Sermons on Battered Violin:

A Way Of Life

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 29, 2018

Observing and grieved by injustice and suffering, the prophet realizes that faith is a way of life and not an answer.

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:2-4; 3:17-19 “A Way of Life” INTRODUCTION Today we enter the season of Advent. It is a time of preparation—for two arrivals. We first are preparing for the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child. This first arrival happened over two thousand years ago. The second ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4, Habakkuk 2:2-4, Habakkuk 3:17-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Face Set Toward Jerusalem Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 28, 2019

Athanasius taught that God became human so that humans could be made divine. But even the baptized struggle with the profound negative impacts of original sins in our physical, emotional and spiritual lives.

Tuesday of the 26th Week in Course 2019 St. Therese of Liseaux The connection between our two Scripture readings today is stark. The prophet Zechariah, writing a couple of hundred years before Christ, is in a society dominated by Hellenist culture, polytheism and utter contempt for Biblical faith ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-56, Zechariah 8:21-23

Denomination: Catholic

Moving In The Opposite Spirit— 6th Sunday In Ordinary Time

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 27, 2019

A “Manual” for Escaping Our Vicious Cycles through non-violence is what the Sermon on the Mount has been called; to transform the adversary - and, in the process, to be transformed ourselves.

1). Mary Lou Kownacki relates the following tale: It seems that in a certain village a snake had bitten so many people that few dared to go into the fields. Finally, it was taken to a wise person who tamed the snake and persuaded it to practice the discipline of nonviolence. When the villagers ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38, 1 Samuel 26:1-23

Denomination: Catholic

Rooted In The Word

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Oct 11, 2013

Storms are a guaranteed reality of life. Are you ready for what will come?

This is a homily for a mid-week gathering called The Tuesday Feast (http://catm.ca/TuesdayFeast.html) at The Yonge Street Mission. Have you ever been down to Front Street in Toronto (Canada)? Did you know that’s just south of Front street used to be the shoreline of Lake Ontario. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Deceptive Looks

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 17, 2018

Jesus enters Jerusalem as the Messiah—King of the Jews. Kings hate other kings coming onto their turf. The king is crucified—a messenger of love and a victim of hate. In the process, what looks good turns out bad and what appears to be bad becomes good.

INTRODUCTION There is a Chinese story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields. One day, the horse escaped into the hills and when the farmer's neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, "Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?" A week later, the horse ...read more

Scripture: John 19

Denomination: Lutheran

The Overlooked Question Of Jesus

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Nov 4, 2022

Belief in God is fading from all parts of society. The idea of faith is all but ignored. Jesus told us it would be this way before He returns. Is your faith in the Lord in the same shape as the world?

" Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8, NASB). This question should be a clear signal for anyone with "eyes to see" that any idea of some last minute "national revival", which many well-meaning brethren would like ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:8, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 5:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

Alas For The City.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 7, 2022

Is it nothing to you?

ALAS FOR THE CITY. Lamentations 1:1-6. LAMENTATIONS 1:1. The opening word could be rendered, “Alas!” The translation “How” introduces an exclamation, but also has an element of questioning in it. We might say, “How come?” The verb “she sits” introduces “the city” as feminine, so perhaps we ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Being Optimistic In A Pessimistic World

Contributed by Ray Scott on Aug 7, 2003

We live in a negative world. The Bible is full of positives. In the parable of the Prodigal Son & the Elder Brother, we see both optimism & pessimism.

“Being Optimistic In A Pessimistic World” INTRODUCTION: There are many books on POSITIVE THINKING. The book “The Power Of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale was required reading when I was a student at Trinity College. There are all kinds of “helps” out there to help us maintain a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Is The Victory

Contributed by Mike Hullah on Feb 12, 2005

A sermon on faith including eight principles of faith drawn from Jericho’s fall.

Faith Is the Victory 1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance (the basis) of things ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:4-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is For Us

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 1, 2006

No matter what difficulty we face in life, God is always there to pick us up. He is for us.

GOD IS FOR US A. Son Games ILLUSTRATION: In 490 B.C., a great battle between two WORLD EMPIRES, the PERSIANS and GREEKS (the Athenians), was fought in the ancient town of Marathon, some 22 miles from the city of Athens. The battle was FIERCE, but resulted in the DEFEAT of the PERSIANS. A ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus-The Ever-Present Lord Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Sep 22, 2006

WHERE IS JESUS NOW? WHERE IS HIS PRESENCE? AND WHERE IS HE IN RELATIONSHIP TO YOU?

Let me begin with a question which you can respond to in the privacy of your own heart. WHERE IS JESUS NOW? WHERE IS HIS PRESENCE? AND WHERE IS HE IN RELATIONSHIP TO YOU? - Close by… shaping your life in constant ways? - Perhaps not so close or constant but a central figure in your overall ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Step With The Spirit Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Nov 23, 2007

I preach expository messages, and this is the fourteenth in my series on the Book of Acts.

In Step with the Spirit Acts 8:1b-40 August 12, 2007 Raised a Baptist, I’ve still got Baptist feet. In other words, you don’t want to see me try to dance. That doesn’t mean I don’t have rhythm; I’m okay there, but dance? No. I’ve never laughed as much in my life, I don’t think, as I did a few ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-40

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Available For Liberation

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 8, 2006

To be effective as peacemakers in a warlike time, we must have a healthy self-doubt, we must understand God’s concern for justice, and we must use what is available to us, no matter how small. Reworking for Montgomery Hills Baptist Church of a message do

There is an old saying here in Washington that nothing ever happens in August. Government people head off on vacation to the beaches, to the mountains, or to beautiful downtown Crawford, so there is nobody to make things happen. So, it is said, nothing ever happens in August. Of course that ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Keep Your Eyes On The Prize Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Aug 4, 2008

As Stephen Covey states, "begin with the end in mind"...doing this will assist us in finding God’s will and way for our lives.

Keeping My Eyes on the Prize Romans 6:15-23 * Some of the most famous words that the Apostle Paul ever penned are found in his letter to the church at Philippi. In chapter 3:13-14 he writes, “ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

Being Calm In Calamity

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jun 2, 2008

Christians may be calm when the world is in chaos.

Title: Being Calm in Calamity Text: Psalm 46 The Big Idea: Christians may be calm when the world is in chaos. Introduction Project Masada 1 Masada is the name of ancient fortifications in the Southern District of Israel on top of an isolated rock plateau. Masada is on the eastern edge of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational