In Preaching Articles: "By Faith"

Don’t Pursue Feelings. Pursue Christ.

By Joe Thorn on Jul 11, 2022

One danger is emotionalism, in which we allow our feelings to interpret our circumstances and form our thoughts about God. This is putting feelings before faith. The other danger is a kind of stoicism, where faith is rooted in theology but void of affection. This tendency removes feelings from faith altogether. While it is true that our emotions should not lead our theology, it is vital to our faith that theology lead to a deep experience of our triune God.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Psalm 34:18, Romans 8:15, Psalm 34:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Emotions, Theology, Stoicism, Feelings, Doctrine to Doxology  (view more)  (view less)

Stop The Revolution. Join The Plodders.

By Kevin Deyoung on Jan 23, 2022

It’s sexy among young people—my generation—to talk about ditching institutional religion and starting a revolution of real Christ-followers living in real community without the confines of church.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:21, Romans 16:8

Tags: Church, Commitment, endurance, Faithfulness, church  (view more)  (view less)

7 Ways To Tell If It's A God Thing

By Ron Edmondson on Apr 2, 2023

Ron Edmondson: "God calls people to seemingly impossible tasks. It gives Him glory when I can’t do something, but He can."

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6

Tags: opportunity, ministry, Faith, Ministry, Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

9 Ways To Preach A Lousy Sermon

By Ben Reed on Aug 25, 2020

If you want to preach a great sermon, here are nine things you must avoid at all costs.

Tags: Preaching, prosper, Faith, Fear, endurance  (view more)  (view less)

Three Probing Questions Every Pastor Should Ask Himself

By Charles Stone on Sep 13, 2023

Take a few moments and ask yourself these questions to see what God reveals about your heart and motives.

Tags: motives, Faithfulness, identity, Identity in Christ

Never Blame God

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 30, 2022

You are not the first Christian to have felt angry at God, and you will not be the last.

Scripture: Job 42:6, 1 John 1:5, Romans 9:22-23, Romans 11:36, James 4:4, James 1:1-17, Hebrews 12:11, Daniel 4:35, Revelation 17:17, Proverbs 21:1, Psalm 115:3, Lamentations 3:37-38, Job 2:10, Jonah 4:9, Matthew 10:29  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, doubt, Hope, Blaming God

Can I Evaluate My Own Preaching?

By Steven Smith on Sep 24, 2024

We do not invent messages; we proclaim truth. So we measure our effectiveness by how faithful we are to the text.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Tags: Preaching, treasure, Faithfulness, Obligation, proclaim, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What's The Big Idea Behind Your Sermon?

By Peter Mead on Jun 27, 2019

Ideas change lives. People give themselves to ideas. And Christianity is a content-based faith

Tags: Preaching

When (And Why) To Shake Off The Dust And Move On

By Ben Sternke on Aug 14, 2020

We can too easily normalize fruitlessness in the name of faithfulness. There's a big difference.

Tags: Discipleship, Missions, Church Growth, church planting, Evangelism The Lost  (view more)  (view less)

5 Personal Changes To Empower Your Preaching

By Rick Ezell on Feb 10, 2025

When you preach, in many respects, you are the message. If your personal life is not congruent with your words, then a mixed message is delivered.

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Tags: Faith, Preaching, Prayer, Personal Change, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Plan An Amazing Sermon Series

By Herbert Cooper on Oct 8, 2020

Herbert Cooper, senior pastor of People's Church in Oklahoma City, shares strategic insights into making a sermon series work.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:14-20

Tags: Faith, Preaching, sight, walk, substance, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Seven Preaching Topics You Should Repeat Often

By Joe Mckeever on May 22, 2025

Don't be afraid of repeating yourself. Repetition is the mother of learning -- and sometimes a pastor's best friend.

Tags: Faith, Power, Preaching, work, repeat, preaching  (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)

Powerful Preaching Flows From Good Questions

By David J. Lose on Sep 3, 2021

It's often the really challenging passages that yield the most interesting sermons.

Scripture: Romans 8:2-4

Tags: Faith, Preaching, Powerful, good questions, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Lord’s Prayer, A Missional Reading: Give Us Daily Bread

By Dr. Nijay Gupta on Apr 7, 2021

The “missional theology” movement has injected energy and life into the church. Who isn’t inspired when reading Emil Brunner’s famous words, “The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning”? Missional theology has motivated many Christians and churches to seek out their purpose in God of bearing and embodying the good news of Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:1-20, Exodus 16:1-36, John 6:1-71, Matthew 4:1-25

Tags: Humility, Lord's Prayer, Missional, walk by faith