Growing Faith Church Sermons

The Choice that Matters Most: Matt. 7:13-29

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC May 31, 2026 1. Be Careful to Choose the Right Gate (vv. 13-14) 2. Be Careful to Avoid Being Deceived (vv. 15-20) 3. Be Careful Not to Deceive Yourself (vv. 21-23) 4. Be Careful to Obey Jesus' Voice (vv. 24-27) Jesus presents humanity with the most crucial decision we'll ever face: choosing between two gates. The wide gate appears easy and attracts many, but leads to destruction. The narrow gate is difficult to find and challenging to walk through, yet it's the only path to eternal life. Following Jesus means going against popular opinion, surrendering personal desires, and facing persecution. We must also guard against false teachers who promise easy paths while leading people astray. True faith isn't just about doing good works, but about obeying God's will and building our lives on the solid foundation of Christ's teachings.

How to Change Lives: Matt. 7:1-12

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC May 24, 2026 1. See Clearly (vv. 1-6) 2. Pray Persistently (vv. 7-11) 3. Love Unconditionally (v. 12) Many Christians fall into the trap of trying to fix others by criticizing their behavior, but true change comes from heart transformation, not behavior modification. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7 not to judge others harshly while ignoring our own flaws. Instead of trying to change people through criticism, we should pray persistently for their hearts to be transformed by God. The Golden Rule calls us to love others unconditionally, treating them as we would want to be treated, regardless of their response. When we understand the grace God has shown us, we can extend that same grace to others while trusting God to do the work of heart change.

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.