In Preaching Articles: "Discipleship"

Rethinking "Next Steps” In Discipleship

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 30, 2020

Churches often talk about “next steps,” but the phrase can become vague and ineffective. Meaningful discipleship requires clear, practical, and relational pathways for spiritual growth.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 10:24-25, James 1:22, Colossians 1:28, 2 Peter 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Story, success, step, next, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Things Our Culture Is Doing To Bible Reading And Discipleship

By Mary C. Wiley on Jun 23, 2024

"We live in a microwave meals, listen-to-podcasts-in-double-time world. We want more with less; work smarter not harder. However, the move forward or get left behind mentality of today is not a good transferrable principle for discipleship. Mostly because discipleship is all about people, and people can’t be boiled down to a series of tasks. People are messy and their needs aren’t linear."

Tags: TEACH THE BIBLE, call to discipleship, training disciples, guard the truth, Study the Bible, Discipleship, spiritual growth, church community  (view more)  (view less)

3 Reasons Why I Give My Listeners Homework (And Why You Should, Too)

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 20, 2025

When we ask something more of our congregation we will quickly discover whether we are preaching for spiritual entertainment or spiritual formation.

Tags: Discipleship

Smaller Churches Can Do Discipleship—without Wearing Out The Pastor

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 11, 2021

After a few hit-and-miss attempts, our church has discovered a simple five-step process that can work for any small church.

Tags: Preaching, Process, Small Church, Limitations, preaching, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Five Preaching Applications From The Movie Gravity

By Jacob Myers on Jan 13, 2023

In "Gravity" we find a poignant portrayal of what Christian discipleship might look like.

Tags: Gravity, preaching, Faith, Preaching, Prayer, illustration  (view more)  (view less)

The Powerful Difference Between Lecture And Lab

By Outreach Inc. on Apr 9, 2025

There are untold thousands of Christians who can take the "God test" and get all the answers right, but who remain unformed and unchanged.

Tags: Preaching, preaching, Discipleship

Is Preaching Overrated?

By Charles Kiser on Jul 4, 2020

Preaching matters, but when it becomes the primary engine of discipleship, it may carry a weight it was never meant to bear.

Scripture: Acts 2:1-37, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 10:39, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Ephesians 4:11-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, church planting, spiritual formation, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership, Spiritual Formation, Church Planting  (view more)  (view less)

11 Event Ideas For Using The Bible Miniseries Outreach Opportunity

By Scott Anderson on Nov 9, 2020

"The Bible" miniseries could be the biggest discipleship and outreach tool on the screen since "The Passion of the Christ."

Tags: Preaching, Bible Influence

Not A Fan: The Hard Words Sparked A Church-Wide Revival

By Kyle Idleman on Jan 12, 2025

A preacher’s honest reckoning with crowd-pleasing sermons led to a bold call for true discipleship, sparking repentance, revival, and hundreds of unexpected baptisms.

Scripture: Luke 7:1-8:1, Luke 9:23

Tags: Love, Baptism, Jesus, Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Preaching, Disciples, revival, Church Growth, follower, preaching, church, love, Gospel call, Revival, Gospel Call  (view more)  (view less)

10 Things Every New Believer Should Know

By Brian Mavis on Mar 6, 2025

"I have been a Christian for over twenty-five years, and God has had to redirect me on multiple things because of what I mistakenly believed early on about being a Christian. And it is better to learn sooner than later."

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, James 4:10, Romans 5:8

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, temptation, Deliverance, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Forget Seminaries: What Are You Doing To Train The Next Generation Of Preachers?

By Chris Surber on Aug 15, 2025

We have a lot of people genuinely called, sincerely gifted people who struggle to find their way past the gatekeepers in our churches and denominations.

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-5, Mark 5:24-34

Tags: Discipleship, Gift, Seminary, Next Generation

Maybe Your Church Doesn't Need More Money

By Kent Woodyard on Mar 26, 2023

“If your church isn’t strapped for cash, your vision isn’t big enough.”

Tags: Money, church planting, Cost of Discipleship

Don't Abandon The Babies This Easter

By Lance Witt on May 1, 2024

The greatest gift we give a new believer is not information, it is RELATIONSHIP. The primary need of a new believer is nurture not knowledge.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

Tags: Easter, Discipleship, relationships, New believer

Confronting Idols, Making Disciples

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 21, 2023

Chris Wright suggests that the way we do church may actually prop up idolatry in the church. Are there any idols in your church?

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-10

Tags: Idol, Discipleship, Disciples, Confront, chris wright  (view more)  (view less)

Three Foundational Passages For Growing Disciples Of Jesus

By Ray Hollenbach on Jul 16, 2025

"Try to imagine talking about your subject every single day for two years. If the idea still thrills you, you've found your topic."

Tags: Growth, Discipleship, Disciples, gospel, Jesus, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)