Sermons on background material:

The Courage Of Joseph Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Nov 3, 2008

Today, our Scripture tells of the third major party to the incarnation and his response to it. It is a story of courage that is told every Christmas season. But it is also a story we often miss because this hero of the story is usually in the background.

The Courage of Joseph Matthew 1:18-25 

Every day for the first 10 months after Katrina, I would drive home on I-10 and there was an indelible image which would strike me. On a billboard just before I got off on my exit was the image of a female New Orleans police office submerged in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Methodist

God Doesn't Play Favorites

Contributed by Monte Brown on Jan 13, 2010

When anyone walks into this church they must feel like the only one who is getting honored is Jesus Christ and no matter what background that person is from they will respect the fact that God is center focus in his church and not people.

God Doesn’t Play Favorites James 2:1-13 Monte T. Brown August 21, 2005 Sunday Morning First Baptist Riverton Introduction Shortly after the close of the Civil War, a former slave entered a fashionable church in Richmond, one Sunday morning at the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Cross Purposes 3: Mercy And Justice Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Dec 13, 2019

Why can't God ignore or excuse sin? Sacrifice of atonement (OT background). Righteousness through faith. God is "just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

CROSS PURPOSES 3: Mercy and Justice Crosses are everywhere: Hanging on chains around people’s necks. Tattooed on people’s bodies. Surrounded by artificial flowers along the side of the road, where an accidental death occurred. Lined up in cemeteries, or on grave markers. Towering over churches, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:9-26, Leviticus 1:3-9, Hebrews 10:1-10, 1 John 2:1-2

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Day Of New Beginnings

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 18, 2019

God is drawing people to Himself all the time from all kinds of backgrounds. In this sermon, we review the conversion stories of several famous people, and then look at the stories of two conversions in the Bible. If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation!

A. Welcome to Friend Day. 1. Every year when Friend Day arrives, I get really excited, because I know that Friend Day is often a day of new beginnings. 2. We have seen many people over the years who experience a new beginning with God on or because of Friend Day. 3. Maybe today is your ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:16, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding God's Strength

Contributed by David Henderson on Oct 27, 2020

The setting for the message this morning is found in one of the highlights of the ministry of Jesus. His ministry had its share of highs and lows but this was definitely one of his finer moments. In the background, Jesus had just gone through Galilee…

Finding God’s Strength Matthew 5:5 and 11:28-30 The setting for the message this morning is found in one of the highlights of the ministry of Jesus. His ministry had its share of highs and lows but this was definitely one of his finer moments. In the background, Jesus had just gone through ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5, Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Destruction Of Sodom And Gomorrah Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on May 27, 2022

Here is the famous story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even those with no bible background know what we are talking about when we mention the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is the infamous fire and brimstone judgement of God passage.

We look at the life of Abraham. His call to leave his land and family and the promise he received. He has been waiting almost 25 years for the fulfillment of that promise. Abraham is promised that Sarah at the age of 90 will give birth to Isaac within the year. Now there is another turn in the life ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:16-33, Genesis 19:1-29

Denomination: Baptist

Transformed! Series

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Feb 17, 2023

From the background of Free Methodist Doctrine (Wesleyan-Arminian), we are called to be "transfigured" as Jesus by allowing the Holy Spirit to change us from the "inside-out" to live a holy and sanctified life.

IT IS CLEAR FROM SCRIPTURE THAT THE CHURCH IS OF GOD AND FOR PEOPLE. THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF THE CHURCH IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FREE MEHTODIST CHURCH STATES: “THE CHURCH IS THE ORGANIC, CORPORATE INSTRUMENT GOD HAS CHOSEN TO REMAKE PEOPLE AND SOCIETY. IT HAS A MISSION OF HOLY LOVE. THE CHURCH ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-7, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:22-24, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 5:48  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

Prayer And Revival

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Oct 29, 2023

This verse is often quoted in connection with various prayer campaigns, like National Day of Prayer and other times when we are called to seasons of prayer. We are familiar with this verse, but now let’s look at the background of this verse.

We know that prayer is the Christians vital breath of life. How is your prayer life? How long has it been since you really dwelt in the presence of God? It can be convicting to come to the realization we have drifted, and our prayer life is not what it once was. What can we do about it? The answer ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

Making The Kingdom Your Primary Concern

Contributed by Vinnie Cappetta on Apr 30, 2006

Ever wonder what should be your primary concern in life? Why does Jesus mix money/treasure/materialism with spiritual things like good deeds & prayer? Find out . . .

Making the Kingdom your Primary Concern Matthew 6: 19-34 Background info: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned, “Unless your righteousness exceeds the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom.” Jesus speaks of good deeds, prayer, and then as one preacher called it “The sermon on amount.” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Invites You To Become Involved Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 7, 2004

The story of Philemon and Onesimus, presented as an imaginative story, shows how God called Paul to become involved as a mediator, Philemon to become involved in real church work, and Onesimus to become involved in overcoming his background to become usef

The new day greeted his eyes early. He stretched and shook off the sleep, but then, remembering why he had wanted to get up at the crack of dawn, Philemon jumped out of bed and began his day’s duties. His first task was to open his window and turn his gaze toward the rising sun, offering his ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

Honoring Our Magnificient Mothers

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 7, 2005

Paul’s letter to the ephesians centers on the mystery of the incarnation. With the mystery as the background Paul tell’s of right relationship with the family. Something all of the United Sates despartely needs to hear today. Honor your mother. 4 Reaso

Introduction: A lawyer met a housewife at a function, and asked her what she did. The housewife replied, “I am socializing two homo-sapiens in the dominant values of the Judeo-Christian tradition in order that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order into the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Temple Completed Series

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 29, 2010

Sermon 11 in the series (Ezra 6) We must refresh ourselves on the background of this chapter. You will remember that in 4:1-5, the locals began the opposition to temple construction. They first tried to cause the children of Israel to compromise. Remember

The Book of Ezra Study #11 (Ezra 6) The Temple Completed! OPEN: * 1. What do you think is valuable about studying history? 2. When have you discovered something about the past that has helped you in the present? • I remember when I learned that no great thing has ever been accomplished without ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 6:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

What Good Are You? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 3, 2011

Sometimes we feel like God has to completely change us in order to use us. Paul shows us that God takes the background, weaknesses, and even difficulties and uses them for His kingdom, if we let Him.

Who are you as a person? Who are you as a Christian? Do those two questions get two different responses from you? I think often times we think that when we come to Christ, Jesus basically considers us to be a blank slate that needs to be redrawn into the character of Jesus and that everything about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

How To Be Invisible Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 13, 2009

There is a way to do wonderful things for God and fade into the background. Our human nature wants to get the credit and be the focus. Our godly nature tells us otherwise. Learn how to be an active part of God’s plan by disappearing.

Where have we been so far? Chapter 5: rely and focus on the Lord, not on ourselves. Make, keep, and fix broken relationships as God fixed the broken relationship with us. Now in Chapter 6 we move to being an active part in focusing others on God—the source of life. What’s the use of having ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Compassion Of Yhwh Series

Contributed by Leonard Cook on Feb 19, 2013

YHWH as He really is. . . “a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 4:2b). Please see resources for background information on Jonah.

The Compassion of YHWH (Jonah 3:4-4:11) The City Believed 3:4-5 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. ...read more

Denomination: Holiness