Sermons on Avoid Sameness:

Are You The Church, Or Do We Look For Another?

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 28, 2016

Is the Church of today the same as the original church? Would first century Christians recognize the church of today? Here are the 4 things we should we do to look like the early church.

ARE YOU THE CHURCH OR SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER? INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: POWER OF MOTIVATION 1. Bobby Dodd, the former great football coach at Georgia Tech, tells the story of a game in which his team was leading 7-6 with just a minute to go. 2. He instructed his quarterback not to pass the ball ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:18-23

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Magnifying God's Majesty Part Iii Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Nov 24, 2008

How can we know when worship is real? Claiming to worship and real worship are not necessarily the same thing. Sometimes our worship might look good, but not mean anything to God.

Magnifying God’s Majesty Part III Revelation 4:4,9-11 Purpose: To show that praise of God is man’s greatest duty and joy. Aim: I want the listener to have a higher opinion of God and worship Him more deeply. INTRODUCTION: Our text today gives us a picture of what worship in heaven looks like. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:4-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Lifting Up Of Smoke

Contributed by Greg Irby on Jun 15, 2013

In the Bible, we find wickedness compared to a fire. We understand the analogy. Isaiah used such a comparison. The same fires which destroyed Israel may well be smoldering in our nation today

THE LIFTING OF SMOKE ISAIAH 9 Text: Isaiah 9:18 Isaiah 9:18 18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. Introduction: How many of you have ever been near ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Malachi – Pursuing The God Who Pursues Me Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Sep 16, 2013

God loves us so much that He continues to pursue us even when we rebel against Him. So He desires that we pursue Him with that same fervor.

As most of you know, I met Mary the summer after my freshman year at the University of Arizona when we were both working as Student Hosts for the orientation of incoming freshmen. Although I was immediately attracted to her, I was pretty shy around attractive girls back then, so it usually took me ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 1:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

God, I’m Ready To Fly

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Feb 11, 2013

God transforms us from the inside out. All Christ-followers are in the midst of this transformation, and at the same time, raw as we are, we reflect the Lord’s glory. Go figure.

Nature is an incredible thing. Most of us have likely had our breath taken away at the site of something in creation. Barb and I spent a lot of time gasping at the beauty of the Scottish Highlands this summer, the gorgeous lochs, the stunning mountain ranges, the beautiful if slightly disturbingly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of Simon Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

If you make any effort to live for God, you will face opposition. If you’ve never run into Satan, it’s because you and he are traveling parallel in the same direction.

In the early part of Acts, we are introduced to 5 brief biographies that I want to introduce to you now. If you enjoy reading a biography, then you’ll benefit from these short bios. Think of these five men as the Mount Rushmore of the early chapters of Acts, if you will. A week ago we saw the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:5-13, Acts 8:17-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Heart Of A Mother.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on May 11, 2022

If you’ve haven’t realize by now, the heart—foundation and or, makeup of a mother is multifaceted. A mother’s love is deep. Her love can be emotional, but steady at the same time.

The Heart Of A Mother. 1 Samuel 1:25-28TLB A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on Magnets and what they do. The next day in a written test, she included this question: My name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I? When the test papers were turned in, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:25-28

Denomination: Pentecostal

Psalm 122 - Going To Worship Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Feb 3, 2021

This sermon is part of series on the Psalms of Assent. The focus is on how the Jews would joyously go up to Jerusalem for worship, and how we can experience the same joy in going to the local church.

In case you haven’t been here the last few weeks, we talked about the idea that the Psalms of Ascents were actually believed to be sung by the Jewish pilgrims as they made their way up to Jerusalem for the various Jewish festivals. Although they were considered to be somewhat of a travel psalm, ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Fighters For Peace Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

The peacemaker must take the same risks as the warmaker. It costs Jesus His life to be a peacemaker, and this is the price many have paid to bring peace between God and man, as well as between men.

One of the paradoxes of life is the fact that the peacemaker must be a fighter to be effective. Edwin Markham just before his death in 1940 remarked that his fondest hope had not been realized. He had wanted to write a poem that would dispense the armies of the world. Unfortunately, peace is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

The Location Of Heaven Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

It is considered a self-evident truth that you can't be in two places at the same time. But the Bible says this is not so. The Christian, by being in Christ, is both in time and in the heavenly realm of eternity.

The City Bank of Binghamton, New York, sent flowers to the management of their new branch, on the opening of their new facility. Unfortunately, the card accompanying the flowers read, "Deepest Sympathy." The florist who made the mistake, called later to apologize for the mixup. What ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-8

Will You Choose Jesus? (John 12:27-50) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 9, 2022

God set it up so that Jesus would be rejected by most. His master plan, was that Jesus die on the cross. But at the same time, any single individual could still come to Jesus.

Let's start today by reading part of last week's passage, John 12:20-26: (20) Now, there were some Greeks from among the ones going up [to Jerusalem], in order that they would worship at the festival. (21) Then, these ones approached Philip-- the one from Bethsaida of Galilee-- and they ...read more

Scripture: John 12:27-50, Isaiah 53:1-12

Forsaking The Fishing Nets

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 28, 2022

In life, there are three major decisions we make that will change our lives forever. FOREVER!!! That is, your life will never be the same ONCE YOU HAVE MADE THESE LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS!

WHAT ARE THESE THREE LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS? (1) WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO GET MARRIED. Ask any married people if their lives have changed since they got married, and I am confident they will tell you that life has changed drastically. Illus: Daniel proposes to his girlfriend Rachel. ? "Will you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Pray Simply Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 12, 2024

Pray simply focused on Matthew 6:7-8 (Material adapted from Bob Hostetler's book, The Red Letter Prayer Life, chapter 3 of same title)

HoHum: I step into an elevator on the ground floor. One other person- much taller than me- stands against the back wall. I turn as the elevator door closes and find my floor number on the elevator control panel. I hear a voice behind me- friendly but in a language I don’t understand. I turn, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-8, Luke 11:1, Luke 18:10-14, 1 Samuel 3:10, 1 Kings 18:23-39  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Disagreement Among Missionaries Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Aug 24, 2024

In the same way Split brings destruction in the church. Unity keeps peace and prosperity. Many denominations, organisations are the out come of personality clashes and self projected leaders. How to resolve the problem?

Text: Acts 15:36-41 Theme: Disagreement among missionaries   Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever.   I request you to kindly turn to the Bible passage. Observe the Text: Paul and Barnabas, planning for second missionary journey. John Mark, Sharp Disagreement; Barnabas ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Methodist

Settlement Issues Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Dec 21, 2023

For over the centuries the History is repeated with the Jewish Community, the matter known as the settlement issues. What is the present tension reflects the same. Breaking law, disobedience in any side results in loss of lives.

Joshua 7 - Settlement Issues Introduction: The conquest of Canaan was a gradual process with victories (Joshua 1:1-21) and defeats (Joshua 1:27-36). Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war (Joshua 11:23). It begins with the ...read more

Denomination: Methodist