Sermons on Avoid Sameness:

Shepherds Or Fishermen?

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Sep 21, 2007

Not even one of the twelve disciples had ever been a shepherd. Were shepherds scarce in Jesus day? Actually there were plenty of shepherds in that area of Palestine. Jesus intentionally avoided choosing shepherds to lead the Christian church. Jesus called

Over and over the Bible inquires Christian pastors to feed the sheep. Three times in John 21:15-17. Jesus instructs Simon Peter, "Feed My sheep....Take care of My sheep....Feed My Sheep." It was to the shepherds on the hillsides that the Heavenly Angels first appeared in glory to announce the birth ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-17, John 21:15

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

When God Wrestles With Family Tensions

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 16, 2009

We use avoidance, anger, anxiety, and aloneness to manage family tensions. We even use self-centered prayer. But when we let God wrestle with us, we are changed and we accept vulnerability in family life.

The most critical issue in family life is not anger or argument. It is avoidance. What plagues most families is not that they are embroiled in fighting or torn by argument. What destroys families is that people drift apart from one another; they avoid one another. You see, if you fight with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon # 6 - The Secret Schemes Of The Enemy Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Feb 15, 2024

Satan’s schemes are many and we as God’s children should be aware of them. Also, we need the right people who will guide and counsel us to walk in the right path and avoid the traps that the enemy sets for us.

We read in Numbers 22:6, Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." (ESV) As we continue to meditate on this portion ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 64:2, 1 Samuel 19:11, 1 Peter 5:8, Genesis 19:11, Esther 3:8, 2 Samuel 15:2-6, 2 Samuel 22:2-3, 1 Samuel 20:42, Proverbs 13:20, 1 Samuel 19:12, 1 Samuel 19:18, Psalm 31:18, Numbers 22:6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Get Used To Being Hated Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Jun 17, 2016

Jesus was hated by the world, for no other reason than He had come to reveal the Father. As those who are associated with Jesus we should accept the same level of hate.

Message John 15:18-25 “Get Used To Being Hated” Living with teenagers can be heaps of fun. Especially when they go through that wonderful time of life called “puberty”. You just never know what is going to happen from one moment to the next. You can be quietly sitting in front of the tv. Your ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Power & Love In Jesus' Name Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Mar 4, 2025

Jesus promised we would do the same kind of miracles that Jesus Himself did in John 14:12-14. In Acts 3 Peter and John simply obeyed Jesus commands in John 14 and it resulted in a mass divine appointment. You can do the same, by boldly and publicly praying in Jesus' name.

I suppose it was probably 15 or 20 years ago when I got a call from a young lady in our church who was working as a phlebotomist at St. Mary's Hospital in Reno. She had established a friendship with a couple who were in a crisis because he was facing a surgery for a blocked carotid artery. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:12-14, Matthew 9:29

Denomination: Bible Church

The Anointing For Divine Consolidation

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Jan 7, 2014

God has given every believer in Christ the anointing when He got them filled with the Holy Spirit. The anointing is meant for great exploits in the Kingdom of God, however, we must avoid actions and attitude that can destroy the anointing.

THE ANOINTING FOR DIVINE CONSOLIDATION Study Text: Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19

Denomination: Pentecostal

Spiritual Warfare

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Sep 3, 2016

This is a subject many Christians would rather avoid (But we are in a Spiritual battle so we might as well admit it and learn how to fight) Our victory exists in only one place and that's the realm of the Spirit.

Exodus 17:8-13 Have you ever felt like life is throwing at you everything but the kitchen sink, and then (pow here comes the kitchen sink)? It feels like your theme song is (when it rains it pours) and nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen? Let me take it a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Those Feelings Of Pride Series

Contributed by David Owens on Apr 12, 2021

God has given us the ability to feel the emotion of pride so that we can benefit from good pride and avoid the destructive nature of bad pride. It is important to know the difference between the two kinds of pride.

A. Once there was a guy named Zeke who had so much pride he could never admit he was wrong. 1. One day Zeke wandered into the blacksmith shop with sawdust all over the floor. 2. A few minutes before Zeke arrived, the blacksmith had been working on an uncooperative horseshoe, and had beat on it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-7, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 3:34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Do You Do When The Lord Makes You Uncomfortable?

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Aug 14, 2025

Jesus is going to show us in Luke 12:49-56 that this divine discomfort is not a bug in the system of faith—it's a feature. It's not something to avoid—it's something to embrace.

There's a question that every serious believer must eventually face: What do you do when the Lord makes you uncomfortable? I'm not talking about the discomfort of difficult circumstances or trials that come from living in a fallen world. I'm talking about that deep, internal stirring ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56, Jeremiah 20:9

Denomination: Methodist

Divorce, Children And Wealth

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 6, 2024

Do our churches avoid talking about divorce and money because we are embarrassed? Should children be seen and not heard? Let’s examine what Jesus has to say about these important topics in Matthew 19.

Do our churches avoid talking about divorce and money because we are embarrassed? Should children be seen and not heard? Let’s examine what Jesus has to say about these important topics in Matthew 19. Divorce What was the question that the Pharisees asked? When Jesus finished saying these ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Divorce Series

Contributed by David Asch on Jan 18, 2005

As we study this passage, we will see God’s view of divorce. In doing so, we will discover God’s answer to avoid becoming a statistic, as well as what to do if divorce has already been a part of our lives.

DEALING WITH DIVORCE Mark 10:1-12 INTRO: Greet the people sitting next to you. Over 50% of new marriages end in divorce. That means either you, or the people sitting next to you. Statistics are the same for churches. Divorce is a big deal. Most don’t like it…. In church, you hear some different ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Did Jesus Do About Conflict In His Team? Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 8, 2009

Jesus dealt with conflict head on, yet always without sin. He did not avoid conflict. Once he dealt with it in his team, he pointed them back to His mission and their mission. He does that with us also.

What did Jesus do about conflict in His team? In their book called ’A bucket of surprises’ J. John and Mark Stibbe refer to a friend (a church leader) who said this: ’Whenever the conflict gets too much in my church I go and visit the local kennels. There’s a whole group there that’s always ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Anglican

The Joseph Experience – Changed, Blessed, And Wise 05 Series

Contributed by Christi Campione on Jan 26, 2025

Change brought Joseph up to a higher place and opened him up to receive wisdom and greater blessings. We can expect that change will do the same for us.

Download Sermon PDF for easy reading: https://myprayernotebook4life.wordpress.com/sermon-pdfs/ Password: SermonCentral Homework: Is anyone reading the chapters at home? Last week we talked about reading 1 Corinthian 2:1-5 in different translations. Did anyone do that this past week? Do you feel ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:44

Cries From The Cross Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 11, 2024

Appreciate what Jesus did for you on the cross: feel its sorrow; grasp its suffering; and take its sufficiency. You’ll never be the same again!

In 1940, Clarence Jordan, a farmer-theologian, founded Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia, to promote racial unity and cooperation. Soon after that, a pastor gave Jordan the red-carpet tour of his church. The pastor proudly pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decorations. Then, with ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-30, Psalm 22:14-15

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Who Determines How You Think?

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Feb 22, 2019

Over the years, the Body of Christ has allowed the world, instead of the Bible, determine how it talks about issues.

Good evening to the blessed of the Lord! Good evening to men and women and young people who are more than conquerors in every situation. Pro-Life, Pro-Choice I want to tell you up front that this is not a message about abortion. It’s a message about how we have come to the place of using terms ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1, Genesis 25:23, Judges 13:5, Psalm 139:13, Isaiah 49:1, Jeremiah 1:4-5, Romans 2:13-15, 2 Corinthians 2:14, Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:25, John 14:1, John 14:27, Philippians 4:6-8, Colossians 3:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational