Sermons on Ambiguous Terms:

A New Day To Begin Life Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jan 2, 2010

The Gospel of John states that God has sent the Word to us in Jesus. In him is the originator of good news about what life can be when we receive it in on his terms.

Scripture The Advent and Christmas season focus on the coming and birth of Jesus Christ. We read and sing about the baby Jesus, angels, shepherds, infancy stories, and wise men. It is all marvelous stuff, but what does it really mean? Today’s Scripture text for the sermon explains it. John 1:1-18 ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Church For The Churched

Contributed by Steve Hereford on Aug 25, 2006

Who is the church for? Believers or unbelievers? Or to use more contemporary terms - churched or unchurched. Listen today as Pastor Steve addresses who is the church in the midst of the seeker-sensitive movement.

Recently I was invited to attend a church planters conference in Lake Yale. At that conference I was exposed to various teaching and methods for reaching the unchurched. As I sat there and listened and took notes, I couldn’t help to think how we have somehow missed it when it comes to the purpose ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Call To Maturity

Contributed by Victor Nazareth on Mar 24, 2008

We will consider maturity in terms of various aspects of our Christian lives (Jesus, Cross, The Word, Suffering, Eternity) and how we contrast these from immature and mature points of view.

Introduction: The year of increase will happen as the church grows both qualitatively and quantitatively. The existing members are called to mature so that they can take care of the new members. We consider maturity today in terms of various aspects of our Christian lives (Jesus, Cross, The ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1

Denomination: Charismatic

Avoiding Spiritual Blindness

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 30, 2016

Today, as we begin to look at 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter talks about our spiritual lives as authentic believers in Jesus Christ in physical terms using our eyes.

AVOIDING SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS 2 PETER 1:1-11 #SpBlind INTRODUCTION… Spiritual in Terms of the Physical (p) Human beings are unique in all of creation in that we are made up of two distinct parts. Human beings, like all living things, have a body. We have flesh and bone and blood which are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gift Of The Evangelist Series

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Jul 3, 2011

In terms of realized eschatology the kingdom has come, the kingdom is coming and the kingdom will co. Ezekiel's vision of the temple is a picture like that of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and the results that followed.

12.6.11 THE GIFT OF THE EVANGELIST INTRO Today is Pentecost Sunday -- the day in our Church calendar when we remember not so much the Jewish feast, but what took place on that most memorable of all Jewish Pentecost feasts -- the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. POINT Some of us may associate the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Open The Door

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jun 9, 2020

Emerging from a time of crisis is not easy - and everyone is dealing with that on their own terms. In our text today the Christians in Jerusalem are in a firestorm of persecution and trouble - a time of crisis that became a time of prayer.

Open The Door Acts 12:1–11 Introduction As we enter Phase Two in Louisiana, doors are opening that have not been. More churches are meeting - although with recommended restrictions to keep people as safe as possible from the virus. Emerging from a time of crisis is not easy - and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God In Man's Image Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 24, 2021

Even before man knew of God the Son, the Father was described in terms of human characteristics. The reason for this is obvious, for there is no alternative if man is going to have any intelligent concept of the nature of God.

A young boy afraid of the dark called for his mother to come upstairs to his bedroom to be with him. She came and sought to comfort him by telling him God was there with him, and so he didn't have to be afraid. He was all right for a while, but then he called her again. When she came up he ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8

The Sermon On The Mount / The Seventh Beatitude Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 12, 2022

'Blessed are the peacemakers.' We all too easily think in terms of fight or not fight. But Jesus gives us a clear goal when we are in or see situations of conflict.

Note: this was a talk for a family service which children come to. So we’re only covering one Beatitude and it’s fairly simple. Over the past two weeks we’ve started to look at the Sermon on the Mount. This is a sermon preached on … you guessed it! … a mountainside. It’s the longest of Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Denomination: Baptist

Characterless People Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Nov 2, 2023

The words rendered "murmurers" and "complainers" occur nowhere else in the New Testament. The words are synonymous terms to express the same thought with more strength and emphasis.

09.11.23 Jude 1:16 Characterless People Jude 1:16: “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.” Murmurers and Complainers: The words rendered "murmurers" ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:16

Denomination: Methodist

Saul - Relapse To Restoration

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Apr 22, 2001

King Saul’s depression, caused by disobedience to God, was relieved as he came to terms with himself and asked David to play his harp - a parable of what Jesus can do for us.

A century ago when biographies of Christian men were written it was the accepted policy not to probe too deeply into their lives. It was felt that it wasn’t to the glory of God that a man whom God had used mightily in his service should have weaknesses or failings (except, of course, before ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:14-23

Denomination: Baptist

Stephen - What A Waste? Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Aug 25, 2004

Although Stephen’s life seems to be wasted from an earthly perspective at least, his martyrdom has long term ramifications for the growth of the church. From this point on the gospel begins to spread.

You’ll gather from the title of this sermon that one question that arises from this passage is, why did God let all this happen? Why allow someone as gifted as Stephen to be wasted like that? I guess it’s the sort of question that we often ask when something like this happens. We asked it 15 years ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Create In Me A Clean Heart: A Serious Call To Sexual Purity

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 3, 2007

Purity is the personal decision to glorify God with your body, soul and spirit. So many times when we talk about purity, we put it in terms of dos and don’ts.

Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Serious Call to Sexual Purity I received an email from a young lady I have never met. She happens to live in a country on the other side of the world. Because she reads my weblog, she felt like she could write and share her heart with me. This is part of what she ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Saved To Serve

Contributed by David Hersey on Mar 27, 2015

A relationship with God is a long term commitment and dependent upon obedience to His will. Christians are therefore saved to serve God. This lesson looks at Christian service from a comprehensive biblical perspective.

Saved To Serve A few months ago, we looked at how to develop a relationship with God. We learned that only the obedient know Him (1 John 2:4); love Him (John 14:23-24); are His friends (John 15:14); and of His family (Matthew 12:50). We looked at the importance of obedience to God as it relates ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of Distraction

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 6, 2017

When we have to cope for the long term, we need to implement God’s template for doing so. Distraction is a key element in this process, but needs to be viewed as part of the whole process.

The Power of Distraction (Philippians 4:1-9) 1. The psychology professor was giving an oral test. She asked, "How would you diagnose a patient who screaming at the top of his lungs one minute, then sits in a chair weeping uncontrollably the next?" A sports-minded young man answered, "He's ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Parenting: The Forest View Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 23, 2012

Good parents want what is in the long-term best interest of their children, not what makes them happy for the moment. God’s Word offers us some balanced principles of parenting.

Parenting: The Forest View (Ephesians 6:1-4) 1. Parenting has its challenges. Part of the reason parenting is so challenging is that no two kids are exactly alike. Proverbs 22:6 is a principle, not a promise. Freewill. 2. (CBS News) Jake Barnett is one in 10 million. The Indianapolis 13-year-old ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible