Sermons on 21st Century Context:

The Parable Of The Lost Sons Luke 15:11-32

Contributed by Damon S Adams on Mar 16, 2016

This message is a exposition of the Parable of the Prodigal. The message demonstrates how rich the parable is and how the Middle Eastern context adds to our understanding of the meaning and application of the three main characters of the parable.

The Parable of the Lost Sons Luke 15: 11-32 Introduction – Going to Cyprus for an extended stay of 3 months when I was 3yrs old back in 1963, I experienced village life that plunged me into a context that in some ways probably resembled something of the village setting of the parable of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Through Giving Thanks! Sermon 12 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 24, 2019

This message explores how God's love is expressed to us in the context of our troubles in the journey of life and how those experiences should birth a heart of thanks and praise.

Transition: Video Testimonies from SOKM - Giving thanks through testimony for God’s faithfulness! Series: Finding Joy in The Journey Sermon 12: Finding Joy in the journey through Giving Thanks! Thesis: This message explores how God's love is expressed to us in the context of our troubles ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Friend Of God - James 2:20-24 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 6, 2021

We are often told to trust God. But this passage makes trust seem more desirable by casting it in the context of friendship. This message defines friendship and explores what it means to have that with God.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical ...read more

Scripture: James 2:20-24

Ambassadors For Christ

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 29, 2024

This message views the biblical image of "ambassador for Christ" in the context of the Roman world. While sojourning on earth, we must represent our real homeland, the kingdom of heaven.

“George Shultz, when Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him . . . Shultz would test them. He would say, ‘You have to go over the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country.’ ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Overthink Truth

Contributed by Don Campbell on Apr 20, 2023

Overthinking the truth can result in the paralysis of analysis or it can result in distorted truths that are torn from the context in which they were spoken and made to serve as handmaidens for many false doctrines.

DON’T OVERTHINK TRUTH “Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?” (Eccl 7:16) INTRODUCTION A. Solomon is not suggesting a lukewarm relationship with God nor a lackadaisical pursuit of knowledge or wisdom, but we can overthink the truth, resulting ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:23-34, Matthew 23:23-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Will Fix It For You

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 7, 2017

Using Psalm 107, this sermon explores how God's love is expressed to us in the context of our troubles in life; then, how worship is birthed in our hearts out of these experiences.

Ps 107 10-26-14 This morning we draw our message from Psalm 107. This psalm or song is a call to worship. It is a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the nation’s history and in individual’s experience as well. Within this text are two key revelations that we want to embrace. First, how ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-43, Psalm 119:67-71, Hebrews 12:11, Psalm 121:1-2, Romans 8:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Are You Going Over There? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

Explore the themes of trouble, hope, joy, and freedom in the context of Job's suffering, emphasizing that while anxiety and suffering are inevitable, we have the choice not to be imprisoned by them through faith in God.

Good morning, church family! There's a quote by Max Lucado, that I want to share with you this morning. He once said, "The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional." That, my friends, is where we find ourselves today in the book of Job, chapter 3, verses 17-20. Hear ...read more

Scripture: Job 3:17-20

Topics: Trouble, Don't Last Always

Bible Passages We Would Have Understood If We Were Jewish

Contributed by Richard Goble on Mar 19, 2008

Many today are obsessed with making the Bible fit our cultural perspective, even when it means abandoning sound principles of interpretation. Today we will find how important the historical/cultural context really is to sound biblical exegesis.

BIBLE PASSAGES WE WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD IF WE WERE JEWISH Interpreting New Testament passages through Jewish eyes. Various Texts Introduction Illustration: What Children Say About The Bible · In the first book of the Bible, Guinness’s, God got tired of creating the world, so He took the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Voice In The Wilderness

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Sep 26, 2025

After centuries of silence, God sends John in the wilderness to call for repentance and point to Jesus, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:2–8). The wait is over; respond to the King.

Have you ever had one of those moments where, as the words are leaving your mouth, you know you're making a terrible mistake? I had one of those back in 2014. I had just started my first "real" job at an advertising agency, and I was so excited that I went straight from work and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Kingdom Parables – The Fourth – The Leaven – Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 31, 2025

The study of the Kingdom Parables continues, this time the Leaven. There is misunderstanding on what the leaven really is and we look carefully at that. Also the Roman Catholic church and leaven; and the Jews and leaven. What does this parable mean in context?

THE KINGDOM PARABLES – THE FOURTH – THE LEAVEN – Part 1 [A]. INTRODUCTION TO THE PARABLE AND CATHOLIC TEACHING We are coming to the fourth parable in the set of seven Kingdom Parables that the Lord delivered and recorded in Matthew’s Gospel. This parable is known as The Parable of the Leaven. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:33, Matthew 16:6, Matthew 16:11-12, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, Galatians 5:7-9, Exodus 12:15, Exodus 12:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Experience Personal Revival

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 3, 2002

How can we have personal revival? We can find the answer by looking at the revival in the first century, when the first Christians experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit.

HOW TO EXPERIENCE PERSONAL REVIVAL Acts 4:31 INTRO: ILLUS: OUR COUNTRY IN PRAYER. Many are unaware that the Declaration of Independence did not come into being until a day of fasting and prayer had been observed. Appointed by the Continental Congress, it was kept by all the colonies on ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:31

Denomination: Baptist

Wake Up, O Sleeper!

Contributed by David Hughes on Jul 26, 2004

As we look at the events in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of Christ’s crucifixion, I ask "Is the twenty-first century Church asleep?" A sermon to stir the church to pray.

’WAKE UP, O SLEEPER!’ INTRO: I want to begin this morning with a quote: "At a certain meeting of ministers and church officers, one after another doubted the value of prayer meetings; all confessed that they had a very small attendance, and several acknowledged without the slightest compunction ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Baptist

The Precious Gift Of Freedom

Contributed by Don Carpenter on Nov 5, 2000

If you study the character of mankind over the centuries, you will find that there is one passion that transcends all languages, cultures, and barriers. Man has an in born desire and drive to be free

The Precious Gift Of Freedom John 8:31-36 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jun 3, 2007

Pentecost did not begin with a roomful of disciples in the third decade of the first century; it was made complete through them by the same God who introduced it 1,500 years before.

(Other passage: 1 Corinthians 12:4-13) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) Henry Welles had an idea more than a century ago, an idea we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Happy Mother's Day, Lydia

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on May 7, 2010

Women have to wear so many "hats!" Lydia was the same way so many centuries ago, but find out which "hat" she considered to be most important...

Sermon 050910 Mother’s Day Acts 16:9-15 Happy Mother’s Day! I hope many of you have started the day well, maybe breakfast in bed, or getting to sleep in a little, or maybe just a card or flowers. Mother’s Day is a great day! And it just so happens that we have a great mother ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:9-15

Denomination: Lutheran