In Preaching Articles: "Morals"

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: Paul, God, Gospel, Preaching, poor preaching, gospel, preaching  (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

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)

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)

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

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, Prosperity, redemption, God's Kingdom, Kingdom of God, kingdom of God, love, 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)

Do You Preach Like A Pharisee?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 27, 2024

Pharisaical preaching burdens people with opinions, moralism, and guilt while starving them of grace. The pulpit must reflect Christ, not control.

Scripture: Matthew 23:4, Matthew 23:5, Titus 2:11-12, Galatians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 4:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Preaching, guilt, spiritual leadership, grace, preaching, Spiritual Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching Thanksgiving Without Guilt

By David J. Lose on Nov 17, 2025

Thanksgiving sermons often default to moral commands about gratitude. Luke 17 offers a better approach: teach people to notice grace.

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 103:2, Colossians 3:15-17, Hebrews 6:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: people, Preaching, Thanks, gratitude, Thanksgiving Holiday, preaching, Gratitude  (view more)  (view less)

Are You Sharing Information Or Changing Lives?

By Ed Stetzer on Jun 23, 2025

True transformation is not moral improvement but new life in Christ. Scripture reveals that gospel change begins with regeneration and continues through lifelong sanctification.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:6-9, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3, Philippians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Transformation, sanctification, Forward, deep change, preaching, Sanctification  (view more)  (view less)

You Won't Believe What Many Pastors Leave Out Of Their Sermons

By Peter Mead on Jun 8, 2025

Biblical instruction is central to preaching, but sermons can easily drift into moralism. Faithful preaching places commands within the larger gospel story of sin, grace, and transformation.

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke 15:25-32, Titus 2:11-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Omission, Gospel centered, preaching, Gospel Centered  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching Real Gospel Change In A World Obsessed With Self-Improvement

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 6, 2025

True transformation is not moral effort but new life in Christ. Preachers must translate “change” into gospel terms, clarifying how God recreates, reshapes, and renews His people.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Church, Growth, Discipleship, Preaching, Change, Transformation, counsel, Christian growth, new life in Christ, Spiritual Transformation, preaching, church, Christian Growth, New Life In Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Only One Perfect Pastor

By Taelor Gray on Apr 30, 2021

Growing up in church, I used to think of pastors as heroic, super-powered leaders who were almost like enhanced human beings. For me, they were moral superiors operating beyond the scope of failure and “common” struggle.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Galatians 2:11-14, Acts 20:17-38, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Tags: pastor, humanity, Imperfection, Pastoral Character, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)