Sermons on active vs passive:

Hail That Will Get Your Attention Series

Contributed by Chris Miller on Mar 21, 2018

The Bible talks about three types of listeners: active, passive, and forgetful. Only one leads to blessing and life, so it is imperative it is the type of listening we do.

Introduction There is a Peanuts comic strip where Peppermint Patty and her friend are walking to school. Peppermint Patty says, “I think I’m going to ask to be Mary in the Christmas pageant.” Her friend replies, “The teacher already asked me.” Patty says, “I think I’m going to ask today.” “She ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 9:13-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Providence - God's Ongoing Work

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Feb 22, 2022

Is God active in the world or a passive observer? The doctrine of Providence claims he is the former - the creator who is still sustaining the world and working in it to bring about his purposes. This sermon explores the ways He is active and the peace providence gives us.

Providence Today I want to talk about God – shouldn’t surprise you since we are in church • He’s a being that the more you know the more you don’t know • God is knowable but incomprehensible • We will never totally understand everything about God but that shouldn’t keep us from knowing what we can ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20, Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3, Acts 17:26, Romans 8:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Right Vs The Right

Contributed by Jeeva Sam on Mar 20, 2001

Is our right to withold forgiveness more important than doing the right thing?

Late one summer evening in Broken Bow, Nebraska, a weary truck driver pulled his rig into an all-night truck stop. The waitress had just served him when three tough looking, leather jacketed motorcyclists - of the Hell’s Angels type - decided to give him a hard time. Not only did they verbally ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38

Denomination: Methodist

The Heart Of A Father

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 16, 2008

Although the main focus of the Prodigal Son parable is the ungracious brother, the assumptions made about the Prodigal’s father are enlightening.

The Heart of a Father (Luke 15:11-32) 1. Father’s Day -- what can we say? 2. Sermon Central took a poll, and this would be mostly of pastors. The question and results are as follows: What do you expect for Father’s Day? A big deal 3% Simple card/gift 42% Nothing 35% Surprise ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Finishing Vs Finishing Well Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on May 31, 2019

May is the month of college graduations. All across this country young men and women have completed their college educations and now have the opportunity to walk across the stage and receive their diploma.

May is the month of college graduations. All across this country young men and women have completed their college educations and now have the opportunity to walk across the stage and receive their diploma. On every college campus, there are some young men and women who are walking across the stage ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Denomination: Baptist

Women Who Ministered To Jesus PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Mar 2, 2024

This sermon encourages Christians to emulate the faith and service of the women in Luke 8:1-3, actively contributing to God's Kingdom rather than passively consuming its benefits.

Beloved brothers and sisters, let us gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the spirit of unity and love that binds us as one. It is a joyous occasion whenever we come together to bask in the resplendent light of God's Word, to be nourished by His truth, and to be transformed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-3

Topics: Women, Working, Christ

Urgency: Hear Vs Listen?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 15, 2023

We need to grow a sense of urgency to be ready and prepared for the second coming of Jesus. Do we hear? Do we listen? Open our eyes, O, Lord.

URGENCY… WE HEAR BUT WE DON’T LISTEN? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) I BEG YOU TO CATCH THE SENSE OF URGENCY. I GIVE EACH PERSON A SMALL LIST TO READ: URGENT with 1) MATTHEW 24, 2) MARK 13, 3) LUKE 21, 4) 2 TIMOTHY 3, 5) 2 PETER 3. There is a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:27, Matthew 24:10, Revelation 1:3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Buddhism Vs. Biblical Christianity Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Apr 18, 2010

Looks at Buddhism and compares it to Biblical Christianity

Buddhism vs. Biblical Christianity Intro Slide Good morning, if you are joining us today, we have begun a series called Faithology where we are looking at and comparing different religions of the world to Biblical Christianity. Easter – Biblical Christianity We started on Easter and saw the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pseudo-Science Vs. Sanctification

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Feb 23, 2019

The Bible implores every Believer to “live by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16 NIV). This is no easy task and requires full submission to God of every minute detail of one’s life. Through the centuries church leaders have used numerous ways to motivate and encourage people to live and walk in the Spirit.

Some of the most recent human-made ideas to help bring about “spiritual” living, and help Christians better understand themselves - as well as others - to live in unity and purpose together, is the use of personality tests and gift assessments. Psychological job placement and career tests are used ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:5, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:25-27, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, John 17:17-19, Ephesians 1:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Anatomy Of A Worshipper Series

Contributed by Stuart Blount on Aug 10, 2005

Our focus in these messages is to explore the exercise of worship. A book on my shelves is entitled …..’Worship is a verb’….and its title summarizes my aims. Worship is not a passive thing, it is an activity.

Our focus in these messages is to explore the exercise of worship. A book on my shelves is entitled …..’Worship is a verb’….and its title summarizes my aims. Worship is not a passive thing, it is an activity. I want to use David as a guide to illustrate this truth. David was not only a musician ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:18-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

But By Trust Series

Contributed by Dustin T Parker on Sep 2, 2007

By trusting in God’s walking with them, people live

But by Trust Heb. 11:1-16 Gen 15:1-6 Luke 12:22-40 8/12 † In the name of the Messiah, Jesus † 20 …may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Come On Down Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2008

The times, like those of post-Exilic Jerusalem, require us to wait. Will it be passive, impassive, or active waiting? Active waiting means seeing that what God has done He will do again. God will enlist us and shape us to work for His purposes.

“We wait. We are bored. No, don’t protest, we are bored to death, there’s no denying it. … A diversion comes along and what do we do? We let it go to waste . . . .In an instant all will vanish and we’ll be alone once more, in the midst of nothingness!” So speaks one of the characters in Samuel ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Man's Law Vs God's Grace PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 4, 2023

This sermon's main point is to understand that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by the works of the law, and to appreciate the power of God's grace and the limitations of legalism.

Good morning, family! Today, we're diving into the heart of Paul's letter to the Galatians, where we'll explore themes of faith, grace, and the limitations of legalism. As we set the stage, let's remember the words of A.W. Tozer, a respected Christian author, who said, "Faith, as Paul saw it, was a ...read more

Topics: Alive, Christ

Lord Build Me In Action Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 2, 2021

We live by faith in God. But what use is our faith if we don’t actively live it out? Just like the boy who is afraid, in the burning building, he can’t see his father below with his arms wide open, but he believes that he is there. He has faith that his dad is there even though he cant see.

"One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Spiritual Warfare: The Flesh Vs. The Spirit Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 1, 2019

Galatians 5:16–18 introduces the passage by setting forth the nature of Spiritual Warfare between the flesh and the Spirit. In this we see 1) The Warfare Command (Galatians 5:16), 2) The Warfare Conflict (Galatians 5:17), and 3) The Warfare Caution (Galatians 5:18).

One of the most tragic elements of warfare is the event of collateral damage. Often in military operations, civilians are caught in the crossfire. Whether it is in Palestine or Iraq, civilians often get hurt between two fighting forces. Sometimes, one side, usually the weaker one, deliberately puts ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-18

Denomination: Other