Sermons on Bad Gifts:

Worship

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Dec 6, 2018

Of the three gifts the Magi brought to Jesus, Frankincense represented worship

A friend sent me a note that I originally sent out to the church more than 7 years ago. It reminded me of some things that deal directly with worship, trust and discipleship. It centers around an old dog – Chewy Lately I have been learning some neat lessons from our dog Chewy, who many of you have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:7-11, Exodus 30:34-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are There Multiple Variations Of God's Will?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jun 27, 2022

Human beings have tried to answer the reason 'why' God seemingly allows bad things to happen

Thanks to Adam and Eve, human life is full of struggles, sorrow, tragedy, and toil. It is tough to reconcile them with a God who is love, saves by His grace, and sustains with His mercy. Good and bad things happen to good and bad people - that is for sure. Human beings have tried to answer the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 115:3, Matthew 7:17-20, John 4:34, John 5:30, Romans 8:27-28, Psalm 40:8, John 6:28-40, Romans 12:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The People Of God: Laymen Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 12, 2011

What are the implications of God calling we who make up the church “saints?” How do saints relate together?

The People of God: Laymen (2 Corinthians 1: 1b-2) 1. A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside. The Pastor said to him, "You need to join the Army of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Church Of The New Testament - Part 7a Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Feb 15, 2018

Part 7A - Introduction to the functions in the first-century church and how the earliest Christians were empowered to perform them.

This 13-part series of classes has been many years in the making. About 25 years ago I began in earnest to examine the features, character and characteristics of the church as it existed in its earliest years. As I sometimes do, I kept my notes all along the way, and this series of classes is to a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, John 16:12-14, Ephesians 1:18-23, Ephesians 4:11-13, Romans 12:3-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

4 Lent A

Contributed by Roger Haugen on Mar 7, 2002

Dealing with the healing of a blind man Jesus confronts the bad theology of the Pharisees. Jesus speaks of love and healing in the face of legalism and rules.

4 Lent A John 9:1- 41 10 March, 2002 Rev. Roger Haugen Words, words, words! There is a long-standing university class exercise where you are to take a long piece of work and capture the meaning in a sentence or two. These 41 verses might be summed up as, “A man is healed, people found it hard ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Be Used Of God Series

Contributed by James Wallace on May 12, 2021

Incredibly, God can use our disabilities, as well as our abilities for His glory. A man born blind discovers this and it changes both his life and his destiny? How can God use you in a similar way?

Last week, in John 8, we saw how Jesus concluded his great and brutal debate with his avowed enemies, the Jewish religious leaders of his generation. He had begun the debate with the statement in the temple that He was the light of the world. He concluded it by making what I believe to be ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Bible Church

How Is Your Spiritual Memory?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Oct 30, 2025

Did you know our memory is a gift from God. We all like gifts but this is a wonderful gift God has given us. Just think about it, wouldn’t it be a terrible thing to live our entire life and when we die nobody remembers that we ever existed.

Memory is a GIFT FROM GOD!!! Illus: Dr. Odell Belger tells how that his youngest brother had died and he still is able to remember him and the good times they had together. He can still remember… • How he looked! • How he talked! • How he was the life of the party! • How he love to tell ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

One Of Those Days

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on May 9, 2010

Have you ever had "one of those days?" One of those days; when there was a hint that things were not going to go well? One of those days when one bad thing after another seems to hit you?

During our New Testament reading ... we heard a story concerning Paul's adventure ... in Greece. Paul and Silas were on a missionary journey ... in the area of Philippi ... and initially things seemed to be going ... pretty well. One day, however, ... things began to change. A certain woman, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Anglican

Purple Reign

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 8, 2012

The world may be filled with the rain of despair, but we are covered by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. We are covered by His Purple Reign. Updated November 2021.

For Those not Familiar with an Anglican Service there are 4 Scripture readings before the message is given. Today Scriptures were Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 and Luke 21:25-36 In a neighborhood ......in the city of Kabul, ...a child plays on the sidewalk outside of his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:20, Matthew 6:10, Romans 8:38-39, Philippians 2:10-11, 1 Corinthians 15:20-34, Revelation 21:4, Luke 21:25-36, Hebrews 13:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

It's About Time Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 23, 2016

The sermon is based on 1 Peter 4.1-11. In addition to receiving the gifts of salvation and the Spirit, God has given us the gift of TIME. As all of His gifts, we are to be good stewards and correctly use the time we have been given.

1. The Gift of Time See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 David Jeremiah observed: Almost everything in life is "stoppable." Even gravity can be suspended temporarily. But one part of life cannot be stopped ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blessed Is She Who Believed Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jul 17, 2021

This text reveals a promise that God would provide Mary with a very special gift within her womb, the gift of a son; but she would not be able to "unwrap" this gift until she submitted and believed the Lord’s promise to give it to her.

Christmas time is upon us. When asked to name something about Christmas many people will mention gifts or presents. It’s always exiting to receive a gift! Amen? This morning we are going to see how the Lord would provide Mary with a very special gift within her womb, the gift of a son. He ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-45

Denomination: Baptist

Debunking The Just World Theory

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Mar 24, 2019

Who do bad things happen to good people? There are no easy answers; yet Jesus teaches there is not always a direct link between misfortune and sin. And every calamity is a wake-up all for all of us.

Luke 13:1-9 Debunking the Just World Theory [Please contact me at kerry.n.haynes@gmail.com for sermon outline in Word.] In a “Calvin and Hobbes” comic strip sometime back, Calvin says to his dad, “Why can't I stay up late? You guys can!” Then with a wide-mouthed protest he declares, “IT'S ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9, Job 4:7, John 5:14, Romans 11:22

Denomination: Baptist

The Fruit Of Their Character Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Apr 17, 2025

The phrase "by their fruit you will recognize them" is a profound teaching of Jesus Christ,

The phrase "by their fruit you will recognize them" is a profound teaching of Jesus Christ, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 7:16-20). This simple yet powerful metaphor offers insight into the nature of true discipleship and the characteristics that distinguish those who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-20

Seeds Of The Mouth

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 21, 2014

This picture in Proverbs 18:20-21 of planting seeds in our lives from our mouths. We are given the choice of either planting bad seeds which planting bad seeds which produce poisonous fruit or good seeds which produce good fruit.

SEEDS OF THE MOUTH PROVERBS 18:20-21 ILLUSTRATION… Planting seeds with your mouth (p) As we begin our time in God’s word this morning, I’d like you to use your imagination to act out in your mind the Bible passage that we will be focusing on… so put on your imagination ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:20-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Avoiding The Ditch

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 2, 2021

We usually tend to think of stories having a good guy and a bad guy. The good guy is always the hero and the bad guy is always the villain. This story adds a third dimension that makes us uncomfortable which is the indifferent category. This sermon is about avoiding the pain of others.

AVOIDING THE DITCH (July 25, 2012) Text: Luke 10:30 -35 Luke 10:30-35  Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  (31)  Now by chance a priest was going ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:30-35

Denomination: United Methodist