In Preaching Articles: "Spirit Of God"

You Cannot Out-Dream God

By Marshall Segal on Jul 11, 2023

We tend to think our dreams were too big when we were young, say when we were six, and too small as we get older. But maybe our dreams never reach high enough.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Corinthians 10:33, Isaiah 43:7, Matthew 4:8, Psalm 49:16-17, Matthew 6:19-21, John 5:44, John 12:43, Matthew 6:1, Psalm 115:1, Deuteronomy 8:3, Psalm 16:11, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Ephesians 2:5, 1 Timothy 4:7, Matthew 19:29  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Dreams, Materialism, eternal perspective, Following God's will

Talk To God About Your Anxieties

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 21, 2022

Anxiety is a species of fear. It’s the paralyzing fear of “what if.” It’s the fear that something we dread might possibly come true

Scripture: Luke 14:33, Romans 8:35-39, John 16:33, Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 1:20, John 3:16, John 11:25-26, Matthew 28:18, John 15:12, Luke 12:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, Anxiety, worry, Worry

Theology Can Blind You To God

By Marshall Segal on Mar 31, 2022

How do we know when our systems for understanding God have become sick with sin and paradoxically subtle justifications for opposing him?

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-13, John 3:30, Mark 3:22, Mark 2:16, Mark 1:22, Mark 7:3-6, Mark 10:33-34, Mark 11:18, Mark 12:24, Mark 12:34, Mark 14:1, Mark 11:28-33, Mark 15:1-11, Mark 12:38-40, Acts 3:13-15, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Leviticus 19:18, John 14:6, Mark 8:31  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Greed, Pride, hypocrisy, Pharisees

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)

The Most Difficult Aspect Of Praying

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 7, 2024

"If we cannot walk by faith and believe by faith–a redundancy, of course–we will stop praying."

Scripture: Psalm 23:3, Luke 18:1, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Tags: Faith, Prayer, God's Will, Confidence, Trust God, God in control, God hears prayer  (view more)  (view less)

A Renewed Mind: The Practice Of Humble Thought

By Robert A. Fryling on Jan 3, 2025

A call to reject mind–spirit false dichotomies, embrace biblical thinking, and pursue a humble, renewed mind that deepens spiritual formation and love for God.

Scripture: Luke 10:27, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 14:15, 1 Peter 1:13, 2 Corinthians 10:5, 1 Peter 3:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Thought, Humility, Preaching, pastor, devotion, original sin, Mind, Christian Disciplines, Christian Leadership, Pastor, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Power Of Ugly Preaching

By Jamie Stilson on Apr 25, 2023

Preaching should be a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, not a display of our wisdom. One pastor calls it "ugly preaching."

Scripture: Acts 4:13, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Tags: Grace, Preaching, grace, preaching

Ugly Preaching Can Be Powerful

By Jamie Stilson on Feb 22, 2023

Preaching should be a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, not a display of our wisdom. One pastor calls it "ugly preaching."

Scripture: James 2:1-10

Tags: Preaching, training, Holy Spirit's Power, ugly preaching, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

One Pastor's View: Which Bible Translations Should You Read?

By Clay Smith on Jul 16, 2021

Here's how one pastor answers a commonly-asked question. How would you answer?

Tags: Bible, Holy Spirit, Guide, translation, Bible Influence, bible  (view more)  (view less)

In Times Of Conflict—preach Joy!

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 15, 2025

Regardless of your church's climate, one thing remains true: The preacher's task is to preach with joy, whether the conditions are desirable or undesirable.

Tags: Holy Spirit, Communication, Joy, Preaching, conflict, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Church Growth Essentials From The Apostle Paul

By Charles Stone on Jun 22, 2023

When I was in seminary Church Growth 101 was a required course. I took interest in the whole field and became a student of church growth.

Scripture: Acts 13:1-52, Acts 14:1-28, Colossians 2:19, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Acts 15:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Holy Spirit, relationships, Church Growth, Flexibility, spiritual formation  (view more)  (view less)

7 Ways To Tell If It's A God Thing

By Ron Edmondson on Apr 2, 2023

God often calls His people into assignments that seem impossible or irrational. Here are seven marks that may indicate the task before you is truly from Him.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Chronicles 20:12, 1 Corinthians 1:27, Philippians 4:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: opportunity, christian living, Christian Living

Sharpen Your Sermon With A God-Centered Checklist

By Jared Moore on Sep 18, 2025

If you want to help your people focus on God when they leave church tomorrow, here are 11 things that you cannot do.

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Preaching, Checklist, joke, Sharpen, preaching, God centered, God Centered  (view more)  (view less)

John Piper, George Mueller, And The Pleasures Of God

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 8, 2022

God is like a great Niagara Falls—you look at it and think: surely this can’t keep going at this force for year after year after year. It seems like it would have to rest. Or it seems like some place up stream it would run dry. But, no, it just keeps surging and crashing and making honeymooners happy century after century. That’s the way God is about doing us good. He never grows weary of it. It never gets boring to him.

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-18, Jeremiah 32:39-41, Psalm 119:68, Deuteronomy 30:9, Ephesians 2:7, Philippians 4:19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Salvation, Unfailing Love, john piper, Endless Grace, Riches of Grace, George Mueller  (view more)  (view less)

Back To The Heart Of Worship

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 19, 2023

Jesus is greatly honored when we bring ourselves, with the Holy Spirit’s help, back to the heart of worship again and again.

Scripture: John 4:24, 1 Corinthians 10:12

Tags: Holy Spirit, Music, How to Worship, Church worship, fixing eyes on Jesus  (view more)  (view less)