Sermons on ajai prakash: showing 391-405 of 494

Glory Of Christian Leadership

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Many people treated Jesus like a celebrity as they followed Him from place to place, listened to His teaching, observed His miracles, and sought healing from His touch. Yet Jesus was never self-important or aloof, but available to all.

Opening illustration: In today’s celebrity-obsessed culture, it isn’t surprising that entrepreneurs are marketing “celebrities as products … allowing them to sell their personal time and attention.” Vauhini Vara’s article in The New Yorker noted that for $15,000, you can have a personal meeting ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:42-45

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Godly Dads

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

We honor fathers who not only gave us life, but who also show us how to live.

Opening illustration: While waiting for an eye examination last year, I was struck by a statement I saw in the optometrist’s office: “Eighty percent of everything children learn in their first 12 years is through their eyes.” I began thinking of all that children visually process through reading, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Plan

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Amidst all the confusion and uncertainty of the world in which we live, how assuring to know that God orders our steps!

Opening illustration: Consider Charles Colson, the aide to Richard Nixon who was sent to jail for Watergate. As a result of his experience as a convicted felon, Colson founded Prison Fellowship, now the world’s largest Christian outreach to prisoners and their families. Prison Fellowship has more ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fueled By God's Word

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

When we do so, the Spirit speaks to us via the living and active Word of God.

Opening illustration: Play a video of Bible Connection. Introduction: The Bible also records a surprising source of energy from a food. When Elijah had been used by God on Mt. Carmel to call fire down from heaven, this spiritual high was followed by persecution and melancholy. In response to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Growing In Fruitfulness

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Are you really leading and having a fruitful life? Are you truly connected to Jesus and fruitful growth is visible in your life? Do you know your calling and are you living that out?

Opening illustration: University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, was honored by the Florida Senate. The Senate awarded him the Medallion of Excellence for his achievements off the field, the highest honor given by the chamber. Tebow had a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Color Of Easter

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

How can you respond to the LOVE of Christ? Just like Zacchaeus, this morning you have an opportunity to respond to why God’s love matters …

Introduction: This morning many of us may be wondering what is this color of Easter? When we spread the canvas of Easter and paint the biblical picture, it has many shades. While Jesus walked the earth, His ministry of love, grace, healing, preaching and teaching was disliked by the Jewish priests. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope Of Christmas: Immanuel

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

He alone holds the power to turn around any difficult season or loss we may be facing, and bring great blessing and good through it all …

Opening Thought: Often when things don’t seem to go right in this life, we start feeling like we’ve been left on our own. Pressures surround, troubles cling, we may be facing huge loss, or we find ourselves in long seasons of waiting. God’s timing seemed off during the 400-year gap between the OT ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Heart In The Right Place

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Most of us are farsighted about sin—we see the sins of others but not our own.

Opening illustration: “Could they not carry their own garbage this far?” I grumbled to Jay as I picked up empty bottles from the beach and tossed them into the trash bin less than 20 feet away. “Did leaving the beach a mess for others make them feel better about themselves? I sure hope these people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living Jesus

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Faith is not just believing that Jesus can save; it's asking Him to do it.

Opening illustration: Suppose you are rushed to the hospital, where a physician examines you and informs you that you are critically ill. He says you’ll die unless you have proper treatment. He then prescribes medicine and says, “If you will take this, I can assure you with absolute certainty that ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mission Of Christmas

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

The story of Christmas shows how God's missionary heart sent Jesus to be our Savior. You can share that message of hope this Christmas with your congregation.

Opening illustration: Play video of Office Christmas. Introduction: We know that the church is supposed to be about Christ's mission on earth - preaching the gospel, making disciples, baptizing and teaching them. But have you considered that it is God who is the true Missionary? The story of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Strong Foundation

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

How are you doing individually? Are you exhibiting unity with the Christians you know? Do you have a genuine love for the brethren -- including the brothers and sisters we have around the world, in different cultures and countries?

Opening illustration: A young African refugee who goes by the name of Steven is a man without a country. He thinks he may have been born in Mozambique or Zimbabwe. But he never knew his father and lost his mother. She fled civil war, traveling country to country as a street vendor. Without ID and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Out-Of-The-Box-Worship

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Worship doesn’t involve behaving as if nothing is wrong; it’s making sure everything is right—right with God and with one another. When our greatest fear is letting down our hair, perhaps our greatest sin is keeping it up.

Opening illustration: Some of us may feel pressured to be perfect when we go to church so that people will think well of us. Metaphorically speaking, we work hard to make sure we have every hair in place. But a healthy church is a place where we can let down our hair and not hide our flaws behind a ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power Of His Touch

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

No one is too troubled or unclean to be touched by Jesus. Jesus still welcomes outcasts today. Whom can you welcome in today? How many people have you touched with the Love of Jesus?

Opening illustration: Commuters on a Canadian Metro train witnessed a heart-moving conclusion to a tense moment. They watched as a 70-year old woman gently reached out and offered her hand to a young man whose loud voice and disturbing words were scaring other passengers. The lady’s kindness calmed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Precious In His Sight

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Are you precious in God’s sight? That, however, depends on your relationship with your Creator. If you are truly precious in His sight, then be assured that He has redeemed you by His blood

Opening illustration: I’ll never forget my first experience using an automatic car wash. Approaching it with the dread of going to the dentist, I pushed the money into the slot, nervously checked and rechecked my windows, eased the car up to the line, and waited. Powers beyond my control began ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Facing The Rapids Of Life

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Keeping our eyes on the One, who is navigating the rapids brings joy and security. He’s taken lots of others through before.

Opening Illustration: Some years ago, I was enjoying the start of my first whitewater rafting experience—until I heard the roar of the rapids up ahead. My emotions were flooded with feelings of uncertainty, fear, and insecurity at the same time. Riding through the whitewater was a first-rate, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 28:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational