In Preaching Articles: "Purpose"

4 Goals Every Sermon Should Accomplish

By Ken Collins on Jun 11, 2025

What should preaching accomplish? Effective sermons educate the mind, nurture faith, motivate discipleship, and ultimately glorify God.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:18, James 2:17, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:17, 1 Corinthians 10:31  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Preaching, Purpose, Glorify, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Live To Make God Look Good

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 1, 2022

The great tragedy of the universe is that while human beings were made to glorify God because of who they are and what they see, we have all fallen short of this purpose.

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Romans 3:23, Romans 1:23, Isaiah 40:4, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 48:9-11, Isaiah 60:2, Isaiah 49:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, glory of God, meaning of life, glorify Christ, what is the purpose of life, Eternal Purpose, Self glory  (view more)  (view less)

11 Ways Preaching Can Harm Instead Of Heal The Church

By Joseph Mattera on Feb 7, 2024

Preaching is God’s ordained means of transformation, yet mishandled sermons can do real damage. Here are 11 ways preaching can hurt rather than help.

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-15, 1 Corinthians 1:21, Acts 20:27, John 15:5

Tags: Hurt, Preaching, Purpose, help, Vital, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Say Good-Bye: Preaching Your Last Sermon

By Chris Surber on Nov 9, 2021

People usually listen closely to your first words--and your last. Make them meaningful.

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: Preaching, Purpose, preparation, Goodbye, last sermon, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Keys To Increasing Your Church's Footprint

By Jim Morgan on Dec 21, 2021

Jesus modeled discipleship and community engagement as an example for His Church to follow. He felt a small number of highly effective disciples would cover much more ground than a slew of casual followers.

Tags: Outreach, Missional, Make Disciples, local church purpose

3 Building Blocks Of A Truly Memorable Sermon

By Sherman Haywood Cox on May 25, 2023

Help your listeners connect with your preaching points--and their purpose!

Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-40

Tags: Preaching, Building Blocks, memorable sermon, strong points, illustrate, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Five Reasons We Preach

By David Padfield on Apr 7, 2026

Preaching is not empty performance. It explains Scripture, exposes error, lifts up Christ, and calls people to understand the church and the gospel rightly.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Nehemiah 8:7-8, Acts 2:37, Acts 8:34-35, 1 Corinthians 2:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sermon on the Mount, gospel, preaching, Gospel, Preaching, Purpose, Respect  (view more)  (view less)

The One Time Jesus Prayed For You (Part 2)

By Lance Witt on Apr 3, 2024

“What does true “unity” look like practically? If Jesus’ prayer was answered, what would be the evidence?”

Scripture: Romans 12:10, Acts 4:32-35

Tags: Generosity, christian unity, Church Unity, local church purpose

Preach The Present Pentecost, Not The Past

By David J. Lose on Feb 19, 2023

There's nothing more resistant to purposeful, hopeful action in the present than nostalgia, the longing for a bygone era.

Scripture: Acts 5:1-30

Tags: Present, Preaching, past, festival, preaching, Pentecost  (view more)  (view less)

The Perfect Length For A Sermon

By Thom Schultz on Nov 6, 2020

Length does not equal depth. A faithful sermon is measured by clarity, transformation, and alignment with its purpose, not by minutes on the clock.

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-4, 1 Corinthians 2:2, James 1:22, John 16:12, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: preaching, Preaching, limit, length, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

How To Handle The Gore Of Good Friday

By Peter Mead on Mar 25, 2026

Easter preaching raises a hard question for pastors: how graphic should the crucifixion be? This article explores wisdom, purpose, and pastoral sensitivity.

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-6, Matthew 27:27-50, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 12:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Good Friday, gospel proclamation, Gospel Proclamation

John Piper: The Gladness Of The Risen God

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 17, 2026

The resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals that God’s ultimate purpose is not merely to forgive sinners but to bring them into everlasting joy in His presence.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-10, Acts 2:25-28, Psalm 16:8-11, Hebrews 12:2

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

Three Key Components Of A Solid Sermon

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 12, 2020

Every faithful sermon must include three essential components: God, the preacher, and the audience. Remove one, and preaching loses its power and purpose.

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Timothy 4:16, Ezra 7:10, Matthew 28:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Biblical Leadership, preaching

9 Preaching Tips That Will Change Lives

By Rick Warren on Jan 15, 2025

I'll say it over and over: The purpose of preaching is obedience. That is why you should always preach for response, aiming for people to act on what is said.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:13, Proverbs 6:18-20

Tags: preaching, Pain, Change, repentance, Alcohol, who is jesus, Repentance, grace, Eternity, Grace, obedience, Rumor, Preaching, Sex, pain  (view more)  (view less)

Why Grace Must Accompany The Law

By David J. Lose on Jul 1, 2021

Law brings order and protection, but grace restores life. In Luke 13, Jesus shows how God’s mercy fulfills the purpose of the law and sets people free.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Luke 13:10-16, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Matthew 22:37-40  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Law, Gospel, Preaching, Good News, grace, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)