Sermons on Anxious Bench:

Love Me Tender

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Feb 18, 2003

This sermon looks at what it means for us as Christians to be a people of love by looking at how we are called to love each other, love our enemies, and the role forgiveness plays in this love.

This year was a sad year for many football fans because it marked the end of an era. The historic Veterans stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was closed for good. The turf was horrendous and opposing players dreaded the trip to the vet because with one step, a career could be ended. But it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:40-45, Romans 12:19-21

Denomination: Methodist

All I (Really) Want For Christmas Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 8, 2002

Joseph thought he knew what he wanted: freedom from embarassment, a normal life, a few friends to support him. But in listening to the Spirit he found that what he really wanted was to love and to be loved, to be significant, and to be understood by God.

What do you want for Christmas? I hope there’s somebody in your life who is asking that question. I am not one of those curmudgeons who thinks we should do away with giving gifts at Christmas. Yes, it gets out of hand. And yes, it’s all very commercial. But still, gift-giving is a part ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

When Prophets Lodge In Caves

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 28, 2009

Elijah

WHEN PROPHETS LODGE IN CAVES (1 KINGS 19:1-18) How have these few (four) months in Hong Kong affected people’s physical, emotional and mental health? According to the University of Hong Kong (HKU) survey, nearly one in 10 people in Hong Kong were found to have suspected depression in a study ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It's Not About Me Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on May 6, 2009

Humility is our weapon against the enemy.

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME James 4.6-8 S: Humility C: Pride Th: Our Time, Our Turn, Our All Pr: HUMILITY IS OUR WEAPON AGAINST THE ENEMY. CV: We will passionately pursue full devotion to Jesus Christ. I. PRIDE II. INDEPENDENCE III. ACHIEVEMENT PA: How is the change to be observed? • Seek God above all ...read more

Scripture: James 4:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

How To Amaze Jesus

Contributed by Mark Jones on Oct 3, 2011

EOLS: God responds when we exercise faith that comes through the revelation of His power in our lives.

And Jesus Was Amazed (How to Amaze Jesus) Matthew 8:5-10 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-10

Denomination: Methodist

Pulling Against God Part 2 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Oct 6, 2007

Part 2 of the series. Focuses on Anger and Adultery from the Sermon on the Mount.

Pulling Against God Part 2 Scriptures: Matthew 5: 3-30; Hebrews 4:13 Introduction In part 1 of this series, I asked the question of whether or not we were pulling against God. I told you last week that this could take on two different forms: the first was when God was trying to lead us one way ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Go Of Bitterness Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on May 9, 2008

Bitterness is a dangerous thing in the life of the Christian that simply needs to be let go of.

“Let Go Of Bitterness” Introduction: In Southeast Asia many years ago someone developed an ingenious method to catch monkeys alive and unharmed. The “Monkey Trap” which was developed was very simple; the hunter would take a pot with a wide bottom and narrow opening and bury the pot in the ground ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stand And Fight: Don't Lose Your Head Series

Contributed by Daniel Richter on May 9, 2008

The helmet of salvation

Stand and Fight: Don’t Lose Your Head Sunday, August 5th, 2007 Beartown Road Alliance Church Now that summer is already half over, and softball season is done, I’ve begun to look forward to our basketball league that starts up every fall. We host the league out in our gym and have shown some very ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

At The Center Of The Season: It's Not You!

Contributed by Daniel Richter on May 15, 2008

The attitudes that we see in Mary’s life that keep her focused during the first Christmas season...

At the Center of the Season: It’s Not You! Sunday, December 3rd, 2006 All of you probably know someone who loves to be the center of attention. Wherever they are or wherever they go, they are the ones that people are watching and paying attention to. There are some who crave and create the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:38

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Our Father Who Art In Heaven

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 25, 2013

This sermon is a compilation of scripture in the form of a 'letter' from God to his children describing His love for us.

Last Sunday, I told a story and showed a video to conclude my sermon. For those of you who may not have been here, it was a story about a father and his handicapped son. When most of the medical system had written this child off as “a vegetable”, this dad refused to give up. He found ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Game Of Mutually Assured Destruction Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 11, 2015

It's one game board, but two games. Checkers and Chess are not only played differently, but they illustrate for me the difference between how the world deals with conflict and how God would have us do so. Do you know the difference?

OPEN: (We showed a picture of a checker board on the overhead) What is this game? That’s right, it’s a checkers game. How many of you have ever played checkers? (almost everyone held up their hands) You know, I did not realize it until I began my research for this morning’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Eyes Of A Doctor Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 14, 2020

If you want to truly help people recover from failure, lead with compassion, not condemnation; lead by example, not by examination; and lead with wisdom; not words. To put it succinctly, see with the eyes of a doctor, not a judge.

A man went to see his doctor in an acute state of anxiety. “Doctor,” he said, “you have to help me. I'm dying. Everywhere I touch it hurts. I touch my head and it hurts. I touch my leg and it hurts. I touch my stomach and it hurts. I touch my chest and it hurts. You have to help me, Doc, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Scalpel And The Surgeon Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 8, 2013

God's Word has the power to cut away dead skin from our hearts. But how can it do that in our lives... and why doesn't it work in everyone's life?

Cosmetic surgery has become very popular in our present day society. In one of the books I read a year ago, I ran across some unique surgeries that people actually pay money to have done to their bodies: • Back in 2010 more than a million American women underwent lip augmentation surgery. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Touch Of Jesus

Contributed by Steve Wilson on Mar 16, 2016

What might the story of the raising of Jarius' daughter look like if it happened today?

Introduction • Hear now the New Testament story of Jarius, the ruler of the Jewish synagogue. [Read Luke 8:40-56] • What if that story took place today? Instead of Jarius, let’s visit with a Baptist minister by the name of Wallace. Of utmost importance is for each of us to notice ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

Denomination: Baptist

The Face Of Christ Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

To behold the face of Christ, and to reflect the light of His face was the constant goal of the Apostle Paul. He was not a man of a thousand faces, but the man of one face-the face of Christ.

Dr. Rosenow, a man who devoted his life to medical research, was asked, what led him to this as his life's task, and he told this story. He grew up on an isolated farm in Northern Wisconsin, and as a boy he had an unforgettable experience when his brother became dangerously ill. The nearest ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6