Sermons on Avoid Sameness:

Don't Want To Be A Pharisee Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 5, 2014

Jesus despised the Pharisees. But why? These guys were simply trying to please God by honoring His rules. What was it about them that angered God so much and how do we avoid becoming like them?

About the worst thing you can call somebody in Church is to say they are a “Pharisee”. The Pharisees were THE “bad guys” in scripture and seemed to always be the main group that Jesus singled out as examples of who His followers were NOT to be like. I don’t want to be ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prophetic Utterances Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 12, 2021

Christians are listening to prophecies on the Internet and must be taught how to test those messages. This teaching instructs Christians on how to operate in the prophetic and how to evaluate prophetic ministry so that we receive the benefits and avoid the pitfalls associated with it.

Our subject today is prophetic utterances. How do we benefit from prophecies given in the Body of Christ, and how do we avoid the pitfalls that people often fall into in the exercise and application of this gift? The gift of prophecy is a powerful tool in the church today. But powerful tools must ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, Matthew 24:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Ephesians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 1 Samuel 1:14, Deuteronomy 18:20, Acts 16:1-10, 2 Peter 1:19, Acts 21:1-14, Matthew 10:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Reverent Worship - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 19, 2025

Why does Scripture speak of making vows to God? What is the purpose of making a vow? How does it help in your walk with the Lord? When should we make a vow, and when should we avoid making a vow?

Ecclesiastes 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience (lit. draw near to listen) than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. 2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. (lit. do not be ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Stepping Out Of Our Comfort Zone Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Mar 11, 2013

The people of Jerusalem eagerly desired to move away from the sins of their past and wanted to avoid another exile type experience, so they made a commitment to God, to surrender to His will and be obedient after they had confessed their sin and the sin o

Sermon Brief Date Written: March 8, 2013 Date Preached: March 10, 2013 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Building with God Sermon Title: Stepping Out Of Our Comfort Zone Sermon Text: Nehemiah 10-11 [ESV] 28“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 10:28-29

Denomination: Baptist

What's Fair About That?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 1, 2018

God's overwhelming generosity is difficult to comprehend, though every Christian has experienced that generosity. We must avoid attempting to cast God in our image, learning instead of the extravagant grace with which He showers each of us.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Christ, Our Advocate 1 John 2:1 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 25, 2024

In 1 John 2:1. The apostle John speaks directly to the hearts of believers, addressing us tenderly as “my dear children.” He writes with a deep pastoral concern to encourage us to live holy lives, avoiding sin.

Christ, Our Advocate 1 John 2:1 1 John 2:1 (NLT) – “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” Introduction Today we explore the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1, 1 Peter 1:15-16, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 3:23, Hebrews 4:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:1, Romans 12:2, 1 John 1:9, John 1:29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Bless Our Children

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jan 16, 2006

We have the disturbance of the same-sex marriages that is going on in San Francisco and some other states trying to get it legalized. That alone would tell us that the institution of marriage is in trouble.

God bless our children Ephesians 6:1-4 01/15/06 I was reading the other day that the American marriages are in trouble. I tend to agree with the statement. I will tell you why I believe that. We have the disturbance of the same-sex marriages that is going on in San Francisco and some other states ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Denying Jesus

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Nov 18, 2009

Discussion of Peter’s boldness in telling Jesus he would stand by Him, his subsequent denials of Jesus, and how we do the same thing sometimes...

Denying Jesus Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75; John 21:15-17 July 26, 2009 Me/We: I had originally planned to bring another message about that Last Supper, when Jesus instituted the sacrament of Communion. But the more I actually worked on the message, the more I felt like God was telling me I needed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:31-75

Denomination: Wesleyan

Lesson 6: Get Over Yourself - Get On With The Work Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 18, 2010

One of the greatest blessings is when God works through you. One of the greatest dangers is when God works through you. Learn how to avoid the penetrating gaze of the Lord and simply rejoice in His work through you.

What’s the hottest thing you’ve ever been close to? I remember once being near a log deck fire that was so hot that it was melting the asphalt under my feet. I’ve seen the effects of intense heat and fire reduce a full house to a pile of ashes and a chimney, with things melted in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:5-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Fortifying The Foundation Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 9, 2016

Jesus is the foundation of the Church. A unified church fortifies that foundation. How do we avoid causing division? How do we handle the divisive person? Check out these thoughts from our Family Minister, Scott Jewell.

(This is a sermon by our associate Scott Jewell concluding our sermon series "God's Blueprint For His Church") Jeff started this series a month ago telling us about an episode of “This Old House”. It was about a young couple who purchased a 1906 church building in San Francisco to ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:9-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Nowhere To Run

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Dec 2, 2014

Running from God is what most people do when they are avoiding God and do not like what He is telling them. Disobedience will cause us to run, but coming clean with God causes us to make wise decisions.

Nowhere to run Jonah chapter 1:1-1:7 This morning we will look at the familiar passage of the prophet Jonah running from God and what can happen if you choose to run from him. This passage will speak to each of us because all of us have attempted to run from God, hide from God and some are ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-7

Denomination: Nazarene

Letting God Be God Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 20, 2008

To pray as Jesus prayed is to have the same understanding of God as He did: a firm but compassionate father, a giver who expects us to learn appreciation, and an empowering forgiver.

Introduction to Series Praying As Jesus Prayed Every fall I like to take at least two Sundays to focus on some aspect of that most basic of all the disciplines of the Christian life, the discipline of prayer. I do this for several reasons. First, building in a specific emphasis on prayer in our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Choose Your Builder Wisely!

Contributed by Nishal Maharaj on Aug 14, 2022

We all know God has a plan for us but do we know the enemy also have a plan for you? A plan to devour you. In this sermon we'll see how to avoid enemy’s plan.

2 Peter 2:1 1 False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction. (GNT) This verse ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1, 1 Corinthians 3:4, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, Matthew 7:15, 1 Corinthians 3:22-23, 1 Peter 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How To Study The Bible (2)

Contributed by David Cambridge on Jan 28, 2002

Many people are not studying the Bible because they don’t know how! This outline offers some guidelines. This is essentially the same as How To Study The Bile but goes into a little more depth.

How To Study The Bible Guidelines Introduction "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) There are many who do not study God’s word because they don’t know how. This lesson offers a few brief ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Meekness-The Way To Happiness Series

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Aug 19, 2003

Introduction Can you truly be meek and happy at the same time? Can you picture a meek person who is also a happy person? You probably find it rather challenging.

Meekness-The Way to Happiness Text: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5). Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-5 Introduction Can you truly be meek and happy at the same time? Can you picture a meek person who is also a happy person? You probably find it rather ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal