Sermons on A Different Future:

What Makes The Church Run? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 12, 2020

What make a church successful? Is it lots of money? A great preacher? Great outreach programs and internal programming? Oddly enough, the early church didn't have that - and yet they turned the world upside down. What did the early church have that made the difference?

Flip Wilson was a popular black comedian several years ago, and among the routines he did were skits about a Preacher at the “What’s Happening Now Church.” One of his skits went like this: He’d shout out: "If this church is going to serve God it’s got to get down on its knees and crawl!!!” ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Escaping Your Prison Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 2, 2020

As Christians we're supposed to live a different life than those around us. But how can we do that when we're surrounded with so many temptations to do things we know we shouldn't do?

Back in the 14th century, in the region we now call Belgium, there was a duke by the name of Raynald III. Raynald had a nickname – Crassus. Crassus means fat, and he was fat because he really liked to eat. He liked to EAT … a lot! In the course of time, he had a violent quarrel with his younger ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let Your Light Shine

Contributed by Lola Olanrewaju on Dec 30, 2019

Shining your light is about making a mark, making a difference, ignoring the negative opinion of others and being a positive influencer. Your light is the most wonderful parts of your life that reflects your special character and the way you will influence the world by sharing the love of Jesus .

What does it mean to shine your light? I believe shining your light is about making a mark, making a difference, ignoring the negative opinion of others and being a positive influencer. And I think “your light” is that special, unique, one-of-a-kind thing that the Lord has deposited in you to make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16, John 1:4-5, Matthew 5:14

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Mathematics Of The Christian Life

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 14, 2021

Many people take great delight in trying out different restaurants in town. Sometimes you can hear folks around church saying, "Let's get together, I have found a G-R-E-A-T restaurant!”

When a RESTAURANT serves good food, the customers will keep coming back for more, even if they have to travel a long distance to get there. The same thing is true for a CHURCH. When a church preaches and teaches the Word of God, people who are hungry for God’s Word, will be there every time the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Love Is

Contributed by Darian Catron on Feb 10, 2021

What is love? How will I know love when I see it? Is it just something I feel inside? Is it just a word we say? What the World says about love and what the Word says about love are two very different ideas.

INTRODUCTION: Illustration/Story/Quote/Statistic- One of my main languages is music, so I’m going to be quoting some popular songs of my era that talk about love this morning since it is, after-all, Valentine’s Day. I hope you don’t mind. In the popular 80s song by the group Foreigner, the lead ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:16-18, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Repentance

Contributed by Tony Abram on Nov 8, 2020

Moreover, true repentance never exists except in conjunction with faith, while on the other hand, wherever there is true faith, there is also real repentance. The two are but different aspects of the same turning--a turning away from sin in the direction of God...The two cannot be separated.

REPENTANCE I. THE NATURE OF REPENTANCE (JESUS THE PERSON CONVICTS OUR HEARTS WITH HIS PRESENCE) Moreover, true repentance never exists except in conjunction with faith, while on the other hand, wherever there is true faith, there is also real repentance. The two are but different ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:3, Acts 4:12, Luke 15:10

Words: Consider The Source Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 31, 2021

Seriously, though, there is a difference. God’s Word has power to propel us through life in Godliness, the word of man has some power, and the word of agitators can have a good dose of negative power. When it comes to words, we need to consider the source.

Words: Consider the Source (Proverbs 29:18, 19, 21, 22) 1. None of us doubt the power of words. This story illustrates it. 2. A group of Frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other Frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18-19, Proverbs 29:21-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Spirit Of Humility Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 20, 2024

A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus begins His sermon on the mount answering the question: "What will it take to make you happy?" His answer, however, is far different from the way most people will answer. In fact, his answers appear to bring sorrow, not happiness.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: SPIRIT OF HUMILITY A. Ecclesiastes 2:1 (READ). (Good News Translation: “I decided to enjoy myself and find out what HAPPINESS is…”) 1. What will it take to make you happy? a. That’s the question Psychology Today asked 52,000 Americans. COMMENT: And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Broken Heart Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 20, 2024

A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus begins His sermon on the mount answering the question: "What will it take to make you happy?" His answer, however, is far different from the way most people will answer. In fact, his answers appear to bring sorrow, not happiness.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: A BROKEN HEART A. Many people believe that HAPPINESS is produced by EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES or SITUATIONS. 1. The world buys into the “WHEN AND THEN” philosophy: “When I get this...” or “When that changes...” or “When this happens” “. . . THEN I'll be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Restrained Power Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 20, 2024

A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus begins His sermon on the mount answering the question: "What will it take to make you happy?" His answer, however, is far different from the way most people will answer. In fact, his answers appear to bring sorrow, not happiness.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: RESTRAINED POWER A. Walk up to a group of BOYS playing basketball or baseball and ask what quality each of them would like to possess, and you’ll get answers like: “To run fast.” “To jump high.” “To be strong.” 1. Not a single one of them would answer, “I’d like ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Insatiable Craving Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 20, 2024

A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus begins His sermon on the mount answering the question: "What will it take to make you happy?" His answer, however, is far different from the way most people will answer. In fact, his answers appear to bring sorrow, not happiness.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: INSATIABLE CRAVING ILLUSTRATION: Can you believe that next year will mark 20-years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans? We all saw the news stories—the DESTRUCTION, the DEATH TOLL, the HUMAN AGONY and MISERY. Hurricane Katrina is the COSTLIEST natural ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Showing Mercy Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 20, 2024

A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus begins His sermon on the mount answering the question: "What will it take to make you happy?" His answer, however, is far different from the way most people will answer. In fact, his answers appear to bring sorrow, not happiness.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: SHOWING MERCY A. Mercy is a quality that is so needed today. COMMENT: We live in a WORLD where it’s so easy to become CALLUSED and INDIFFERENT. We are bombarded daily with news of TRAGEDIES, VIOLENCE, and SUFFERING PEOPLE. Living SANELY in such a WORLD often necessitates ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Real Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 20, 2024

A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus begins His sermon on the mount answering the question: "What will it take to make you happy?" His answer, however, is far different from the way most people will answer. In fact, his answers appear to bring sorrow, not happiness.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: BE REAL A. What is the REAL YOU, like? 1. I believe there are times when we HIDE behind MASKS and FACADES and not allow our “TRUE- SELVES” to come out. ILLUSTRATION: When Karen Morse of Henniker, New Hampshire was about to GRADUATE from high school, she revealed a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Becoming Peacemakers Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 20, 2024

A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus begins His sermon on the mount answering the question: "What will it take to make you happy?" His answer, however, is far different from the way most people will answer. In fact, his answers appear to bring sorrow, not happiness.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: BECOMING PEACEMAKERS A. Today we are studying the seventh Beatitude in our series, BECOMING PEACEMAKERS. ILLUSTRATION: There was a man being held by BANK ROBBERS who, as he was HIKING deep into the woods, stumbled onto an OLD CABIN and found the MONEY they had STOLEN ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Harassed For Jesus Series

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 20, 2024

A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus begins His sermon on the mount answering the question: "What will it take to make you happy?" His answer, however, is far different from the way most people will answer. In fact, his answers appear to bring sorrow, not happiness.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: HARASSED FOR JESUS ILLUSTRATION: In His book, Lords of the Earth, Don Richardson, author of PEACE CHILD, tells the story of Stanley Dale, a MISSIONARY to the Yali Tribe deep in the Irian Jaya JUNGLE of Indonesia in 1968. The Yali, being HEADHUNTERS and CANNIBALS, were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:10-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ