Sermon Central
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Gospel Of John
Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 25, 2023 (message contributor)
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1. Who Is Jesus
Contributed on May 25, 2023
Appreciate all that Jesus is: He is Lord—Worship Him; He is Light—Welcome Him; and He is Love—Trust Him with your life.
Elvis Presley used to eat at Lil Thompson’s Steakhouse in Tennessee quite often. He was good friends with the owner who used to give him free food before he was famous. One night when Elvis was at the height of his fame, the Steakhouse held the ultimate Elvis Presley impersonator contest. A large ...read more
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2. Who Are You?
Contributed on May 31, 2023
If you want to achieve true greatness, humble yourself and exalt the Savior.
During Sunday school, a pastor, who was teaching the adult class, selected a middle-aged couple to act out the burning bush scene from Exodus 3. He asked the husband to supply the voice for God and his wife to read Moses' lines. All went well until they got to verse 15. The wife, as Moses, ...read more
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3. Come And See
Contributed on Jun 10, 2023
Come to Jesus and find forgiveness, new life, and understanding in Him.
Rafael Antonio Lozano, a computer programmer from Plano, Texas, was a man with a mission. In 1997, he began a quest to visit every company-owned Starbucks on the planet. At the time, there were only 1,304 such stores worldwide. Since then, Lozano, who calls himself Winter, has spent over $150,000 ...read more
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4. The Life Of The Party
Contributed on Jun 16, 2023
If you want to be fully alive, invite Jesus into your life, turn to Him for help, and do whatever he tells you to do. Then have a good time!
While teaching at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Tony Campolo once turned an ordinary lecture into an unforgettable lesson. He asked an unsuspecting student sitting in the front row, “Young man, how long have you lived?” The student answered his age. Tony responded, “No, no, no. That's how ...read more
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5. Jesus Cleans House
Contributed on Jun 22, 2023
If you want Jesus to deal with the mess in your life, trust Him with your life and let Him search you, clean you, and fix you.
As an 18-year-old Nova Scotian farm boy, Quincy Collins wanted adventure, so he decided to join the Navy. When he reported to the naval base in Halifax for his interview, he took a cab that dropped him off at the front gate. Explaining to the guard at the gate why he was there, the guard looked at ...read more
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6. Nick At Night
Contributed on Jun 28, 2023
If you want to see the Kingdom of God, you must be born again, the Son of Man must be lifted up, and you must believe.
When Abraham Lincoln ran for Congress in 1846, he faced a tough opponent: Peter Cartwright. Cartwright was a raw-boned, circuit-riding, Methodist preacher, known throughout the state of Illinois. During his 65 years of circuit-riding ministry, he baptized nearly 10,000 converts. During the ...read more
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7. He Must Increase
Contributed on Jul 6, 2023
To conquer jealous comparisons before they conquer you, humble yourself and exalt the Savior.
An urban legend has Microsoft’s Bill Gates speaking at a COMDEX computer expo several years ago. Supposedly, he was comparing the computer industry with the auto industry. He said, “If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 ...read more
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8. Living Water
Contributed on Jul 13, 2023
God’s will for you every day is to drink of His Spirit, worship in spirit and truth, and tell others about His Son. If you pursue just these three desires of God every day, you’ll live a full life without all the hassle and hurry.
Alan Fadling, in his book An Unhurried Life, tells a parable of a king who had two servants. One of the servants, for fear of not pleasing his master, rose early each day to hurry along to do all the things that he believed the king wanted done. He didn't want to bother the king with ...read more
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9. See What You Believe
Contributed on Jul 20, 2023
Following Christ is a life of faith lived in holy anticipation. If that’s the kind of life you want, then start where you need to. Believe what you see or believe hoping to see. Then believe before you see until you see what you believe.
Sales were stagnant at the insurance company where Daniel P. Amos worked as the chief executive. So, he decided to take a huge risk with a novel ad campaign that poked fun at the company’s name. Take a look (show Aflac—Barra at the Barber, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS83HdpzxDU). This was one of ...read more
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10. Stirred Up
Contributed on Jul 28, 2023
If you want all that Jesus has for you, recognize that He is God and trust Him with your life.
Pastor Tullian Tchividjian talks about losing his car keys at least twice a year. He’s late for a meeting or an appointment and can’t find his car keys. Does that ever happen to you? I know it happens to me far more times than I care to admit. He’s certain that either his wife or one of his ...read more
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11. The Bread Of Life
Contributed on Aug 19, 2023
If you want Jesus to fill your hungry soul, come to Him, trust in Him, and stay with Him.
It’s not clear what Joby Pool was planning for this year’s Easter feast, but if his snack plans were any indication, it would’ve been an epic celebration. That’s because police arrested Joby Pool for stealing a trailer containing 200,000 Cadbury Crème Eggs earlier this year (2023). As you ...read more
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12. Come And Drink
Contributed on Aug 26, 2023
If you want to enjoy lasting contentment and satisfaction, surrender to Jesus, submit to Jesus, and side with Him.
Erwin Lutzer once described a man who walked into a psychiatric hospital where a staff member took him on a tour. On the tour, they saw a man in a padded cell, who was beating his head against the walls. He kept saying, “Linda, how could you do it? Linda, how could you do it?” The staff member ...read more
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13. Ashamed No More
Contributed on Sep 1, 2023
If you want to get rid of the shame of your past, reject the condemnation of your accusers and receive the commendation of Christ. Trust Jesus with your life and let Him take away your shame, let Him take the blame, so you are never the same again.
Max Lucado, in his book Facing Your Giants, talks about Rogers Cadenhead, who upon the death of Pope John Paul II, registered www.BenedictXVI.com as a new internet domain name before the new Pope's name was even announced. Now, the right domain name can prove pretty lucrative. For example, ...read more
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14. I Am!
Contributed on Sep 8, 2023
Jesus is light—trust Him to guide you. Jesus is life—trust Him to free you. Jesus Lord—trust Him to rule you. It’s the only way your life will make any sense.
Steve Brown talked about a man who asked a mail-order company to send plans for a birdhouse. Instead of sending him the plans for a birdhouse, they sent him plans for a sailboat. He tried to put it together, but it just wouldn't work. He couldn't figure what kind of bird was going to live ...read more
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15. Now I See!
Contributed on Sep 16, 2023
In your darkness, let a blind man show you the way. 1st, see Jesus as a good man and appreciate Him. 2nd, see Jesus as a great man and respect Him. Then 3rd, see Jesus as the God-Man and worship Him.
Several years ago, sightless restaurants became a growing trend across Europe. So what is a sightless restaurant? John Bohannon experienced it firsthand. Bohannon plunged into what he called the “inky blackness of Unsicht-Bar, a restaurant named for the German word for invisible.” To get to his ...read more
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16. The Good Shepherd
Contributed on Sep 21, 2023
To follow Jesus as your Good Shepherd, hear the Shepherd’s call, enter the Shepherd’s door, know the Shepherd’s care, rest in the Shepherd’s hand, and trust in the Shepherd’s deity.
Many years ago, Candid Camera staged their prank at an exclusive boy’s prep school where all of the students tested well above average. Candid Camera staff posed as career consultants who assessed and interviewed the brilliant young men to determine what career would be best suited to them. At ...read more
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17. Surprise!
Contributed on Sep 30, 2023
If you’ve lost all hope, trust Jesus with your life, and don’t be surprised by His delays His devotion, and His deliverance when it finally does come.
Surprise! (John 11:1-44) John Ortberg, pastor of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California, talks about a friend of his, who used to work as a denominational official in Minnesota. One of his jobs was to travel to little rural communities where they didn't have churches to do funerals. ...read more
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18. A Costly Memorial
Contributed on Oct 7, 2023
As you think about what Jesus did for you on the cross, consider making a costly memorial, and start by giving Him yourself. Sure, people will criticize, but Jesus won’t. He’ll commend you before all your critics someday.
In Great Britain, a butcher specified in his will that he be cremated and that at his memorial service the organ was to play Cole Porter’s song, “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” Well, he got half his wish. He was cremated, but the organist brought the wrong Cole Porter Sheet Music. Instead of playing, ...read more
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19. See Jesus!
Contributed on Oct 13, 2023
If you want to see Jesus this week, go to the place of death and go to the place of service. Find life in death. Find honor is service, because there you find Jesus Christ.
It was the Depression. The father was able to keep bread on the table, but that was it. When his little boy burst into the house excitedly talking about the circus coming to town, the father knew that he could not afford the $1 admission. The boy had never seen the circus and it wasn’t right that a ...read more
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20. Darkness To Light
Contributed on Oct 21, 2023
If you want to move from darkness into light, just walk in the light of the cross, walk in the light of Christ, and walk in the light of His commands.
Several years ago (1995), a middle-aged man robbed two Pittsburgh banks in broad daylight. He didn’t wear a mask or any sort of disguise. And he smiled at surveillance cameras before walking out of each bank. Later that night, police arrested a surprised McArthur Wheeler. When they showed him the ...read more
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21. Demonstrate Love
Contributed on Oct 26, 2023
Serve one another and your enemies, and so demonstrate that you follow Jesus.
Robert Holmes, in his book God’s Man, describes a man who went home with his friend for dinner. The man was impressed by the way his friend entered the house, asked his wife how her day went, and told her she looked pretty. Then, after they embraced, she served dinner. After they ate, the husband ...read more
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22. Cure For Troubled Hearts
Contributed on Nov 1, 2023
Jesus’ cure for the troubled heart is to look ahead to the place Jesus is preparing for you, look up in prayer to your Heavenly Father, and look within at your Partner, the Holy Spirit. Look to the Triune God: God the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit.
Turbulence is the number one concern of anxious flyers. So much about it seems dangerous, but Patrick Smith, a commercial airline pilot who flies Boeing 757’s and 767’s, assures flyers that turbulence seems a lot worse than it actually is. Smith writes: “For all intents and purposes, a plane ...read more
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23. Following Jesus In Difficult Times
Contributed on Nov 10, 2023
In difficult times genuine followers of Christ abide in Christ, abound in love, and advance with power.
Greg Laurie tells a story about a woman, who had finished shopping and returned to her car. She found four men inside the car. She dropped her shopping bags, drew a handgun, and screamed, “I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car.” Those men did not wait for a second invitation; ...read more
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24. Joy In Sorrow
Contributed on Nov 16, 2023
In your sorrow, find joy in God, the Holy Spirit; find joy in the Resurrection of Christ, God’s Son; and find joy in prayer to your Heavenly Father.
There’s an old and ancient Chinese proverb which says, if you wish to be happy for one hour, get intoxicated. If you wish to be happy for three days, get married. If you wish to be happy for eight days, kill your pig and eat it. If you wish to be happy forever, learn to fish. (Chinese proverb, ...read more
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25. The (Real) Lord's Prayer
Contributed on Dec 8, 2023
When Jesus asks His Father to glorify His Son, He prays for our security, our sanctity, and our unity.
[continuing the pastoral prayer]… Glorify your servant today. Help him to preach well so that those who hear might be impressed and tell their friends how great he is. Grow our church so that our fame might be spread throughout the area. Make my name a household word among Christians like Chuck ...read more
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26. Who's On Trial?
Contributed on Jan 4, 2024
You can avoid making a fool of yourself if you submit to Jesus as your Lord, admit your weakness before Him, and embrace the truth He offers.
One evening, while waiting for a bus, a young man was standing with a crowd of people looking in the widow of a taxidermist shop. In the center of the window was a large owl that attracted the attention of all who passed by. The self-appointed expert began to criticize the job done on it. “If I ...read more
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27. Cries From The Cross
Contributed on Jan 11, 2024
Appreciate what Jesus did for you on the cross: feel its sorrow; grasp its suffering; and take its sufficiency. You’ll never be the same again!
In 1940, Clarence Jordan, a farmer-theologian, founded Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, to promote racial unity and cooperation. Soon after that, a pastor gave Jordan the red-carpet tour of his church. The pastor proudly pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decorations. Then, with ...read more
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28. See And Tell
Contributed on Jan 19, 2024
To know the real joy of the resurrection of Christ, move beyond just a peek at it. Ponder it. Perceive it. Then proclaim it to as many people as God gives opportunity.
Ken Davis is one of my favorite comedians, who tells the story of a dead pet rabbit. Take a look… (show video of Ken Davis, Dead Rabbit, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3y-SEETPv8). A woman looked out the window of her home and was horrified to see her German Shepherd shaking the life out of the ...read more
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29. Blessed Believer
Contributed on Jan 26, 2024
If you want Jesus’ peace to replace your fear, receive the Holy Spirit, believe that Jesus is alive and that He is Lord. Surrender your life to the Spirit of the living, Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1973, producers hired 26-year-old director Steven Spielberg to make a movie based on Peter Benchley's novel about shark attacks called Jaws. The movie was so scary that even to this day millions of Americans panic when they get wind that a shark might be present in their beach area. A ...read more
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30. Failures Flourish
Contributed on Jan 31, 2024
If you have failed the Lord, come back to Him. Come for fellowship with the Lord and let Him feed you. Confess your failure to the Lord and let Him affirm you. Commit to following the Lord and let Him restore you.
When Elon Musk started SpaceX in California, he had a dream of safely returning used rocket boosters so they could be used again. This would greatly reduce the cost of space flight. To date, they have been very successful. However, initially there was a lot of failure. Take a look at this YouTube ...read more