In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 292

Does A Friend Need To Love At All Times?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 26, 2025

Knowing someone and being a friend to someone are not the same.

What sort of companion or friend am I? There is a tremendous contrast between knowing somebody well and being a genuine friend. The best proof of certifiable friendship is steadfast loyalty. Our friendship with others should not lessen due to unforeseen circumstances. There is no one but Christ ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Are The Seven Things The Lord Finds Detestable?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 20, 2025

What are the things that the Lord finds repulsive and why does God feel that way towards them?

The question asks what seven things does the Lord find detestable? In the King James Version of the Bible, it says “are an abomination unto him.” An abomination is something that causes disgust or hatred, and detestable is something that is deserving of intense dislike. It might be hard for people ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why Will We Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 17, 2025

This is a summons for us to enter into the presence of God with a joyful heart.

The question presented is “Why will we enter His gates with thanksgiving?” A simple answer is, why not. One cannot answer this question solely on verse four. The whole chapter needs to be considered when populating a response. This psalm opens with a solicitation to the entire earth to happily ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are We Taking God Seriously?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 6, 2025

How many Christians do not treat their faith in a serious manner or take it for granted? Many get up and go to work or school, but they did not find time to talk to God?

How many Christians do not treat their faith in a serious manner or take it for granted? Many get up and go to work or school, but they did not find time to talk to God? Undoubtedly, many Christians have some type of insurance (life, home, auto, medical, dental, etc.), but they see their spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Job 28:28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Is The Meaning Of The Four Chariots And The Crown?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 26, 2024

Zechariah sees multiple visions at night, and then he gives a few messages to the people. We will read about one of those visions and one of those messages.

Four Chariots In verses one - eight: Zechariah sees four chariots. The first chariot had red horses which represents the bloodshed. Revelation 6:4, “And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 6:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Will Light Shine On All Your Ways?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 9, 2024

Allowing the Light to shine on all that we do and all that we may go through is important to show to others our joy in the Lord, regardless of what happens.

In an attempt better understand the question posed, I think we should have a brief overview of the book of Job. Everybody has heard about Job at some point in time. The book of Job is a grasping show of wealth, to poverty, to wealth (riches, to rags, to riches), a theological composition about ...read more

Scripture: Job 22:28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Similar Is The Flying Scroll And Basket Like Christians Today?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 19, 2024

Have people of today violated God’s Laws? I believe so. We see all types of sin, idolatry, and sexual perversion everywhere.

The Flying Scroll: The vision of the flying scroll was God’s judgment across the land. Judgment against those who violated God’s law (Jeremiah 36:1-6), especially regarding the stealing and lying (5:1-4). The woman in the ephah (basket) exemplified wickedness, thus this vision showed that ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 5:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

If You Were Accused Of Being A Christian, Would There Be Enough Evidence To Convict You?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 11, 2024

How would we stand up in a court based upon our Christianity? Would we truly be found guilty of being a Christian or would we be acquitted due to lack of evidence?

At the time when the Jewish remnant returned to Israel to rebuild the walls, Joshua was the High Priest (Haggai 1:1, 2:4). APPOINTED, ACCUSED, APPEARANCE, ACCEPTABLE In verses one - four: Satan “resisted” (accused) Joshua, who depicts the country of Israel here. The allegations were exact, ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 3:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does The Bible Say About Growing Good Seeds? Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 3, 2024

Is the seed still in the barn or have we taken it out for planting?

Have we been obedient? This is Haggai's subsequent message, given during the Feast of Tabernacles, around the month of October, 520 B.C. The more seasoned individuals, the elders, could recollect the unbelievable magnificence of Solomon's Temple, which had been annihilated 66 years sooner. ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:1-23, Psalm 126:6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does The Bible Say About Working Hard?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 26, 2024

Physical walls and Spiritual walls. Which, if either, do we work on the most?

Many years prior to Nehemiah’s time, the Northern Kingdom had been conquered and many were taken captive to other lands. The conquering nation introduced prisoners from other lands, which led to intermarriage with the few Israelites. This blending of the races produced the people known as the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Was Prayer For The People Really Needed?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 13, 2024

What is penance? What is repentance? What is confession? Can we pay for our sins?

What is penance? Penance is an act of self-abasement, mortification or devotion performed to show sorrow. What is repentance? Repentance is to turn from sin and dedicate oneself, to feel regret or contrition. What is confession? Confession is a disclosure of one’s sins in sacrament of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 9:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why Is It Necessary To Consecrate Ourselves For Service?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 6, 2024

Too often we put everything toward the church building and programs, and at the same time we are denying the church body.

Previously, David had instructed Solomon about the Temple. Now in this passage of Scripture, the people bring gifts for the Temple. It is feasible for us to be so fixated on a church building that we have disregard of the genuine church, God’s children. Yet, the contrary reaction, ignoring the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why Does God Speak In A Still Small Voice?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 2, 2024

How often do we, as Christians, take time to listen to the voice of God? Does He have to talk to us with a raised voice or a quiet one?

Before we attempt to provide an answer to our question, let us take a moment, look at the Scripture, and gather a history of the situation. In preceding chapter, Elijah has rebuked the evil king Ahab and has had a contest with the evil prophets, wins the contest, and has the evil prophets slain. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does The Bible Say About Sowing Bad Seeds? Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Sep 15, 2024

Have we become mingled with the world? If so, have we darkened the light of Christ so that the world cannot see Him? Have we become rotten as Christians?

Let us begin by turning to Leviticus 19:1-37 and reading about The Mingled Seed. The online free dictionary defines the word mingle as – to mix or bring together in combination, to be or become mixed or united, to associate or take part with others. The past tense form is mingled, which means the ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-37, Joel 1:13-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Is The Lord With Me When I Can’t?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Sep 7, 2024

Why do we worry or fret over some things that are beyond our control?

What a differentiation between Moses' life as an Egyptian sovereign, a prince, and his life as a Midianite shepherd. As a ruler he had everything accomplished for him; he was the renowned child of an Egyptian princess. As a shepherd, he needed to thoroughly take care of himself. He was holding ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible