Sermons on Above Average:

Communion, Symbol Or Sacrament

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 4, 2022

Is communion symbolic, an ordinance, a sacrament, a memorial or all of the above? Does it even matter?

Is communion symbolic, an ordinance, a sacrament, a memorial or all of the above? Does it even matter? Symbol The argument begins with a simple word, “is.” Those who remember the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal may remember that famous line, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” What did ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

Seek Wisdom Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Oct 28, 2024

James contrasts two kinds of wisdom - earthy wisdom and wisdom from above.

James: Practical Faith  James 3:13-18 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church  10-27–2024 Unwise In 1912, a French tailor, Franz Reichelt, climbed 200 feet up the Eiffel Tower. He was going to prove his invention worked. His friends thought this was unwise and begged him ...read more

Scripture: James 3:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

Let The Poor Say, Series

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 3, 2007

Remember this, the average observer on the evening of the first Christmas, might not have seen Mary and Joseph as particularly blessed. There may have been moments that they doubted it themselves. And yet, they were rich...

Let the poor say, "I am rich" Luke 2:1-7 Dawn and I went to Pennsbury Manor recently. This is the home of William Penn. Oddly enough, the place is almost completely a recreation. Nothing about the grounds or buildings is original. The house is not the house he and his family lived in. It is a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Mennonite

Telling Someone About Jesus

Contributed by Vinnie Cappetta on May 14, 2006

Research indicates that it takes the average American church in the course of a year 85 members to bring one person to faith in Christ. What are we doing wrong? What should we be doing?

Telling Someone about Jesus Matthew 28:16-20 Research indicates that it takes the average American church in the course of a year 85 members to bring one person to faith in Christ. Its like doubt is built into our system. How can we tell people about Jesus if we ourselves are not convinced of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Real Change Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 3, 2011

If we were doomed to live the same life over and over again for eternity, would we choose the life we are living now? If not, then how can we make real change? We do it when we submit to God’s discipline. Then with Christ’s help, admit and quit our sin.

William Alexander, in his book The $64 Tomato, asks the question, “If you were doomed to live the same life over and over again for eternity, would you choose the life you are living now?” It’s a thought-provoking question, but not so much as the implied follow-up question: “If the answer is no, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 44:1-34

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Real Change Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 5, 2017

If you want to make real change in your life, submit to God's discipline; then in dependence upon Christ, admit and quit your sin.

When Jack quit farming and moved, he discovered he was the only Baptist in his new town of all Catholics. That was okay, but the neighbors had a problem with his barbecuing beef every Friday. They were not allowed to eat red meat on Fridays, but the tempting aroma was getting the best of them, so ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 44:1-34

Denomination: Evangelical Free

How To Change The World

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Nov 21, 2011

We change the world by choosing to do above and beyond what is expected of us in our everyday lives.

How To Change The World Genesis 24:1-9 Matthew 5:38-48 Test Genesis 24:9-20 We are continuing our series, “Moving Things To The Next Level”. We have looked at “How to Kill a Church”, “How to Heal The Church”, “Look At How To Build A Church” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Bold Step

Contributed by Victoria Oladipupo on Feb 16, 2004

Taking a new step is what people fear most.With Jesus we can do the impposible.

PASTOR Victoria Oladipupo Freedom of Christ Church Topic: A BOLD STEP. Scripture Reading: MT. 14: 28 – 31 28] And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. [29] And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 29:3-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope For Those Who Are Losing Heart

Contributed by Lane Hastie on Nov 8, 2018

You may feel as though all hope is lost...but JESUS offers hope! This message shares a simple secret to help the "Average Joe" find hope when life's circumstances are causing them to lose heart.

What is something you regularly lose / misplace? Top Things People Lose or Misplace: Parking Spots Passwords / Usernames Television Remote Phone Hair accessories Socks Keys Purse / wallet Pens We can lose a lot of things in life and life will go on…things will still be okay. But…what about if ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1, Ephesians 3:20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Do Not Slander One Another Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 2, 2012

James tells us why we must not slander one another. 1- Slandering makes you a judge of others 2- Slandering makes you above the law 3- Slandering makes you above the lawgiver

INTRO.- ILL.- Who said, “Read my lips. No new taxes”? "Read my lips: no new taxes" is the famous phrase spoken by then presidential candidate George H. W. Bush at the 1988 Republican National Convention as he accepted the nomination on August 18th. Written by speechwriter Peggy Noonan, the line ...read more

Scripture: James 4:11-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Quit Now

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Feb 26, 2008

The dog days of summer are coming and with them the desire to take a little break, but will you take a vacation from God?

Christianview Church July 16, 1995 Don’t Quit Now 1Samual 30:3-20 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:3-20

Denomination: Mennonite

The Road To Redemption

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Jun 14, 2022

What an incredible example and admirable trait we see in Peter to be able to say when Jesus asks, "do you love me?" and respond, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."

Telling Someone Something You'll Never Do It can be dangerous to tell someone something that you'll never do. Have you ever heard someone say something like (or maybe you've said it yourself), "I'll never let my kid play with that kind of toy," or "I'll never let ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:31-35, John 21:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Careful Who Or What You Support

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 23, 2004

Be careful little hand what lever you pull for the Father above is looking down in ?

From time to time, I hear folks say, “I don’t talk about politics or religion.” Interestingly, both subjects influence a great part of our lives and it certainly is prudent for us to seek to be right in both areas. Germans made a mistake in the last century and we had a man who should have ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 10:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

"1st Desire Of The Righteous"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Aug 15, 2005

When a person is genuinely born from above, their first desire will be for the nourishment of the Word of God.

23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

A Look At The Law Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 23, 2001

Part 7 of Sermon on Mount Series, looks at how our requirement is above the law

Matthew 5:17 (NIV) "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I am convinced that Christ stated this specifically for all those well intentioned people who are forever saying, "I’m not under law, I’m under grace." ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Wesleyan