Sermon Central
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1 Corinthians
Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 3, 2022 (message contributor)
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1. Fulfill Your Calling
Contributed on Feb 3, 2022
Fulfill your calling to go as God’s representative, because God calls you to go; to be God’s special, secure servant, because God calls you to be; and to come together as God’s people, because God calls you to share together in the fellowship provided by His Son, Jesus Christ.
A university football coach went out to practice one Monday with his first and third string quarterbacks out with injuries. The big game was coming up Saturday, and he had to “make do” with his second, fourth, and fifth string quarterbacks. In the first five minutes of practice, his second-string ...read more
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2. The Undivided Christ
Contributed on Mar 3, 2022
To keep the divisiveness in the world from infecting the church, take your focus off the messenger and focus on the message.
A young rabbi found a serious problem in his new congregation. During the Friday service, half the congregation stood for the prayers and half remained seated, and each side shouted at the other, insisting that theirs was the true tradition. Nothing the rabbi said or did helped to solve the ...read more
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3. The Foolishness Of God
Contributed on Mar 10, 2022
If you want to repair your broken relationship(s), reject the wisdom of this world and rely on the foolishness of the cross
Several years ago, there was a Mensa convention in San Francisco, whose members have an IQ of 140 or higher. They were having lunch at a local café when they discovered that their saltshaker contained pepper and their peppershaker was full of salt. How could they swap the contents of the ...read more
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4. The Foolishness Of God - Part 2
Contributed on Mar 18, 2022
To repair your broken relationship(s), remember what you were before you came to know Christ and realize who you are in Christ.
The Governor’s Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts, 33 miles north of Boston, is the oldest independent boarding school in the United States. Samuel Moody founded the school in 1763, which includes Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, John Quincy Adams, and Booker T. Washington Jr. as part of its ...read more
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5. God's Secret
Contributed on Mar 25, 2022
If you want to get in on God’s secret, look for it in a simple package, then find it in a simple, spiritual message for spiritual people. Submit to God’s Spirit and let Him lead you into ways you can’t even imagine right now.
Mary Williamson, a pediatric nurse in Kirbyville, Texas, once neglected to tell her new patient, a little boy, how his hospital room intercom worked. Soon his light flashed. She called his name and asked what he wanted. There was complete silence. She repeated herself. After a long pause he said, ...read more
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6. Grow Up!
Contributed on Apr 1, 2022
If you want to enjoy healthy relationships, then grow up and give God the glory.
Sherlyn, from Lawrence, Kansas, says her husband usually sets his computer bag next to the front door before leaving home in the morning. One day, he left the house but forgot to take his computer with him. Our 2-year-old saw it and came running to find me. “Mama, Daddy forgot to take his diaper ...read more
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7. Temple Builders
Contributed on Apr 21, 2022
If you want to build a lasting, vibrant church that perseveres, then start with the right foundation—Jesus Christ. Build a quality structure on that foundation—build up fully devoted followers of Christ. And maintain that structure with unity, godly wisdom, and teamwork.
A New York family bought a ranch out West where they intended to raise cattle. Friends visited and asked if the ranch had a name. “Well,” said the would-be rancher, “I wanted to name it the Bar-J. My wife favored Suzy Q. One son liked the Flying W, and the other wants Lazy Y. So we're calling ...read more
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8. God's Custodians
Contributed on Apr 28, 2022
Serving the Lord is not all that complicated. Just serve Him faithfully and humbly. Every day, just humbly do what He asks you to do and leave the results up to Him.
I’ve had some experience in signing contracts with various musicians over the years to do concerts in the church. Those contracts spell out the details of what each party expects, and they contain few, if any, surprises. That’s not the case with some of the big-name entertainers. For example, Van ...read more
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9. Fools For Christ
Contributed on May 12, 2022
To change the world, go to the back of the line, imitate people like Paul, and get something done.
Evan Almighty is the story of freshman congressman Evan Baxter, whose main campaign slogan was “change the world.” When he asks for God's help to achieve his goal, God responds in an unusual way—He commands Evan to build an ark in order to rescue a multitude of wild animals. As Evan ...read more
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10. Rock The Boat!
Contributed on May 20, 2022
To deal with sin in a way that helps people, first you cry, because you care. Then you judge, urging the believing sinner to repent. And if he or she refuses, you purge them from the church.
Dr. Stephen L. Anderson, a professor in Ontario, Canada, had what he called a moment of “startling clarity” a little over 10 years ago. He was teaching a section on ethics in his senior philosophy class, and he needed an “attention-getter”—something to shock his students and force them to take an ...read more
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11. Settle Your Disputes
Contributed on May 25, 2022
Settle your differences with other believers because of your future, your present, and your past.
In 1904, Argentina and Chile celebrated the resolution of a border dispute, which nearly brought the two countries to war. They celebrated with a large statue of Christ erected high in the Andes on the border between their two countries. They called the statue, "Christ the Redeemer of the ...read more
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12. God's Body
Contributed on Jun 2, 2022
Don’t give yourself to sexual immorality. Instead, give yourself to God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.
A little girl was talking to her grandmother. She asked, “Grandma, how old are you?” The grandmother replied, “Now dear, you shouldn’t ask people that question. Most grown-ups don’t like to tell their age.” The following day, the girl had another question. “Grandma, how much do you ...read more
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13. God's Wedding Gift
Contributed on Jun 10, 2022
Through regular sex with your spouse, pay him or her what you owe, praise the Lord, and put yourself at ease.
Rita Fischer of Dexter, Michigan, recalls her wedding day, which was unseasonably warm. To make matters worse, the air conditioning in the church wasn't working. She became increasingly uncomfortable in her gown. She grumbled during the photo session, then endured the receiving line, cutting ...read more
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14. Act Like Men
Contributed on Jun 17, 2022
To act like men, who are part of the cure, stay awake, stand in the faith, be strong, and do everything with love.
Just a few years ago (January 15, 2019), Gillette launched an ad as part of a campaign to address a range of male misbehaviors. The two-minute spot, entitled “We Believe,” addresses bullying and sexual harassment, leveraging Gillette’s longtime slogan in encouraging men to be the best they can be. ...read more
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15. When The Romance Is Gone
Contributed on Jun 22, 2022
When the romance is gone from your marriage, stay married and be a channel of blessing to your family. However, set your unbelieving spouse free if he or she wants out.
Sonja Ely, of Dallas, Oregon, was watching her 5-year-old granddaughter Christy play with her dolls. At one point, Christy “staged” a wedding, first playing the role of the bride's mother who assigned specific duties, then suddenly becoming the bride with her “teddy bear” groom. She picked him ...read more
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16. Wanting What You Get
Contributed on Jun 29, 2022
If you want to be truly content, keep the status you had when God called you. Just fulfill God’s calling in that place, follow God’s commands, and be free under God’s control. Because it’s not place, race, or face that matter. It is only your commitment to Christ.
Once upon a time, there was a man who lived with his wife, two small children, and his elderly parents in a tiny hut. He tried to be patient and gracious, but the noise and crowded conditions wore him down. In desperation, he consulted the village wise man. “Do you have a rooster?” asked the wise ...read more
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17. Is It Time?
Contributed on Jul 5, 2022
Ask 5 questions when you consider marriage: Is it the right time? Is it the best use of my time? Can I please God and my potential spouse at the same time? Is it my time? Is it for all time?
A married couple was celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. At the party everybody wanted to know how they managed to stay married so long in this day and age. The husband responded, “When we were first married, we came to an agreement. I would make all the major decisions, and my wife would ...read more
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18. Questionable Activities
Contributed on Jul 13, 2022
When it comes to questionable activities, know the truth and love the weak.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were camping. They pitched their tent under the stars and went to sleep. Then sometime in the middle of the night, Holmes woke Watson. “Watson, look up at the stars and tell me what you deduce.” Watson says, “I see millions of stars, and if even a few of those ...read more
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19. Give Up Your Rights
Contributed on Jul 20, 2022
To gain a hearing for the gospel, know your rights and give up your rights.
Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who! centers around two characters: Horton, an elephant living in the Jungle of Nool, and the tiny mayor of Whoville, which is an extremely small world, which resides as a speck on a clover that Horton carries around. Vlad, an evil vulture, chases Horton to grab the ...read more
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20. Run To Win
Contributed on Jul 27, 2022
If you want to win the prize of new followers of Christ, submit yourself to unbelievers and discipline yourself for the task.
A drunken man got on the bus late one night, staggered up the aisle, and sat next to a woman who was clutching a Bible. She looked the wayward drunk up and down and said, “I've got news for you, mister. You're going straight to hell!” The man jumped up out of his seat and shouted, ...read more
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21. The Way Of Escape
Contributed on Aug 20, 2022
If you want to escape sin in times of temptation, realize how much God has blessed you, resist the desire for evil, rely on God for your way of escape. Then take that way of escape and run! Run from the idolatry that will eventually destroy you.
For six months, a farmer near Regensburg, Germany, worked in vain to capture his runaway bull. The bull had escaped in the summer and hid out in the Bavarian woods. The farmer attempted to lasso the animal, but the bull would always slip away into the woods. Once, the farmer tried shooting the ...read more
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22. It's Not About You
Contributed on Aug 26, 2022
If you want to find real meaning in life, sure, go ahead and enjoy your liberty in Christ, but seek the good of others above yourself. And in so doing, seek the glory of God.
“The world is peppered with people who can coax small seeds of inspiration into richly flowering ideas that put humankind on a better path. “And then there's that guy in Des Moines.” So began an Associated Press report a few years ago on October 15, 2017. The Iowa State Patrol made his ...read more
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23. What To Wear To Church
Contributed on Sep 2, 2022
If you’re involved in public ministry within the church, dress to honor your head; dress to honor yourself; dress to honor your gender; dress to honor each other; and dress to honor proper custom.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger, in her book The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, talks about the difference between men and women. She says they are different physically, psychologically, motivationally, and temperamentally. Anyone who has had exposure to babies and children can tell you that boys and ...read more
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24. How To Eat In Church
Contributed on Sep 16, 2022
If you want to come together for the advancement of the gospel, then come together around the cross. remember Jesus, reflect on yourself, and remain, or wait, for one another.
21 years ago (2001), DreamWorks produced the animated film Shreck, in which Shrek, an ogre, falls in love with the beautiful princess Fiona, who turns out to be an ogre herself. They fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after. Then Shrek 2 comes along three years later (2004), and the ...read more
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25. Empowered To Serve
Contributed on Sep 23, 2022
Don’t be ignorant about your spiritual gift(s). Rather, appreciate the sure manifestations of the Spirit, the single source and purpose of your spiritual gifts, and the assortment of spiritual gifts God gives to the church.
When it comes to computers, some people hardly know a gigabyte from a mosquito bite. Just ask any technical support person at any of the major computer companies. Here are some of their stories: One computer company considered changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return ...read more
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26. The Body Of Christ
Contributed on Sep 30, 2022
If you want to enjoy the diverse community God created for you, acknowledge that you belong to one body; appreciate the different members of that body; depend on one another; and do what God gifted you to do.
Grove Street was lined with lovely mature trees, manicured lawns, and three churches—all right next to each other. The three churches were each built in different styles and shapes, but they each posted a sign out front, proudly displaying the name of the church. The three churches were named First ...read more
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27. Love's Significance
Contributed on Oct 8, 2022
Love people and be effective, excellent, and eternal.
A little girl stayed for dinner at the home of her first-grade friend. Her friend’s mother brought a bowl of buttered broccoli to the table and asked the little girl if she liked it. The little girl replied very politely, “Oh yes, I love it!” But when her friend’s family passed the bowl around ...read more
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28. What Will Your Contribution Be?
Contributed on Oct 21, 2022
If you want to make a significant contrition to the lives of others, proclaim God’s Word instructively, preach God’s Word intelligibly, pray intelligently, and so persuade effectively.
In the movie Emperor's Club Kevin Cline portrays an instructor of Western civilization in a prestigious private school. It is the first day of class, and about 30 high school boys, dressed in matching red jackets, settle into a room adorned with maps and busts of Caesar, Plato, and Socrates. ...read more
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29. Uplifting Worship
Contributed on Oct 28, 2022
If you want to edify people in a chaotic world, then be disciplined, decent, and deferential to God's Word in your worship.
Pastor Stephen Trail, from Sage, Arkansas, describes a family, which enjoyed an annual vacation. However, at the start of each vacation, when they were only a few miles from home, mom would wail, “Oh my goodness! I think I left the iron on.” And every year they would turn around and go back, but ...read more
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30. Good News!
Contributed on Nov 4, 2022
If you want God to save you from wasting your life, believe the gospel that Christ died for your sins and rose again. Then, let the Gospel transform you.
Daniel Taylor, in an article he calls Letters to My Children, writes: When I was a child, I was, like most children, afraid of things that go bump in the night. But I told myself (for no good reason) that monsters which lie under beds cannot break through blankets and sheets! By the time I was a ...read more