Sermons on 21st Century Context:

The Old Testament Series

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Aug 13, 2009

Old Testament - The first in a series of sermons designed to encourage personal Bible study by demystifying the Scriptures and providing background and context to the Old Testament.

I suppose that we can all think of a situation or two in our own lives where going to the instruction manual or to the owner’s manual would have been very helpful. When we need to learn how to set up a telephone, or find the fuses in a car or put together a complicated piece of furniture, the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:1

Denomination: Lutheran

The Ten Virgins Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 24, 2009

This parable is a contrast between the wise and foolish virgins. We’ll look at the context and then how we practically apply readiness today.

The Parables of Jesus The Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13 August 23, 2009 This week we turn to the parable of the ten virgins. This parable is Matthew and is one of several parables arranged by Matthew after the eschatological discourse. The what? This is the teaching found in Matthew 24 and Luke 12 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Church Of God

Masterpiece Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 9, 2023

This sermon introduction discusses the concept of individuality in the context of God's creation, emphasizing that each person is a unique masterpiece created with a specific purpose.

Welcome church, it’s great to have you with us today. This morning we are starting a new 4-week sermon series called One. We’re going to explore what it looks like for us, as believers, to live as one. But first, we need to talk about independence. It's one of the core values of American culture. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:3-7

Topics: Masterpiece Identity, Purposeful Living, Divine Creation

Sermon Series: One

Being A Faithful Part Of The Church

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Mar 10, 2008

In the first century, as in the Third World today, the basics of commitment to the Church were understood. God’s Word is clear on this.

BEING A FAITHFUL PART OF THE CHURCH MARCH 9, 2008 Pastor Eric J. Hanson Read I Corinthians 12:12-27 Read I Peter 2:4-10 A GODLY ASSUMPTION Did you know that the writers of the New Testament assumed that the people of the Lord in each city they wrote to, were faithful in being there when the ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Essenes Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 2, 2022

The Essenes were a devoutly religious group (similar to an order of monks) who emphasized spiritual purification and frequent praying. They were a mystic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that flourished from the 2nd century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E.

The Essenes were a devoutly religious group (similar to an order of monks) who emphasized spiritual purification and frequent praying. They were a mystic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that flourished from the 2nd century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E. The Jewish historian Josephus ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiven Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Mar 12, 2002

The parable of the two debtors in the context of Simon, the woman, and Jesus, yields four tributaries of thought which flow into the one great truth of forgiveness.

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: Just about every Saturday, a man especially given to neatness, went into his barbershop for a haircut. So this one Saturday he told his barber that he was going to Rome. The barber asked what airline he was going to take. The man responded "Delta" The barber yelled, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Narnia: Capturing The Wonder Of The Season Series

Contributed by Mark Thornton on Dec 14, 2005

This is the first of 3 messages (with an advent theme) relating the story of Christmas to the story of Narnia. It sets the context of the story.

CAPTURING THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS -- Pastor Mark Thornton -- Sunday, November 27, 2005 (Note - this is more of an outline than a manuscript. I elaborated and illustrated more than what is printed here.) * One of the drawbacks of celebrating Christmas every year is that the story of Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-6

Denomination: *other

Testimony Of A Lame Man

Contributed by Peter Fisher on Nov 16, 2014

An imaginary testimony from the lame man Paul healed in Acts 14, giving the context of the events through the story

Story This all happened a very long time ago. Location We live in the middle of nowhere, well just outside the middle of nowhere actually. We live here because it's a retirement home for old generals. My dad was a general – legatei is our word, and we moved around the empire when I was a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:8-20

Denomination: Anglican

Special Agents For Jesus

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jan 16, 2011

This is an all age version of my water into wine talk given on the same day to different congregations in different contexts.

Last summer I was hanging on every word of Steve Chalke as he preached at the New Wine Summer Conference. He was talking about Jesus being the one who transforms people and transforms situations; and he was calling the Church to become fully involved in the world as agents of God’s change and ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Soul And Spirit Series

Contributed by Andre King on Mar 21, 2019

The soul and spirit of man are connected. What is the difference? How are they "divided" in the context of Hebrews 4:12.

• IN OUR SERIES ON THE DIMENSIONS OF YOU WE HAVE SPOKEN OF YOUR SOUL. • THAT’S THE PART OF MAN THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO THINK AND REASON. • WE’VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT YOUR SPIRIT. • YOUR SPIRIT IS THE PART OF MAN THAT IS YOUR TRUE NATURE. • THE WAY YOU REALLY ARE INSIDE. • WE SAID THAT SOUL ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 55:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Plan For Us

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Feb 24, 2024

In Jeremiah 29, God, through Jeremiah promises blessing to the people in exile, a promise that often is misunderstood without the context.

During the Summer, I brought up a verse during a sermon that is usually listed on any top lists of “mis-applied” verses. Afterward, I got into a nice conversation with Gordon Douglas, Pastor Ron’s old comedian friend, who was visiting with us and had recently spoken on how often he sees this verse ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

The Whole World PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Mar 2, 2024

This sermon explores human nature, divine providence, and the tension between them in the context of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Good morning, dear family in Christ. It is a blessing to be gathered here once more in the house of the Lord, united by our shared love for Christ and our desire to draw nearer to Him. Today, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of a remarkable passage of scripture. We turn our hearts and ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19

Topics: World, Him

Transformed By Truth: No Stones To Throw - Living In Grace And Forgiveness John 8:7 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 8, 2024

The statement by Jesus in John 8:7 is profound, not only in the context of the story but in its broader implications for our lives.

Transformed by Truth: No Stones to Throw - Living in Grace and Forgiveness John 8:7 Introduction: Today, we will delve into a powerful moment in the ministry of Jesus, captured in John 8:7: "They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has ...read more

Scripture: John 8:7, Romans 3:23, James 2:10, Matthew 7:3-5, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, John 13:34-35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Church Of The New Testament - Part 7a Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Feb 15, 2018

Part 7A - Introduction to the functions in the first-century church and how the earliest Christians were empowered to perform them.

This 13-part series of classes has been many years in the making. About 25 years ago I began in earnest to examine the features, character and characteristics of the church as it existed in its earliest years. As I sometimes do, I kept my notes all along the way, and this series of classes is to a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, John 16:12-14, Ephesians 1:18-23, Ephesians 4:11-13, Romans 12:3-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Jewish Roots Of The Lord’s Supper

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 2, 2021

The Lord’s Supper is rich with meaning, but best understood in its original context. We can move in that direction by looking at the Jewish Roots of this meaningful ritual.

The Jewish Roots of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 10:1-5 and chapter 11:23, 26, passim) 1. A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon. Four worms were placed into four separate jars: The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible