Sermons on Avoiding Distractions:

Borders, Boundaries And Illegal Immigration

Contributed by Brian Buriff on Jun 5, 2006

Guard our hearts and attitudes, to avoid becoming an illegal alien (spiritually) - i.e., tresspassing against God’s character and alienating ourselves from the heart of God.

INTRODUCTION 60 years ago, after the PT 109 boat was destroyed and the 11 survivors swam to a nearby island, young JFK Walked back out into shark infested waters with a battery-powered strobe to try to signal for help and rescue. As we lift the strobe of God’s Word today, this sermon ventures out ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Denomination: Church Of God

Grace

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

In the previous chapter Paul’s focus of attention has been on earthly, physical experiences in the gospel. In order to avoid exalting himself he describes these experiences in the third person.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: To seek to earn, merit, or purchase salvation is to insult the Giver. Imagine yourself invited to a banquet in the White House by the president of the United States. You are seated at a table that is filled with the choist foods. Every effort is made to give you a most ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Walk Not, Stand Not,, Sit Not

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Nov 1, 2010

Psalm 1 gives to us three avoidances that we must heed in order for us to experience of the deep personal satisfaction that is available only to those who walk with God.

Walk Not , Stand Not, Sit Not Psalm 1:1-6 Introduction: O how great is the blessedness, the full sense of happiness, of the man who is devoted to being more than just a hearer but a doer of the Word! Psalm 1 gives to us three avoidances that we must heed in order for us to experience of the deep ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Chameleanity

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Feb 20, 2016

Chameleanity is Chameleon Christianity, the art of blending in with the world in order to avoid detection, persecution and ridicule. This is a message about Christians coming out of the closet and living our faith in the open.

Chameleanity Introduction: In one of Aesops fables he tells of the Miller, his Son, and his donkey. The two of them were riding their donkey to a nearby fair to sell him. They hadn't got very far when they met with a group of women that were chatting around a well, they began laughing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Useful To The Master Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 6, 2011

How to make ourselves useful to the Master. 1- We must be cleansed from sin 2- We must pursue righteousness 3- We must avoid stupidity

INTRO.- ILL.- A director was screen testing Sylvestor Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger for a new film about classic composers. Not having figured out who to give which part to, he asked Sly who he would like to be. Stallone said, "I like Mozart. I want to be Mozart" So the Director said, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:20-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Makes You Mad? Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jul 25, 2015

Fear and anger have a way of causing us to stray from God's will. Jonah shows us a clear example of this and Jesus shows us how to avoid it.

Growing up as a child in the midst of American patriotism during the cold war with Russia, I remember hearing it said by otherwise good Christian people that they wished we would just launch a bunch of our atomic warheads at Russia and blow them off the map. Some would even look at biblical books ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Slipping By Degrees

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Jul 27, 2022

King Saul started well, but ultimately shipwrecked his faith. God's Word is given to us so that we may learn and avoid the pitfalls of the enemy.

Slipping by Degrees Text: 1 Samuel 13:5-14, 1 Samuel 15:1-35 OPEN WITH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING One of the saddest things to see, at least to me, is someone who - by all appearances seemed to be a Christian, fall into sin and apostasy. Not let me make that clear… I said, someone who “seemed” to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:5-14, 1 Samuel 15:1-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Blinded By Pride Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 15, 2023

Samson was a man with absolute power who was absolutely blinded by his pride in his power. How can we avoid falling into the same trap that took him down?

When my dad sold his business and retired, he got bored just sitting around – so he went to work as a meat inspector for the government. They gave him a white coat and helmet and special knife, and his job was to go to meat plants (like Tyson or Indiana Packers) and inspect the meat as it was ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:4-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blinded By Discouragement Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 21, 2023

There are times when discouragement can rob us of our courage and hope. How did Joseph avoid being blinded by his despair and what can it teach us?

About 75 years ago, there was a woman named Florence Chadwick who was the 1st woman swim the English Channel BOTH WAYS. Then, in 1952, she decided to swim from Catalina Island, to the shore of California, a distance of about 22 miles. The day she chose to swim turned foggy and chilly as she ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:50-52

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Shouldn’t I Trust What The Preacher Says? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 27, 2021

This passage showcases the myriad of problems created when you have self-confident religious leaders. How do we avoid that problem with today's preachers?

OF COURSE I SHOULD: If the preacher is God’s messenger, shouldn’t I trust what he says? - Many presume that they should just trust everything that the preacher says. - This passage is a reminder to us in a myriad of ways that religious leaders aren’t always on point. SO MANY MISTAKES IN THIS ...read more

Scripture: John 7:40-52

Denomination: Baptist

Warning: Bridge Out Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 10, 2020

Life is laced with spiritual hazards. We need the wisdom of God’s Word in order to avoid the many traps that surround us. Today, we will look at three such traps.

Warning: Bridge Out! (Proverbs 28:6-10) 1. Sometimes people escape, unscathed, from traps that should have caught them. 2. I failed the first quarter of a class in middle school, so I made a fake report card. I did this every quarter that year. I forgot that they mail home the end-of-year cards, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:6-10, 1 Samuel 2:12-24, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Matthew 10:16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Racism Is A Sinful Behaviour. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jan 22, 2024

I must approach this topic with sensitivity and caution. It's important to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes or making generalizations about people based on their race or ethnicity.

I must approach this topic with sensitivity and caution. It's important to avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes or making generalizations about people based on their race or ethnicity. Additionally, it's essential to recognize that racism is a complex and multifaceted issue that can ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28, Psalm 139:13-14

Heaven, The Positive Side Of Eternity

Contributed by Grant Adams on Sep 28, 2020

Eternity is a major fact of the future of every person. Some say it is irrelevant. Whether it be too disturbing to discuss or not, the Bible makes it very plain. Eternity cannot be avoided.

I want us to consider the positive side of eternity today. Heaven! a. Every invitation given is with heaven in mind. b. Every sermon preached is with heaven in mind. c. Every dollar given is with heaven in mind. d. This service today is not about being a Baptist but about going to heaven. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4, Hebrews 9:27

Denomination: Baptist

This Thorny Thicket Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 20, 2008

For Martin Luther King Day. The words we offer fall into the thorny thicket of anxiety, despair, and distraction. Like King with his dream, we the church can give hands and feet to help those so captured.

Our back yard is a thorny thicket. Other people have manicured lawns, with friendly plants laid out in neat rows. But our back yard is a tangled thorny thicket. Along one fence there are blackberries, growing in long canes that have to be tied up lest they wander into the next county. They ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:13-20

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Lose The Cross In Christmas Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Dec 3, 2013

Distractions are often times intentional. They are created in order to get you to focus on the unimportant in order to prevent you from seeing what is really important. Can that happen at Christmas time? Do you really have to ask???

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. “Whoever believes in Him is ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Denomination: Nazarene