In Preaching Articles: "Growing In Christ"

Adjusting To Reality: Loss And The Christian Life

By Joe Mckeever on Feb 4, 2020

Earlier this year, author and pastor Joe McKeever lost his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Margaret. In this moving article, he reflects on what it means to "adjust" to the new reality--and how faith requires an adjustment, as well.

Scripture: Ephesians 5:14-17

Tags: death in Christ

Will The Real Jesus Stand Up? Part 2

By Lance Witt on Dec 29, 2023

"In the last thirty years within the church world, there has been a subtle shifting of the spotlight. Inadvertently, in many places, it has become all about the bride (the church) rather than the groom (Jesus)."

Scripture: Genesis 19:9, Revelation 19:9

Tags: bride of Christ, Deity of Christ, Jesus as Bridegroom, Lamb marriage supper, Identity of Christ, The Real Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Absorbing Correction: A Mark Of A Mature Man

By Brandon Cox on Dec 13, 2023

"If you want to grow up on the inside, then you have to get more comfortable with correction."

Scripture: Job 5:17-18

Tags: Marriage, leadership, Rebuke, CORRECTION, Humility and Pride, Growing in Faith, Taking Feedback, Receiving Correction, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

What Are You Waiting For?

By Lance Witt on Dec 29, 2020

What are you going to do this next year to make the “most of your time”?

Scripture: Psalm 90:12

Tags: Holidays, Resolution, Change, Personal Growth, Trust God, Redeeming Time, new years, Growing in Faith  (view more)  (view less)

What Are We Doing When We Preach? What Are We Aiming For?

By Peter Mead on Aug 1, 2023

What are we doing when we preach? What are we aiming for?

Tags: Preaching, Intimacy With God, preaching Christ, intimacy with Christ, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Who Is Lord Of The Church?

By John Macarthur on Jun 16, 2022

The church today is badly in need of reformation again. And Christ’s lordship over His church is still the central truth we must recover, which requires the unleashing of His Word among His people again. We cannot merely float along with the latest evangelical trends and expect things to get better.

Scripture: Acts 10:42

Tags: Church, Body of Christ, Christ the head, Lord Of The Church, church  (view more)  (view less)

From Desiring God: Beware Of Gluten-Free Preaching

By Phillip Bethancourt on Jul 23, 2019

"The gluten of the gospel must be kneaded into every Christian sermon."

Tags: Christ Centered Preaching

6 Ways The Gospel Should Shape A Pastor’s Leadership

By Brandon Kelley on Nov 17, 2022

A Pastor’s leadership must first and foremost be a response to Christ’s gospel.

Scripture: Acts 4:19, 1 Peter 3:12

Tags: Character, bible truth, Church leaders, Godly Leaders, Bible Truth, pastoral leadership, Praying, Gospel centered, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Will The Real Jesus Stand Up? Part 1

By Lance Witt on Dec 28, 2023

"It may be that the great sin of the church in our generation is the trivializing of God. The Jesus Christ, in whom the fullness of deity dwells, is not to be boxed in, airbrushed, made over, tamed, explained or explained away. I am deeply convinced that the way you live will be a direct consequence of how you see God."

Scripture: Hebrews 12:28-29, Colossians 1:15-17, Jeremiah 23:23

Tags: Jesus is Lord, Deity of Christ, christian testimony, authority of Christ, Identity of Christ, False View of God, God of the Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Re-Imagining Leadership

By Dan White Jr. on Oct 3, 2024

What does it really mean to grow in Christian leadership?

Tags: leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Leadership

How Leadership Capacity Affects The Growth And Health Of A Church

By Josh Reich on Oct 5, 2023

Now, we all know that God is the one who grows a church, but often that church is healthy and growing because of the character, quality and capacity of the lead pastor and leaders.

Tags: leadership, Discipline, leadership capacity, coaching, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Christian Virtue Of Love

By R. C. Sproul on Jul 22, 2022

From God’s perspective, love is the chief of all virtues. But what is love?

Scripture: Romans 5:5-8, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Matthew 5:48, 1 John 4:7-8

Tags: Love, Compassion, unity, Spiritual Gifts, Body of Christ, Selflessness, imitating Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Eugene Peterson On Pastors, Preaching, And Consumer Culture

By Eugene Peterson on Jul 14, 2021

"I grew up in a culture which was very entertainment-centered. Pastors were really good storytellers, and they were attractive people, glamorous."

Tags: Growth, Preaching, Growth in Christ

Preach A Funeral Like You'll Never Be Invited Back

By Chris Surber on Jul 14, 2025

A crowd of non-churchgoers just gathered in a church. Call me crazy. I don't know much. But perhaps you should tell them about Jesus?

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Christ, Preaching, Funeral, preaching

More Tough Skin And Tender Hearts: How To Prepare For Conversations On Ethnic Harmony

By Philip Holmes on Mar 14, 2022

Humility and love that produces tough skin and tender hearts are essential as we have these conversations.

Scripture: James 1:19, Matthew 11:29, Philippians 2:3

Tags: racism, Unity in Christ, Conversations