Loran Livingston, lead pastor of Central Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, delivered? a Sunday sermon to his congregation of about 6,000 people concerning the importance of studying Scripture rightly without outside interference from false doctrine.

Preaching Today provides pastors and preachers sermon prep help with sermon illustrations, sermons, sermon ideas, and preaching articles.

A Nevada pastor who was indicted a year ago on multiple charges of sexual assault and child abuse of a family member and two women he called his “God daughters” accepted a plea deal Monday to avoid a criminal conviction of the allegations in court.

A congregation in Idaho is in mourning after authorities found its pastor dead Tuesday hours after he was reported missing to authorities.

A 22-year-old man charged with the daylight murder of prominent United Methodist Church pastor, the Rev. Autura Eason-William, rejected a plea deal Monday that would have sentenced him to 35 years in prison.

Today's category: PastorsFalling Off The Horse? ? ? ? ? ? The old time pastor was galloping down the road, rushing to get to church on time. Suddenly his horse stumbled and pitched him to the ground. In the dirt with a broken leg, the pastor called out, "All you saints in Heaven, help me get up on my horse!" ? ? ? ? ? ? Then, with superhuman effort, he leaped onto the horse's back and fell off the other side.? ? ? ? ? ? Once again on the ground, he called to Heaven, "All right, just half of you this time!"View hundreds more jokes online.Email this joke to a friend

Pastor John Lindell of James River Church in Missouri apologized to his congregation Sunday for inviting professional sword swallower Alex Magala and Pastor Mark Driscoll to the church's Stronger Men's Conference after a firestorm erupted over Driscoll's controversial rebuke of Magala's performance as demonic.

Texas megachurch Pastor Jack Graham has officially endorsed former pastor and seminary professor David Allen for president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Grammy-winning artist was found dead at her home in Nashville at age 47. Grammy Award-winning contemporary Christian singer Mandisa Lynn Hundley, a former Lifeway Christian Resources employee and top-10 American Idol finisher, was found dead Thursday at her Nashville home, her publicist announced on social media.No cause of death was given.“We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details,” according to an official notice posted April 19 on the official X account of the performer known simply as Mandisa.“We ask for your prayers for her family and closeknit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”Before finishing in the ninth spot on American Idol’s fifth season in 2005, Mandisa worked for Lifeway as a telephone customer service representative from 2000 to 2003, Lifeway told Baptist Press.She partnered with the Lifeway women’s ministry team, performing and leading worship at some events, and later performed at Living Proof Live events.“Our team at Lifeway is heartbroken to hear of the passing of our friend and former co-worker,” Lifeway CEO Ben Mandrell told Baptist Press. “Her teammates recall the joy and kindness she brought to work every day. Our heartfelt prayers are with her family.”Lakisha Mitchell, the late wife of Southern Baptist pastor Breonus Mitchell, inspired Mandisa’s hit “Overcomer,” the title song of the album that garnered a 2014 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. Breonus Mitchell, senior pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Hermitage, Tennessee, remarried in 2018.“Obviously we are saddened ...Continue reading...

President William Ruto commissioned church leaders to meet with Haitian law enforcement, military representatives, and a gang leader to discuss Kenya's security mission.Kenya’s leaders aren’t saying much publicly about the security force they plan to send to gang-embattled Haiti. But they’re talking a whole lot with God.Last month, as armed groups escalated their insurgency in Port-au-Prince and plunged Haiti deeper into a historic humanitarian crisis, pastors advising Kenya’s government met for three days at a hotel in Nairobi to pray.In a sky-blue conference room at the Weston Hotel, three Kenyan pastors joined Haitian and American ministry leaders and Kenya’s first lady, Rachel Ruto, to plead for divine assistance for the beleaguered Caribbean country. They prayed for the 2,500-person multinational police force Kenya has volunteered to lead to help Haitian law enforcement. At one point, meeting participants told CT, group members wept.After two days of prayer, the first lady dropped in on an album release party in another part of the Weston, which President William Ruto owns, and announced her office had formed a prayer committee for Haiti. “We cannot allow our police to go to Haiti without prayer,” Rachel Ruto told fans of the Kenyan gospel group 1005 Songs & More.Kenya agreed last October to spearhead a UN-authorized international security mission to Haiti, but the deployment has faced various delays, including legal challenges and questions about funding.The prayer marathon was part of a broader effort by the Ruto administration to strategize “a spiritual solution for our police and people of Haiti,” according to the first lady. The initiative, coordinated by the administration’s “faith diplomacy” office, has so far included a national prayer gathering, a 40-day prayer guide for Haiti, and an official fact-finding ...Continue reading...

Studies find that while less than a third of Americans trust church leaders, 90 percent of Filipinos do.While less than a third of Americans rate clergy as highly honest and ethical, across the globe in the Philippines, 91 percent of the public trusts religious leaders, according to EON Group’s 2021 Philippine Trust Index. Respondents of the survey ranked pastors as the most trusted leaders in Filipino society, compared to a Gallup poll that found clergy in the US ranked lower than 10 other professions, including chiropractors and police officers.“When people outside of church find out I’m a pastor, their demeanor changes out of respect,” said Aldrin Peñamora, director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches’ Justice, Peace, and Reconciliation Commission. Some people even ask him for prayer.The disconnect is rooted in cultural differences, religion’s role in society, as well as the impact of church scandals. Still, pastors from both countries noted the importance of having pastors engage with their congregations and local communities to build trust.Drivers of trust in the Filipino churchIn the Philippines, Catholics make up 80 percent of the population, while evangelicals make up about 3 percent. Catholicism came to the Philippines through Spanish colonialism and stuck as Filipinos made their faith their own. Today, the Catholic faith has become a cultural attribute of Filipino life.The high view of church leaders also reflects traditional Filipino values, said Peñamora: “Filipino culture values respecting the elderly, which spills over to their submission to people in authority, including religious authority.”In the Philippines, older people are considered wise, and they provide a sense of order and direction to the life of the community, Peñamora ...Continue reading...

? Temple Baptist Church - 4-21-20241 Corinthians 15:58Introduction:? A.? The Corinthian Church was a carnal (fleshly) church and spent both their time and resources upon their natural, temporal desires.? Paul loved this carnal, worldly church as it is the only one that Paul expressed his love for.? 1 Corinthians 16:23-24? The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.? (24)? My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.? B.? Chapter 15: 1-49, Paul speaks of their great salvation through the gospel.? Verses 50-57, the victory that has been won as one day all the church of God will be at home.? C.? The Holy Ghost admonishes the church to be heavenly minded in verse 58 because the real treasures are those that are eternal, not temporal.? The therefore ties this verse to the preceding verses and is a summation or conclusion.? His plea is based upon our blessed position in the body of Christ, the hope of His soon return in the rapture, and our eternal change.? ? D.? “My” denotes ownership.? “Beloved” denotes our dearness to both the Apostle and our Saviour.? “Brethren” denotes a family relationship which is important because our dependence is not only upon the Saviour but also upon each other!? 1.? Steadfastness – deals with the possibility of quitting - Galatians 6:9? And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.? (People are quitting on every hand.? Pastors, missionaries, evangelists, SS teachers, soul winners, church workers, etc.)? 2.? Immovability – deals with the possibility of being swayed - 2 Thessalonians 2:15? Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.? (We are in the midst of the “falling away.”)? 3.? Abounding – deals with possibility of sitting down instead of serving - 2 Corinthians 9:8? And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work.? (The closer to the end of the church age, the more we should labor.? Unfortunately, it is just the exact opposite is true.)? 4.? Knowledge – deals with the understanding that our labor is not in vain - Matthew 10:40-42? He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.? He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.? And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Though we are in the gleanings stage or the Days of Noe, God is still in control of the harvest)? 5.? Reward – God will certainly reward us with fullness - 2 John 1:8? Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. (full reward) for our labors (Parable of those who labored through the heat of the day for a penny while others entered the fields much later and received the same.)? ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TWO THINGS:? 1.? It Takes A Real Conversion – 1 John 2:19? They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.? 2.? It Takes A Real Conviction – Jesus is coming again just like He said!? SOME THINGS WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN:? 1.? We Need To continue In One Accord? Acts 1:14? These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.? 2.? We Need To Continue In Prayer? Acts 1:14? These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.? Colossians 4:2? Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;? 3.? We Need To Continue In Doctrine? Acts 2:42? And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.? 1 Timothy 4:16? Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.? 2 Timothy 3:14? But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast earned them? 4.? We Need To Continue In Fellowship? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Acts 2:42? And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.? 5.? We Need To Continue In The Grace of God? (Salvation's Message)? Acts 13:43? Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.? 6.? We Need To Continue In Encouragement? Acts 14:22? Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.? 7.? We Need To Continue In Soul Winning (Both at home and abroad)? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Acts 26:22? Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great? 8.? We Need To Continue To Live Godly? Romans 11:22? Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.? 9.? We Need To Continue Contending For The Faith? Galatians 2:5? To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.? 10.? We Need To Continue In Service? James 1:25? But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

A megachurch pastor has denied allegations that he plagiarized an apology as he continues to face pushback for suggesting in a joke that married women should do whatever their husbands want on their wedding night.?

Alex Magala, the aerial sword-swallower and acrobat who admitted he stripped for gay men and women as a younger man, says he is Christian and called Pastor Mark Driscoll's recent criticism of his performance at James River Church's Stronger Men's Conference in Missouri, an "uninformed" position.

James River Church Pastor John Lindell accused Pastor Mark Driscoll of attempting to overthrow him as the leader of his church and dividing his family and congregation by unfairly attacking a performance by a professional sword swallower and admitted male stripper at the Stronger Men's Conference in Missouri.

Family members of a former California youth pastor facing multiple sex crime charges related to the alleged yearslong assault of a minor beginning when she was 8 claim that he is innocent.

While expressing appreciation for Pastor John Lindell's full-throated attempt at portraying him as a bonafide born-again Christian and family man, professional sword swallower Alex Magala, whose recent performance at James River Church's Stronger Men's Conference in Missouri was criticized as demonic by Pastor Mark Driscoll, says he has no kids and did not get saved 10 years ago.

The Grammy-winning artist was found dead at her home in Nashville at age 47. Grammy Award-winning contemporary Christian singer Mandisa Lynn Hundley, a former Lifeway Christian Resources employee and top-10 American Idol finisher, was found dead Thursday at her Nashville home, her publicist announced on social media.No cause of death was given.“We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details,” according to an official notice posted April 19 on the official X account of the performer known simply as Mandisa.“We ask for your prayers for her family and closeknit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”Before finishing in the ninth spot on American Idol’s fifth season in 2005, Mandisa worked for Lifeway as a telephone customer service representative from 2000 to 2003, Lifeway told Baptist Press.She partnered with the Lifeway women’s ministry team, performing and leading worship at some events, and later performed at Living Proof Live events.“Our team at Lifeway is heartbroken to hear of the passing of our friend and former co-worker,” Lifeway CEO Ben Mandrell told Baptist Press. “Her teammates recall the joy and kindness she brought to work every day. Our heartfelt prayers are with her family.”Lakisha Mitchell, the late wife of Southern Baptist pastor Breonus Mitchell, inspired Mandisa’s hit “Overcomer,” the title song of the album that garnered a 2014 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. Breonus Mitchell, senior pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Hermitage, Tennessee, remarried in 2018.“Obviously we are saddened ...Continue reading...

President William Ruto commissioned church leaders to meet with Haitian law enforcement, military representatives, and a gang leader to discuss Kenya's security mission.Kenya’s leaders aren’t saying much publicly about the security force they plan to send to gang-embattled Haiti. But they’re talking a whole lot with God.Last month, as armed groups escalated their insurgency in Port-au-Prince and plunged Haiti deeper into a historic humanitarian crisis, pastors advising Kenya’s government met for three days at a hotel in Nairobi to pray.In a sky-blue conference room at the Weston Hotel, three Kenyan pastors joined Haitian and American ministry leaders and Kenya’s first lady, Rachel Ruto, to plead for divine assistance for the beleaguered Caribbean country. They prayed for the 2,500-person multinational police force Kenya has volunteered to lead to help Haitian law enforcement. At one point, meeting participants told CT, group members wept.After two days of prayer, the first lady dropped in on an album release party in another part of the Weston, which President William Ruto owns, and announced her office had formed a prayer committee for Haiti. “We cannot allow our police to go to Haiti without prayer,” Rachel Ruto told fans of the Kenyan gospel group 1005 Songs & More.Kenya agreed last October to spearhead a UN-authorized international security mission to Haiti, but the deployment has faced various delays, including legal challenges and questions about funding.The prayer marathon was part of a broader effort by the Ruto administration to strategize “a spiritual solution for our police and people of Haiti,” according to the first lady. The initiative, coordinated by the administration’s “faith diplomacy” office, has so far included a national prayer gathering, a 40-day prayer guide for Haiti, and an official fact-finding ...Continue reading...

The pastor of a Catholic church in Michigan has resigned after receiving criticism over his response to learning that an author in a same-sex relationship had read a book to small children at the parish school.?

Family members and friends of late mothers Veronica Butler, 27, and pastor's wife Jilian Kelley, 39, reacted with raw emotion in court Wednesday as a judge denied bail to the four suspects charged with their murders, including the paternal grandmother of Butler's children.

The Grammy-winning artist was found dead at her home in Nashville at age 47. Grammy Award-winning contemporary Christian singer Mandisa Lynn Hundley, a former Lifeway Christian Resources employee and top-10 American Idol finisher, was found dead Thursday at her Nashville home, her publicist announced on social media.No cause of death was given.“We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details,” according to an official notice posted April 19 on the official X account of the performer known simply as Mandisa.“We ask for your prayers for her family and closeknit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”Before finishing in the ninth spot on American Idol’s fifth season in 2005, Mandisa worked for Lifeway as a telephone customer service representative from 2000 to 2003, Lifeway told Baptist Press.She partnered with the Lifeway women’s ministry team, performing and leading worship at some events, and later performed at Living Proof Live events.“Our team at Lifeway is heartbroken to hear of the passing of our friend and former co-worker,” Lifeway CEO Ben Mandrell told Baptist Press. “Her teammates recall the joy and kindness she brought to work every day. Our heartfelt prayers are with her family.”Lakisha Mitchell, the late wife of Southern Baptist pastor Breonus Mitchell, inspired Mandisa’s hit “Overcomer,” the title song of the album that garnered a 2014 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. Breonus Mitchell, senior pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Hermitage, Tennessee, remarried in 2018.“Obviously we are saddened ...Continue reading...

President William Ruto commissioned church leaders to meet with Haitian law enforcement, military representatives, and a gang leader to discuss Kenya's security mission.Kenya’s leaders aren’t saying much publicly about the security force they plan to send to gang-embattled Haiti. But they’re talking a whole lot with God.Last month, as armed groups escalated their insurgency in Port-au-Prince and plunged Haiti deeper into a historic humanitarian crisis, pastors advising Kenya’s government met for three days at a hotel in Nairobi to pray.In a sky-blue conference room at the Weston Hotel, three Kenyan pastors joined Haitian and American ministry leaders and Kenya’s first lady, Rachel Ruto, to plead for divine assistance for the beleaguered Caribbean country. They prayed for the 2,500-person multinational police force Kenya has volunteered to lead to help Haitian law enforcement. At one point, meeting participants told CT, group members wept.After two days of prayer, the first lady dropped in on an album release party in another part of the Weston, which President William Ruto owns, and announced her office had formed a prayer committee for Haiti. “We cannot allow our police to go to Haiti without prayer,” Rachel Ruto told fans of the Kenyan gospel group 1005 Songs & More.Kenya agreed last October to spearhead a UN-authorized international security mission to Haiti, but the deployment has faced various delays, including legal challenges and questions about funding.The prayer marathon was part of a broader effort by the Ruto administration to strategize “a spiritual solution for our police and people of Haiti,” according to the first lady. The initiative, coordinated by the administration’s “faith diplomacy” office, has so far included a national prayer gathering, a 40-day prayer guide for Haiti, and an official fact-finding ...Continue reading...

Church leaders can offer clear moral and ethical guidance for a practice that violates biblical mandates.On April 8, the Vatican issued Dignitas Infinita, a 20-page document rejecting a variety of practices that violate human dignity. Unsurprisingly, these included human trafficking, violence against women, abortion, euthanasia, sex change, and child abuse. It also included surrogacy.This isn’t the first time the pontificate has come out against this “deplorable” practice, which “fails to respect the dignity of [the] child” and “violates the dignity of the woman.” Pope Francis made waves in January when he condemned surrogacy, noting that “a child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.”Evangelical Christians and pastors value the life of the unborn. That’s why we march across the capital on freezing January mornings and pray outside of abortion clinics. Our motivation for child protection must also lead us to confront the ways children are impacted by the baby-making industry as well.But when did you last hear your pastor address the issue of surrogacy from the pulpit? Odds are, never. Protestants have a dearth of official guidance on reproductive technologies. While some are clear on abortion, very few denominations have clear teachings on IVF, let alone the much rarer practice of surrogacy.Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ethics professor Andrew T. Walker told The New York Times that when he suggested introducing a resolution about artificial reproductive technology at the denomination’s annual convention, his colleagues hesitated.Some Christians are directly involved in surrogacy and see their role as a calling to help families have children, as CT reported in 2018. But many Christian bioethicists cite ...Continue reading...

A pair of well-known pastors say Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend was a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and that they're urging Christians around the world to pray for the Jewish state.