Sermons on Barrier:

Christian Compassion Risks Others' Criticism

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 10, 2009

To be an effective and compassionate church, we must risk the criticism of those who would like us to do church within our old confines. But not to take risks may cause our best to leave us. This is a time to work for peace, family life, community.

“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun; and makes gaps even two can pass abreast.” "Something there is that doesn’t love a wall …” So speaks the poet Robert Frost, reflecting on the ravages of a New ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Pride And Prejudice Series

Contributed by David Heflin on Jan 27, 2009

This is a sermon I used for Mother’s Day about the Syrian Phoencian woman and her incredible encounter with Jesus

Pride and Prejudice Mark 7:24-30 5/11/08 (Mother’s Day) PSCOC Intro: 41/41 cent stamps. I went into the post office on Friday to mail off some fundraising letters. I needed 41 stamps. So, I asked the cashier for 41 stamps. She thought I had asked if they had 41 cent stamps, which of course, is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Battle Before The Breakthrough

Contributed by Pastor Dre on Apr 14, 2014

Here is a sermon encouraging the Christian to keep on pressing even in the midst of the battle. The battle that we are going through is a set up for our breakthrough...

"The Battle before the Breakthrough" Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. This morning I would like to speak a message entitled "The Battle before the Breakthrough." Great Military ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Denomination: Pentecostal

The High Priest Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Aug 29, 2012

Today’s message is in some ways going to sound like last week’s in term’s of what our high priest has done. But I also want to make this very practical in terms of what Peter says in 1 Peter chapter 2 about the body of believers being a royal priesthood.

The first thing I want to do is debunk the traditional idea of priests in the Church. In the Catholic tradition there is a basic holding to the tradition of the Old Testament. Priests in the Old Testament were very exclusive, and could only come from the family of Aaron and the tribe of Levi. There ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-22

Breaking Down The Walls

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 8, 2019

Just as the Apostle Paul had to deal with separations between Jewish and Gentile Christians in his day, we need to deal with separations between white and black churches (and many other ethnicities as well) today.

(This sermon was preached in 1997 and needs updated examples) There was once a subway car, almost empty, except for a Chinese man and a Jewish man, who sat in their seats, silently, holding their newspapers high as they read. Suddenly the Jewish man stood up, rolled up his newspaper, walked over ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

What To Do When You Are Placed In A Position Of Contention 

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Occasionally we all find ourselves in a position where we face a prickly difference of opinions with our peers. When Peter returned from visiting the house of the Gentile Cornelius, his Jewish friends cried out in anger, "You went to the uncircumcised men

Illustration:No great advance has been made in science, politics or religion without controversy. Lyman Beecher 1. Occasionally we all find ourselves in a position where we face a prickly difference of opinions with our peers. When Peter returned from visiting the house of the Gentile ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Salvation Is By Faith In Jesus Christ

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jun 15, 2007

We are called to pass on the baton of our faith as we received it. This sermon reminds us that salvation is by faith in Jesus and nothing else.

Sports days are upon us once again at our local schools and I had a sense of “been here before” when I was watching my son Matthew practising his sprinting and his baton changing in the relay races at the Junior School this week. Some of the baton changes were smooth and effective, others were slow ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:15-21

Denomination: Anglican

The Wind Of The Spirit

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jun 12, 2003

ANy one brought up in the Jewish tradition knows its natural to compare the Spirt with the wind. Jesus used a ready illistration the night he spoke to Nicodemus.

John 3:8 Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” For anyone brought up in the Jeswish tradition it is natural to compare the Spirit with the wind. Ruach can mean 1) Wind: The desert wind ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Your Breakthrough

Contributed by Craig Benner on Jul 31, 2013

The Philistines were a reoccurring enemy of Israel. They would not give up easily. We have enemies who are out to destroy us. If we are faithful to continue to go to the right source, then our

What a Breakthrough will Really Do. Baal Perazim Like an electronic Mario Bros. game, trying to break through to the next level, only to find out that in a little while you are repeating the same process. David has just recently became king. He has not even had a good honeymoon in his new ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 14:8-17, 2 Samuel 5:17-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

My Church Expectations Lesson 6 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Oct 19, 2018

My church expectations

A. INTRODUCTION “So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow (new churches)” (Acts 9:31, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:31, John 20:21

Denomination: Baptist

Desperation That Breaks Through Resistance

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 18, 2025

Desperation is often seen as a last resort, but in the life of a believer, it can be the catalyst for divine breakthrough. When we reach a point where all human efforts fail, desperation drives us to seek God with intensity and faith.

DESPERATION THAT BREAKS THROUGH RESISTANCE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Genesis 32:24-30 Supporting Texts: Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:1-7, Matthew 15:21-28, Psalm 34:6 INTRODUCTION: Desperation is often seen as a last resort, but in the life of a believer, it can be the catalyst for divine ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:24-30

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Living The Life Of A True Neighbour

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jun 19, 2025

True Christianity is measured not only by our devotion to God but by how we treat others.

LIVING THE LIFE OF A TRUE NEIGHBOUR By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Luke 10:25-37 Supporting Texts: Matthew 22:36-40, 1 John 4:20-21, Galatians 6:2, Romans 13:10, Proverbs 3:27 INTRODUCTION: One of the most profound parables of Jesus is found in Luke 10:25–37. A lawyer asks a question to test ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Assembly Of God

One Man's Act Of Righteousness

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

Short message during virus shut down time. This was shared by text and other media.

8 March 2020 Sermon Title: One man's act of righteousness Scripture Text: Romans 5:12-19 ILLUSTRATION: FREEDOM The divine "scheme of things," as Christianity understands it, is at once extremely elastic and extremely rigid. It is elastic, in that it includes a large measure of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

No More Stones!

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Apr 18, 2022

It seems like sometimes all we can see are the obstacles in our path. But the resurrection proves that God has either removed or redeemed all those stones in our way!

Doomscrolling An old human habit that has a new name. In the 21st c., it’s endlessly scrolling social media, news sites for information. Not a new habit. Think of 24 hour news/weather stations. Before that, scanning the whole newspaper or magazine for information. It’s not new, but technology has ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-4, Matthew 28:1-5, 1 Peter 1:21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Church #4 A Spiritual Report Card Series

Contributed by Robert Malcolm on Jan 8, 2025

Progress and accountability need to be tracked in every aspect of our lives including our spiritual lives. We all need a Spiritual Report Card

~ Intro: Little Billy, a Jewish boy, who was failing his math lessons. His parents tried everything they could to get him to do better in this subject, but he continued to fail. At last, they took him down to the Catholic School, and enrolled him. After the first day, Billy came home and went up to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist