In Preaching Articles: "Empty Bucket"

John Piper: The Gladness Of The Risen God

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 18, 2026

Master preacher John Piper asks his listeners three questions, then leads them to the empty tomb.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-10, Nehemiah 2:1-8:9

Tags: Forgiveness, Jesus, Easter, God, Preaching, risen, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What Is The Power Behind Every Great Preacher's Effort?

By Leslie Holmes on Jun 2, 2023

Without recognizing there is a supernatural power in all truly great preaching, we can produce an empty homiletical exercise.

Tags: Power, Preaching, supernatural, Homiletics, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

If You Can't Apply What I Preach, I've Failed You

By Glenn Packiam on Aug 22, 2020

I have a hunch that if more of us preachers had to think about our sermons leading into a humble approach to the Lord's Table, we would end not with an empty challenge for people to "do better."

Tags: Preaching

Doing Ministry Without Losing Your Soul Part 1

By Lance Witt on May 13, 2024

"There is nothing worse than trying to inspire people to be passionate about God when you have little or no passion yourself. There is nothing more empty feeling than trying to connect people to God when you feel disconnected from God."

Tags: soul care, avoiding burnout, church ministry, Growing in Faith, Christ's Love for Us, Healthy Ministry, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

We Need A Theology Of Rest

By Lance Witt on Jul 27, 2023

You don’t have to be running at an insane pace to be running on empty. I think the primary issue here isn’t the size of your ministry or the pace of your ministry. The PRIMARY issue has to do with the health of your soul (your interior life).

Scripture: Proverbs 14:8, Exodus 33:14-15, Jeremiah 6:16

Tags: Wisdom, Rest, endurance with joy, spiritual leadership, entering God's rest  (view more)  (view less)