In Preaching Articles: "Growing In Faith"

Only One Perfect Pastor

By Taelor Gray on Apr 30, 2021

Growing up in church, I used to think of pastors as heroic, super-powered leaders who were almost like enhanced human beings. For me, they were moral superiors operating beyond the scope of failure and “common” struggle.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Galatians 2:11-14, Acts 20:17-38, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Tags: pastor, humanity, Imperfection, Pastoral Character, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

How God Became A Man: What Jesus Did For Thirty Years

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 28, 2022

Don’t begrudge God the glory of your long, arduous maturation process. In it you are tasting the growing pains that Jesus knows very well. And he stands ready to help you persevere until God’s process is complete.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:26, Hebrews 5:7-9, Matthew 17:27, John 11:14, John 1:47, Luke 3:23, Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:8-51, Luke 2:52, John 4:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Jesus, Ordinary, Christian growth, incarnation of Jesus

What's The Big Idea Behind Your Sermon?

By Peter Mead on Dec 29, 2025

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

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Four Subtle Ways Satan Sneaks Into Your Pulpit

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Jan 26, 2025

Satan rarely storms the pulpit—he slides in subtly. These four tactics expose how he targets pastors and how to resist him with clarity, humility, and vigilance.

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:21, 2 Timothy 4:2

Tags: Ministry, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Humility, Preaching, Faithfulness, Duty, pastoral leadership, ministry, preaching, Pastoral Leadership, Pulpit Integrity  (view more)  (view less)

Good Sermons Start With Listening

By Mary Hinkle Shore on Jan 16, 2024

Faithful sermons are born not from noise or haste, but from careful listening to Scripture, people, and language itself.

Scripture: John 12:20-33, James 1:19, Luke 24:27, Nehemiah 8:8, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Listen, BIBLICAL TEACHING, preaching, Biblical Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Are We Preaching Greatness To The Wrong Audience?

By James Scott on Apr 27, 2023

Many church leaders call people to “greatness,” but most believers are called to quiet faithfulness in ordinary vocations.

Scripture: Matthew 20:26-28, Luke 16:10, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, Colossians 3:23, Micah 6:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Preaching, peaceful, calling, preaching, love, Calling  (view more)  (view less)

How To Be An Awesome Guest Preacher

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 17, 2020

Guest preaching is not self-promotion but stewardship. Faithfulness, humility, and respect determine whether you are welcomed again.

Scripture: Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:2-3, 2 Timothy 4:2, Colossians 4:6

Tags: preaching, guest, Preaching, Courtesy, participate, Expectation  (view more)  (view less)

Are You Willing To Be Hated For Preaching The Gospel?

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 12, 2020

Faithful gospel preaching requires courage. Christians are not called to be hateful, but they must be willing to be hated for Christ’s sake.

Scripture: John 15:18, Mark 13:13, 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Corinthians 15:1-6, Galatians 1:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Persecution, Gospel, Preaching, suffering, Hatred, hatred, gospel, preaching, Suffering  (view more)  (view less)

Preach Like A Blade, Not An Anvil

By Peter Mead on Sep 15, 2024

Some sermons overwhelm without penetrating. Faithful preaching carries the weight of Scripture but delivers it with the sharp focus of a blade.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 23:29, Ecclesiastes 12:11, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, living word, Sword, Impact, anvil, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

9 Lies Pastors Believe While They’re Preaching

By Ben Reed on Sep 6, 2020

Pastors battle pride, insecurity, and distraction in the pulpit. Here are nine common lies and a call back to humility and faithfulness.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Galatians 1:10, James 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Leadership, Sermon Preparation, preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Have You Half-Quit Preaching?

By Peter Mead on May 1, 2025

Preaching brings constant pressure and subtle temptations to disengage. Faithfulness requires resisting the half-quit and leaning into Christ.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:10, Philippians 3:12, Jeremiah 20:9, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, quit, Spiritual Discipline, preaching

3 Reasons Pastors Don't Connect With Millennials

By Tyler Braun on Sep 9, 2020

Millennial faith is declining, but blame is not the answer. Real change begins with relationships, honesty about doubt, and personal engagement.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Matthew 11:3, Mark 3:14, John 13:35, Jude 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Relevant, church culture, preaching, Church Culture, Youth, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Perfect Length For A Sermon

By Thom Schultz on Nov 6, 2020

Length does not equal depth. A faithful sermon is measured by clarity, transformation, and alignment with its purpose, not by minutes on the clock.

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-4, 1 Corinthians 2:2, James 1:22, John 16:12, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: preaching, Preaching, limit, length, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

How Preachers Resemble Flight Attendants

By Ron Forseth on Jun 3, 2025

The gospel is not merely helpful information but a message of rescue. Faithful preaching communicates the urgency of salvation and calls people to respond.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20, Romans 10:14, Romans 10:13, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 9:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: gospel, preaching, Gospel, Preaching

Crafting Strong Sermons Requires Polish

By Terry Linhart on Nov 8, 2024

Some sermon checkpoints to buff a nice luster on your work and to ensure you're responsible and faithful in the process.

Tags: Organize, revise, preaching, Preaching, practice  (view more)  (view less)