Sermons on Actuality:

Preparing Our Heart And Mind (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Dec 28, 2016

The struggles we face as we journey with the Lord are varied and many. None are more difficult that the battles that rage within our minds. If we are to overcome spiritually, we must learn to win this battle from a biblical approach.

Preparing our Heart and Mind (Part 1) Philippians 4: 4-9 As we walk this Christian journey, we face many challenges that we must overcome in order to obtain spiritual victory. While these challenges are many, coming from a variety of sources, none are greater than the battles we fight within our ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Baptist

Walls That Divide Series

Contributed by Richard Vartenisian on Sep 7, 2015

prejudice

Walls That Divide Ephesians 2: 11- 22 Under the disguise of night on Aug. 13, 1961, a wire barricade was stretched the middle of an ancient city. This barrier ended up 28 miles long and became one of the most controversial boundary lines of the 20th century. It not only ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Significance Of A New Creation-12 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Apr 20, 2016

Part A of point 14. Paul commended his apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church thru a list of practical realities within which he operated. The significance of being a new creation in Christ is played out in the Practical Realities of Ministry.

‘The Significance Of A New Creation’--XII—2Corinthians 5:9--6:10... 14. The PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-A—2Corinthians 6:3-10... Part A of point 14 in the series, ‘The Significance Of A New Creation’ Attention: Ask the congregation, “What did you want ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Denomination: Baptist

Running The Race Of Faith

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Apr 25, 2019

How is your race of Christian faith going? Tired? Seemingly endless hurdles? Great? Easy? Jesus takes us off the spiritual treadmill and hands us the prize of heaven! Run as one who has already won!

Are you familiar with these decals or stickers? (26.2 or 13.1) You might see them on the back of a car or truck. They are the distances for a marathon (26.2 miles) and half marathon (13.1 miles). People might put them on their vehicle as an indication that they have run a marathon or half ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Christmas Journeys: The Magi Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 27, 2014

We ought to take our cue – not from Herod, who rejected God’s gift of Jesus – but from the wise men, who received it with glad and thankful hearts.

This is the last of our series on the theme of Faces at the Manger. We started with Joseph, remember, and we continued with the angels, the shepherds, and Mary, the mother of our Lord. And now we conclude with the wise men, or the magi, as they are sometimes called. Technically, they did not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

16 - The Israelites Chosen With A Purpose Series

Contributed by Michael Collins on Jun 13, 2021

This is the 16th of 30 studies on the Book of Romans and talks about the fact that God had chosen the people of Israel for a very special purpose.

Romans 9:1-5 1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-18, Malachi 1:2-3, Luke 14:26, Matthew 10:37-38, Exodus 33:19, Exodus 9:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sin Is Everywhere. So What?

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 5, 2020

Is John the Apostle talking about individual sin or the sin of the world that came with rejection of God in the Garden.

1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1, 1 John 2:1-2, Hebrews 10:12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Just Wants Me To Be Happy Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jun 21, 2023

This is a common myth that is repeated often - it indicates that our personal happiness is the paramount good - what God wants more than anything else. Like each of the myths we will explore, there is a kernel of truth in there - but it is overcome by the misunderstanding of the saying.

- MYTHS CHRISTIANS SOMETIMES BELIEVE - God Just Wants Me To Be Happy Introduction We are continuing our series of Myths Christians Sometimes Believe. In the last message, we talked about the myth that “God Won’t Give Me More Than I Can Handle.” Our myth in this message is a common one: “God Just ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When We Think God Has Failed Us Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 6, 2025

Israel loves what Ezekiel has to say, but they don't obey His teaching. What does God have to say about that?

WHY DID GOD FAIL US? Israel was shocked that God had let them down. - Ezekiel 33:21-24. - This passage as a whole is God giving an explanation to Israel of what’s going on because they are nowhere near an accurate understanding of the situation. - Verse 21 opens the passage with the reality of ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:21-33

Denomination: Baptist

The Unexpected Path To Perfection

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 23, 2025

This sermon explains how God purposefully uses the trials of life to refine our faith, produce steadfast endurance, and develop us into spiritually mature believers who are complete in Christ.

If you were to take a survey of every person in this room, and perhaps every person in this city, and ask them, "What is your main goal in life?" you would get a lot of different answers. Some would say to be successful, to provide for their family. Others might say to be healthy, to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Surprise Witness

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 19, 2023

The account of the Roman soldier who witnessed the death of Jesus and became convinced that Jesus was the son of God.

Rufus wished he were anywhere but here. He had never wanted to come to Palestine in the first place, every legionnaire in the Empire knew that it was a lousy assignment. No loot, no glory, no chance for advancement. And he couldn’t even get decent duty like chasing bandits in Galilee. No, he had to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-54

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Ripple Effect

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Apr 13, 2023

Conflict between the old and the new can lay the foundation for growth, even if the self-examination and change can be painful.

One afternoon when I was 14 or 15, my father and I down in a bottom of a large hole in the side yard digging a septic tank. We were digging with a trowel and a pair of pruning shears, because the ground was so laced with tough, springy ivy roots that you couldn’t use a shovel, you had to scrape ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Holy Spirit's Ministry Series

Contributed by Hugh W. Davidson on Apr 15, 2009

THe ministry of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit’s ministry John 15: 26-16:11 William Randolph Hearst was one of the wealthiest men in the world of his time and he was known as a passionate collector of fine art. One day he was looking through a catalog of rare paintings and he saw a piece he just had to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

God's Altar Call (Exodus 19:1-15) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 24, 2022

If we think about our relationship with God in terms of covenant, we will be far better off.

Let's start today by reading Exodus 19:1-4: (1) In the third month of the sons of Israel going out from the land of Egypt, on this day they came to the wilderness of Sinai, (2) and they set out from Rephidim, and they came to the wilderness of Sinai, and they camped in the wilderness, and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:1-15

Jesus – His Exaltation Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 21, 2021

Jesus – His Exaltation Series: CREED: Truths that Unite Brad Bailey – February 14, 2021

Jesus – His Exaltation Series: CREED: Truths that Unite Brad Bailey – February 14, 2021 Intro... Well... good morning Westside Vineyard family and friends. It really is my privilege and pleasure to have this time to share with you. And I’m EXCITED to continue together in our series entitled ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational