Sermons on Always Near:

The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Jun 28, 2011

Is it is always right to give to those who ask without asking questions? Is there ever a time when it is right to pass by on the other side? Do we have the courage to be honest with ourselves when our beliefs and practise are in conflict with each other

6.2.11 GOOD SAMARITAN Lk 10:25-37 INTRO Afghanistan: Recently we heard the story of how Private Martin Bell, 24, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was fatally wounded as he attempted to reach a comrade who had been injured in an explosion. He was killed in a separate blast from an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Baptist

The Prodigal Son Part Two Series

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Oct 15, 2014

We almost always condemn the actions of the prodigal son, but what about the older son that stayed and had a fit that his father would welcome back his wayward brother. What does God have to say about that?

The prodigal son part two Luke chapter 15:24-15:32 Introduction Last week we looked at the prodigal son, it is a familiar verse where we see a rebellious son takes his inheritance to a far off country and lives a wild life until his money runs out and he realizes that what he had was not so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:24-32

Denomination: Nazarene

Playing For The Right Team Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 26, 2016

Worship in spirit and in truth is always directed to God above everything else. I want for my audience to understand how worship tends to get misdirected, and why that is such a grievous error; to know what worship directed toward God truly is

Welcome to the stadium! This is now the 3rd week we’re taking a closer look at worship, and we’re doing that in the context of something that most all of us already think about – a stadium – how, just like a big football game, there are a lot of parallels between what you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Prodigal Son's Brother

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jul 6, 2012

Chapter 15 of Luke is the start of a new discussion as Jesus makes his way into Jerusalem to fulfill his ultimate sacrificial mission. It begins with the Scribes and Pharisees grumbling because Jesus always allowed sinners to listen to him and eat with hi

This would be similar to having a pastor who spent most of his time trying to reach the lost while neglecting those in the congregation who are just sitting around trying to be Holy. Often the people who are just in church to be served are the ones who complain when they don’t get enough of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 19, 2018

God is our Shepherd, we are the sheep of his flock. Psalm 23 contains great promises for where we are going when life on earth is over. But it also gives a tremendous promise of comfort: On our journey God is always with us.

[Sermon preached on 15 April 2018, 2nd Sunday after Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] We all have the need to think and talk about God in a more or less concrete way. Considering that God is a mystery deeper than the deepest ocean and vaster than the universe, that is ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10

Denomination: Lutheran

What's Your World View

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Oct 11, 2017

We all look at the world through a certain lens. The lens that we use will cause us to see different things. Someone is always trying to provide us with their lens. We need to see the world and humanity as Christ sees them.

What’s Shaping Your World View 9/3/2017 Psalm 1:1-6 Mark 7:20-23 If I told you, because the Browns were undefeated the last three games so they will most likely win the Super bowl, what would your reaction be? Anybody thinking, wow that’s good to hear we have a great team? Anybody ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:20-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Joseph: A Dreamer In Prison Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jun 12, 2022

Joseph did not need to wait until he was standing before Pharaoh and put in charge of the whole land. Faithfulness to God is always the right path. Joseph needed to trust God the whole time he was the forgotten prisoner. And he did!

There are so many aspects to the story of Joseph. He is the favorite son of the Patriarch Jacob. His brothers burn with jealousy and hatred toward him because his ten older brothers know he is the favored one of his father. The special ornamented coat Jacob gave Joseph made that evident. The Joseph ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 40:1-23, Genesis 41:1-56

Denomination: Baptist

The Cost Of Being A Disciple Of Christ

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 7, 2023

As disciples of Christ, we can expect rejection and opposition. We have to be prepared to make sacrifices. We are precious in His sight and He is always watching over us. He is aware of our needs and how we are being treated.

Matt 10:32-11:1 THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST Matt 10:32-11:1 ESV 32So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. 34“Do not think that I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Commendations And Instructions - Philippians, Part 6 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Sep 4, 2022

- Paul’s reminders are clear, and his encouragement is always before us: Legal worship was outward: based on acts, restricted to certain times and places and - Christian worship begins internally, it flows from the workings of the Holy Spirit (within us).

“Commendations and Instructions” - Philippians, Part 6 Philippians Sermon Series, Part 6 Philippians 2:25 – 3:4 Introduction - Reminder about our level-set from series opener: 1. Christians must reflect the joy of Christ in everything we do 2. This means you and I are to make the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30, Philippians 3:1-4, Romans 16:18, Romans 12:1, Colossians 2:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Proper And Improper Way Of Ministry Series

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on Jul 24, 2016

Ministry should be the heart and soul of every Christian. When we minister, we must always find ways to keep on improving because at the end, God will is our judge. In this message we will learn how to do ministry the right way.

Let me start with a quote from Rick Warren. He said, "Faithful servants never retire. You can retire from your career, but you will never retire from serving God." That is true. If you are a faithful servant of the Lord, there is no retirement here on earth because our retirement is in heaven ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-36

Denomination: Nazarene

Behavior Becoming Of Citizens Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Oct 12, 2016

The church faced difficulty within a culture loyal to Rome. While they were subject to Roman authority, their primary responsibility was to the Sovereign Lord. We are citizens of two worlds, and our allegiance belongs to Christ. We must always honor Him.

Behavior becoming of Citizens Philippians 1: 27-30 As Paul sought to conclude the first thoughts of his gracious letter, apparently he was reminded of the intense struggle the church in Philippi faced. Bear in mind that he and Silas had been beaten and imprisoned there. Philippi being a Roman ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

Master Of The Storms

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 13, 2017

Storms will come, but we need not fear; for we know the Master of the Storms! This account gives great comfort that God is always with us. He challenges us to higher faith & it's the storm that reveal Him as the all-powerful Son of God!

MASTER OF THE STORMS Mark 4:35-41 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: HONESTY IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY 1. Today is Shirley and Ben's 30th wedding anniversary. After exchanging kisses and presents, Shirley said to Ben, "I have an important question to ask you." "So ask me already," said Ben. 2. "Please ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When God Moves Our Cheese

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 10, 2016

If we prayerfully look at our own lives, and especially at the times when somebody “moved our cheese” and inconvenienced ourselves, I think we can almost always see the finger of God at work amid the ruins of our plans.

“Der mentsh trakht un Got lakht.” The stark Yiddish proverb is true: man plans; God laughs. Now there’s many ways to interpret the saying. A politician might work for years on a piece of legislation that looked like the smartest thing for the greatest number of people, only to see it shot down in ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Eternal Reason To Say "Thanks" Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Sep 21, 2017

He loves us. How can this be? I don’t know, but it’s something worth saying “thanks” for, and it is always true, every day, including those days when everything seems to be going wron

Colossians 1:12-14 Thanks. There’s that word again-thanks. How often do you say ‘thanks’? When someone brings you a cup of coffee, do you say thanks? I think most of our times of giving thanks are related to immediate actions before us. But Paul offers us something we can be grateful for every ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-18

Denomination: *other

The Gate Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Mar 26, 2021

When we confess the name of Jesus, the I am who is the Gate, we will always have a Saviour who will bring us to the pasture of life to the full, no matter which empty-promise pastures we have detoured to along the way.

Message John 10:7 I Am The Gate When seeking to understand what Jesus means when he says, “I am the Gate we need to know the context where this is spoken. John 10:1-13 So what we have, in this context, is two “I am” statements. Jesus is the Gate. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. For us to see how Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 10:7-10

Denomination: Baptist