In Preaching Articles: "Christian Growth"

The Hole In Our Holiness

By Kevin Deyoung on Feb 12, 2025

Kevin DeYoung shares five reasons why young Christians often neglect personal holiness.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:15

Tags: Preaching, Holiness, preaching, holiness

9 Points For Preaching On The Problem Of Evil

By Norman Geisler on Jan 21, 2025

Evil raises hard questions about God, suffering, and justice. This article equips preachers to answer honestly, show why evil presupposes God, and preach real hope.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, 1 Timothy 3:6, Colossians 4:6

Tags: Christian, Apologetics, Evil, Satan, Hope, suffering, tragedy, Difficulties, problem of evil, Sin General, Trials  (view more)  (view less)

The Most Significant Thing A Pastor Will Ever Do

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 8, 2024

The most valuable ministry thing you have done just may be the time you stopped to encourage a homeless man and bought him lunch.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

Tags: Faithfulness, priorities, Servanthood, Christian Love, Godly Leaders, pastoral leadership, servant leadership, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

How Can We Give Thanks In All Circumstances?

By Jon Bloom on Nov 25, 2025

"There is only one way. And Jesus both is the way (John 14:6) and shows the way."

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Grace, Thanksgiving, Joy, Hope, Christian Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday, giving thanks, in all things, grace  (view more)  (view less)

A Key To Healthy Relationships

By Josh Reich on Dec 11, 2022

I think hospitality has the power to change the relationships we have. It is that powerful.

Tags: Community, Welcome, invite, Hospitality, Christian Love, serve others, Love One Another, Intentionality, community  (view more)  (view less)

Five Strategic Advantages Of Small Churches

By Brandon O'brien on Feb 13, 2024

Small churches hold strategic strengths: authenticity, focus, people-powered ministry, intergenerational relationships, and margin-focused mission.

Tags: Community, Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, Health, authentic, Small Church, community outreach, community, Pastor, Leadership, church, Ministry Church, Authentic, Intergenerational Ministry, Community Outreach  (view more)  (view less)

Thanksgiving: Echoing The Grace Of God

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 2, 2025

The Christian life, from the beginning to end, is a life of extraordinary grace. Saying "thank you" just makes sense.

Tags: Grace, Trust, Preaching, nullify grace, grace, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Overcome A Sense Of Christmas Loss

By Ron Edmondson on Dec 8, 2025

Several years ago, to prepare for a Christmas message, I consulted with two professional Christian counselors in our church.

Tags: Christmas, Grief, Worship General

16 Tips For Better Easter Impact

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 31, 2021

Practical advice to take full advantage of this once-a-year opportunity--this year, and in years to come.

Tags: Easter, Outreach, New, Church Growth, Impact, preaching tips, Easter Palm Sunday  (view more)  (view less)

4 Thoughts On Finding A Mentor

By Ron Edmondson on Jun 24, 2024

"I have had many mentors who have invested deeply in my life. I am who I am partly because of the intentionality of others pouring into my life. They have made me a better leader, better husband, father, friend, and person."

Scripture: Proverbs 15:22

Tags: Character, Grow, Personal Growth, Mentor, Godly Leaders, mentoring, personal holiness, Disciple  (view more)  (view less)

We Can Whine About The New Generation Or Worship With Them – But We Can’t Do Both

By Karl Vaters on Apr 25, 2024

We can either whine about how the new generation chooses to worship, or we can worship and minister with them. But we can’t do both.

Scripture: John 7:24

Tags: Perspective, Culture, church culture, Christian Priorities, future generations, church priorities, Generations, e, perspective, culture  (view more)  (view less)

We All Need Adversity And Affliction

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 22, 2022

I would not exchange any of my discipline-afflictions for anything. In fact, I have made it a habit to keep asking God to discipline me. This isn’t because I love affliction, but because the hope in God I’ve tasted in the promises of God I’ve trusted in the darkest days are the sweetest things my soul has ever known.

Scripture: Psalm 119:71-72, Hebrews 12:11

Tags: Adversity, sanctification, Hardship of Life, Spiritual Maturity, Christian Maturity, joy in trials, spiritual immaturity, fruit of sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

The Lost Art Of Feasting

By David Mathis on Nov 26, 2025

"Most of us have never given any serious thought to what it might mean to feast with Christ-honoring intentionality."

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Timothy 4:4-5, Luke 14:13, Romans 14:5-6

Tags: Thanksgiving, Fellowship, Community, feast, Christian Joy, give thanks, thank god, Thanksgiving Holiday, community, fellowship  (view more)  (view less)

Creating A Rhythm Of Sabbath Rest

By Josh Reich on Nov 22, 2022

"The number one complaint I hear from people is, “I don’t have time. I don’t have time for hobbies, sleep, my marriage, relationships, kids, reading my Bible.” You do, you just gave that time away. You give your time to the things that matter most."

Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-10

Tags: Technology, Sabbath, Slavery, God's peace, Rest in Christ, Rest, Christian Disciplines, GOD's rest, personal holiness  (view more)  (view less)

We Can - And Should! - Preach Like The Apostles

By Dayton Hartman on Jun 20, 2021

Only 50% of the next generation of Christians have any respect for the text of Scripture. How do you preach the Bible to them?

Tags: Preaching, apostle, Millenial, preaching