Growing Faith Church Sermons

The One Cure for Anxiety: Matt. 6:19-34

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
May 17, 2026
1. Live in One Direction (vv. 19-24)
2. Trust in One Provider (vv. 25-32)
3. Pursue One Mission Daily (vv. 33-34)
In a world where anxiety affects millions, the Bible offers a powerful cure that goes beyond temporary fixes. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6 that peace comes not from eliminating all problems, but from making God's kingdom our singular focus. This requires three key shifts: living in one direction by choosing heavenly treasures over earthly ones, trusting in one provider by recognizing God as our ultimate source, and pursuing one mission daily by seeking His kingdom first. When we stop trying to serve two masters and instead devote ourselves fully to God's purposes, we find the peace that comes from knowing what truly matters most.

What Makes a Good Mother? Prov. 31:10-31

Mother's Day 2026
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
May 10, 2026
1. A Good Mother Works Hard to Meet Needs (vv. 13-20)
2. A Good Mother Works Hard to Provide Security (vv. 21-25)
3. A Good Mother Works Hard to Teach Wisdom (vv. 26-27)
4. A Good Mother Works Hard to Bring Honor to Her Family (vv. 11-12, 28-29)
5. A Good Mother Begins by Fearing the Lord (vv. 30-31)
Proverbs 31 offers timeless wisdom about excellent motherhood. The Proverbs 31 woman demonstrates four key qualities: working hard to meet family needs, providing security through faith and preparation, teaching wisdom with kindness, and bringing honor to her household. These qualities all flow from the foundation of fearing the Lord - living in reverent awe of God while trusting His goodness. True motherhood isn't about perfection or comparison with others, but about building a life on the right relationship with God and finding worth in His approval and family well-being.

True Worship: Matt. 6:1-18

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
May 3, 2026
1. Acts of True Worship Seek to Glorify God, Not Self (v. 1, 2, 5, 16)
2. Acts of True Worship Desire a Delayed Response (vv. 2, 4-6, 16-18)
3. Acts of True Worship Originate in Secret Worship (vv. 3-4, 6, 17-18)
4. Acts of True Worship Flow from a Right Relationship with God (vv. 7-15)
Jesus warns against religious hypocrisy in Matthew 6, where he describes hypocrites as actors wearing masks to appear more spiritual than they truly are. He gives three examples: giving to be seen, praying for attention, and fasting for show. The solution is to worship in secret, focusing on God's approval rather than human recognition. True worship seeks to glorify God, desires eternal rewards over immediate praise, and flows from authentic relationship with Him. When our private worship life is genuine, our public expressions of faith will naturally be authentic rather than performative.

The Call to Righteousness: Matt. 5:17-30

Series: "The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World"
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
April 19, 2026
1. Your Sin Still Matters (vv. 17-19)
2. Your Sin is Worse than You Think (vv. 20-22, 27-28)
3. Deal with Your Sin Quickly (vv. 23-26)
4. Deal with Your Sin Drastically (vv. 29-30)
Jesus teaches that while we're saved by grace, sin still matters deeply in our daily lives. He didn't come to abolish the Old Testament law but to fulfill it, showing us that true righteousness goes beyond external rule-following to heart transformation. The Pharisees focused on keeping rules perfectly, but Jesus reveals that anger is like murder and lust is like adultery in God's eyes. We must deal with sin quickly and drastically, taking whatever measures necessary to remove temptation from our lives. This isn't about earning salvation but about experiencing the abundant life Jesus offers when we stop casually flirting with sin.

The Distinctiveness of the Good Life: Matt. 5:1-16

Series: "The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World"
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
April 12, 2026
1. Blessing Comes to Those Who Admit Their Need (vv. 1-6)
2. Blessing Flows Through Those Who Have Been Blessed (vv. 7-10)
3. Blessing Acts to Impact the Outside World (vv. 11-16)
Jesus redefines the good life through the Beatitudes, showing that true blessing comes from spiritual humility rather than worldly success. Those who are poor in spirit, recognizing their complete dependence on God, inherit the kingdom of heaven. This blessed life flows outward through mercy, peacemaking, and authentic living. Christians are called to be both salt and light in the world - preserving truth while showing grace. The good life isn't about comfort but about courageously living as citizens of God's kingdom while serving as His ambassadors to others.
 

Looking for Jesus in All the Wrong Places: Luke 23:50-24:12

Easter Sunday 2026
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
April 5, 2026
1. Jesus isn't in the Tomb of Past Regrets (Luke 23:50-53)
2. Jesus isn't in the Tomb of Cold Religion (Luke 23:54-56)
3. Jesus isn't in the Tomb of Human Reason (Luke 24:1-8)
4. Jesus isn't in the Tomb of the Possible (Luke 24:9-11)
5. We can Know Jesus Because He isn't in the Tomb! (Luke 24:12)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ challenges us to stop searching for Him in the wrong places. Just as the angels asked the women at the empty tomb why they sought the living among the dead, we often look for Jesus in places where He cannot be found. Many people search for Jesus in the tomb of past regrets, believing their mistakes disqualify them from His love. Others seek Him through cold religious rituals rather than a personal relationship. Some try to find Him through human reason alone, while others limit Him to what seems possible. The truth is that Jesus is alive and offers new life to all who step out of these dead places. He already knows our failures yet still invites us to come to Him, offering forgiveness and transformation that goes beyond our understanding or limitations.
 

The Reason for Growing Faith: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Series: "Cultivate: Grace, Growth & the Life of a Disciple"
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
March 29, 2026
1. Growing Faith Trades Corruption for Godliness Through Jesus' Power (vv. 3-4)
2. Growing Faith Validates Jesus' Sacrifice (vv. 5-9)
3. Growing Faith Confirms Our Salvation (vv. 10-11)
Many people call themselves Christians but show little evidence of spiritual transformation. Second Peter 1:3-11 reveals that genuine faith should produce dramatic life change over time. Through God's divine power and precious promises, believers can trade worldly corruption for participation in God's nature. Peter outlines eight qualities that should increase in growing Christians: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Spiritual growth serves three vital purposes: it allows us to participate in God's nature, honors Jesus' sacrificial work, and confirms our salvation. Without growth, our faith becomes ineffective and unfruitful, like severe nearsightedness that blinds us to God's bigger picture.

The Cost of Discipleship: Mark 8:34-37

Series: Cultivate: Grace, Growth & the Life of a Disciple
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
March 22, 2026
1. Disciples of Jesus Must Surrender Their Ambitions for His Plan (v. 34a)
2. Disciples of Jesus Must be Ready to Endure Suffering and Death Like Him (v. 34b)
3. Disciples of Jesus Must Follow Him Above All Other Desires (v. 34c)
4. Disciples of Jesus Give Up This Life to Gain the Greatest Possible Reward (v. 35-37)
In this sermon from the Cultivate series, Growing Faith Church explores the radical call of Jesus found in Mark 8:34-37. Drawing inspiration from the life of martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the message challenges the idea of "cheap grace"—the desire for forgiveness without repentance or commitment.
The core of the message focuses on three specific costs every follower of Christ must be willing to pay:
Surrender Your Ambitions: Discipleship requires "denying yourself," which means handing the "pen" of your life's story back to God and trusting His plan over your own dreams.
Endure Suffering: Taking up a cross was a symbol of shame and execution; following Jesus means being ready for ridicule, persecution, or even the sacrifice of one's literal life.
Follow Him Above All: True discipleship moves Jesus from the "co-pilot" position to the driver's seat, prioritizing His lead over personal comfort or consumeristic desi
While the cost is high, the reward is incomparable. As missionary Jim Elliot famously said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose". By losing our temporary lives to Christ, we gain our eternal souls.

The Pathway of Discipleship: Matt. 28:18-20, Phil. 3:12-14, Phil. 2:12-13

Series: Cultivate: Grace, Growth & the Life of a Disciple
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty NC
March 15, 2026
1. The Church Prepares the Way for Sanctification (Matt. 28:18-20)
2. The Disciple Pursues the Prize of Sanctification (Phil. 3:12-14)
3. God Provides the Power for Sanctification (Phil. 2:12-13)
Spiritual maturity doesn't happen by accident - it requires intentional steps and commitment. The Bible outlines three key players in this process: the church prepares the way by providing resources and community, disciples pursue growth with single-minded focus while letting go of past failures and successes, and God provides the power for transformation. True spiritual growth combines divine power with human responsibility, requiring us to actively pursue Christ while trusting God to work in us.

The Way to a Prosperous Life: Ps. 1, Acts 2:42-47, Col. 2:6-7

Series: Cultivate: Grace, Growth, & the Life of a Disciple
Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC
March 8, 2026
1. The Prosperous Life is Determined by Where We Find Our Delight (Ps. 1)
2. The Prosperous Life is Committed to Growing in Discipleship (Acts 2:42-47)
3. The Prosperous Life is Powered by God's Grace Through Faith (Col. 2:6-7)
True biblical prosperity isn't about material wealth but about being spiritually planted in the right place. Psalm 1 describes the prosperous person as a tree planted by streams of water, finding delight in God's Word rather than worldly pursuits. The early church in Acts 2 demonstrates six key marks of spiritual maturity: being rooted in God's Word and community, growing in prayer and worship, and reaching out through service and evangelism. This growth doesn't come through self-effort but through God's grace received by faith, like a sailboat catching wind in its sails.