Sermons on Being Tested:

The Ultimate Wilderness Guide

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on May 15, 2023

Lack of belief is a sin because if you don't understand that reunion with God is the purpose of life, you will wind up lost. Literally.

I was 8 years old when my family moved to Brazil. Everything changed: language, food, customs, weather. And one of the things that I at least did not expect was the absence of school buses. If Dad couldn’t take us we had to take public transportation: a taxi, a tram, a bus. We usually took a city ...read more

Scripture: John 16:4-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Stephen The Martyr Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Mar 6, 2023

We need to be led by the Spirit and not resist his leading.

STEPHEN THE MARTYR Text: Acts 7:51-60 Introduction 1. Illustration: The author, Antonio Socci, claims the untold story of the 20th century is the murder of 45 million Christians, mostly at the hands of communist and Islamic regimes, and that massacres continue to this day. Drawing heavily from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

Denomination: Methodist

It's Always Something

Contributed by William Mouser on Feb 25, 2005

Trials and testings are standard fare for growing, mature Christians. This sermon exhorts to perseverance and rejoicing in trials and tests.

First Sunday in Lent 2005 Ecclesiasticus 2:1-23; 2 Cor. 6:1-10, Matt. 4:1-11 Those of us who are old enough will remember a character created by the late Gilda Radner when she was a regular comedienne on the television show Saturday Night Live. Among her many comic personalities was one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Keep The Faith Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 21, 2016

John’s moral test for genuine salvation consists of: 1) The Test Stated (1 John 2:3), 2) The Test Applied (1 John 2:4–5) and 3) The Test Exemplified (1 John 2:6)

Most of us don’t like tests. Tests conjure up bad images in our minds: that horrible math final exam your senior year in high school, that stress test the doctor has ordered, or that dreaded driver’s license test with a dour instructor in the car with you demanding that you display ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Denomination: Other

Being A Good Steward With All God Gives Us Series

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Oct 3, 2023

Everything given to us that is good comes from our heavenly Father

Series Faith without works is dead Being a good steward with all He has given us Luke 12:16-21 Good morning everyone- glad that you have joined with us today. WE began last week a series called “Faith without works is dead” I professed that we cannot earn our salvation. It is by the grace of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-21

Denomination: Nazarene

His Name Shall Be...immanuel - God With Us Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 17, 2013

An examination of the title "Immanuel," geared to help the audience fully understand the wonder that God is with us and to make decisions about their living that will reflect their belief that this is true every day.

Where was God? Where was God when terrorists struck on September 11? Where was God in the theater in Aurora? Where was God when Hurricane Sandy struck? A lot of people are living there. Someone left. Someone has died. Life has changed. Things that once were certain are now shaky. Where is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:22-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Think Sailing Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 8, 2011

In our Scripture today, Jesus is talking about being born again and the necessity of the Holy Spirit in your life. Paul was passing through Ephesus and he met these people who claimed to be believers. Well, the test to being a believer according to Jesus

Breathe: Think Sailing John 3:5-8 Dr. J. Henry Jowett, an English preacher, was talking to an old salt about sailing a ship and he asked him, "Will you explain to me the phenomenon of the wind?" The seaman replied, "I don’t know what you mean, sir." Jowett persisted, "Well, how do you ...read more

Scripture: John 3:5-8

Denomination: Methodist

Face To Face With Our Faith Series

Contributed by Rodney Coe on Feb 13, 2015

What is the purpose of trials and tests?

Face to Face with our Faith James 1:9-20 Max Lucado shares a story that happened in November 2004. A group of teenagers decided it would be fun to steal a car and go for a joyride. They find a credit card, get some groceries, a 20 lb turkey, and head to the video store. There they are caught on a ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-20

Denomination: Baptist

How To Share Your Faith Without Being A Jerk Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Mar 8, 2001

Four important principles for sharing our faith in Jesus without being obnoxious about it in a postmodern context.

(Note: This sermon was introduced with a drama called "Nail The Pagan). The reason we laugh  at satire is because there’s an element of truth in it. Sometimes in our enthusiasm to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others we can tend to come across like outreach commandos. We can come off ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:14-21, Romans 9:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Costly Obedience

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jul 2, 2017

Abraham faced the greatest trial of his life when God asked him to sacrifice the child of promise. From it, we learn that God tests our faith, grows our faith, and models sacrifice as the Heavenly Father gives his only Son for us.

Genesis 22:1-14 Costly Obedience Sometimes we go through such heavy trials in this life. And, if we’re honest, we may wonder, “God, why are you allowing this to happen to me? I’m trying to follow you best I can. Why, Lord?” Yet, perhaps the better question would be, “Lord, what do you want me to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14, James 1:2-3, Luke 14:26, Hebrews 11:19, Philippians 4:19, John 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Series

Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Aug 19, 2020

The test, treasure and truth of giving

GIVING I heard the story of a young man who was hired as a switchman on the tracks. As part of his training a supervisor took him to the area of the track that he would be working. The supervisor asked him if he understood the switch and knew how it worked and he assured him that he did. Then ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It Is What It Is

Contributed by Jeff Pearce on Mar 12, 2012

The Bible stands the test of time.

It is, what it is Intro: The bible 1: God’s word a) infallible b) the truth c) the answer to every and any question Point: Scripture is the language God speaks to his children, communication is always up and there is always a crystal clear signal. Many throughout history have tried to ...read more

Denomination: Other

Quail And Manna: Tokens Of His Presence.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 27, 2024

Deliverance and Discontentment, Provision and Testing.

QUAIL AND MANNA: TOKENS OF HIS PRESENCE. Exodus 16:2-7a. In this passage, we join the children of Israel just six weeks into their wilderness journey. The ten plagues, the first Passover, the deliverance out of Egypt, and the parting of the Red Sea all lay behind them. Yet now, here in the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Destined To Win

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Sep 14, 2015

God wants us to win at life and has made this possible through Jesus Christ.

July 26 Sermon for CATM - Destined to Win You were made to win. You are destined to win. God has given you everything you need in Christ in order to excel, to succeed at life, and for all eternity. This message is entitled “Destined to win”, and I hope that by the time we finish ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Genesis 22: When God Asks The Unthinkable - Which He Will.

Contributed by Tom Dixon on Sep 23, 2007

This amazing chapter brings insight into why God tests us and how God’s faithfulness always prevails.

Genesis 22: Sacrifice of Isaac When God Asks the Unthinkable – Which He Does! Review: • Abraham - 75 yrs old when he left Haran (Gen 12:4); • 11 years later: Still no son. Abe figures he has to take up the matter himself; fathers Ishmael at 86 yrs old (Gen 16:16); God says Ishmael is not the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible