Sermons on Avoid Sameness:

Dare To Dream God's Dream For Lost People

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 26, 2019

This sermon is a narrative and moves toward the call to share the good news.What kind of people make you uncomfortable? What kind of people do you avoid? This may give us a clue about how we hinder our dreaming.

“Dare To Dream God’s Dream For Lost People” Subject: Why we need to confront our ungodly prejudices that cause us to ignore certain people and write them off. Complement: in order to embrace more people and tell them about Jesus ! Preaching Idea: I need to see with God’s eyes in order to dream ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:9-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First Sacrifice Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 13, 2014

Nakedness is equated with sin in Scripture and Adam and Eve tried covering their nakedness with fig leaves. Do we do the same? And, if so, how successful can we be at doing that?

The true story is told of a banquet where a famous religious leader found himself seated next to an extremely beautiful woman who was wearing a gown with a perilously low neckline. He introduced himself to her… and then offered her an apple. She was a little surprised, but he explained ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:6-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

After The Election: Citizens And Officials Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 14, 2016

After election hype, we remember that God’s perspective on citizenship and what makes for good leadership stays the same. Citizens need to be cooperative and leaders need to attempt to be fair.

After the Election: Citizens and Officials (Proverbs 24:21-26) 1. The political season is over, for now. So it is time for 2 non-partisan joke. 2. Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House. One is from Chicago, another is from Tennessee, and the third is from ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:21-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Temple Of Power - 3:16 And Us Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 3, 2005

When we meet together in worship of Jesus, this passage tells us we are a temple of God and that God’s Spirit dwells in our presence. How do we take hold of that power and how do we avoid damaging it?

OPEN: A man was stranded on a deserted Pacific island for years. But one day he saw a boat coming into sight, and he waved frantically … eventually he caught the skipper’s attention. The boat came near the island and the sailor got out and greeted the stranded man. They talked for a bit… and as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stumbling Onto Grace Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Feb 7, 2012

What we need is a true picture of Jesus, with nothing avoided and nothing exaggerated. We must be careful to not overemphasize one aspect of Christ’s character at the exclusion of the totality of His being. People will stumble over Him, but if they open t

Stumbling onto Grace Romans 9:30-33 -Do you know what a caricature is? One definition says that it’s “a representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject’s distinctive features or peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:30-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Kingdom Of Heaven (Part 10) Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 31, 2015

Jesus is coming again. You can’t avoid standing before Him in judgment. Well if Jesus were to return today, and if it was your time to give an account to the Lord, what would be the outcome? Would you hear commendation or rebuke?

Opening illustration: Several years ago, Donald Trump said this in an interview: "I'll be 36 next year and I've done everything I can do. Sometimes I think it was a mistake to have raced through it all so fast. What's the next level up? The grass isn't always greener … I work, and I don't ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of Love - 3:16 And Us Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 24, 2005

John tells us we run the danger of being like Cain (who killed his brother). Why would he warn us of this, and what does the Bible say we can do to avoid this danger in our lives?

OPEN: The cartoon "Peanuts" has been in newspapers for years. The author of that delightful comic strip actually died some time back… but the comic was so powerful and amusing that newspapers have simply reran the comics of the past. In one of “Peanuts" comic strips Lucy says to Shroeder (the boy ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Pharisee And The Publican (Tax-Collector)

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 25, 2023

Jesus told a story (parable) about two men who went to the Temple to pray. One man was changed, but the other remained the same. Let's take a look:

(Based on a message preached at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO; not an exact transcription) Introduction: Some folks have become concerned about where they’re going when they die. I know of some who have asked, “Am I going to Hell when I die?” Today’s text, a story from Jesus about two people, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Canned Christianity Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 6, 2004

Few purposes of the church create more tension in a local body than worship. Churches are struggling to avoid the land mines associated with the Worship Wars. This happens because churches often have an erroneous perception of what God-pleasing worship re

1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Grace In The Middle Of Grief Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Mar 30, 2009

Both of our texts describe persecuted believers.Is persecution something that we should avoid or embrace? In a minute I will attempt to answer that question, but before I do let’s see what we can learn about persecution.

Revelation 7:1-17; 14:1-5 Purpose: To highlight God’s grace toward His faithful followers. Aim: I want the listener to rejoice in the advantages of persecution. INTRODUCTION: Last time, we finished looking at the first six seals (or chapters) from the sacred book that only the Lamb of God could ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Have My Rights!!! Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 2, 2017

We live in nation of "rights" but if my rights conflict with yours we can end up in court, in a church split or in a family division. How do we avoid letting our desire to defend our rights to ruin our lives?

OPEN: I’m going to read from the words of an ancient document. When I’m finished I’m going to ask you what document these words are from (we put the words up on the screen and underlined the word “Rights” in the passage): “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Still Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 7, 2016

People seem to be afraid of silence. They do anything to fill their lives with noise and avoid the emptiness. But God says "Be still and know that I am God." What can that mean to us and how can we go about doing it?

How many of you have ever heard the term: “Circuit Riders”? Circuit Riders were preachers back in the 1700s and 1800s who would ride from church to church and hold services. There were more churches than preachers in that day and a Circuit Rider would travel from congregation to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sunny Side Sermon Vii: Bible Personalities Who Kept On The Sunny Side Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jul 1, 2020

In our fallen world, temptation abounds in every arena of life, as if life's a game of chance without scruples for avoiding self-destruction. Christians, therefore, need to be like Caleb whose different Spirit kept him from falling.

BIBLE PERSONALITIES WHO KEPT ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE: CALEB If you were a bit puzzled at the assertion made in our last study about the wilderness experience of Jesus, to wit, that: Jesus needed no plan for dealing with Satan’s three attempts to get Him to ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:26-30, Numbers 14:6-10, Numbers 14:21-24

From Fools To Evangelists Series

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Apr 21, 2023

In regards to our faith, we must take head knowledge and make it heart knowledge. We must live what we believe. The road to Emmaus helps us to avoid be foolish and slow of heart in order to live and share our faith.

THE JOY OF THE EASTER STORY IS, ABOVE ALL ELSE, WHEN JESUS AROSE FROM THE DEAD. IN ADDITION TO THAT TRIUMPHANT VICTORY, JESUS MADE APPEARANCES NOT ONLY TO THE REMAINING DISCIPLES, BUT, ACCORDING TO 1 CORINTHIANS 15:6, TO 500 OTHER BELIEVERS WHO WITNESSED HIM ALL AT THE SAME TIME. TUCKED IN ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35, 1 Corinthians 15:6, Revelation 3:20

Denomination: Free Methodist

When People Hurt You - Ecclesiastes 3:15-4:3 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 15, 2025

How do you avoid bitterness toward people who have hurt you and refuse to repent? Even when you affirm that God meant it for good, still, how do you not get upset over the fact that the person meant it for evil?

Ecclesiastes 3:15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed. 16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous ...read more