Sermons on Avoiding Worldly Pursuits:

The Busy Church Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Dec 12, 2005

How does busyness hurt our ability to witness for Jesus? How does ministry sometimes change our focus from loving the Messiah? Learn how to avoid the trap of busyness from Jesus’ critique of the Ephesian church.

I do some writing professionally. I haven’t had much published - but it’s a craft I care about and work on seriously. One of the best tools a writer has is not spell check - but gut check. By that I mean a critique group. A critique group reads what you’ve written - gives you some things they like ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

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

Forgiveness

Contributed by Darrin Fish on Oct 3, 2009

When we learn what to avoid, when we forgive, We will not only set others free, but we will also set ourselves free, And then we can have the abundant life that Christ promised, both now and forever

2 weeks ago I said God loves us, • And because of that we can love ourselves, • And in turn we can love others. But in order for us to love others, we need to be able to Forgive others. • Because everyone of us has already been forgiven through Jesus. • When He became our sacrifice . . He paid ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19-21

Denomination: Christian Church

Anyone Got A Light?

Contributed by Todd Leupold on May 30, 2007

The only way to get out of or avoid the dark is to find a source of light. Where is yours? How reliable is it? How easy is it to find? Once you do, how bright is it? How long and wide is its’ beam?

ANYONE GOT A LIGHT? Sunday Morning, May 15, 2005 Rev. Todd G. Leupold INTRODUCTION: Light Bulb jokes Why joke so much about light bulbs? Why are these jokes so common and why do we keep laughing at them? Let me suggest it is because laughter helps to dissipate the deep, natural fear of the dark ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

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

Stepping Out Of Our Comfort Zone Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Mar 11, 2013

The people of Jerusalem eagerly desired to move away from the sins of their past and wanted to avoid another exile type experience, so they made a commitment to God, to surrender to His will and be obedient after they had confessed their sin and the sin o

Sermon Brief Date Written: March 8, 2013 Date Preached: March 10, 2013 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Building with God Sermon Title: Stepping Out Of Our Comfort Zone Sermon Text: Nehemiah 10-11 [ESV] 28“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 10:28-29

Denomination: Baptist

Drink Your Own Water Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Feb 10, 2015

This whole chapter contains the wisdom of God about marriage and avoiding the adultery trap. What’s the message? 1- Drink your own water 2- Rejoice in your wife/mate 3- Consider your ways

INTRO.- ILL.- I remember when I was only 17 or 18 years old and working as a stock clerk in a grocery store in Webb City, MO. I was stocking merchandise one day when suddenly the manager came to me and said, “Steve, follow me. I want you to witness something.” I could tell that he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 5:15-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Nowhere To Run

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Dec 2, 2014

Running from God is what most people do when they are avoiding God and do not like what He is telling them. Disobedience will cause us to run, but coming clean with God causes us to make wise decisions.

Nowhere to run Jonah chapter 1:1-1:7 This morning we will look at the familiar passage of the prophet Jonah running from God and what can happen if you choose to run from him. This passage will speak to each of us because all of us have attempted to run from God, hide from God and some are ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-7

Denomination: Nazarene

Mercy In Judgement

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Dec 14, 2014

A perspective on John 3: 14-21. Impatience is the symptom of not trusting God to fulfil his promises to us. As a result, we try to make our own plans, go our own way, and hopefully avoid the 'snakes' on the way.

John 3: 14-21 Mercy in Judgement Vs. 14, 15. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. The people of Israel, the chosen ones became impatient with God during their wilderness experience and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Undercover Jesus

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 21, 2013

Why is Jesus going incognito? Is it for fear of His life? No. Some might try to kill Him, but He could avoid that. His hour is not yet come. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Undercover Jesus John 7:10 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Undercover.html Why is Jesus going incognito? Is it for fear of His life? No. Some might try to kill Him, but He could avoid that. His hour is not yet come. Might some try to make Him their King? Yes. That hour is not yet come ...read more

Scripture: John 7:10

Denomination: Baptist

It's Ed Instead

Contributed by Craig Benner on Feb 8, 2012

Is distrust causing problems between you and other? You are not the first to have this problem. It almost caused a civil war after a great conquest had taken place. A closer look may help us to avoid a similiar situation.

It's Ed Instead Almost a Tragedy Assumption and Presumption Joshua 22:1-34 vs. 34 34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God. {Ed: that is, A witness} (KJV) 34 Y los hijos de Rubén y los hijos de Gad ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 21:1-34

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fortifying The Foundation Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 9, 2016

Jesus is the foundation of the Church. A unified church fortifies that foundation. How do we avoid causing division? How do we handle the divisive person? Check out these thoughts from our Family Minister, Scott Jewell.

(This is a sermon by our associate Scott Jewell concluding our sermon series "God's Blueprint For His Church") Jeff started this series a month ago telling us about an episode of “This Old House”. It was about a young couple who purchased a 1906 church building in San Francisco to ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:9-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Importance Of Love & Doctrine Series

Contributed by Othniel Andrew on Mar 16, 2018

There is a lot of confusion and confrontation when it comes to love and doctrine. Many argue that love is more important or love is enough! On the other hand, there are others who emphasize more on doctrine and avoid others who don't agree with them.

The Importance of Love & Doctrine ***************************** Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall ...read more

Denomination: Independent Bible

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

Choose Your Builder Wisely!

Contributed by Nishal Maharaj on Aug 14, 2022

We all know God has a plan for us but do we know the enemy also have a plan for you? A plan to devour you. In this sermon we'll see how to avoid enemy’s plan.

2 Peter 2:1 1 False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction. (GNT) This verse ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1, 1 Corinthians 3:4, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, Matthew 7:15, 1 Corinthians 3:22-23, 1 Peter 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God