In Preaching Articles: "Growth In Christ"

Eugene Peterson On The Dignity Of Local Pastoring

By Eugene Peterson on Jul 13, 2021

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

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, 2 Corinthians 4:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Growth, Preaching, Growth in Christ, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Growth Is Harder In A Small Church – And Change Is Essential

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 29, 2021

Big churches find it much easier to incorporate new people because the bigger the crowd, the smaller the impact each person has.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:19-20

Tags: Change, Visitors, Small Church, Christ in us

New Year, New Adjective: "Christ-Exalting”

By John Piper on Dec 26, 2022

My aim here is to encourage you to make “Christ-exalting” the featured adjective in your prayers. Let me explain what I mean. Then I’ll give you three reasons why I think this would be a great New Year’s resolution.

Scripture: Philippians 1:20, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Tags: Prayer, Resolution, Personal Growth, exalting christ, daily prayer, new years, Christ Centered, New Years Resolution  (view more)  (view less)

Is The Body Of Christ In Trouble?

By Barry O. Johnson on Sep 11, 2024

Barry Johnson offers some helpful insights into the state of the Church in America, and offers a loving call for pastors to take bold steps of faith wherever God has planted them.

Tags: Gospel, Truth, Preaching, Body of Christ, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching The Power Of The Person Of Christ

By Peter Mead on Sep 11, 2020

When preaching loses sight of the personal God, it drifts into moralism. Captivating preaching flows from knowing and loving Christ.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:23, Genesis 1:26-27, 1 John 1:3, John 15:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Prosperity, redemption, God's Kingdom, Kingdom of God, kingdom of God, love, Kingdom Of God  (view more)  (view less)

The Church Must Preach Christ

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 7, 2022

Widely diverse philosophies of preaching vie for acceptance among contemporary clergy.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:23-25, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Romans 1:16

Tags: Preaching, Preach Christ, gospel proclamation, preaching

Do You Need Help Reading Your Bible?

By C.j. Mahaney on Jun 6, 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, BIBLE STUDY, priorities, bible reading, Bible Study, Growth in Christ, Christian growth, Spiritual Discipline, dependence on God, bible study, bible  (view more)  (view less)

The Greatest Gift You Give Your Team- Part 1

By Lance Witt on Jul 10, 2024

This week work at paying attention to your soul. Listen to your emotions. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what is going on beneath the surface of all your “doing”.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1, John 16:32, John 16:32

Tags: Approval, Growth in Christ, pastoral leadership, God's Approval, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care, personal holiness  (view more)  (view less)

Church Growth And The Work Of God

By Josh Reich on Oct 5, 2023

We know that God is the one who makes a church grow, that it isn’t on us. This is both a comfort and a problem.

Tags: Communication, vision, Discipleship, Church Growth, communication  (view more)  (view less)

Leading *chreasters* To Christ: 8 Ideas

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 17, 2025

Christmas and Easter bring many first-time church guests. Learn practical strategies churches can use to connect with holiday visitors and encourage them to return.

Scripture: Luke 19:10, Matthew 28:19, John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 10:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Outreach, New, interest, evangelism, church  (view more)  (view less)

Death Is Dead, Christ Has Conquered

By Sam Allberry on May 22, 2024

Too many of us view the resurrection of Jesus as little more than a nice, happy conclusion to the gospel story. But the Easter story isn’t just “what happens next” to Jesus after his death. It doesn’t just wrap up the story; it fulfills it. In fact, there really is no story without it.

Scripture: Romans 4:25, 1 Corinthians 15:17

Tags: Resurrection, Gospel, Victory, Christ is Risen, gospel  (view more)  (view less)

10 Multisite Myths (And Realities)

By Jim Egli on Nov 1, 2020

Multisite ministry is often misunderstood. Data and experience show that many common objections are either exaggerated or simply false.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Ephesians 4:11-12, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Church, Growth, Missions, Multisite, In Christ, church  (view more)  (view less)

Does A Pastor Preach Christ At The Funeral Of An Unbeliever?

By Chris Surber on Aug 3, 2023

Preaching Christ at the funeral of an unbeliever requires the subtle art of careful preaching. It’s as much about what you don’t say as what you do say.

Tags: Preaching, Funeral, unbeliever, preaching Christ, preaching, Unbeliever  (view more)  (view less)

Don’t Pursue Feelings. Pursue Christ.

By Joe Thorn on Jul 11, 2022

One danger is emotionalism, in which we allow our feelings to interpret our circumstances and form our thoughts about God. This is putting feelings before faith. The other danger is a kind of stoicism, where faith is rooted in theology but void of affection. This tendency removes feelings from faith altogether. While it is true that our emotions should not lead our theology, it is vital to our faith that theology lead to a deep experience of our triune God.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Psalm 34:18, Romans 8:15, Psalm 34:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Emotions, Theology, Stoicism, Feelings, Doctrine to Doxology  (view more)  (view less)

Live And Die By The Numbers

By Lance Witt on Apr 10, 2023

But numbers become a problem in the heart of a pastor when they move from being a point of celebration to becoming the driver of our motivation.

Scripture: Acts 2:47

Tags: motivation, Church Growth, success in ministry, intimacy with Christ