Sermons on Bitter Fruit:

Great Joy For All The People!

Contributed by Glenn Newton on Dec 16, 2014

Advent series on Joy

Great Joy for all the People December 14, 2014 Luke 2 New International Version (NIV) The Birth of Jesus 2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene

The Stewardship Of Joy

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 17, 2016

Let's talk about the pleasures of joy and then the stewardship of joy (Material adapted from Robert C. Roberts' book, Spiritual Emotions, chapter 8 Joy, pgs. 114-129)

HoHum: From Max Lucado- “I have everything I need for joy!” Robert Reed said. His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can’t bathe himself. He can’t feed himself. He can’t brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. Strips of Velcro hold his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In Step With The Spirit Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 27, 2014

We live in opposition to the world, and we're engaged in an internal struggle between the old and new natures, a clash of opposites described as the fruit of 2 trees--the works of the flesh & the fruit of the Spirit.

Introduction: How’s your walk with the Lord? God doesn’t demand perfection, but He does expect some progress. If we’re walking in step with the Spirit, our lives will demonstrate an on-going devotion to God, His word, His church, and His people. Liberty or License, 16-18: ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26

Denomination: Congregational

Christian Service

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Jun 28, 2017

Sometimes our zeal for evangelism and for secular service is so great that we neglect the need for service within the Christian family.

Christian Service Illustration A young child was sitting in class listening to the teacher explain a government generated lesson on what service means. The teacher carefully explained that, from a public standpoint, service is an important and useful action, which is performed to meet a specific ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:10

Denomination: Christian Church

We Are All Slaves Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jun 30, 2020

As followers of Christ, we are slaves to holiness and grace.

WE ARE ALL SLAVES Text: Romans 6:15-23 Introduction 1. Illustration: In 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation was proclaimed in America. The word spread from Capitol Hill down into the valleys of Virginia, and the Carolinas, and evens into the plantations of Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:15-23

Denomination: Methodist

Warnings Against False Teachers Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on May 28, 2021

What does Jesus say about those who lead people astray?

Introduction This is my last sermon here at GCC. When the realization that I was going to resign and move on into other avenues of ministry came to me. One of the first areas I mulled over was what I would say during my last message. I had always considered this day to be much further ahead in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:39-49

Denomination: Brethren

Are You A Living Sacrifice

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 25, 2013

Does your life look like a sacrifice to self or Christ?

Rom 12:1-13:1 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Keep In Step With The Spirit Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 8, 2012

Self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit. It is self in control by the Spirit of God. We need to acknowledge our need of God's grace. We need to watch and pray.

In the book, The Three Edwards, Thomas Costain described the life of Raynald III, a 14-century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means "fat." After a violent quarrel, Raynald's younger brother Edward led a ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's Forming Process

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Sep 15, 2012

Spiritual maturity is a process and if we allow the Spirit of God to help us deal with our weaknesses, He will create something beautiful out of our lives and show us the true potential we have when we submit our lives to Him.

God’s Forming Process Ensuring Biblical success that lasts God is forming your tomorrow Whenever God gives you a word for the future, He will always give you a road map to the future. We are individually on a journey and God is taking us to a good ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:6

Denomination: Charismatic

Inner Strength Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jul 13, 2013

The Spirit provides Christians with an inner strength that enables us to endure with patience and joy.

Colossians 1:1-14 “Inner Strength” INTRODUCTION Our text today contains one of my favorite Bible verses. It was a passage of scripture that I learned when I participated in a weekend retreat in high school. The verse is Colossians 1:10, “To lead a life worthy of the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

The Parable Of The Pharisee And The Publican Series

Contributed by Ricardo Rodriguez on Nov 1, 2012

There is a necessary appropriate attitude in prayer so that it can be answered by God. The Pharisee belonged to a Jewish religious sect that believed that salvation came by obeying the letter of the law and precepts that they and their ancestors had esta

Ice Breaker: Can you describe the characteristics of a humble person? Scripture: Lucas 18:9-14. INTRODUCTION: There is a necessary appropriate attitude in prayer so that it can be answered by God. The Pharisee belonged to a Jewish religious sect that believed that salvation came by obeying ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Apostolic

The Disciple’s Discipline

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jan 3, 2018

The writer to the Hebrews revealed the rationale behind God’s discipline. What is the rationale behind accepting God’s discipline? 4 Factors in accepting God’s discipline are...

The DISCIPLE’s DISCIPLINE—Hebrews 12:4-11 Attention: Discipline A Butterfly: Pre-Emergent from cocoon... Little Bobby notices its struggle wants to help & so splits open the cocoon. The butterfly emerges with shriveled wings & swollen body. The restrictive cocoon & struggle are needed for pumping ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:4-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Real Deal Series

Contributed by Scott Jewell on Oct 19, 2016

People are tired of finding phony. How can we make sure they find the Real Deal?

We have been looking at the beginnings of the church. You may recall that in Acts 1 Jesus declared they would be His witnesses, “first in Jerusalem and Judea, then in Samaria and the ends of the world.” However, up until today’s passage, the church has remained in Jerusalem. It ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:4-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Spiritual Networth

Contributed by John Roy on Oct 26, 2016

Are we material people trapped in spiritual bodies, or spiritual people trapped in material bodies? This sermon asserts that we need to be concerned about our spiritual net worth, because we are spiritual people.

From time to time I suspect people review their finances. In those reviews, they may take a moment to calculate their net worth. Our financial net worth is the value of all assets, minus the total of all liabilities. Put another way, net worth is what is owned minus what is owed. The value of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: *other

What Is Your Calling? (Part 5) Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 10, 2016

Do you really have God’s call upon your life? If so, what has He disclosed to you? What are you doing about it? Have you consulted your mentor or pastor about it? Are you completely captivated by God?

Opening Illustration: Narrative of how my call came about. Introduction: In the focus text, Samuel lives in a precarious time when “the word of the LORD was rare” (verse 1). This is a continuation of the problem at the end of book of Judges where “all the people did what was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational