In Preaching Articles: "Growing In Faith"

Running The Race With God Beside Me: Eric Liddell’s Journey Of Faith - Part 1

By Duncan Hamilton on Mar 25, 2024

For all of us it can be difficult to grasp a sense of something when it is actually happening; often comprehension comes only when it is over. Not, though, for Eric Liddell. He could always identify precisely when his life changed forever. It was April 6, 1923. The time was shortly after 9pm. On that day and during that hour, Liddell became a public speaker for God.

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Running The Race With God Beside Me: Eric Liddell’s Journey Of Faith - Part 2

By Duncan Hamilton on Mar 26, 2024

Liddell wasn’t for sale at any price. He told one congregation that ‘the greatest danger was victory,’ which he further defined as ‘bringing a man up to a level above the strength of his character’. He appealed to another to ‘keep sport free from anything that tends to lower its purity and value’ and to ‘engage in it’ for ‘the sport’s sake alone’. He revealed to a third that no cheering from an athletics crowd had given as much pleasure as his religion.

Scripture: Genesis 19:30-38

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Running The Race With God Beside Me: Eric Liddell’s Journey Of Faith - Part 3

By Duncan Hamilton on Apr 15, 2024

Two years ago I travelled China’s Shandong Provence; specifically to the city that Eric Liddell knew as Weihsien and which is now called Weifang. I walked around the site of the camp where he died of a brain tumour six months before the Second World War ended. The earth that held him during that war holds him still. No one can identify where Liddell was buried. So, instead of a grave, he has a monument – an enormous slab of rose granite shipped from the Isle of Mull in the Hebrides.

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Doubt Busters

By Lance Witt on Jun 27, 2024

"One of the things I love about the Bible is how honest it is. The pages of Scripture don’t gloss over the flaws and sins and weaknesses of people. Even the great heroes of the faith are not airbrushed or photo-shopped to make them look superhuman."

Scripture: Psalm 77:4-14, Isaiah 40:26

Tags: Faith, doubt, Remember, Trust, God's Character, God's faithfulness, doubt and fear, Crisis Of Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Was Jesus Numerically Challenged?

By Ray Hollenbach on Jun 28, 2020

Is numerical growth proof of God’s grace? This reflection questions the assumption that size equals faithfulness and contrasts modern metrics with Jesus’ slow, seed-shaped vision of the church.

Scripture: Acts 2:41, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, 1 Peter 2:5, Matthew 13:31-33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Growth, Faithfulness, number

Secrets To Sermons On Giving

By Bob Russell on Jan 7, 2025

Stewardship preaching doesn’t have to repel people. With timing, tone, and practical teaching, pastors can address money biblically and help believers grow in generosity.

Scripture: Mark 10:21

Tags: Faith, Money, Healing, Giving, Stewardship, Power, Preaching, miracles, Funeral, Generosity, Homosexuality, Tithes, election, Tithing, Labor, Giving General, Christian Giving, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Seeing Is Not Always Believing

By R. C. Sproul on Nov 28, 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: Faith, doubt, Joshua, Believe, miracles, Courage, Seeing, faith and obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Mentoring For Pastors: How To Find The Right Mentor At The Right Time

By Hal Seed on Oct 28, 2022

"Do you need a mentor? Only if you want to become more like Christ, live for Jesus more purposefully, and see your church take ground for God’s glory."

Tags: leadership, Grow, Mentor, pastoral leadership, Christian growth, mentoring, call to discipleship, church leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Study: What Preachers Won't Preach About

By Toni Ridgaway on Mar 27, 2020

Over half of pastors avoid certain topics for fear of losing attendees. This report raises hard questions about courage, clarity, and faithfulness in preaching.

Scripture: Acts 20:17-32

Tags: Preaching, preaching, Biblical Faithfulness

Learn How To Be Brought Low

By Scott Hubbard on Oct 14, 2022

"You don’t need to be anyone special to know what it means to be brought low."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:10, Isaiah 53:3, Philippians 1:3-5, Philippians 4:12

Tags: Faith, Humility, Hope, Grief, Sorrow, mature faith, Enduring Hardship, School of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Hope And Perspective When We’re Dealing With Doubt

By Randy Alcorn on Dec 2, 2022

"In times of doubt, difficulty, and trials, our fundamental beliefs about God and our faith are revealed. So how can Christians find faith in the midst of doubt? How can they trust God’s plan when their lives seem out of His control, and prayers seem to go unanswered or, sometimes it feels, even unheard?"

Scripture: Romans 10:17, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 1:11, 2 Timothy 3:16, Job 23:10, Isaiah 43:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: doubt, Perseverance, suffering, tragedy, Promises of God, Genuine Faith, Test of Faith, sovereignty of God  (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)

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: Faith, Fear, endurance, Preaching, prosper  (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: Faithfulness, identity, Identity in Christ, motives

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