Sermons on Bitter Times:

It's Time For A Spiritual Tune Up - Genesis 15 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Jul 24, 2021

We have a time in Abraham’s life where he really needs to kind of get it back together.

Well over the last several weeks we’ve been looking at the life of Abraham. We followed Him as he left Ur and he went up to Haran and then came back down to Palestine. We tagged along with him as he went into Egypt where he lied and not so many good things there happened. But then he came back to ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Is Good… All The Time! Reconnecting With The Father’s Unfailing Love

Contributed by Sebastien Richard on Jul 28, 2021

How can we get believers to believe the depth of the love of God? Is it even possible? Yes, it is! But we need a love overhaul in our understanding first...

By Sebastien Richard, Author and Bible teacher, Thriving on Purpose Ministries: https://www.thrivingonpurpose.com/ In his epistle to the Romans, Paul admonishes us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:18-19, Matthew 7:9-11, Jeremiah 29:11, James 1:13, 1 Corinthians 1:20, Romans 8:28, Romans 12:2, Luke 13:4-5, Matthew 17:14-18  (view more)  (view less)

It’s Time For A Spiritual Audit – Philippians 3:7-10 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Apr 2, 2022

What do we value? What do we strive for, day to day? And the interesting challenge here is that even when we value good things (e.g., loving our family, helping others), they don’t come close to who Jesus is.

A couple of weeks ago I was looking at my credit card balance, and it was much higher than I expected it to be. So I knew I needed to do a little audit there myself. I checked it out and realized that some of these charges aren't even mine. So I called the credit card company and we together ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It's Go Time (John 20:19-23) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Apr 14, 2022

Jesus gives us peace, and sends us out with the Holy Spirit, empowered to forgive sins.

Let's start by reading last week's passage, John 20:1-18: (1) Now, on the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene comes early in the morning, dark still being, to the tomb, and she sees the stone having been taken away from the tomb. (2) Then, she runs and she comes to Simon Peter and ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-23

Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time; Also, Valentine's Day

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Feb 12, 2021

Valentine welcomed them on arriving and wished them God-speed when they left.

In Rome, where St. Valentine lived and died as a martyr for Christ, at the one-mile marker on the Flaminian Way, was a basilica dedicated in his name. It was a "munifice ornate” (magnificently ornate). [source: Carola MacMurrough, The Catholic Valentine, Orate Fratres, January 1, 1941]. Love ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: Catholic

Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time- The Opening Up Of A Relational Space By Forgiveness.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 11, 2022

Forgiveness is a conditional gift offered that opens a relational space that expects a reciprocal response.

There used to be a sign in the Princeton University Book Store basement which said: "Love your enemies—it will drive them crazy." Clever but love of enemies and forgiving, commanded by Jesus in our Gospel this Sunday, is not hoping that the other person will change or trying to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38

Denomination: Catholic

It’s Time For Your Workout – Philippians 2:12-13 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Feb 2, 2022

Today I want to talk to you about a workout, a spiritual workout that we all need to be engaged in in our lives.

At Muscle Beach they've got this big platform area where guys have all these weights and they're working out. It's kind of entertaining because people who are good looking, you know, who really can lift weights and they're strong, and they do lift those weights, it’s fun to watch ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Twenty-Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B: The Fellowship Of The Rings

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 1, 2024

When I was a young boy; My mama said to me; “There’s only one girl in the world for you; And she probably lives in Tahiti.”

Marriage requires 4 types of "RINGS”:1 The Engagement Ring: The idea of Soulmates was first written about by a Greek playwright, the ancient equivalent of Hollywood.1 It’s a made-up romantic term meaning that there is only one person whom you are spiritually destined to marry. “Those ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-16

Denomination: Catholic

Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time; 30th Sunday B--Bartimaeus.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 23, 2021

We can all get stuck on the side of the road in different ways at different times in our lives.

The name, fame and shame of Bartimaeus. His name means Bar, meaning “the son of” Timaeus. Others point to the Aramaic or Hebrew word for "unclean" (‘bar-tem’), suggesting that BartimaeSus is "son of the unclean." In reality both names fit because Bartimaeus was a poor ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Catholic

End Time Christians Must Hunger For God's Word Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Mar 17, 2021

And to be honest, I have heard preachers throw around the term “we must have a hunger for God’s Word”. But what does that really mean?

Introduction The Bible tells us that Enoch walked with God; the Bible tells us that Noah walked with God. These walks with God were more God talks- where God talked to them, and these men took to heart what God was telling them. We know that to be the case because Enoch as result of those walks ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 15:16

Denomination: Baptist

Nineteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C - Parable Of The Supervising Servant

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 8, 2025

Jesus is coming for you when he is ready, not when you get ready.

Our Gospel parable today of the Supervising Servant tells us that everybody has a day when we will be judged immediately after death, but the day and time is unspecified, and so Jesus is giving a series of admonitions saying to be prepared and vigilant. Jesus probably delivered the parable as a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:32-48

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Divine Passives

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 3, 2025

How? By (1) being small; (2) daily fervent prayer (3) and knowing that God’s grace precedes and enables our good works, the (4) fourth is tapping into the “fulfillment formula” of God’s sovereignty by God’s divine passives.

Walking or moving in the Opposite Spirit is a teaching from Saint Ignatius of Loyola, [Agere contra, Latin “to act against"]. This spiritual practice involves purposefully acting in the opposite direction of your natural inclinations to produce a positive spiritual resolve and result. So, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:5-10

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time- Yes Means No And No Means Yes.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 21, 2023

Statistically, in St. Matthew’s Gospel, words and expressions which emphasize obedience, the doing of God’s will, are among his favorite.

Nikos Kazantzakis was a tortured Greek writer who was constantly haunted by God. He once wrote of an experience he had when he climbed Mount Athos to visit a monk at a monastery. “Father Makarios,” he said to the old monk, “I remember that in your younger days you wrestled with the devil. Do you ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:25-28, Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A- Wicked Tenants

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 27, 2023

In one word, what do you live for?

In 1962, when President John F. Kennedy was visiting the NASA Space center, he noticed a janitor sweeping the hallway and asked him, “What do you do around here?” To his surprise, the janitor replied, “Well, Mr. President, I’m helping to put a man on the moon.” This janitor found meaning in seeing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-43, Isaiah 5:1-7

Denomination: Catholic

Twenty-Ninth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A--Church And State

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 3, 2023

Otherwise, politics is about "bread and circuses."

Have you ever noticed that when you combine the two words, “THE” and “IRS,” it spells “THEIRS”? At one and the same time Jesus affirmed the rights of the state and freedom of conscience to worship and serve God. By allowing Caesar to collect taxes, Jesus opposes the Pharisees by acknowledging ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-21

Denomination: Catholic