Sermons on Avoiding Distractions:

Go! And Write God’s Word On Your Heart - Deuteronomy 11:18 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 18, 2025

We live in a world drowning in words. Words flood our phones, our televisions, our conversations. Politicians promise with words, advertisers manipulate with words, social media distracts with words. Yet in all this noise, there is one Word that matters above all others—the Word of God.

Go! And Write God’s Word on Your Heart - Deuteronomy 11:18 Introduction: Words That Shape a Life We live in a world drowning in words. Words flood our phones, our televisions, our conversations. Politicians promise with words, advertisers manipulate with words, social media distracts with words. ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:18, Psalm 119:11, James 1:22, Micah 6:8, Romans 12:2, John 1:14, Romans 10:9, Acts 16:31, Colossians 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

“when Prayers Go Unanswered”

Contributed by Mark Roper on Jan 9, 2010

No matter how difficult our lives may be, God has not left us alone. Often, when things are difficult and God seems silent, it is our cue to come away from life’s distractions so that we can synchronize ourselves with God again.

“When Prayers Go Unanswered” Habakkuk 1:2 NIV 2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? At times it may seem that God has hides His face from us, when we don’t receive an immediate answer to our prayers. We pray, we pour our hearts out to God, we ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:2

Denomination: Church Of God

Cry Out To Jesus Series

Contributed by Adam Weber on Mar 17, 2017

There will be times that we take our eyes off of Jesus, and we’ll get distracted by fear. But what matters isn’t whether we or not we take our eyes off Jesus, but what happens when we do. Do we stay there and just drown in the waves?

Well… I just wanna welcome everyone here to Embrace… at all of our campuses…. and wherever you’re joining us from… we’re so thrilled that you’re with us today… My name is Adam… I’m one of the pastors here… and as always…we are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-31, Psalm 139:8-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Almost Persuaded To Be A Christian

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 20, 2020

Paul preached to Agrippa a gospel that would save and deliver, but he became only an "almost Chistian." What is an "almost Christian?" How can we avoid this worldview? How to get divine life.

ALMOST PERSUADED TO BE A CHRISTIAN ACTS 26:28 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: EFFECTS OF SIN 1. A reporter interviewed a grizzled old man who was sitting out behind his farmhouse. “Sir, I’d like to know the secret of your long life.” 2. “Ok. I drink a pint of whiskey every day, smoke 35 cigarettes, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:19-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Prophetic Utterances Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 12, 2021

Christians are listening to prophecies on the Internet and must be taught how to test those messages. This teaching instructs Christians on how to operate in the prophetic and how to evaluate prophetic ministry so that we receive the benefits and avoid the pitfalls associated with it.

Our subject today is prophetic utterances. How do we benefit from prophecies given in the Body of Christ, and how do we avoid the pitfalls that people often fall into in the exercise and application of this gift? The gift of prophecy is a powerful tool in the church today. But powerful tools must ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, Matthew 24:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Ephesians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 1 Samuel 1:14, Deuteronomy 18:20, Acts 16:1-10, 2 Peter 1:19, Acts 21:1-14, Matthew 10:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Reverent Worship - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 19, 2025

Why does Scripture speak of making vows to God? What is the purpose of making a vow? How does it help in your walk with the Lord? When should we make a vow, and when should we avoid making a vow?

Ecclesiastes 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience (lit. draw near to listen) than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. 2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. (lit. do not be ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

To Boldly Go Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 30, 2023

Our God doesn't believe in "No-Win Scenarios"... and neither should we. How do we avoid getting caught in the trap of believing God can't win the day?

Back in the 1960s, there was a ground-breaking show that premiered on NBC, and the opening monologue was spoken by Captain James T. Kirk every week: “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christ, Our Advocate 1 John 2:1 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 25, 2024

In 1 John 2:1. The apostle John speaks directly to the hearts of believers, addressing us tenderly as “my dear children.” He writes with a deep pastoral concern to encourage us to live holy lives, avoiding sin.

Christ, Our Advocate 1 John 2:1 1 John 2:1 (NLT) – “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” Introduction Today we explore the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1, 1 Peter 1:15-16, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 3:23, Hebrews 4:15-16, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:1, Romans 12:2, 1 John 1:9, John 1:29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

Athaliah

Contributed by Rickey Shive on Jan 22, 2002

Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel of Israel and the wife of Jehoram, king of Judah. Our goal in this study is to better understand the mistakes this wicked queen made, learn from her and thus avoid similar mistakes in our walk with God.

Athaliah (Ath-uh-LIE-ah) was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel of Israel and the wife of Jehoram (Jih-hoh-ruhm), king of Judah. She followed the path set by her parents and influenced her husband to "walk in the ways of the kings of Israel" (2 Kings 8:18) and worship Baal. Athaliah proved to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 11:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Patient! Stand Firm! Series

Contributed by Dan Jackson on Sep 28, 2005

12th in series on James. Here, he tells us how to respond correctly when we are treated unjustly. He suggests four specific attitudes - two we should adopt and two we should avoid.

How do you cope with the pressure of hurtful situations? In a former pastorate I had a week when I met one day with a young father whose family has disintegrated through a divorce he did not want. On that Monday I listened to the director of the local child treatment center tell of their work with ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-12

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

Who Am I More Important Than? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 30, 2011

Divisions are never good in the body of Christ. But when the divisions take place over a celebration of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, things get serious real fast. In this lesson, we learn about avoiding the things that separate us, and clinging to that

Among the many problems of the Corinthian church was division. Earlier in the letter he talked about division around choosing one leader over another. In the second half of chapter 11 he focuses on another type of division that was splitting the Corinthian church: the division of rich and poor and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-35

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lesson 6: Get Over Yourself - Get On With The Work Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 18, 2010

One of the greatest blessings is when God works through you. One of the greatest dangers is when God works through you. Learn how to avoid the penetrating gaze of the Lord and simply rejoice in His work through you.

What’s the hottest thing you’ve ever been close to? I remember once being near a log deck fire that was so hot that it was melting the asphalt under my feet. I’ve seen the effects of intense heat and fire reduce a full house to a pile of ashes and a chimney, with things melted in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:5-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Living As Children Of Light Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 27, 2011

Using 2 video clips I begin by encouraging people to turn to Christ if they haven’t yet. Then I unpack this passage as to what it means to live as children of light, full of forgiveness, avoiding even a hint or a whiff of impurity.

(Note to the reader: I began this talk by showing a video called Ribbons, available from PremierTV2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9K86vcHOLI. It shows how Jesus took upon himself the penalty for sin and all that binds us; see 1 Peter 2: 24-25.) ‘[Jesus the Messiah] himself bore our sins in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-14

Denomination: Anglican