Sermons on Absent From The Body:

Back From The Dead

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 10, 2016

All glory for our change goes to God. He provided us with salvation. We do not need to do good works to merit salvation, but we should do good works because we have received salvation. This is God’s plan for every believer.

Opening illustration: Can a man be officially alive after being declared legally dead? That question became international news when a man from Ohio showed up in good health after being reported missing more than 25 years earlier. At the time of his disappearance he had been unemployed, addicted, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Return From The Dead" Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 30, 2016

Whether we are or are not convinced that Christ rose from the dead does not affect the reality of the Resurrection. But if we accept its reality by faith and live consistently in light of it, it changes our lives like nothing else can.

"Return from the Dead" (John 20:19-29) [note: this is a revised sermon from my 2003 sermon, "Back from the Dead."] 1. For a lot of kids, Easter is about eater eggs and candy. Boy 1: "How did you get that bruise on your arm?"
Boy 2: "I ate some Easter candy." Boy 1: "Eating Easter candy ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Help From The Hills Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 4, 2023

There's an old saying "You get what you look for." What does Psalm 121 say God's people looked for, and what difference can that make in our lives as Christians?

OPEN: They are called the “Songs of Ascent”. There’s 14 of them from Psalms 120 thru 134. At least 3 times each year, the Israelites would make their way to City of David… to worship God - the feast of Passover; the feast Pentecost; and the Feast of the Tabernacles. And as they made their way to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Alienation To Reconciliation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 15, 2023

"For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18).

FROM ALIENATION TO RECONCILIATION. Ephesians 2:11-22. EPHESIANS 2:11. Paul addresses the Ephesian church as being “in times past Gentiles in the flesh.” and he points to the historic antagonism between Jews and non-Jews. On the one hand, Gentiles were scorned as “the Uncircumcision;” on the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy From Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Dec 1, 2023

The season of Christmas is a time to experience comfort and joy from what God has done in Jesus.

INTRODUCTION • We are in the Christmas season! • This season should be a time for joy, but many struggle with the concept of joy because their lives lay in ruin. • Sometimes, the ruin is self-inflicted; other times, the ruin is inflicted upon us. • There is hope! • I want to draw your attention to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Pain To Promise

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 15, 2024

we're exploring a story from the Bible about Hannah. This story is more than just an ancient tale; it's about facing tough times and finding hope.

"Good morning! Today, we're exploring a story from the Bible about Hannah. This story is more than just an ancient tale; it's about facing tough times and finding hope. Like a gardener seeing potential in a bare plot, Hannah's story reminds us that in our empty moments, something ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Crumb From The Table.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 3, 2023

Faith demonstrated in the margins of life.

A CRUMB FROM THE TABLE. Matthew 15:21-28. In the earlier part of the chapter, Jesus had disputed with some Scribes and Pharisees about ritual and tradition; and had taught those who would hear that defilement does not come from without, but from within. It is also true to say that FAITH flows ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lifted From The Dunghill

Contributed by Wilson Oshorakpor on Jul 8, 2023

A dunghill is not a pleasant place neither is a dungeon. Hannah found herself in such a place but she cried to God and was delivered.

TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 2:8 (KJV) "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them." A DUNGEON OF ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:8, 1 Samuel 1:1-7, 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Freedom From Resentment

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jul 22, 2023

Jesus disarms the cynic in us with His gentle answers to our resentful and skeptical questions. This sermon relies heavily on chapter three of Scott Sauls's book "A Gentle Answer: Our 'Secret Weapon' In An Age of Us Versus Them".

Freedom From Resentment INTRODUCTION: John 1:43-51 (NKJV) 43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: Pentecostal

Running From God Series

Contributed by Mark Lindsey on Aug 7, 2023

The prophet Jonah is an interesting study, for his response to God’s call upon his life often mirrors our response when God calls upon us to be obedient to Him.

“RUNNING FROM GOD” JONAH 1:1-17 The prophet Jonah is an interesting study, for his response to God’s call upon his life often mirrors our response when God calls upon us to be obedient to Him. The Book of Jonah contains four chapters. Each chapter describes Jonah’s struggle to submit to God’s ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

From Disunity To Unity

Contributed by David Zachrich on Aug 9, 2023

How good if all fighting – disagreements, squabbles, arguments, conflicts and worse – ended because we understood the cost and consequences!

“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. … Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Denomination: Lutheran

From Despair To Delight

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Aug 10, 2023

Watching television can be entertaining, but at the same time it can be very disconcerting to see what they do on a television program.

Illus: For example, John Wayne on his horse rides into a town that is filled with all kinds of major problems, and in a couple of hours he will clean that town up and make it a safe and decent place to live. The reason it is upsetting to watch such movies is because we find ourselves with major ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Recovering From Temptation

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Aug 23, 2023

The message given to us in Psalm 32 is that there is greater joy in uncovering our sin and finding forgiveness than in trying to cover up our sin. And a right view of God allows us to do just that.

Anyone who has ever purchased a home knows that there is a big difference in what the buyer or the seller sees and what a certified home inspector sees. We may try to look beyond the things that appeal to us like the layout of the house, the size of the bedrooms, and so forth, and see a crack in a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-7, Proverbs 3:11-12, Revelation 3:19

Denomination: Baptist

From Egypt To Canaan.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 28, 2023

The holy God remembered His covenant with Abraham, and kept His holy promise.

FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN. Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45. PSALM 105:1. There is a call to “give thanks to the LORD.” It is always appropriate to remember and acknowledge the LORD’s gracious dealings with us. Then there is an exhortation to “call upon His name.” We offer our praise and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Suffering To Glory Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 6, 2023

In 1 Peter 5:10, we find a promise of eternal glory, a reminder that suffering is temporary, and the assurance that God establishes us on a firm foundation.

"From Suffering to Glory" Introduction: Today, we explore the comforting and hopeful words found in 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT), which say, "In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10, Psalm 107:2

Denomination: Pentecostal