In Preaching Articles: "Criticism"

One Critical Conviction

By Peter Mead on Apr 29, 2021

A preaching ministry is built on a whole set of convictions. Convictions about God, the Gospel, about people, about ministry.

Tags: Communication, Bible Influence, Bible Relevance, reading the bible, communication  (view more)  (view less)

3 Positive Ways To Respond To Negative Criticism

By Joe Hoagland on Feb 26, 2021

Some criticism is unequivocally bad criticism. It is destructive, not based 100% in truth, and is based in bad intentions. Prepare yourself for this kind of criticism.

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, criticism, preaching

Thom Rainer: When Not To Respond To Your Critics

By Thom Rainer on Jul 29, 2025

Consider this: If you are not being criticized, you are probably not a leader.

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:2-4

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, Critic, thom rainer, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Store Away The Criticisms For Tuesday Morning (And 3 More Great Suggestions)

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 30, 2019

One of the most dangerous times for a pastor are the hours following his Sunday sermon.

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, dangerous, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Top 10 Tips For Handling Church Critics

By Charles Stone on Aug 9, 2024

Criticism is unavoidable in ministry, but how pastors respond shapes their health and leadership. Here are practical ways to face critics with maturity and grace.

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1, James 1:19-20, Galatians 6:1, Proverbs 27:6, Colossians 3:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ministry Skills

When People Criticize Your Preaching

By Lance Witt on Jan 9, 2021

Gifted speakers and novices alike experience this unenjoyable aspect: people's criticism. In today's Pastor to Pastor, Lance Witt discusses a proper response from a biblical perspective.

Scripture: Proverbs 8:33

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Should We Try To Please Our Listeners? How Much?

By Peter Mead on Sep 18, 2025

If listeners aren't satisfied, it could be a good sign, or it could be a bad sign. In the same way, happy listeners may mean something is wrong.

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, please, listener, Feedback, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Right And Wrong Ways To Deal With Criticism

By Ron Edmondson on Mar 21, 2025

Criticism is inevitable in leadership. Here are five wrong responses to avoid and five wise practices that help leaders learn, grow, and steward feedback well.

Scripture: Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 19:20, James 1:19, Ecclesiastes 7:5

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Criticism, Confidence, evaluation, criticism, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

4 Things Every Preacher Should Forget Each Sunday Morning

By Leslie Holmes on Aug 23, 2025

When it's time to stand and deliver, we need to leave some things behind.

Scripture: John 14:20-30, Galatians 6:1-10

Tags: criticism, preaching, Preaching, mistakes, Criticism, Forget, Sins, blue  (view more)  (view less)

The Haunted Hayride Of Human Approval

By Marshall Segal on Jan 25, 2022

Perhaps the single most significant hindrance to Christian witness in the world today is our hunger for human approval. By nature, we think more about what people think of us than about what they think of Jesus.

Scripture: Acts 14:8-22, Philippians 3:8

Tags: Criticism, Approval, Approval by Men, praise from men, criticism  (view more)  (view less)

Top 10 Healthy Ways To Handle The Church Critic

By Charles Stone on Aug 17, 2022

“Two things you can’t avoid in ministry are…people late to the service and … church critics.” In this short post, I suggest 10 ways to handle the church critic.

Tags: Criticism, patience, offense, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, loving enemies, Disarming, criticism  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Preachers Never Say – Pt.2

By Peter Mead on May 8, 2024

This series looks at seven things preachers never say. Last time we thought about the burden of expectation. How about this for another: The negative outcomes of both criticism and apathy.

Tags: Criticism, Apathy, Gossip, slander, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Negative Response, Backbiting, criticism  (view more)  (view less)

9 Stupid Things I Did As A Pastor

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 11, 2020

Does your misery love company? Come sit next to Thom Rainer a while.

Tags: Prayer Life, Pastor, prayer life, criticism, Worry, preaching, Preaching, worry, pastor, neglect, Criticism  (view more)  (view less)

Are Your Sermon Illustrations Really Indecent Exposure? 10 Critical Checkpoints

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 13, 2024

Sermon illustrations should be like letting sunlight into a window, not like putting a spotlight on a stage.

Scripture: Amos 5:4-15

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Why Some People Aren’t Happy With Your Preaching

By Peter Mead on Feb 28, 2025

Many pastors are blindsided when members quietly express frustration with their preaching. The reasons vary widely, ranging from communication issues to personality friction to the discomfort of genuine conviction. Preachers can respond well, shepherd wisely, and preach faithfully for the glory of Christ.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12, James 3:1, Galatians 1:10, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Communication, Preaching, Criticism, church leadership, criticism, Sermon Preparation, communication, preaching, sermon preparation, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)