Sermons on Anxious Bench:

Worry Or Worship?

Contributed by Steve Pearman on Jan 7, 2025

Worry often feels unavoidable, but it drains our energy and distracts our hearts. Today, we’ll explore how worship can break the cycle of worry, helping us find peace, purpose, and joy by centring our lives on Jesus.

Introduction Good morning, Church. Today, we’re looking at a story many of us know well: Mary and Martha. It’s a passage about priorities, but it’s also a mirror that reflects our tendency to let worry dominate our lives. Let’s explore how we can move from a life of worry to one of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Are We Too Rich To Give? Series

Contributed by Tony Miano on Feb 8, 2001

This week, as we try to answer the question, “are we too rich to give,” we’ll consider our attitudes toward giving.

Are We Too Rich To Give? I Timothy 6:17 Preached By Pastor Tony Miano Pico Canyon Community Church February 11, 2001 Introduction: Now that we’ve finished chapter one of the Book of James, we’re going to take a break from our study of that great letter. For the next three weeks we’re going to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17

Denomination: *other

The Arrest Of Jesus - Mark 14:41-52 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 12, 2024

What's with the strange story about the young man fleeing naked at Jesus' arrest? Mark leaves out so many big aspects of that event, but he includes this. Is it a meaningless, throwaway story? Or is it Mark at his best, crafting a profound message in a vivid picture?

Jesus leads the 12 into battle even though he knows they will fail. When the hour comes, you’ll have to face the battle, ready or not. Jesus fights this battle on four fronts. Front #1: Judas (Jesus fights dis-couragement by calling out to Abba, Father). Front #2: the rogue disciple who jeopardizes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:41-52, Matthew 26:45-56, Luke 22:46-53, John 18:2-12

Qualified To Decide-3 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on May 23, 2017

3 of 6. Paul rebuked the Corinthian Christians for trusting secular sources in rectify grievances among themselves. The Church is uniquely fitted to properly rectify personal grievances. Christians are qualified to rectify grievances thru Their...

QUALIFIED To DECIDE-III—1Corinthians 6:1-11 OR Qualified To Rectify Attention: Shoe Cover-Up: One day a man found himself in a pickle because he had to drive his secretary home after she fell quite ill at work. He felt ill at ease about the situation, even though it was an innocent gesture. But ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

How Will You Welcome The King?

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

Palm Sunday

"How Will You Welcome The King?" At this time every year we celebrate "Palm Sunday" in churches all over the world. Most of the time our celebrations vary little - children process down the aisle waving palm branches, we sing songs of praise to the King who has come, and the preacher speaks for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Do You Worship?

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 27, 2002

Which Jesus do you want to meet – gentle and riding on a donkey, or carrying a sword and riding on a white horse?

We’ve come to a crucial crossroads in our journey through the book of Matthew. Everything that Jesus has taught and done has been leading to this point. You could say that the events we read about today are the beginning of the end that leads to the beginning. In cosmic terms – the Lamb of God, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-17, Psalm 122:1, Isaiah 6:1-6

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Don't You Get Weary, Children Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 5, 2002

There are many thankless tasks we have to perform, of which, to some, church participation may be one. But God teaches us that if we do something out of love, it is not burdensome, and the Cross and Empty Tomb teach us that it is not futile.

There sure are a lot of thankless tasks to be done. There certainly are a great many things that are immensely frustrating, because they just won’t stay done. Do you know what I mean? The kinds of jobs that you do and almost immediately you have to do them again? These are thankless ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5, 1 John 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Seize The Day! Series

Contributed by Craig Simonian on Sep 4, 2001

This sermon encourages us to take advantage of every opportunity that God brings our way.

Seize the Day! Father’s Day 2001 June 17, 2001 Dead Poets Society… resurrected obscure Latin phrase, Carpe Diem. Seize the Day. - exhortation to live life to the fullest, getting the most out of every day - if we would survey 100 people… all would agree that this is what they want o no one ...read more

Tarrying At The Throne

Contributed by Douglas Vogel on Jan 6, 2004

One way success is found is in praying for others, no matter how difficult life is.

“TARRYING AT THE THRONE” Matthew 2:13-18 As a pastor in the Free Methodist Church for nearly 18 years, and your pastor for the last 4½ years, it is time for me to come front & center regarding God’s will for our church. I know there are a number of indicators that people use to gauge health & ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:19-23

Denomination: Methodist

Not What The Eye Sees Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Feb 4, 2003

We might say "The clothes make the man," but God is more interested in the heart, and so should we be.

James 2:1-13 January 26, 2003 Not What The Eye Sees They say “the clothes make the man.” It is probably not that the clothes make the man, but that the clothes make our opinion of the man, or the woman. When I was in university, I was heavily involved with a Christian group on campus ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: *other

Experiencing The Joy Of Worship

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 13, 2003

1. We need to get in touch with our Creator. 2. We need to get in touch with eternity. 3. We need to get in touch with hope.

Someone has written about the difference in worship styles in story form, using a bit of humor: “An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. ‘Well,’ said the farmer, ‘It was good. They did something ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:9-14

Denomination: Methodist

Honor Marriage! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Mar 14, 2003

Christians are called to submit to one another; to put the other’s will over & above your own out of reverence for Christ; especially in the marriage relationship.

Honor Marriage! Ephesians 5:21-33 Focus: Christians are called to submit to one another; to put the other’s will over & above your own out of reverence for Christ; especially in the marriage relationship. Function: To honor the institution of Christian Marriage. Open by recognizing folks ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Now...not Later Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Aug 10, 2003

We must have the courage to act quickly.

NOW…NOT LATER Esther 4:1-17 S: Courage Th: Profiles in Courage Pr: WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO ACT QUICKLY. ?: Inductive KW: Portion TS: We will divide our study of Esther 4:1-17 into five sections demonstrating to us the urgency of courage. The _____ section is the… I. DISASTER (1-5) II. ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

When Pride Is Fleshed Out

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Aug 15, 2003

The attitude of pride will always be fleshed out in our actions.

Obadiah 10-14 When Pride Is Fleshed Out Introduction Before we get started in our study tonight, let’s do a little review. · What did the Lord say in Malachi 1:1-27? And why did He use such strong language? · What was God going to do to Edom according to what we have studied so far in Obadiah? ...read more

Scripture: Obadiah 1:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

Living A Lifestyle Of Joy

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Aug 23, 2003

A message calling Christians to live a life characterized by joy, not grumpiness. This is an expansion on part of the message, "Lighten Up!", also posted on this site.

Living a Lifestyle of Joy Various Scriptures August 24, 2003 Introduction We all like being around people who are generally upbeat, don’t we? I mean, if you had your choice of being with someone who had a smile or someone who looked like he was weaned on sour lemons, who would you most likely ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 28:7, Psalm 118:24

Denomination: Wesleyan