Sermons on Adapting:

Don't Let The Grinch Steal Christmas

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

Adapted from another sermoncentral sermon, this reinterpretation of "The Grinch who stole Christmas" Movie and Dr Seuss book encourages us to look for the real meaning of Christmas. Given at Midnight Mass 2000

In the name of the living, incarnate God, +Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Everyone down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot… But the Grinch, did not! The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Celebrate Reason?

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Dec 8, 2010

When atheist and others attack Christmas, should Christians be intimidated? Is believing in God a crutch for weak minded people? (part of this sermon was adapted from a sermon by Craig Groeschel entitled What Child is This)

Albert Schweitzer, accepting the Nobel Pease Prize- Humanism, in all its simplicity, is the only genuine spirituality. Christmas is a time of celebration for many, but it has increasingly become a source of controversy. David Silverman, president, American Humanist, said- The invisible man in the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 23:19

Denomination: Charismatic

Unity With Believers Series

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on May 5, 2009

We often hear talk of getting back to the New Testament church. The fact is we can’t. What we can do is learn to adapt the principles of the NT church that made it so effective.

3. The Book of Acts June 7th, 2009 Unity with Believers Have you ever been white water rafting? My youth group went one summer before a CIY conference. A group of us went to this extreme games camp where there was rock climbing, ropes courses, and of course white water rafting. The last day ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-49

Denomination: *other

Amazing Grace: Verse Two Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jul 8, 2009

This is the second in a 4 sermon series adapted from David Jeremiah’s book, Captured by Grace. Each point is derived from a verse of Amazing Grace and tells the story of John Newton. Powepoint available.

AMAZING GRACE: VERSE TWO Scott Bayles, pastor Based on Captured by Grace, by David Jeremiah First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL The story of John Newton is one of the greatest before-and-after stories ever told. As Captain of a slave ship, John Newton dealt in human cargo. He sailed the African ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8

Denomination: Christian Church

The Present Of Our Tithes And Offerings Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Dec 4, 2006

This sermom, originally prepared for the Christmas Season, but easily adaptable for other times, deals with the issue of Tithes and Offerings, looking at What they are, Why God wants us to give them, and What we are to give.

The Presents of Christmas The Present of Our Tithes and Offerings 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5 INTRODUCTION: Everybody likes presents under the Christmas tree. We all gather around and wait eagerly, with quiet or not so quiet anticipation, the “opening of the presents”. Now in some houses there is a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Against Process Theology

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 12, 2013

A sermon loosely based on Isaiah 46 which dwells on God's immutability (Much material adapted from Dr. Jack Cottrell's book, God Most High, chapter 25 "The Immutability of God")

HoHum: Lars Wilhelmsson says, “We are all in process. We are being made.” Yes, we are but not God. WBTU: A. Exegesis on Isaiah 46 Vs. 1 Bel and Nebo were names of two false gods the idol-worshipping nations served. It is as if now God gets personal, “naming names” ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let's Start At The Very Beginning Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 12, 2015

3 things from Genesis 1-3, one from each chapter (adapted from Andreas Kostenberger's book: God, Marriage, and Family, chapter 2 Leaving and Cleaving, pgs. 31- 39)

HoHum: At Sunday school there were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Coping With The Holidays

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 19, 2016

This information was put together for a workshop on "Coping with the Holidays" (Adapted from the book, "The Empty Chair: Handling Grief on Holidays and Special Occasions" by Susan J. Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Robert C. De Vries)

HoHum: Start with some family information: I grew up in a tight knit family spending my Sunday afternoons after church with all my extended family at my grandparent’s house. I am the eldest grandchild and my grandfather spent a lot of time with me growing up. I had trouble reading so before ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 138:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Are What We Worship

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 25, 2015

4 areas from which many idols come (Material adapted from Greg Laurie's book, The Great Compromise, Chapter 5 called "What's Your Golden Calf?", pgs. 71-87)

HoHum: James Michener, tells the story of a man named Urbaal, who, was a farmer living about 2200 B.C. He worshiped two gods, one a god of death, the other a goddess of fertility. One day, the temple priests tell Urbaal to bring his young son to the temple for sacrifice—if he wants good ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Barabbas Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 28, 2016

Talk about Barabbas' sin, service, Savior, and silence (Material adapted from John Phillips' book, Exploring People of the New Testament, Chapter 35 Barabbas and His Cross, pgs. 317-324)

HoHum: Picture and commentary at: http://www.sermons4kids.com/crucifixion_gk_10x14.pdf and http://www.sermons4kids.com/crucifixion_gkennedy_comments.htm Pass out the pictures and Start with the character on the left and move to the right...... The Pharisee- Some of those present hated Jesus. Some ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:17-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Out Of Envy Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 4, 2014

A sermon on the envy of the religious leaders of Jesus' day (Material adapted from Bob Russell at: http://bobrussellsermons.org/religious-leaders-who-envied-him?filter_name=Religious%20Leaders)

HoHum: A wise man said: Nothing arouses ambition so much in the heart as the trumpet-clang of another’s fame. WBTU: A. Why would anyone want to kill Jesus of Nazareth? 1. Great teacher- “The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-57

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Find And Keep Joy

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 27, 2018

How can humility increase my happiness? (Title and outline adapted from Rick Warren at: https://pastors.com/how-to-find-and-keep-your-joy-in-ministry/)

HoHum: Psychology Today once asked 52,000 Americans, “What does it take to make you happy?” Their answers varied, but the interesting thing is that most of them talked about favorable circumstances instead of issues of the heart. The popular idea of happiness involves having the right ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Soil Samples

Contributed by David Ward on Jan 22, 2019

The parable of the four soils applied beyond spiritual rebirth to spiritual growth & life change. (This message is from Luke 8, but could be adapted to the version of the parable in Matthew 13 or Mark 4.)

INTRODUCTION: [READ LUKE 8:4-8] 1) How many auto mechanics does it take to change a light bulb? One, but he thinks he’ll have to replace the whole socket. 2) How many procrastinators does it take to change a light bulb? One, but she’s gonna wait until the light in the room gets better. 3) How ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15, Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:3-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pulpit Freedom Sunday

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 18, 2014

A sermon for Pulpit Freedom Sunday and encouraging Christians to vote and get involved in the political field (Material adapted from Wayne Grudem in an article entitled, "Why Christians Should Seek to Influence Government for Good")

HoHum: During an election campaign the air is full of speeches and vice versa- Henry Adams WBTU: Today, many preachers across this country are being encouraged to speak out about current policy issues that the Bible talks about for Pulpit Freedom Sunday. Preachers are being told that certain ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Confidence Brings Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 18, 2014

A sermon on confidence in the midst of trials and troubles (Material adapted from Daniel Overdorf's book, What the Bible Says About the Church: Rediscovering Community, chapter 14 Radically Perseverant, pgs. 347-357)

Introduction: Confidence, I’m going to speak on confidence this morning. Lord, I think you have the wrong guy. Always struggled with having confidence I was raised in a home where we were taught to excel at whatever we did. My brother operates his own landscaping business, one sister ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ