In Preaching Articles: "Christian Funeral"

Slaves In Your Church’s Backyard

By David Batstone on Dec 14, 2022

Modern slavery hides in plain sight. These stories reveal how trafficking thrives worldwide and even locally, calling Christians to seek justice with persistent, sacrificial love.

Tags: Compassion, Culture, Slavery, Justice, traffic, injustice, Human Trafficking, abolition, culture, Modern Slavery, Abolition  (view more)  (view less)

Has Mission Become Our Idol?

By Skye Jethani on Jul 29, 2024

Skye Jethani: "While a vision for serving God is needed, and the desperate condition of our world cannot be ignored, there is a higher calling that is going unanswered in many Christian communities."

Scripture: Psalm 62:1-6

Tags: Preaching, pastor, Fire, Pastor, evangelism, preaching, Evangelism, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

The Case For The Hour-Long Church Service

By Dave Browning on Jan 5, 2023

For some Christian leaders, an hour-long service can be viewed as too short, if not restrictive. For the people we are trying to reach, however, an hour may seem long, if not excessive.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:21

Tags: Preaching, church service, Time, preaching

What Are The Internal Scripts Driving You? Part 2

By Lance Witt on Oct 10, 2023

For many Christians shame isn’t about a sordid past or dark skeletons in our closet. We live with a low-grade nagging feeling that we are never “enough”.

Tags: Shame, beloved, Performance, Identity in Christ

33 Wise Sayings From My Most Trusted Teachers

By Ray Hollenbach on Aug 25, 2022

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Scripture: Proverbs 4:19

Tags: Gems, Quotes, Wise Words, Illustrations, e  (view more)  (view less)

Two Questions To Break Despair

By Marion Clark on Dec 2, 2022

There is a great need for Christian counselors with the expertise to unravel the problems of life. The more a pastor is equipped in this area, the better they will be able to serve the members of their church who are facing difficulties and trials.

Tags: Despair, pastoral care, WISE COUNSEL, fixing eyes on Jesus, counseling, Hope, encouragement, Counselor  (view more)  (view less)

Developing Spiritual Intelligence With The Journey

By Alan E. Nelson on Mar 3, 2020

Spiritual intelligence helps believers integrate faith into everyday life. This article introduces The Journey, a practical tool to assess and plan soul growth.

Tags: spiritual, Soul, Discipleship, relationships, Health, counsel, spiritual growth, Gifts General, Christian Maturity, Spiritual Intelligence, Spiritual Growth, Soul Assessment  (view more)  (view less)

Faith That Changed The Culture How Luther Inspired Music, Charity, And Abolition

By Michael Reeves on Oct 18, 2022

Through the Reformation, a tidal wave of social and cultural improvement was unleashed.

Tags: give generously, Philanthropy, culture, God's Grace, Christian Joy, Reformation, Church History, Freedom in Christ, justified by faith, Music, Culture, Slavery  (view more)  (view less)

What Is Saving Faith?

By R. C. Sproul on Sep 1, 2022

Faith is central to Christianity. The New Testament repeatedly calls people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a definite body of content to be believed, which is part and parcel of our religious activity.

Scripture: James 2:14-17

Tags: God's righteousness, preaching the gospel, salvation by grace, Salvation, justification, Adoption, Reformation, saving faith, Preach Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Need Help Reading Your Bible?

By C.j. Mahaney on Jun 7, 2024

"If more people approached the Bible with a deep sense of helplessness, and hope-filled reliance on God’s merciful assistance, there would be far more seeing and savoring and transformation than there is.”

Tags: bible study, bible, bible reading, Bible Study, Growth in Christ, Christian growth, Spiritual Discipline, dependence on God, Bible, BIBLE STUDY, priorities  (view more)  (view less)

4 Tips For Understanding Any Passage Of The Bible

By Brandon Smith on Dec 1, 2022

Whatever you do, just read the Bible.

Tags: Reading God's Word, Christian community, personal holiness, Personal Devotions, bible study, Study, Prayer, BIBLE STUDY, godly character, Bible Study  (view more)  (view less)

How To Make Easter Stand Out

By Peter Mead on Apr 11, 2020

Easter is the real ground zero of the Christian faith. We tend to, or should, return to it week after week. So what do we do when Easter comes around?

Scripture: John 15:1-10

Tags: Crucifixion, Preaching, ground zero, preaching, Jesus, Easter  (view more)  (view less)

Seeing Is Not Always Believing

By R. C. Sproul on Nov 29, 2022

One comment that Christian pastors sometimes hear from people they are counseling is that it would be easier for them to have a strong faith if they could see God doing the same kinds of miracles today as are recorded in the Bible.

Scripture: Joshua 7:6-9, John 11:45-53

Tags: Joshua, Believe, miracles, Courage, Seeing, faith and obedience, Faith, doubt  (view more)  (view less)

The Gift Of Being Unproductive

By Lance Witt on Mar 21, 2023

In some ways I am the least likely pastor to write an article on Sabbath keeping. For the first thirty years of my Christian life, the concept of Sabbath wasn’t even a blip on my spiritual radar.

Tags:

Does Our Culture Make Kids Feel Ashamed Of Their Faith?

By Focus On The Family on Sep 9, 2022

As Christians, we all know how important it is to equip kids with a sense of joy in reading God’s Word and the confidence to freely express their faith in Jesus. But that goal is becoming more difficult in today’s culture.

Tags: Apologetics The Bible, Training children, Children's Faith