Guest AuthorEvery church is full of sufferers. No matter the size of your congregation, someone is probably suffering from illness, relational dysfunction, financial distress, loss, addiction, or any number of hardships. Thankfully, there are worship songs that...
Mark WardLogos is my preferred tool for sermon preparation, but history proves you don’t have to use Logos in order to teach the Bible carefully and effectively. Somehow Paul managed pretty well without it. Augustine and Chrysostom reportedly didn’t...
Logos StaffSpiritual gifts can either seem like something for the early Church in ages long past . . . or like something so hard to pin down, they’re more to be accepted than understood. But after exploring which spiritual gifts are listed in the Bible (an...
Like lighting Advent candles, Advent readings (for church services or personal devotions) provoke a pause from the everyday. There’s nothing quite like navigating the special weeks of Advent: preparation, anticipation, joy, and incarnation. ...
Lexham PressChristians understand the meaning of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem . . . but there’s so much that’s hazy in our imagination and understanding of the details. Popular Christmas songs, Christmas movies, and Christmas media have given us the wrong idea...
Mary JahnkeBible study can be as addictive as eating Fritos: “You can never eat one. You can eat a half a bag, but not one.” That’s what Chuck Swindoll, one of the best Bible teachers, says. But for many Christians, reading the Bible feels like eating...
An old saying goes, “A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to come unraveled.” And even though that’s true, Christians still need encouragement to pray. Here are nine sermon illustrations on prayer to help provide it. 1. How God listens In 2009 news...
Ryan NelsonChurch growth and church visitors go together. After all, how does your church grow if not by adding new people? Most churches follow one of these two approaches—but which is better in the long run? Approach #1: Full speed ahead Suppose...
Scriptures touch hearts and change lives in every area, even the touchy subject of money—specifically, tithes and offerings. So are you using Scriptures about giving in your church services? You likely don’t want to use the same Bible verses on...
There seem to be countless sermon illustrations on faith—but some are better than others. Find six memorable ones below! 1. Sermon illustration on enduring faith From Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes: Faith honors...
This is a guest post by Peter Krol. A reader of my blog recently emailed to say, “I was never intentionally taught how to lead a Bible study, and, when the time came for me to teach others how to do it, I had no idea even where to begin.” Do you...
“How is it almost Christmas?” I ask that almost every year—but especially in this one . . . 2020 . . . the year that has somehow moved by slower than a slug but quicker than a Tesla Model S on the Autobahn—simultaneously. (Motion sickness, much...
Many of us can remember sitting hunched over the kitchen table as a kid, toiling away at a stack of thank-you notes. We wanted to say thank you—but it seemed so hard to come up with an interesting way to express our gratitude. Years later, and that...
Leading a small group Bible study can be deeply rewarding with the right preparation. Here are the four steps that will help you prepare and lead your group well. Step 1: Prepare yourself to lead a small group. Step 2: Determine what your group...
Jennifer GrishamHow are you discipling families in your church? You may not have a formal family ministry, but having some sort of discipleship plan for parents and children isn’t optional. In days like these, where churches, schools, and kids’ extracurricular...
In my first parish I handled not only the care of souls but all the support services as well. It was a great help in succeeding locations to have some clerical assistance. In the mission congregation I served, church meetings, midweek services, and...
It’s the start of Pastor Appreciation Month—one that’s especially deserved after all the extra-long hours and adjustments COVID-19 has brought. Thank you, pastors! As you continue feeding your flock, may these three simple tips help you lighten...
Building a healthy online church community is a creative way to help people obey the “one another’s” of Scripture—particularly when face-to-face ministry isn’t an option (whether it’s because of illness, distance, or anything else). At its...
Dr. Bryan Chapell identifies common mistakes preachers make (:10) and then discusses ways preachers can focus their messages on Christ (4:20). Prepare and deliver Christ-centered sermons In these courses on expositional preaching, Dr. Bryan Chapell...
Justin Wise teaches the first step to digital ministry (0:10), and the Faithlife motion graphics team showcases an animation inspired by Isaiah 55 (4:00). Establish your church’s social media presence Did you know that you can see reviews of a...
Preaching expert Bryan Chapell talks about his ministry (0:10), and Todd Bishop shows how to use the Visual Copy feature in Logos (4:55).
Bryan Chapell teaches on expository preaching (0:10), and Scott Lindsey sits down with Gary Barnes to discuss pastoral counseling (4:20). Learn how to ‘say what the text says’ Bryan Chapell says expository preaching is all about...
Justin Wise teaches the first step to digital ministry (0:10), and the Faithlife motion graphics team showcases an animation inspired by Isaiah 55 (4:00). Establish your church’s social media presence Did you know that you can see reviews of a...
Church advertising? Isn’t that a bit . . . commercial? I felt that way when I first started using Facebook ads for my church. But then I saw who was liking my church’s ad. Far from the usual suspects, dozens of people I’d never seen at our church...
In preparation for this blog post, I asked my 13-year-old nephew what he valued most in a small group leader. He said, “I just want someone who really wants to know me and cares about my life.” That takes the pressure off being a perfect leader...
When you walk into church this weekend, consider what it would be like without an administrator making sure everything works behind the scenes. Who would make sure coffee was ready? Would the church building be clean? Would the bulletins be accurate...
Get equipped for urban ministry Dr. John Fuder served in urban ministry for 15 years in California, and was the professor of urban studies at Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago for 17 years. He now trains and coaches the broader body of Christ to...
Put Christ at the center of your preaching With decades of experience as a seminary professor and president, pastor, and preaching coach, Dr. Chapell is one of the most engaging instructors you will ever come across. In the Mobile Ed format, his...
Choose Joy with Kay Warren Ever wonder why some people seem to experience joy in their daily lives–even in the tough times—and others can’t seem to find it no matter how hard they search? Is a joy-filled life really possible? The answer is yes! And...
Proclaim makes it easy to record your sermons, and publishing them online or in a podcast is nearly effortless. But what if you want to review your sermons with staff, a mentor, or on your own? Or, more importantly, what’s the best way for...