In Preaching Articles: "Moral Issues"

Stop Mixing Moralism With The Gospel

By Peter Mead on Aug 17, 2021

Moralistic preaching may produce external conformity, but it cannot transform the heart. Only Christ and Him crucified, preached without dilution, has the power to set people free.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:2, Galatians 2:21, Romans 1:16, Titus 2:11-12, Jeremiah 17:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Gospel, Preaching, poor preaching, gospel, preaching, Paul, God  (view more)  (view less)

Facing The Issue Of Biblical Literacy

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 12, 2022

This article is the first of six in a series on preaching in light of cultural shifts and biblical illiteracy.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible, Preaching, pastor, Preacher, Teacher, sermon prep, Biblical Literacy, Pastor, Sermon Prep, preaching, preacher, bible, biblical literacy, teacher  (view more)  (view less)

Stop Moralizing: Preach The "Why” Of The Gospel

By Peter Mead on Jul 7, 2025

Instruction alone cannot transform hearts. Faithful preaching avoids moralism by grounding every command in the gospel and answering the deeper “why.”

Scripture: Romans 1:17, John 15:5, Ephesians 2:8-10, Colossians 2:6-7, Titus 2:11-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian growth, Christian Growth

10 Pointers For Preaching On A Touchy Issue

By Peter Mead on Apr 11, 2021

Sometimes we have to preach something that is potentially controversial or that may not go down too well. Here are ten pointers to help when that is necessary.

Scripture: Acts 17:22-32

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Prayer, Self knowledge, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Can Something This Simple Supercharge Staff Morale?

By Charles Stone on Nov 20, 2023

Several months ago I began something with our staff that has been a huge hit. It’s simple. Any staff can do it, whether in a church or a business application. And it boosts staff morale and excitement when we do it. I encourage you to try it with your staff. It’s called a “Blue Sky Thinking” morning.

Tags: leadership, motivation, inspiration, Solitude, pastoral leadership, servant leadership, church ministry, Staff Meeting, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Facing The Issue Of Low Or Infrequent Church Attendance

By Ed Stetzer on Apr 18, 2024

This article is the fourth of six in a series on preaching in light of cultural shifts and biblical illiteracy.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24

Tags: Fellowship, Community, Preaching, Church Attendance, why go to church, community, preaching, church attendance, fellowship  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways Christian Leaders Can Approach The Rapidly Changing Moral Culture

By Carey Nieuwhof on Mar 14, 2021

So as a church leader – as views on sexuality, family, parenting, drugs, finance and other values change – how do you respond? What do you do when the world for which you trained—maybe even the world where your approach was once effective—is disappearing before your eyes?

Tags: Morality, strategy, Unchurched, Cultural Change, e  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Preach About Lust—and Get To The Real Issues

By Jared Moore on Nov 22, 2024

There's only one way to solve this: Get to the root of the problem. Jared Moore shows us how.

Tags: Lust, Intimacy, sexual immorality, sexual desire, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Handling A Hurricane Part 2

By Lance Witt on Nov 14, 2023

There will be a day that feels like a normal day, but there is a devastating hurricane about to hit your team. It is the hurricane of a moral failure by one of your team members. But if you have prepared, it won’t be a “freak out” moment, it will be a “let’s execute our hurricane plan” moment.

Scripture: Galatians 6:1

Tags: leadership, preparation, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Leadership Failure, Moral failure, Overcoming Crisis, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Handling A Hurricane… Part 1

By Lance Witt on Nov 9, 2023

It is going to happen. Take it to the bank. You can count on it. Someone on your team or in your organization will have a disastrous moral failure. So how do your prepare?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:12

Tags: leadership, conflict management, Pastoral Ministry, disasters, church ministry, Leadership Failure, Moral failure, Church Crisis, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

How Preachers Silence Themselves

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Aug 7, 2020

H. Beecher Hicks warns that preachers are often silenced not by persecution alone, but by fear, compromise, money, and moral failure.

Scripture: Jeremiah 20:9, Acts 4:19-20, Galatians 1:10, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Ezekiel 33:7-9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Homiletics

We Need A Theology Of Rest

By Lance Witt on Jul 26, 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)

Preaching The Power Of The Person Of Christ

By Peter Mead on Sep 11, 2020

When preaching loses sight of the personal God, it drifts into moralism. Captivating preaching flows from knowing and loving Christ.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:23, Genesis 1:26-27, 1 John 1:3, John 15:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: love, Kingdom Of God, Love, Prosperity, redemption, God's Kingdom, Kingdom of God, kingdom of God  (view more)  (view less)

The Ultimate Character Test Any Great Leader Passes

By Carey Nieuwhof on Nov 13, 2023

Moral failure takes out more leaders than it should. But real success is deeper than just avoiding the ditch.

Tags: leadership, Character, Faithfulness, Home Life, Integrity, Popularity, pastoral leadership, church leadership, First Things First, Leadership Failure, True Success, e, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Leadership And Church Size Dynamics

By Tim Keller on Jan 2, 2025

Tim Keller explores one of the most talked-about church issues: the relationship of size to church health and culture.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:9-11, Jeremiah 23:16, Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:22, Matthew 22:29, 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, Malachi 2:1-17, Isaiah 33:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, size, Leadership General, Pastor, Leadership, church  (view more)  (view less)