In Preaching Articles: "Imitating Christ"

8 Preachable Marks Of A Transformed Life

By Philip Nation on Jan 8, 2025

Spiritual transformation is God’s work in believers, shaping them into Christ’s image. These eight biblical marks help pastors guide their people toward genuine gospel change.

Scripture: Galatians 4:19, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Church, Discipleship, Preaching, pastor, Transformation, transformed life, Pastor, preaching, church, Transformed Life  (view more)  (view less)

A Category You Won’t Find In The Bible: The Churchless Christian

By Thabiti Anyabwile on Oct 26, 2022

"It is important for Christians to be members of a local church because the New Testament apostles can’t conceive of anything called a Christian that’s not connected to Christ’s body."

Tags: Church, Discipleship, Christian Life, Healthy Church, Called to serve, local church, be the church, Church Body of Christ, Christian community, church  (view more)  (view less)

Good & Bad Cases Of Church Discipline

By Ray Hollenbach on Mar 10, 2025

A real church incident exposes why believers distrust discipline. Yet Scripture shows discipline is meant to heal, not harm, calling us to restore one another with Christ’s presence.

Tags: pastoral care, Pastoral Care

A Risk Worth Taking Part Ii

By Leigh Ann Carey Looyenga on Dec 26, 2023

The first step in practically engaging Sabbath rest is getting rid of our narrow and legalistic views of the day.

Scripture: Mark 2:27-28, Psalm 112:1, John 10:10, Mark 3:1-4

Tags: Sunday, Sabbath, Saturday, legalism vs grace, New Year's Reflection, intimacy with Christ  (view more)  (view less)

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)

When The Cabin Loses Pressure: Preaching The Gospel With Urgent Clarity

By Ron Forseth on Mar 12, 2025

Preach about sin? Emphasize God’s wrath? Talk about Christ’s blood? Can that possibly have a positive effect? Most certainly. Ultimately, it’s the only way to have a lasting effect.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Expository Application

Is Our Gospel Tasteless?

By Dave Rhodes on Aug 23, 2020

The gospel is not merely a promise of heaven later. In Christ, the Kingdom breaks into the present and can be tasted now.

Scripture: Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 6:10, Luke 17:20-21, Romans 14:17, Colossians 1:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Eschatology, preaching

One Question You Must Never Ask In Ministry

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 6, 2023

Disciples of Jesus Christ must never try to calculate the cost/benefit of some act of ministry.

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24, Luke 18:8, Ecclesiastes 11:6

Tags: Faithfulness, Leadership General, questions, measuring success

25 Best Pentecost Sermon And Worship Resources

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 18, 2025

On Pentecost, the Church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit's power to proclaim the risen Christ to the ends of the earth.

Tags: Holy Spirit, Worship, Pentecost, sermon, Sermon  (view more)  (view less)

If The Church Is God's Idea, Who Are We To Dismantle It?

By Jeff K. Clarke on Feb 24, 2022

I wonder if we have allowed our contemporary definition, understanding, and experience of the church to be shaped more by the post-modern impulse of individualism and self-centeredness, than by Christ’s and Paul’s emphasis on the gathered community from every race, tribe, and tongue?

Tags: individualism, church community, Listening, unity and diversity

Unashamed Allegiance: My Tribute To R.c. Sproul

By John Piper on Nov 17, 2022

I love R.C. Sproul. I am sure I owe him more than I can even recall. My reverence for the holiness of God and the truth of his word would not be the same without his influence. I will miss him (for a short while).

Tags: treasure, Faithfulness, Tribute, Preacher, Godly example, Christ in Scripture, Teacher, Godly Life, preacher, teacher  (view more)  (view less)

The Overlooked Answer To Powerful Preaching

By Brian Croft on Nov 22, 2019

Before the preacher can persuade any sinner to turn to Christ, he must first be persuaded himself.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-10

Tags: Preaching

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

What Is Saving Faith?

By R. C. Sproul on Aug 31, 2022

Faith is central to Christianity. The New Testament repeatedly calls people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a definite body of content to be believed, which is part and parcel of our religious activity.

Scripture: James 2:14-17

Tags: Salvation, justification, Adoption, Reformation, saving faith, Preach Christ, God's righteousness, preaching the gospel, salvation by grace  (view more)  (view less)

Live To Make God Look Good

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 1, 2022

The great tragedy of the universe is that while human beings were made to glorify God because of who they are and what they see, we have all fallen short of this purpose.

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Romans 3:23, Romans 1:23, Isaiah 40:4, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 48:9-11, Isaiah 60:2, Isaiah 49:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, glory of God, meaning of life, glorify Christ, what is the purpose of life, Eternal Purpose, Self glory  (view more)  (view less)