does Yours?

By Joe Mckeever on Aug 25, 2024

Christ sends us into the world but warns us not to be shaped by it. Faithful ministry means engaging culture with wisdom, tension, and gospel-centered discernment.

Scripture: John 17:14-18, Romans 14:4, Acts 17:22-23, 1 Corinthians 9:22, Ephesians 2:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Discipleship

What Are You Doing To Stay Small And Strategic?

By Peter Mead on Jul 31, 2024

Bigger isn’t always better. Lasting impact often comes through small, intentional investments in people rather than ever-expanding programs or crowds.

Tags: Discipleship, Church Growth

The Post-Sermon Bible Test

By Peter Mead on Jan 10, 2024

Good preaching doesn’t end when the sermon ends. It equips listeners to return to the text, understand it, desire it, and handle it for themselves in the days ahead.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, preaching

Why Information Alone Cannot Make Disciples

By Outreach Inc. on Apr 9, 2025

The modern church excels at teaching information but often fails at formation. Real discipleship requires embodied obedience, risk, and lived imitation, not lectures alone.

Scripture: Luke 6:40, James 1:22, John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Matthew 28:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship, Following Jesus