Sermons on Avoiding Distractions:

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

Listen To God And Walk On Water

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Oct 30, 2014

A perspective on Matthew 14: 22-33. Like Peter, we are so often distracted by the voice and terrors of our own storm in life. At times we feel we are sinking, about to loose everything about us.

Matthew 14: 22-33 LISTEN TO GOD AND WALK ON WATER Written exams and tests are generally run like a competition. The teacher at school or the lecturer at university or your employer sets the work before you, and you know that at the end of it there will be a small prize or a pat on the back to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Lutheran

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

In Christ - You Can Be Perceptive Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Mar 7, 2018

The world we live in is full of distractions, mistruths and deception – sometimes it is hard to perceive all that is going on. Through Philippians 4:8 Paul equips us with the ability to be perceptive as we walk the journey with Christ together.

You can listen to the full message here:- http://www.nec.org.au/index.php/listen-to-a-sermon-series/in-christ-you-can/ Message Philippians 4:8 You Can Be Perceptive My grandfather - progressively started going blind from his 70’s … lived to early 90’s. Dutch … stubborn. He would listen to what ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Unlocking God's Voice In The Chaos Series

Contributed by Apostle Dr. Belinda V. Broadnax on Oct 24, 2024

This sermon focuses on hearing God’s voice in the midst of life’s chaos and distractions. It highlights how God speaks through the noise of life and offers practical steps to unlock His voice for guidance, peace, and clarity.

Life in today’s world is louder than ever before. The constant stream of news, social media, responsibilities, and personal struggles can feel overwhelming. Amid the noise, it can seem impossible to hear God’s voice. Many people ask, "Where is God in all this? Why can’t I hear Him?" It ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:10

Denomination: Other

Pruned For God's Glory Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Sep 12, 2025

When life feels most overwhelming, God lovingly prunes us—not to punish or limit us, but to free us from distractions, deepen our roots in Christ, and make us abundantly fruitful for His glory.

Pruned for His Glory John 15:1-5 Why is it that when life feels most chaotic—our calendars full, our energy drained—we feel the least spiritually alive? What if the very chaos we’re resisting is what God is pruning to make room for real growth? We look across life’s horizon and see endless ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Ruled By Peace, Anchored In Christ - Colossians 3:15 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Nov 22, 2024

Peace is one of life’s most sought-after treasures. The world offers temporary peace through distractions, possessions, or fleeting moments of calm. Embrace the peace of Christ as the ruling force in your heart, allowing His presence to transform every part of your life.

Ruled by Peace, Anchored in Christ - Colossians 3:15 Main Idea: Embrace the peace of Christ as the ruling force in your heart, allowing His presence to transform every part of your life. Introduction Peace is one of life’s most sought-after treasures. The world offers temporary peace through ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15, Colossians 1:20, John 14:27, Romans 12:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, John 17:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Evangelism Reflects Courage In Our Christian Walk Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Oct 8, 2006

When we evangelize to the world around us it reveals our COURAGE in Christ!

Sermon Series: Living a Life of Evangelism Sermon Title: Evangelism Reflects Courage in our Christian Walk (Consistency, Communication) Sermon Text:: Acts 5:19-21, 2 Tim 1:6-9; 2:14-17a; 4:1-5 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:19-21

Denomination: Baptist

God, What's Your Name? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 23, 2021

Moses didn't want to go to Egypt. But why would he bring up the issue of what God's name was, and what can God's answer to Moses mean to us?

A woman was trying to cash her husband’s paycheck when she realized that her husband, Mark, hadn’t signed it. So, she sent her four-year-old Chelsea upstairs to ‘get Daddy’s name on the back of the check.’ Her daughter came back, handed it to her mother, and said, “I knew his name so I did it ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:13-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Handle Anxiety And Worry

Contributed by Larry Moyer on Aug 5, 2009

God does not want us to worry. He’s given us biblical examples of his power and control, and He’s even volunteered to handle things for us. This message explains how we can avoid the "What If" syndrome and leave the worrying to God.

Medical doctors estimate that more than 25% of their patients are what they have called the "worried well." Doctors spend a great chunk of time examining people who are not sick. They are only worried. Worry is the diet of our day. We are plagued by that "What if?" problem. What if my car was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What's Next?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

Now I realize that whenever the subject of death comes up, many people try to avoid discussing it, reluctant even to think about it. But not all people are that way.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2016) TEXT: Revelation 21; Psalms 90:10 A. Have you ever tried to picture what it will be like right after you die? After you breathe your last breath? After you heart beats its last beat? What do you think ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thy Will Be Done: By Any Means Necessary? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 16, 2001

To pray for the will of God to be done in the aftermath of the terror of Sept. 11 is to see that the will of God and the ways of God must always be joined; to avoid sinking to the level of the terrorists; and to repent of little faith and recommmit to the

A number of years ago, a poet penned poignant words as he saw the beginning of the end for the greatest nation of his day. He saw that the far-flung influence his country had thrown over much of the world could no longer be held. The people who had felt pressed by it were demanding their own ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Resisting Temptation Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Mar 26, 2007

Temptation is defined as. “something that seduces or has the quality to seduce; the desire to do or have something you know you should avoid; the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire.

NEW THINKING FOR A NEW YEAR Resisting Temptation Genesis 3:1-7 Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ’You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Temptations Of Christ

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Feb 24, 2007

And chasing temptation for too long, too far, and too low into enemy territory has caused the downfall of many good people. So how can we avoid it?

DC 25-02-07 Introduction Story: Manfred, Freiherr von Richthofen, the famous German First World War fighter pilot was better known as the Red Baron -because he flew a distinctive a red Fokker aircraft. He shot down more enemy combat planes than any ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

Do Not Put Out The Spirit's Fire

Contributed by Ewen Huffman on Sep 21, 2006

How do we avoid putting out the fire of God’s Spirit or our spirit and being thrown off track by things life and christians put our way?!

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. 1 Thess 5:19, (v12-28) WBC 24.09.06pm Introduction: Joke/Ill: a man has been so touched by the HS that his dog can walk on water! Has a friend he wants to convince about this, so takes him to the beech and as they walk he throws the stick for the dog into the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Denomination: Baptist