Articles

Get encouraged & inspired through a variety of topics from ministry life to church leadership development to trending ideas for church growth.

Henry Ward Beecher: Preaching to change lives and society

Michael Duduit

It was a century ago -- February 27, 1887-that Henry Ward Beecher stepped into the pulpit of Brooklyn's Plymouth Church for the final time. By mid-week, the 73-year-old pastor had fallen seriously ill; the foll... Continue Reading...

Past year produced outstanding books for preachers

Albert Mohler

Of the publishing, marketing, and purchasing of books there is no end.In spite of the assaults of electronic media and other competitors, the printed word still reigns as king of the information age. Americans ... Continue Reading...

Evaluating Content of Your Preaching<br/>(Part One of a Five-Part Series)

James W. Cox

What would you think if someone who had just heard you preach said this about your sermon: "Its breath-taking banality has thrown me completely off the track. So many words and nothing said! ... Empty straw, al... Continue Reading...

John Henry Jowett: A Preacher of Grace

John Bishop

When Jowett preached in the sermon class at Airedale College, Dr. Fairbairn said to his students: "Gentlemen, I will tell you what I have observed this morning: behind that sermon there was a man."That man grew... Continue Reading...

The Presence of God: Heart of Preaching<br/>(Part One of a Five-Part Series)

Wayne E. Oates

This series on "The Presence of God in Preaching" is a sequel to a book of mine now being published by Word Books, Inc. as The Presence of God in Pastoral Counseling.I purpose to examine the work of preaching f... Continue Reading...

The Story Sermon: Key to Effective Preaching

George M. Bass

A revival of classical oratory, or what is intended to pass for it, occurs every four years in campaign speeches delivered during the presidential election contents. Millions of people see and hear them on nati... Continue Reading...

Some average thoughts to begin 1987

Michael Duduit

While browsing at the sale table of a local book store, I came across a delightful book entitled American Averages by Mike Feinsilber and William B. Mead (Dolphin Books, 1980).The authors describe it as sort of... Continue Reading...

The Dress of Thought

Haddon W. Robinson

The preacher of Ecclesiastes waits until the conclusion to write down his credentials: "Not only was the Teacher wise," he says with unsettling candor, "but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered... Continue Reading...

Born a King: A Christmas Meditation<br/>Text: Matthew 2:1-2

Billy E. Simmons

In the last stanza of his hymn "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus," Charles Wesley quite well expressed the idea that Christ was born a king:Born thy people to deliver,Born a child, and yet a king,Born to reign in... Continue Reading...

Funerals: The Healing Begins

Larry L. Howard

Tens of Thousands of times each year Christian funerals are conducted. Many of these are officiated by well-meaning but less than well-prepared clergymen who have to add yet another activity to an already burge... Continue Reading...