Sermons on Challenges Are Positive:

Being Wholehearted

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Dec 17, 2006

God hates half-heartedness! The Shiloh Eagles football team has not had a winning season in 6 years. As the new season begins, the Eagles lose the first three games due to their half-heartedness and apathy. Coach Grant Taylor challenges the players to giv

Being Wholehearted Text: Malachi 1:6-14 God hates half-heartedness! The Shiloh Eagles football team has not had a winning season in 6 years. As the new season begins, the Eagles lose the first three games due to their half-heartedness and apathy. Coach Grant Taylor ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 1:6-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Let's Be Spiritually Fit !

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jan 20, 2006

A short homily for some elderly Christians living in sheltered accomodation. I don’t think I took on board the right amount of spiritual food over the Christmas and New Year period. God is challenging me (and perhaps you!) to be spiritually fit.

A lot can happen in a year! A lot can and will happen during this next year. As I look back over the last year I realise that so much has happened and so much has changed: †My two boys have started new schools. †My daughter has begun pre-school. †My sister got married. †My Granddad died. †My ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13-17

Denomination: Anglican

Our Seasons Of Grief

Contributed by Ryan Sato on Dec 12, 2004

Here we try to understand how David coped with the loss of his best friend Jonathan. Through David’s reactions we are challenged to embrace our seasons of grief in ways that would show that we are relying on God rather than relying on ourselves.

Opener: This week we reflect on David’s real life struggle with grief. With last week’s teaching on fear, and this week’s text focussed on the theme of grief it seems like we’re wading through some heavy waters aren’t we? But this is good for us. Because I firmly believe that we (as followers ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Internal Opposition/Conflict Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Feb 3, 2013

When serving God conflict and attack from the enemy is expected, what we do NOT expect is the enemy using our own to attack. We must meet this challenge of internal conflict and Nehemiah gives us a template on how this can be done... meet it with honesty

Sermon Brief Date Written: January 31, 2013 Date Preached: February 3, 2013 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Building with God Sermon Title: Internal Strife and Opposition Sermon Text: Nehemiah 5 [ESV] Introduction: Nehemiah had heard of the great trouble ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Mother's Day

Contributed by Bret Bone on May 14, 2012

Being a mother is difficult… a challenging responsibility that is defiantly underappreciated…it takes patience…and it takes commitment. I think that every mother learns at a young age… the importance of wearing many hats within the home. How many of

Slide #1 Video- Being Mom…skit guys Being a mother is difficult… a challenging responsibility that is defiantly underappreciated…it takes patience…and it takes commitment. I think that every mother learns at a young age… the importance of wearing many hats within ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Training In The Wilderness Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 6, 2012

I Kings 17 is a litany of the events that shaped and prepared Elijah for his greatest challenge (facing the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel). How did God use these circumstances to train Elijah... and how does God use events in our lives to train us?

OPEN: A junior high music teacher had just organized a band in her school. The principal was so proud of the music teacher's efforts that without consulting her, he decided that the band should give a concert for the entire school. The music teacher wasn't so sure her young musicians were ready ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Four Of A Kind Beats A Full House

Contributed by John Gaston on Jul 1, 2014

In poker, the odds determine the winning hand. This same scenario played out in Christ's life: four of a kind beat the challenge of a full house. Four friends were able, against all obstacles and hindrances, to get their friend to Jesus. May we love thus!

FOUR OF A KIND BEATS A FULL HOUSE Mark 2:1-2:12 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Speeding Stories 1. a. Kimberly Owen’s husband was driving home from work when he was pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt. Two days later, he received the same ticket from the same cop. b. The officer said, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Forgive And Forget Series

Contributed by Bret Hammond on Aug 5, 2014

“Forgive and forget.” Those words roll off our tongues with ease, but if we’re honest they don’t roll out of our hearts with ease. Forgiveness is a challenge and forgetting is downright impossible. But grace calls us to remember.

INTRODUCTION A. Jill Price is known as “The Woman Who Can’t Forget” – Hyper-thy-mesia –rare disorder 1. Means that she forgets nothing – every moment, every day – played out crystal clear 2. While such a memory might sound wonderful to us –trouble ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

Denomination: Christian Church

Moses 40 Days Of Fasting!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Nov 19, 2014

The mammoth crowd of around 6 lakh people taunted him, mocked at him, rebelled against him, disobeyed him, challenged him and envied him from the time Moses knew them; yet, here was Moses prostrating before the Lord interceding for their life!

Just blew my mind! Deuteronomy 9:24”You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you. 25 "So I lay prostrate before the LORD for these forty days and forty nights, because the LORD had said he would destroy you.” This scripture just blew my mind! The mammoth ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 9:20-24

Denomination: Pentecostal

Running To Win In The Race Of Faith

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

Writing the Corinthian believers who lived just 10 miles from the famous Isthmian Games, Paul challenged them not merely to join the race of faith but to be serious about it and run to win. God wants winning believers! In our present sports-crazed world,

Intro: Perhaps the most remarkable scene in sports is the marathoner’s last lap at the end of a tough 26-mile race. As the exhausted runner presses to the finish line, the crowd in the Olympic stadium cheers him on. With eyes focused on the finish line, the runner fully exerts whatever remaining ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: *other

Christ And His Church Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 17, 2011

The challenge for the church is not what we do when we call our Sunday morning huddle, but what we do when we break our huddle ... When Satan lines up against us, what difference does it make that we are Christians?

Opening illustration: The job of the church is not to impact the church, but to impact the world. It’s like a huddle in a football game. 67,000 people don’t pay $25.00 a ticket to watch the Titans huddle. What if you went to a Titans game and for 2½ hours you watched 11 men stand in a circle and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Long-Term Investments

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jul 31, 2016

We are really good at accumulating stuff. But how often do our possessions begin to possess us? Jesus warns us about the dangers of greed and calls us to be more than our net worth, challenging us to invest rather in godly pursuits.

Luke 12:13-21 Making Long-term Investments Wow! Today’s passage is a little shocking for those of us who enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in this greatest nation on God’s green earth. By world’s standards, we are the richest of the rich. We may not be one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, 1 Timothy 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Be Careful What You Wish For

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jun 24, 2015

Sometimes we leave God out of our desires and plans. We must always go to God for guidance, especially when we face life’s challenges. Our desire to imitate the world may seem righteous at first, but it will result in destruction.

How many of you have wanted something that someone else has? Well, you’re not alone. Envy and coveting have been around since the beginning of time. One of the Ten Commandments even says, “You shall not covet…” It’s too bad that the Israelites and the elders in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4-20

Denomination: Anglican

2 Bags Of Dirt On 2 Donkeys

Contributed by John Gaston on May 1, 2019

Naaman the healed leper had a very strange request for a souvenir from the prophet Elisha: he wanted all the dirt that two mules could carry. What did he want dirt for? The answer is quite remarkable and challenges even the most spiritual.

2 BAGS OF DIRT ON 2 DONKEYS 2 Kgs. 5:14-17 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Have you ever noticed that things really DO look different from one generation to the next? 2. Janet Krogfus says that since she lives in rural Minnesota (way out in the country), she finds driving in the crowded city of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:14-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"the Parables Of Matthew 13" The Seed Is The Word Of God...sow It!

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Jul 14, 2020

In order to understand the parables of Matthew 13 one must begin with Matthew 12 and the challenge of the Pharisees. These parables are about those who are receptive to the Word of God. The farmer scatters the seed. Let God do His thing. Tell "God Stories."

In Jesus Holy Name July 19, 2020 Text: Matthew 13:24-25 Pentecost VII - Redeemer “The Parables of Matthew 13” The Seed is the Word of God… We Just Sow The parable of the Seed and the Sower in Matthew 13 provide answers to the disciples regarding the success or failure of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-25, Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran