Sermon Helps Featured Articles Archives

• The Gospel in an Abortion Culture  (January 23, 2012)
  What we often forget is the second casualty of an abortion culture: the consciences of countless men and women.
• Ten Books Pastors Should Read in 2012  (January 11, 2012)
  So many books, so little time. If you're wondering where you should focus your time this year, here's the short list.
• Ten Temptations of a Leader  (December 30, 2011)
  Every time we fall into one of the temptations, we end up short-circuiting our purpose, sinning against God, harming others, and deceiving ourselves into thinking we are doing well.
• Pastoral Infidelity: Problems and Solutions  (December 26, 2011)
  When a pastor falls into sin, especially sexual sin, the ripple effect on the lives of others is often immeasurable.
• Sharing the Gospel with Family and Friends at Holiday Gatherings (video)  (December 23, 2010)
  The holiday season is a great time to share the gospel with family and friends. In this brief video, author Mark Mittelberg offers practical and biblical counsel on how to discuss spiritual matters without being defensive or fearful.
• Simple Ways to Help Hurting Families this Christmas  (December 13, 2005)
  Is someone in your congregation experiencing a difficult Christmas? You can offer comfort and encouragement this season by reaching out with these sweet remembrances.
• Preaching Through Their Defenses: An Interview with John Ortberg  (August 28, 2008)
  "I will try any vehicles I can think of to get folk's attention... I try to find ways visually, try to find stories, try to have people tell stories, playing out the contrast."
• Preaching Points: Is There Life After a Pulpit Blooper?  (November 15, 2011)
  It is inevitable in a lifetime of preaching that we shall all make mistakes in our preaching.
• Five Keys to Overcoming Negativity  (November 1, 2011)
  Some of us wake up with an attitude of gratitude. Yet others wake up with dread, worry, or a to-do list that intimidates the world?s most organized woman.
• The Risks and Rewards of Mentioning Those Parts of the Old Testament  (July 15, 2011)
  What's it like to preach on the morally problematic passages of the Old Testament in connection with modern, Christian faith?
• Setting Priorities and Being Productive in Ministry  (October 14, 2011)
  God wants men of integrity and industry who will carry out their tasks with energy, enthusiasm and endurance. To meet those qualifications, a pastor must set priorities.
• Why I Don't Evangelize  (September 23, 2011)
  Here I am walking the planet and ignoring the greatest need of people. I can talk to them about weather, sports, food or whatever, but Jesus? This is not on my tongue.
• 7 Things We Regularly Get Wrong About Worship  (May 24, 2011)
  Listen as the congregation files out of the sanctuary on Sunday, and you'll hear the common refrain: "I didn't get anything out of ___ [fill-in-the-blank] ___."
• When Pastors Fail to Practice what they Preach  (November 7, 2006)
  Prior to the revelations concerning Teg Haggard, Ray Pritchard received an email from a woman distraught about repeated pastoral problems in her local church. Her words speak for multitudes who have been disappointed with their spiritual leaders.
• Two Reasons Why Christians Gossip  (May 28, 2007)
  Think of how many times you have believed something to be true only to find out the information was totally wrong. Vaccinate yourself with some scriptural truths about gossip.
• Rescuing Fallen Church Leaders  (September 7, 2011)
  Pick the sin and it?s likely that someone trusted as a leader in the kingdom of God has done it and been exposed.
• Ministry Post-9/11: Thoughts from Leading Pastors  (September 8, 2011)
  Five well-known pastors, including two former Muslims, respond to the question: "How does living in a post-9/11 world influence the way you preach and do ministry?"
• Pastoral Ministry & Wartime Thinking  (August 10, 2011)
  Paul Tripp's article "Pastoral Ministry is War" got me thinking: hasn't the Lord already won that war?
• What Subway Can Teach the Church  (March 28, 2011)
  ?We?re continually looking at just about any opportunity for someone to buy a sandwich, wherever that might be,? says Don Fertman, Subway?s Chief Development Officer. ?The closer we can get to the customer, the better.?
• Can You Please Explain Philippians 1:15-18?  (June 28, 2011)
  The overarching point of this passage is that God, in his gracious sovereignty, turns even prison and bad motives into the advancement of the gospel.