Sermons on An Unexpected God:

Christ Prays For Us

Contributed by David Roth on Apr 25, 2020

Christ prays for us, even though we fail to pray for ourselves.

John 17 & Matthew 26 Maundy Thursday, April 9, 2020 J. J. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. “Christ prays for us” The focus of our worship on Maundy Thursday is usually on Our Lord’s ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26, Matthew 26:36-46, Romans 8:34

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Way

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Aug 27, 2020

The heart of OUR WAY as Christians is marked by the way we treat one another and our enemies. 13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A

Our Way Romans 12: 9 – 21 Intro: I want to share a story I found that appeared in Reader’s Digest in Dec. 1981. Emily Gloria Wilson was the housekeeper for John Kenneth Galbraith. On a particularly difficult day, Galbraith asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while he took a nap. A short ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Behold The Crocus!

Contributed by John Pingel on May 18, 2020

Isaiah speaks of the crocus, lending hope to the people of ancient Israel and to us as well

Behold the Crocus!” Isaiah 35: 1,2 Writing in 700 B.C. about the return of the people Israel to their homeland following what would be a time of Exile in Babylon, the prophet spoke about the desert bursting into bloom. But he doesn’t just speak in broad terms about “flowers”—he speaks ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Live As Exiles

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2019

Seek the peace of the place in which you find yourselves, for in its peace you shall have peace.

HOW TO LIVE AS EXILES. Jeremiah 29:1-7. For forty years Jeremiah had been warning Judah and Jerusalem to submit to the LORD by submitting to Babylon. The prophet had been accused of treason, threatened with death, and put in the stocks. Now the inevitable had begun to happen. In ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"more Deeply"

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Sep 14, 2019

Paul shares in this letter to Philemon we can Share more deeply, contribute more deeply, fellowship more deeply, communion more deeply.

More Deeply Share more deeply, contribute more deeply, fellowship more deeply, communion more deeply 1. Paul’s letter to Philemon • The letter is a very personal message to a man who is a slave-owner. • In the letter, Paul encourages Philemon to forgive a runaway slave and welcome him back — not ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1

Denomination: Methodist

The Cost Of Discipleship

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Nov 10, 2020

Bonhoeffer / Luke 9: 51-62; Luke 14; Revelation 21 and 22

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born Feb 4, 1906 and died Apr 9, 1945. He was a German Lutheran pastor who became a leading spokesman for the Confessing Church and was active in the resistance movement under the guide of employment in Military Intelligence (Abwehr). He was arrested and imprisoned in 1943. ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

Heretics

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 1, 2019

Not all heretics are in pulpits or colleges. Many are in the pew as well. Don't be one.

Rom_16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. He is speaking of heretics who cause division through false doctrine. We must learn to discern and avoid false doctrine and those who teach it. We ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:17, Matthew 7:21-25, 2 John 1:10-11, Titus 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

Unbeliever Funeral

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jun 28, 2020

John wasn't a church goer but he did practice the Golden Rule.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Obituary Funerals Remind Us: • Of the Reality and Brevity of Life • Of Our Need for Others to Encourage Us • Of Our Need for God in Our Grief John loved all kinds of music so we will ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Building On Solid Rock

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 26, 2018

Our spiritual life, our moral life must be built on the sold foundation of Christ’s law of love, and maintained and grown by frequent prayer, confession and communion.

Thursday of the 12th Week in Course 2018 Reformation/Revolution Build on rock or build on sand? Who on earth would build on sand? The idea is you build on something that isn’t going to move around. Get on Sunset Road, just west of here, right past Hwy 281. It’s like driving on gelatin. This whole ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-29

Denomination: Catholic

Murderous Leaders Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Jan 19, 2021

Why are religious leaders so full of hate they would want to destroy somebody full of love? It is a question for our times.

Scripture Reading: Mark 3:1-6 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Are You? Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Jan 20, 2021

There are three categories of people who were to be found with Jesus: the committed, the curious, and the condemned. Which one are we?

Scripture Reading: Mark 3:7-12 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:7-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Visionary View: The Way We Should View Ourselves And Others Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 18, 2023

The way we should view ourselves and others - a call to embrace a visionary view that can transform our lives.

Visionary View: The way we should view ourselves and others Introduction: Today we delve into the powerful message found in Philippians 2:3-4, from the New Living Translation, which reads: "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Power Of Forgiveness: A Message Of Hope

Contributed by Dr. Nichol Burris on Nov 26, 2023

In a world often marked by strife and discord, forgiveness stands as a beacon of light, offering solace and healing to wounded hearts.

Introduction: Great morning! Great morning! Great morning! Today, I want to share with you a powerful message about forgiveness. Forgiveness is a central theme in the Bible, and it is a concept that holds great significance in our lives as Christians. Let us explore the transformative power of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:14, Luke 23:34, Colossians 3:13, Philippians 4:13

Twenty-Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A- Wicked Tenants

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 27, 2023

In one word, what do you live for?

In 1962, when President John F. Kennedy was visiting the NASA Space center, he noticed a janitor sweeping the hallway and asked him, “What do you do around here?” To his surprise, the janitor replied, “Well, Mr. President, I’m helping to put a man on the moon.” This janitor found meaning in seeing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-43, Isaiah 5:1-7

Denomination: Catholic

The Wedding At Cana

Contributed by Jesse Crooks on Sep 10, 2023

Like all scripture, there are many lessons in this text. I want to focus on just three.

The Wedding in Cana John 2:1-10 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-10