In Preaching Articles: "Jesus"

Was Jesus Numerically Challenged?

By Ray Hollenbach on Jun 29, 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

Is Jesus An Impossible Mentor?

By Ray Hollenbach on Sep 30, 2020

Do you preach Jesus as a role model? It's impossible to be like Jesus, isn't it? He was God-come-to-earth and his life sets the bar impossibly high for any of us.

Scripture: Matthew 16:24

Tags: Preaching, Submission, Accountability, honour, Mentor, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Turning To Jesus In Exhaustion

By Adam Weber on Apr 28, 2022

I had only recently completed my master’s degree, I didn’t want to start this church in the first place, it was struggling to grow, and here I was moving this stupid sign through three feet of snow. Without thinking, the words came out: God, what am I doing here? I’m tired!

Tags: Exhaustion, rest in god

How Would Jesus Respond Online?

By Michael Kelley on Dec 18, 2021

We are probably more responsive today than ever before, partly because we now have the tools to respond publicly to anyone or anything, and at any time we see fit. We can post, like, tweet, and retweet, and we are delighted to do so. We love to respond. No, we need to respond.

Scripture: Luke 23:9, Matthew 27:12-14, Isaiah 53:7

Tags: Jesus, conflict, Silence, fixing eyes on Jesus

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)

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

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 1, 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

How To Preach Jesus Using The Psalms

By Jason Hood on Feb 12, 2025

The Psalms reveal Jesus as sufferer, king, shepherd, and conqueror, inviting believers to see both Christ and themselves in the prayers he fulfilled and continues to shape in us.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: spiritual formation, Spiritual Formation

Why Jesus Never Used A Classroom

By Bob Hamp on Jul 25, 2020

Jesus did not come primarily to educate or motivate but to liberate. His life and ministry reveal a discipleship model rooted in freedom, action, and restoration.

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19, John 8:32-36, Mark 1:38-39, Matthew 4:19, Romans 8:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Learning, Living, follower, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

What It Means To Preach Jesus As Lord

By Ed Stetzer on Oct 29, 2020

Can we rise above T-shirt and bumper-sticker sloganism? These are radical words.

Tags: Lord, Jesus, Outreach, Missions, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

By J.d. Greear on Sep 12, 2025

Surveys show more than 50% of people have prayed a sinner's prayer and think they're going to heaven even though there is no detectable difference in their lifestyles from those outside of the church.

Tags: Jesus, Salvation, Preaching, sinners prayer, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Shocking Truth About Growing In Jesus

By Ray Hollenbach on Nov 10, 2025

Would you like to be a radical, against-the-gain follower of Jesus? Suggest this radical solution.

Scripture: Acts 11:19-26

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Jesus: Friend To Sinners, No Friend To Sin

By Ray Hollenbach on Jan 15, 2026

Jesus befriended sinners without ignoring sin. Christians can hold truth and grace together without compromising either.

Tags: Grace, Jesus, Sin, Discipleship, Preaching, grace, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Promote Jesus: Not Personality, Professionalism, Or Brand

By Joe Hoagland on Jan 18, 2022

The church can learn a lot from worldly business and marketing trends but many times churches and church leaders end up promoting the wrong thing.

Tags: Jesus, focus on GOD, Pastoral Character, church marketing

4 Ingredients Jesus Used To Hold An Audience

By Peter Walters on Jan 17, 2022

As a preacher, I am always looking for ways to improve my speaking. I study other communicators, for example, if a comedian gets me hooked, I analyze why he was successful and I love to read books on communication.

Scripture: Job 1:1-10, Luke 6:46, Matthew 13:16, Luke 12:25, Matthew 6:28, Matthew 13:34, Luke 10:30, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 7:1, Genesis 2:10-20, Genesis 1:4-10, Luke 13:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Following Jesus, jesus parables, Communication Speech, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Jesus Preached To Doubters--You Can, Too

By Ed Cyzewski on Jul 26, 2025

When Jesus called his disciples, there wasn’t a single one who understood that he was the Messiah or Son of God.

Tags: doubt, Jesus, Preaching, preaching