Contact: Leanne Snavely, Christianity Today, 630-260-6200 ext 7214, lsnavely@christianitytoday.com

CAROL STREAM, Ill., Jan. 2, 2014 /Standard Newswire/ -- PreachingToday.com, a ministry of Christianity Today, announced the Top 10 Sermons of 2013 that highlight relevant concerns and challenges that pastors must address in the present-day Church.

PreachingToday.com offers the world's most powerful sermon and sermon illustration database to help preachers teach the Bible in a fresh way. The tools and training provided through PreachingToday.com help to guide and direct pastors as they connect with culture, develop preaching skills, and face challenges in the pulpit.

With more than 12,000 sermon illustrations and 1,000 sermons, PreachingToday.com provides ideas and tips to help preachers connect with the Holy Spirit and craft sermons in a unique way for the edification of the local church. The Top 10 Sermons of 2013 highlight current preaching trends and themes being addressed in the church today. According to Matt Woodley, Managing Editor of PreachingToday.com, "In the wake of broad and rapid cultural changes, preachers are seeking resources for addressing controversial social issues from a biblical, pastoral stance. But many of the sermons on this list reflect classic, unchanging concerns of Christian living -- renewing the church (#2); dealing with grief, suffering, and doubt (#3, #5, and #6); understanding God's character (#7, #9, and #10); and growing in generosity and gratitude (#4, and #8)."

1. Homosexuality
Your primary identity is not your sexuality; it is who you are as a man or woman in Christ.
By Rick McKinley

2. The Marks of a Renewed Church
Four things about the church that should never change.
By John Stott

3. Mediation for a Fallen Police Officer
In times of deep crisis the Bible offers even deeper words of encouragement.
By Stuart Briscoe

4. A Psalm for Thanksgiving
You have a duty to give thanks to God for who he is and what he has done for you.
By H.B. Charles

5. What to Do When Your Fig Tree Doesn’t Blossom
We can trust the person of God even when we can't grasp the plan of God.
By Jeffrey Arthurs

6. Finding God in the Dark
By bringing our laments to God, we engage God and declare our trust in Him.
By Chuck DeGroat

7. God Is Holy
Gaining a glimpse of God's fire.
By Dan Meyer

8. The 10 Financial Commandments
How are we doing when it comes to living with financial wisdom? Let these 10 biblical principles serve as a guide.
By John Ortberg

9. The World's Best Love Story
God keeps pursuing us and waiting for us to cast ourselves on His faithful love.
By Haddon Robinson

10. What Child Is This?
What's the big deal with Christmas? Jesus is God 'with' us and 'for' us.
By Juan Sanchez

In addition to insight into the church, these sermons also provide a sampling of more than 1,000 downloadable sermons provided by PreachingToday.com. Editors choose high-quality and biblically based sermons that serve as models for preaching and guide preachers in crafting sermons for the local church. "In the coming year," says Matt, "we'll continue to offer sermons that are grounded in Scripture, well-organized and illustrated, and relevant for people in ministry context."

Click here to visit PreachingToday.com and read more about the Top 10 Sermons of 2013.

To gain complete access to these sermons and the powerful sermon illustration database, sign up for a free 30-day trial at PreachingToday.com.

PreachingToday.com, a ministry of Christianity Today, is an online resource for preachers and teachers to advance biblical training and encourage preachers through biblical sermons, illustrations, and skills articles. Carefully-chosen resources provide encouragement and inspiration for preachers to proclaim the gospel in a manner that is Christ-centered, biblical, creative, and culturally engaged in order to guide the church as it grows into the fullness of Christ.

Christianity Today is a nonprofit, global media ministry that equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and create culture to the glory of God. With its vision to see the church grown up into the fullness of Christ, the ministry reaches more than 3.5 million people every month through a wide range of digital and print resources.