Sermons on Bystanders:

Getting Real With Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 5, 2003

Hostility comes from the obsessed, self-absorbed heart, and often offers permission for random acts of violence. Jesus got real with His enemies by naming their madness but trusting His own defense to God.

Stress strengthens. That is a physical fact. It is also a spiritual truth. Stress strengthens us. When we face opposition, we grow. When we deal with differences, we become stronger than we were. Strange as it may seem, and unpleasant though it may feel, give thanks when you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:43-50

Denomination: Baptist

Ready Or Not, Here I Come Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 5, 2003

Living in the Kingdom of God. The Spirit creates the Kingdom by convicting, leading into truth, and glorifying Jesus

Ready Or Not, Here I Come: Spirit and the World John 16:5-15 May 31/Jun 1, 2003 Intro: It is quite something to belong to a kingdom. It provides you with a sense of security, identity, belonging, and recognition. A good kingdom provides for its people – it protects them, ...read more

Scripture: John 16:5-15, Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Baptist

The Walk Of Victory Series

Contributed by Larry Thompson on Jul 4, 2003

The key to the Christian life is to live in victory and the key to victory is Looking to Jesus. This message instructs the believer how to look to Christ in appropriating the victory.

THE FORWARD WALK – PART THREE “THE WALK OF VICTORY – LOOK TO JESUS!” HEBREWS 12:1-2 - ©LARRY L. THOMPSON (2003) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

How Do I Accept Forgiveness

Contributed by Jim Kane on Aug 31, 2004

Questions about forgiveness and growth in grace are answered.

(As I begin this morning, I am letting you know that I will be making an invitation to come forward to the altar at the conclusion of the sermon.) In our text for this morning, many people are in a desperate place and only Jesus can truly save them. The woman who is dragged before Jesus and ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Church Of God

The Only Thing Constant Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Sep 17, 2003

Nehemiah, Pt. 3

THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IS CHANGE: FROM AMBITION TO ADVANCEMENT (NEHEMIAH 2:11-20) In the movie Braveheart about Scotland’s struggle for independence from the English at the turn of the 14th century, William Wallace attempted to persuade the Scottish nobles to discontinue their ties with the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Inside Connections And The Jewish Trial Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 31, 2003

Peter’s denial and the Jewish trial of Jesus opens our eyes to the nature of sinful mankind and society...and to God’s Sovereign Purposes which cannot be thwarted

Note: this is a bulletin insert that I included with the sermon. The actual sermon follows below it. Ed Inside Connections and The Jewish Trial of Jesus (Luke 22:54-65; John 18:12-27; Matt. 26:57-75; Mark 14:54-72) Have you ever noticed this verse about John sneaking Peter into the courtyard ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-65, John 18:12-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Passion

Contributed by Terry Cavanaugh on Mar 25, 2005

A message of the passion for the view point of a roman officer

The Passion Matthew 27:27-31 Then he (who was Pilate the Roman governor) released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-31

Denomination: Methodist

An Empty Frame

Contributed by Donald Tabberer on Jul 10, 2007

Christians must display a frame filled God if we are to prperly influence the world with God’s love.

"An Empty Frame" – Exodus 20:1-20 Sunday, July 8, 2007 In the lobby of the courthouse in Pulaski County, Kentucky there hangs a large Empty Frame… It isn’t there as a joke…It’s not a mistake either… It’s a testimony to what used to hang on this wall… The frame used to contain the Ten ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-20

Denomination: Methodist

The Way Of Jesus

Contributed by Tim Hedberg on Jul 19, 2007

Don’t let the past be the focus of your future.

The Way of Jesus Luke 9:51-62 June 24, 2007 On Thursday, Deb and I left Luke, Ben and Emma with my parents at the Oregon coast and took off to attend a portion of our denomination’s Annual Meeting in Portland. After the meeting was over, Deb and I got back in the car to head back to our campsite ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living God On The Outside Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 6, 2005

The Book of the Covenant is God’s Law applied to life. It shows us that in man’s sinful nature we try to exploit any system for our own gain. But if we would allow God’s life to live out from inside us, we would naturally love Him and love others - the h

Chapters 21 - 23 of Exodus are known as the Book of the Covenant. They are a series of laws that expand on the Ten Commandments. They are not an exhaustive list of behavior in any and all circumstances - but they gave the Israelites guidelines in how to treat each other and how to worship ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Getting Real With Your Enemies Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 10, 2007

Opposition actually helps us grow. Hostility is destructive not only of others, but also of one’s self; and it spreads without reason. Jesus named its absurdity and then left it in the hands of God. Montgomery Hills Baptist Church

Stress strengthens. That is a physical fact. It is also a spiritual truth. Stress strengthens. When we face opposition, we grow. When we deal with differences, we become stronger. Strange as it may sound, give thanks when you are opposed! For stress strengthens; enmity empowers; and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:43-50

Denomination: Baptist

Committing A G-Rated Marriage Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 22, 2006

My original premise for this sermon was "strong Christian marriages are built upon the commitment the Christian has to their marriage" - but I don’t believe that anymore... find out why.

OPEN: In our series of building a G-rated home in an R-rated world, one of the things we need to realize is that much of what we’ve come to believe about marriage has come from those who teach an “R-rated” view of how married people ought to think. God’s view of marriage is far different than this ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Can't We All Just Get Along? Series

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Feb 10, 2009

Euodia and Syntche will forever be remembered for not getting along in the church at Philippi. What did Paul have to say about Church members in conflict?

“WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?” To many of us the L. A. riots of several years ago were just a news story. A score of people were killed and several thousand were injured in the ensuing fights that erupted over a racially charged situation. The African-American community in L.A. correctly ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-3

Denomination: Mennonite

No Regrets

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 22, 2009

If we do not have support systems we risk losing strength and stability. Everyone needs support systems. How do you draw strength for the journey? If you don’t have a close spiritual advisor, mentor, friend, you may want to look for one.

I read a great little story this week. “In 1904 William Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school a millionaire. His parents gave him a trip around the world. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Only Thing Constant Is Change

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 28, 2008

Nehemiah, Pt. 3

THE ONLY THING CONSTANT IS CHANGE: FROM AMBITION TO ADVANCEMENT (NEHEMIAH 2:11-20) In the movie Braveheart about Scotland’s struggle for independence from the English at the turn of the 14th century, William Wallace attempted to persuade the Scottish nobles to discontinue their ties with the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:11-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible