Sermons on Always Near:

To Rescue And Redeem December 3, 2023 Advent

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Dec 1, 2023

In today's text, we see God’s chosen people and their hunger for salvation and how God is always in the picture. .

TO RESCUE AND REDEEM December 3, 2023 Text: Isaiah 64:1 - 9 Isaiah 64:1-9  Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!  (2)  As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Denomination: United Methodist

Traveling Through This World Of Sorrow

Contributed by Russell (Rusty) Pruitt on Nov 3, 2024

This world has always been a dangerous place for Christians. In John 15 Jesus said the world would hate His followers

TRAVELING THROUGH THIS WORLD OF SORROW TEXT: PSALM 20:1-2; 7 INTRODUCTION: The song, “I Want to Know More About My Lord,” was written by Lee Roy Abernathy. I believe David, who wrote Psalm 20, would relate to this song. The first verse says, “While traveling through this world of sorrow, I’m on my ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 20:7, 2 Corinthians 11:24-28

Denomination: Baptist

Our Never-Dying Souls In Jesus Are The Light Of The World

Contributed by Revd Dr Ruwan Palapathwala on Dec 16, 2024

Remember always the beauty with which our souls came into this world – the gifts, the talents, and strengths -- are to accomplish the will of God for our lives in this world.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus speaks powerful words about our soul, raising the question of what is there if we gain the whole world at the cost of losing it. To ponder the soul that God has given us, I'd like to share two stories with you. The first story is from my days of teaching ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:27-31

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Anchored With Hope Series

Contributed by David Zachrich on Nov 20, 2022

Life can feel fragile and dangerous. Things are beyond our control. And, worse, there is not always someone waiting to help us.

Psalm 130 Anchored with Hope Wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Friends in Christ, David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer at Drexel University, ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Fulfilled? Or Frustrated?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 30, 2022

Whether we live a life that is fulfilling or a life that always leaves us frustrated, is dependent upon our obedience to the revealed will of the Lord.

DEUTERONOMY 5:32-33; 6:24-25 FULFILLED? OR FRUSTRATED? “You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:24-25, Deuteronomy 5:33

Denomination: Baptist

Among The Lampstands Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on May 3, 2022

Where is the Lord in the midst of the chaos and struggles of life? John reminds that He is and always has been intimately engaged with His church.

*Neighbor’s ring doorbell. Going off all the time. Means somebody just got their picture taken. * Caught on camera - most folks think it’s just a few times a day. * Depending on where you live/work/shop, it could be about 70x/day. * That number is going up with every Ring doorbell cam that folks ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-20, Daniel 7:13, Exodus 28:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Reality Of Joy

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 28, 2023

What is Biblical Joy? Throughout the New Testament, we are encouraged to be joyful and to rejoice. But does that mean that we always have to be happy?

The question that Paul seems to be trying to answer for most of this passage of scripture is, how Jewish do you have to be to be a Christian? It was the question of whether or not Christians had to follow all of the Jewish regulations and guidelines was an ongoing debate throughout the New ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

Finding Strength In Praise SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

The power of praising God is always effective, but it becomes even more powerful when we praise Him in times of confusion and uncertainty.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where praising God just doesn't seem to make any sense? Life is filled with problems, hardships, and pain. Even the most righteous individuals in the Bible faced their fair share of challenges. David, a great man of God and king of Israel, endured much ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-18

Topics: Faith, Action

Jumping In The Midst Of Storms Series

Contributed by Jake Kircher on Oct 10, 2006

Jesus wants us to cry out to him our deepest thoughts and feelings about what is going on in the world. He will always answer because He is in control.

There are a lot of people in this world who wake up everyday with thoughts of fear in their minds because of the storms that surround us. The more and more news that floods our lives just builds this constant anxiety and stress; another school shooting, another terrorist attack, another threat. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The King Wants To See You

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 14, 2021

Christians, especially, must always remember those who have stood with them, honouring their memory and the kinship they have shared during hard times.

“David said, ‘Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’ Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ And he said, ‘I am your servant.’ And the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Selling The Sizzle; Tossing The Steak

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 6, 2018

Do Christians seek comfort? Or do we seek substance? Jesus offered substance, but it wasn't always appreciated, even by those identified as disciples.

“When many of his disciples heard [Jesus’ teaching], they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-68

Denomination: Baptist

Where Our Hope Lies

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 3, 2013

The good servant of Christ Jesus must always remember that our hope lies in God who is Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6-10

Denomination: Baptist

Reasons To Rejoice

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 21, 2022

It is interesting to see how some people can always find things to rejoice about and other people can never find anything to rejoice about.

Illus: It reminds me of the fellow who went to get his driver's license renewed. There were many others there doing the same thing. The line inched along for almost an hour, until the man finally got his license. He inspected his photo and complained to the clerk who took his picture, "I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

"embracing The Priorities Of Jesus"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Sep 18, 2025

Embracing the Priorities of Jesus" is an exposition of Mark 2:1-12 that teaches that Jesus always prioritizes the eternal over the temporary. EMBRACING THE PRIORITIES OF JESUS

Jesus was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth. But Capernaum was his home and headquarters during his Galilean ministry. Simon Peter, one of the initial disciples, also lived in Capernaum. In Mark 1, Jesus healed the sick – including Simon Peter’s mother-in-law – and cast out demons. But these ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Genesis 25:19-34 (Jacob & Esau)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 19, 2007

In a world marked by violence, the ancient story of Jacob and Esau reminds us that conflict has always been a part of the way God deals with his people, and it contains with...

We gather together today in the wake of the terrible terrorist attacks in London - violence that I suspect has left none of us unaffected. Tony Blair said, “They will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear” , and it’s hard not to admire his resilience, even though we recognise, I think, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican