Sermons on Better Substance:

It's All So Simple Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 19, 2009

To the issue of why bad things happen to good people, Eliphaz’s answer is spiritually lazy and assumes that we can earn God’s favor. Job’s response is to have faith in a God who will ultimately accept responsibility for sin.

You and I are about to enter the realm of mystery together. I know of nothing which challenges the mind and the imagination quite so much as the mystery of human suffering. Why men and women should have to suffer physically or emotionally – that has never been answered completely. In recent weeks ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Transformer Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 19, 2009

This powerful sermon touched a number of suffering people who were struggling with doubts about their own faith and God’s faithfulness.

OPEN: Over the past couple of years there has been a popular pair of movies called “Transformers.” The plot of these movies is that there are two types of aliens which have invaded Earth. The one alien force is called the “Decepticons”. These are an evil group of machines whose whole goal is to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:17-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Polishing Doorknobs

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 20, 2008

Is your ministry all polish?

Polishing Doorknobs There is an old saying when something is futile or a waste of time and money. Doing (whatever) is like polishing doorknobs on the Titanic. I am sure that when that ship went down it had nicely polished doorknobs but they didn’t stay that way long under water. The loss of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Built To Last

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 28, 2008

Easter

BUILT TO LAST (1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-58) During their vacation and while they were visiting Jerusalem, George's mother-in-law died. With death certificates in hand, George went to the American Consulate Office to make arrangements to send the body back to the States for proper burial. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Supersize Me!

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 12, 2006

In order to avoid the trap of self-indulgence, we need to: 1. Reject the spirit of entitlement and embrace a spirit of gratitude. 2. Reject excess and move toward moderation. 3. Reject the temporal and focus on the eternal.

Two years ago Morgan Spurlock created a film documentary called Supersize Me, which won several international film awards. It was based on an experiment to see what would happen if he would eat nothing but McDonald’s fast food for one month. He had three rules for this experiment: 1. During the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Denomination: Methodist

Do The Demons Know You?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 23, 2005

Do they laugh or fear when they hear your name?

Do The Demons Know You? People like to be associated with famous people because in some sense they feel they are famous. They like riding the coattails of people. I have been to meetings where someone of some stature was present and for a certain price you could have your picture taken with ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Purpose Driven Life

Contributed by Tommy Estes on Dec 28, 2005

What is your purpose in life?

Let me start off by asking you a question. What is the purpose for your life? When you wake up in the morning what is it that drives you; what is your purpose. When you get to work, or when you go to school, what is it that makes you want to excel? As you think about this question, certain pictures ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-15

Denomination: Baptist

Hedges

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Mar 8, 2009

What are your hedges made of and where did they come from and why? Do you have any? Did God tear yours down or build one for you?

You have often heard I and others pray a hedge of protection or thorns about folks but you may not have known where we get the idea from even though you might like it. One lady told me she loved it when I prayed that because it gave her great comfort. Hedges can be a great comfort depending on ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:9-11

Denomination: Baptist

Navigataing The Gray Areas

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jan 30, 2009

We are acting in love when we are considerate of the other person’s conscience.

Title: Navigating the Gray Areas Text: I Corinthians 8:1-13 Thesis: We are acting in love when we are considerate of the other person’s conscience. Introduction: In the Roman Catholic Church there is a list of the seven deadly sins: Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Wrath, and Sloth. In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Heavenly Cpr

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 28, 2010

1986, with an Assistant reading the part of Philemon. An imaginary set of letters between Paul and Philemon, emphasizing that a new relationship with Christ changes every human relationship, and calls for forgiveness and mutual support.

Among all the weighty theological treatises the apostle Paul wrote to the churches he had established, among all the complex sentences and profound thoughts and ponderous pronouncements, there is one little gem from the hand of the great apostle that is quite different. The little letter to ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

Sophomore Or Saint? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 10, 2008

We tend to use our limited knowledge to bludgeon others who do not know what we know or whose behavior does not match our standards; but we are called to be in Christ first and to love them, letting behavior flow from the relationship.

There is an old, corny story – and please don’t stop me if you have heard this one – a story about the young man who was the first in his family to go to college. In fact, he was the first in his small town to go to college. And so when he came home after his freshman year, he was the apple of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Hebrews: A Look At The Book.

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

Hebrews: A look at the book. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1-3. Ill: • A little boy asked his mum a question; • “Mum, where did I get my intelligence from?” • She replied; • “I guess you got it from your father because I still have mine!” Many Christians avoid the book ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-3

Denomination: Brethren

Christ Our Life Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 30, 2010

Christ our Life (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Reading: Philippians chapter 1 verses 3-11. Ill: Genie and ‘box of chocolates. • Wouldn’t it be great to be able wish away our problems. • To have instant solutions to the things you desire. • In this letter there are no instant solutions, there are no quick cures; • But there are some ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Brethren

Acquired Thru Faith-9(:4a)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on May 14, 2024

9 of 10. The apostle Peter informs those who are faithful in Christ, that they are amply supplied for godly living. God’s people are amply supplied for godly living thru their faith. But, ?What does Christian faith acquire for God’s people? A provision of God, acquired thru faith in Jesus, is...

ACQUIRED Thru FAITH-IX—2Peter 1:4(:1-4) Attention: Filling out an application for employment at my first job. •When I turned 15, I was legally allowed to work. I had been anxiously waiting for that day! •There was a new grocery store chain—‘Food World’—that was opening in the larger nearby town ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4, 2 Peter 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Living In The Kingdom Part 5 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Nov 6, 2021

In part 5 of this series we examine what Jesus said about our being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are to be a preserving influence in a dying world and a light in a world of darkness.

Living In The Kingdom 5 Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16; Colossians 4:6; Second Corinthians 4:6 This is part five of my series “Living in the Kingdom.” In the first four parts of this series, I covered what is known as the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-12. In those verses Jesus demonstrated how those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16, Colossians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 4:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational