Articles

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

To Read or Not to Read — That’s the Question

George M. Docherty

Returning from church one Sunday evening, the elder, in response to his wife's question about the sermon, replied, "Well, Jean, I have just three comments. He read it. He read it badly. And it wasn't worth read... Continue Reading...

Preaching with a computer? Something just doesn’t compute!

Michael Duduit

Bit by byte, the computer is replacing legal pads and ball-point pens for more and more preachers.In the olden days (B.C. -- Before Commodore), we'd sit down at the desk with a cup of coffee at our side, six le... Continue Reading...

Jonathan Edwards: Powerful mind and message

It was a study in contrasts as the frail-looking preacher stood before the congregation. Weak, thin and suffering from failing eyesight, he held his manuscript close to his face and spoke calmly, seemingly with... Continue Reading...

Preaching And Grief<br/>(Fourth in a Five-Part Series)

Wayne E. Oates

The prophet Isaiah tells us that the Suffering Servant was a person "of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Jesus himself lived out this way of life of the Messiah. He is the Chief Shepherd. You and I as preac... Continue Reading...

The Cup of Wonder: Communion Meditations

Lloyd John Ogilvie

The Feast Of FreedomText: Jeremiah 52:31-34Let me dramatize for you what it means for me to take communion.Picture for a moment the sumptuous beauty of the dining hall in Babylon. Sense the array of kings. Let ... Continue Reading...

When Laughter Is Okay at a Funeral

James Vincent

At 107 years old, the small frail woman still enjoyed life. Her humor and insight had sharpened with age. When her pastor, Robert Oldham, visited during her final months, she cheered him and herself by recallin... Continue Reading...

Minstrel or Messenger

Michael Duduit

In recent years I have, on several occasions, heard people discuss where they were when they heard about President Kennedy's assassination. One thing I haven't heard discussed is who they first heard the news f... Continue Reading...

Preaching to Emotional Needs<br/>(Preaching and Pastoral Care–Part Three of Five)

Wayne E. Oates

In one sense, any preaching that you and I do addresses one kind of human emotion or another. Such a statement raises the issue of just what your conception of human personality is. Much writing on homiletics d... Continue Reading...

Preaching From I and II Peter

Harold C. Perdue

The issues and concerns of persons today are found in the pages of Scripture. No matter how distant we are from the experiences of New Testament Christians, those writings are still relevant to the issues which... Continue Reading...

Twentieth-Century Sermons

Brooks H. Wester

What Being With Jesus Can Do For YouActs 4:1-22Some months ago the Marine Corps of the United States of America had an advertising campaign designed to increase the number of young men enlisting in their ranks.... Continue Reading...