Sermons on Challenge The Dark:

Following Jesus To The Cross #2 - Drawing A Line In The Sand Series

Contributed by Mark Thornton on Nov 21, 2001

This is the second message in a series that looks at Jesus’ final few days on the way to the cross. This message looks at how Jesus’ confrontation of religious hypocrisy and his resulting challenge to his own followers.

INTRODUCTION There are many images that come to mind when we think of Easter. -- Easter Bunnies, Easter Baskets, Easter Eggs, etc -- Easter Holidays - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc. -- Easter Symbols -- Cross, Communion There is a Challenge We Face... -- Each time we experience ...read more

Denomination: *other

Seek Ye First At Thanksgiving

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 2, 2002

Where do your priorities lie? Originally written as a Thanksgiving sermon, most of this sermon would be appropriate to challenge people to examine their priorities (e.g. beginning of the year, Lent, etc).

<P>Thanksgiving Eve Service - November 22, 2000 A Money magazine article several years ago told of the life of a woman who saved 80% of everything she earned, investing it all in the stock market and turned it into a $22 million fortune within 50 years. It sounds like an incredible success story, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-33

Denomination: Lutheran

A Vow To Keep - Part One

Contributed by Larry Thompson on Dec 28, 2002

The challenge of a New Year, a New Day and a New You all begin with your commitment to make a vow to meet God daily in His word and build your spiritual intimacy with Christ.

A VOW TO KEEP – PART ONE A NEW YEAR, A NEW DAY, A NEW YOU JOSHUA 1:1-8 ©LARRY L. THOMPSON (2002) “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: [2] "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Cast Your Net Into Deeper Water

Contributed by Monte Robinson on Jul 20, 2003

Challenge your congregation to see God work in their lives by persevering, because when God does work in our lives, it empowers us to walk away from this life and follow the Son.

Let’s read Luke 5: 1-11 Pray Ill. Jake and the rain. I. Background A. This is the description of the first disciples being chosen by Jesus by the Lake of Gennesaret—Christians commonly refer to this lake as the Sea of Galilee. B. Some believe that this may have been a first encounter of Jesus and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 4:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

What Crime Did Jesus Commit? Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Mar 9, 2004

We see the context that sets up the reason Jesus was rejected by the Jews. He called for integrity, challenged their authority, claimed to be deity. We then move from the reasons to the purpose - our justification.

Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus asked His followers a question: “Who do you say I am?” It’s still the fundamental question of life. And the answer creates controversy. It’s one reason why Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ, is so controversial. This is a film that has had the audacity ...read more

Scripture: John 8:57-59

Denomination: Baptist

Honouring Fathers

Contributed by Victor Nazareth on Jun 16, 2002

A Father’s Day sermon to challenge men to be the servant leaders, the prophets, priests and kings in the homes. To be men of integrity, rising boldly in their anointing and God given role in the homes, church and workplace.

Introduction: Today is Father’s Day and a special time to pause and honour our fathers: these very special people in our lives and families. I want to use this opportunity to challenge men to be the servant leaders, the prophets, priests and kings in the homes. To be men of integrity, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:12

Denomination: Charismatic

Follies Of A Fool Series

Contributed by Tom Evans on Apr 1, 2002

THE RICH FOOL FAILED TO: RECOGNIZE GOD’S BLESSINGS, LIVE A LIFE OF GENEROSITY AND FOCUS HIS RESOURCES TOWARD HEAVEN. Jesus challenges us to avoid his foolish ways.

FOLLIES OF A FOOL HE DIDN’T EVEN HEAR THE WORDS JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO THE LARGE GATHERING, “I TELL YOU, WHOEVER ACKNOWLEDGES ME BEFORE MEN, THE SON OF MAN WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM BEFORE THE ANGELS OF GOD…” NO, HE HAD COME FOR ANOTHER REASON. CERTAINLY JESUS WOULD HELP HIM. HE PRESSED TOWARD ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, Deuteronomy 8:17

Denomination: Adventist

Recovering Your Life Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Jun 30, 2006

Life Management 101, part 3. This message examines Jesus’ use of time and challenges listeners to do what Jesus did with time - invest it, rather than spend it.

Recovering Your Life Life Management 101, part 3 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers July 2, 2006 Do you spend your time, or do you invest it? Okay, not a fair question. How do you use MOST of your time? Would you say you spend or invest most of your time? What’s the difference? When you use ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:32-38

Denomination: Free Methodist

Let Children Come To Jesus

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Oct 20, 2007

This event teaches us something about God, something about people and something about entry into God’s kingdom. The sermon challenges Christians in our attitudes towards children in particular.

Today’s Bible reading tells us something about God. It tells us something about people; and it tells us something about entry into God’s Kingdom. It tells us that some people will enter God’s kingdom and it tells us that some people will not enter God’s kingdom. In Luke’s gospel today’s Bible ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:15-17

Denomination: Anglican

Elijah The Man

Contributed by Colin Coombs on Feb 16, 2008

Elijah the Man- The Model - The Method. What an example and challenge for us. In a time when our nation seems to be so far away from God, here is a call to return to Biblcal standards.

Elijah The Man James 5:16b-18. 16b. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Cure For A Restless Soul

Contributed by Ronnie Knight on Feb 23, 2008

Every human being is seeking rest for the soul and Jesus offers it to all who will come to Him. This sermon should challenge each listener to come to Christ to find eternal and internal rest.

Subject: Eternal Peace Scripture: Matthew 11.28-29 Sermon: The Cure for a Restless Soul Scope: This sermon should challenge each listener to come to Christ to find eternal and internal rest. Summary: Every human being is seeking rest for the soul and Jesus offers it to all who will come to Him. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-29

Denomination: Baptist

Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep, Every Goodbye Ain't Gone

Contributed by Bishop William Bryant Wilmore, Jr. on May 3, 2007

A eulogy for a woman who died, who had several physical challenges, but was raised in the church and knew the Lord. The sermon can be easily adapted to fit any person who dies in Christ.

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Denomination: Baptist

Developing A Life Of Prayer

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Sep 22, 2006

Prayer is at the very core of spiritual life. Despite how many people speak of praying as a part of their lives… I believe that a life that lives out of a center of prayer is challenging for most of us.

Fires and earthquakes may serve to get our attention, taking our focus off the temporary things of this world… but the voice that we ultimately long for comes in quiet places. So it shouldn’t surprise us what we find the disciples of Jesus coming to him about in Matthew 6. They might have asked ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Discover God's Plan For Your Life Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 7, 2006

It is challenging for the Christian to see God’s hand in the everyday events of life and to discern God’s will, but there are steps that we can take to help us understand God’s will.

Psalm 139:1-16 “Discover God’s Plan for Your Life” INTRODUCTION Discovering God in the middle of life’s trials, or perilous times, is difficult. These are often times when God appears to be distant, inattentive and silent. Though our senses are wrong and none of these adjectives accurately ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Peter's Prejudices Purged Series

Contributed by Matthew Street on Oct 13, 2006

God challenges Peter’s prejudices in three ways firstly i. through a vision ii. through a personal encounter with Cornelius iii. By turning up himself in the person of the Holy Spirit.

How do we feel about those people who live at the other end of our road? How do we feel about those people who live on the new estate or come from the old village of Peasedown? How do we feel about people from Wellow, Midsomer Norton, Radstock or Combe Down. How do we feel about people from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:9-48

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican