Sermons on Challenging:

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

How Fellowship Helps Me Grow

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Nov 13, 2001

There were troubled times for the church and how they overcame the challenges of life with the life-changing connection with God and with other believers and the call to be devoted passionate followers of Christ and its power for us today.

Acts 2:41-47 How Fellowship Helps me Grow Here are some signs of the times, reported in the star.com though whether they’re permanent remains to be seen. Friends are important: The television show Friends, despite lower than average ratings this time last year, has unexpectedly become TV’s most ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Evangelical Free

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

Market Watch: Value Of A Soul Plunges

Contributed by Robert Simmons on Feb 27, 2002

What is the value of your soul? What is the worth of your eternal destiny? Challenge to answer the clarion call, the ultimate question of materialism, "what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

*On the market, what is a fair exchange for your eternal soul? — one month, lifetime, night, moment of sinful pleasure The absurdity and audacity of the Lord to ask such a question. Who would do such a moronic thing as to exchange his soul? Yet the universality of its application is clear. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Church Of God

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

The End Is Near ( And It's Just The Beginning)

Contributed by Brian B on Aug 13, 2004

In this sermon, I'll demonstrate that there is an end! I’ll show when it will be! What it will be like! also if the end is just the beginning, what is it the beginning of? ends with a closing challenge!

*disclaimer.. I was a Nazarene pastor at the time of this writing. I have since changed some of my positions but I will leave this sermon here. Brian Then end is near! (And it’s just the beginning!) (This is an original sermon. any similarities are coincidental. most of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Reap What You Sojourn

Contributed by Matthew Everhard on Sep 1, 2004

How does the church escape the "Adding Members" model and revert to a biblical definition of evangelism? This message uses Jesus’ challenge that "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" in incite compassionate outreach.

“You Reap What You Sojourn” by Matthew Everhard. Originally preached on Sunday Morning, July 4th, 2004 at Hudson Presbyterian Church. Words 2205 Their primary concern was membership. Specifically, that membership was on the rise. Well, either that or member PLEDGES-- those were equally important. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"Milk And Honey..." By Dr. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Sep 15, 2004

Crisis are a challenge from God to exercise confidence in Him. As the Children of Israel wondered in the wilderness we too will face our trials, hopefully not in the same manneror response, Let’s see!

Introduction Israel’s wilderness wonderings is an account from which much can be learned about God’s loving kindness and care for His children. It is also a lesson in what not to do when trouble or crisis come our way. The children provoked God to anger with their lack of faith and trust. Today ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:8-9

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

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

Rules Or Reality Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jan 14, 2005

It’s much easier for us to follow rules than to allow the character of God to rule our behavior. Jesus challenges us to let go of law and let the Spirit guide.

For an audio version of this and other Bible studies: Go to: www.LivingWatersWeb.com. When it comes to some things in life we like rules and laws – like the law of gravity: “In the ongoing battle between objects made of aluminum going hundreds of miles per hour and the ground going zero miles ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-37

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

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

Back, Back, Way Back

Contributed by Dan Mahan on Oct 22, 2006

A look at how Simon changed to Peter, the rock; how he changed from following Christ from a distance to stepping forward in His committment to Christ. A challenge on committment to all believers.

Back, Back, Way Back Rev. Dan Mahan “Peter was following far behind.” Luke 22:54 In Matt. 16:13-19, Jesus asked the disciples a question. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The response varied: “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54