In Preaching Articles: "hope in Christ"

Lay Aside The Weight Of Insecurity

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 7, 2022

Where does our sense of identity come from? This is the crucial question, the pinnacle of the problem.

Scripture: Psalm 27:5, Hebrews 4:13, Romans 7:18, Isaiah 29:13, Colossians 1:14, Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8:17, Romans 8:28, 1 Corinthians 1:27-31, Matthew 11:29-30, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 Corinthians 12:18, Revelation 2:17, Hebrews 12:1, John 8:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 11:28, Psalm 103:17, Philippians 4:6-7, John 15:16, Genesis 3:8-21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: identity, idolatry, Insecurity, Identity in Christ

5 Powerful Benefits Of Being A Pastor Who Is A Morning Person

By Brandon Kelley on May 12, 2022

A couple of years ago, I decided to make the switch from night owl to morning person and that switch has made all the difference.

Tags: Morning, focus, productive, intimacy with Christ

The Overlooked, Underrated, Desperately Needed Virtue Of Curiosity

By Brandon Cox on Oct 3, 2023

Curiosity is the art of knowing that we don’t know, and discovering more about God, about people, about ourselves, and about the amazing world around us.

Tags: Love, Curiosity, Creativity, intimacy with Christ

What Are The Internal Scripts Driving You? Part 2

By Lance Witt on Oct 10, 2023

For many Christians shame isn’t about a sordid past or dark skeletons in our closet. We live with a low-grade nagging feeling that we are never “enough”.

Tags: Shame, beloved, Performance, Identity in Christ

Two Questions To Break Despair

By Marion Clark on Dec 2, 2022

There is a great need for Christian counselors with the expertise to unravel the problems of life. The more a pastor is equipped in this area, the better they will be able to serve the members of their church who are facing difficulties and trials.

Tags: Hope, encouragement, Counselor, Despair, pastoral care, WISE COUNSEL, fixing eyes on Jesus, counseling  (view more)  (view less)

12 Reasons Why Church Membership Matters

By Jonathan Leeman on Mar 1, 2025

Jonathan Leeman: "Membership is the church’s affirmation that you are a citizen of Christ’s kingdom and therefore a card-carrying Jesus Representative before the nations."

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:20

Tags: Preaching, Membership, preaching

Preach The Present Pentecost, Not The Past

By David J. Lose on Feb 20, 2023

There's nothing more resistant to purposeful, hopeful action in the present than nostalgia, the longing for a bygone era.

Scripture: Acts 5:1-30

Tags: Pentecost, Present, Preaching, past, festival, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

You Were Made For Christmas

By David Mathis on Dec 23, 2024

You were made for the Great Joy of Christmas.

Scripture: Luke 2:18, Matthew 1:21, 1 Peter 3:18, Luke 2:14

Tags: Emmanuel, Christmas, Advent, treasure, Glory to God, christ child, Christmas Gospel, Joy in Christ, Christmas Joy  (view more)  (view less)

How Fred Craddock Found His Preaching Voice

By Fred Craddock on May 27, 2023

Dr. Craddock describes his voice as "the wind whistling through a splinter on a post." Here's how this master preacher learned to compensate.

Scripture: Mark 5:1-12, Mark 7:1-23

Tags: Christ, Worship, Preaching, Demoniac, swine, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Multisite Myths (And Realities)

By Jim Egli on Nov 2, 2020

Some preachers resist the idea of multiple sites. But what if technology increases your effectiveness?

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

Finding God In The Ambiguity

By Jonathan Martin on May 17, 2021

God is bigger than our tiny little systems of certainty. He is revealed to us in Jesus of Nazareth, who is real enough to touch us in our own ambiguity.

Tags: Jesus, God, Jesus Christ, Certain, ambiguity  (view more)  (view less)

15 Sermon Starters For Your Easter Message

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 2, 2021

Let these great thoughts prime the pump for your Easter sermon. Start with great words and develop them uniquely for your congregation.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, John 10:1-18, John 20:1-30, Acts 2:1

Tags: Easter, Message, Preaching, Jesus Christ, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

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

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 30, 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

What Are 10 Things That Might Help A Pastor And His Wife Stay Married And In Ministry?

By Brian Croft on Aug 25, 2023

Marriage is hard enough, but add ministry into the mix and you have a recipe for a potential mess.

Tags: Marriage, Rest, intimacy with Christ, pastor's wife

Does Your Soul Have A Backbone?

By Lance Witt on Aug 7, 2023

Over the last few years my single most consistent prayer has been for spiritual courage.

Tags: suffering, Courage, People pleasing, intimacy with Christ