Sermons on Challenge The Dark:

Lessons For Modern-Day Sowers Of The Word

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 3, 2007

Most messages on this parable discuss it from the standpoint of the four soils. I want to look at it in terms of what it teaches us about doing ministry today. I find at least eight principles that both challenge and encourage us.

Lessons for Modern-Day Sowers of the Word Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23 The last few days I have been meditating on the famous parable of the seed and the sower. It is obviously important because is found in three different places in the gospels (with Jesus’ explanation in parenthesis): Matthew 13:3-9 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Hero, The Knight And The Good Samaritan: There's One Big Difference

Contributed by Philip Gill on Jul 13, 2007

From time to time we hear of many heroic actions of those who risk themselves to help others. These people are often called ’Good Samaritans’. This sermon explores Jesus’ challenge to act positively in the lives of the despised and rejected.

The hero, the knight, and the Good Samaritan: There’s one big difference. As our Gospel this morning we have heard a story that has seared its characters onto the consciousness of countless generations. Only recently we have had cause to use the term “Good Samaritan” in relation to the events of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Anglican

Is There Not A Cause? Series

Contributed by Dave Rajoon on Jan 19, 2007

There are giants stalking the land and many people are too afraid to take up the challenge to stand and fight. David faced a giant one day and while everyone cowered and his brothers berated him, David asked: "Is there not a Cause?"

BIG IDEA: Giants are stalking the land but the church seems to be burying its head in the sand. We must get up and fight because there is a cause. Introduction: David was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse. Three of his brothers served in Saul’s army. There names were Eliab who was the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:28-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lust And Envy Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

We are taught to cover up. We use Tide Sticks, plastic surgery, and White-Out. However, God always seems to call our dirt into the light! This revealing series challenges us to expose the filth in our lives.

“Dirt” Part 2 – Lust & Envy I. Introduction How did your homework go? I have heard some say that it was painful. Just shows us that the dirt is there and that it doesn’t want to go away easily. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons predicts: • 17% of Americans will have had cosmetic surgery ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Gluttony, Sloth, And Anger Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

We are taught to cover up. We use Tide Sticks, plastic surgery, and White-Out. However, God always seems to call our dirt into the light! This revealing series challenges us to expose the filth in our lives.

“Dirt” Part 3 – Gluttony, Sloth, and Anger I. Introduction How did your homework go? Did you count your blessings? Did you build safeguards for lust? We have been discussing the fact that we don’t like to have our dirt exposed. Now, I must admit that we don’t mind everyone else’s dirt ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:3-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

Vision 2010

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 16, 2009

In this New Year (2010) will we take the challenge to be humble, open to the Holy Spirit, have a repentant heart, a genuine hunger and thirst for God, pursue holiness, stay continually anointed and be of one mind and spirit within the Body of Christ.

Introduction: Something’s happening ... This last week I began reading a book by James Rutz. James wrote this book to make the Christian church aware that God is moving all across the world. His observations are a wake-up call to the American Christian and churches in America. Listen to some of his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Devotional Life Built On Bible Study Series

Contributed by Greg Addison on Jan 27, 2010

A christian must have a consistent, daily time of bible study. Scripture is the ksy foundation for our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. Why is this so? Paul effectively challenges Timothy to continue in the scriptures and teaches him

Devotional Life built on Bible Study II Timothy 3:10-16 A christian’s Devotional Life is made up of these 3 disciplines: Bible Study Prayer Meditation Any effective devotional life must include a consistent habit and pattern of studying the Word of God. Why must my devotional life ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Secret Of Breakthrough Faith

Contributed by Angel Caballero on Jun 6, 2009

If you think your faith is not enough for a miracle, see Jesus on the cross for you, and faith you need to face any situation or challenge s will come into your life. Just look too Jesus! The author and finisher of faith.

Introduction : We will study faith today through the binacular of GRACE and finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Through the years of being a Christian we heard teachings about faith which is not filtered by the finished work of Christ. Maybe some of us heard that in order to receive ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:25-34

Denomination: Church Of God

Three Simple Rules (Part Seven) Review And Conclusion Series

Contributed by Carl Greene on Aug 2, 2008

Based upon the book "Three Simple Rules" "A Wesley Way of Living" by Rueben P. Job. This is a review of what we’ve learned over the past six weeks of the series. It concludes with a though provoking, challenging question.

Three Simple Rules (Part Seven) Review & Conclusion For the past six weeks we’ve been exploring what it means to live by the “Three Simple Rules” as preached and practiced by John Wesley, as published in the United Methodist Book of Discipline, and explained and expanded in the book “Three Simple ...read more

Scripture: John 21:18-19

Denomination: Methodist

Like A Hand In A Glove

Contributed by Craig Cramblet on Sep 1, 2004

I read a devotional by Corrie ten Boom and it stirred my imagination. This is really a children’s message/object lesson but certainly could be expanded to challenge any group of believers to fully surrender to God’s work in their lives.

(For the object lesson, I found thin, inexpensive food service gloves in the church kitchen. If you want to expand the illustraion...the fragile, temporary nature of these gloves makes a point that a cotton or leather glove would not!) What is this? A glove. Actually, it is a specific kind of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:13, Philippians 2:13-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Kind Of Church Do You Want?

Contributed by David Seeley on Mar 5, 2004

There are many types of churches today. Some are doing great things for God. Others...well, they just need to be reminded of their purpose. This message is a challenge to churches of all denominations to refocus upon what God has called them to do.

What Kind of Church Do You Want? Mark 2:1-12 I. A Museum? A lot of old relics lying around—You can look, but don’t touch. Many of these relics have never been moved in 30 years. They last evangelist that tried to move them was overcome so badly with the dust that he had to evacuate the building. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Holiness

Jesus Brings The Truth To Light—part 1 Series

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Jul 27, 2008

Every had your position, your authority, your intelligence, or your worth challenged? How did you handle it? Did you see it as a “teachable moment”? Or was your reaction a bit more carnal than that?

Jesus Brings the Truth to Light—Part 1 Matthew 21:23-27 Every had your position, your authority, your intelligence, or your worth challenged? How did you handle it? Did you see it as a “teachable moment”? Or was your reaction a bit more carnal than that? Let me be the first to confess that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am Crossing Over To The Other Side 3of 7! Series

Contributed by Raphiel Manenge on Sep 3, 2005

An encouraging and assuaring sermon .In the Christian walk there are trials, temptations, tribulations, challenges and painful momements but we need to walk on.This we need to know so that we dont back off when Storm rises.

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” mark 4:37 Storms will rise! Friction is necessary for motion. Without it there way will be slippery. The Newton’s third law of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:37-41

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Family Of God Series

Contributed by Andrew Drummond on Mar 4, 2007

There is a whole society of people looking for somewhere to belong. It should come as no surprise that satan seeks to attack the home and tear apart the church, destroying that one safe place. We must take up the challenge and restore the family of God to

Listen to some of these statistics from the US bureau on Statistics about the 1990’s. Every 30 seconds there was a divorce in America. Every 4th child in America was born to an unwed mother. STD’s have reached medically defined epidemic proportions. 47% of all children in America now live in homes ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4-11

The Landmine Of Discouragement Series

Contributed by Ken Pettigrew on Mar 23, 2007

The power of encouragement in the daily life of the believer. When we are presented with a challenge, and everything we know has been taken from us, we must stand on faith and follow the direction of God, without the involvement of our emotions.

The Landmine of Discouragement I Samuel 30:1-6 David was distressed for the people spake of stoning him. There have been plenty of times in our lives where we are discouraged. We get distressed for various reasons. Sometimes it is because we are under attack. Other times it is because we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational