Sermons on Choosing Friends:

Easter: Do You Believe In The God Of Surprises?

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Apr 3, 2010

Do you believe in the God of surprises? I do - but there is no way the friends of Jesus expected him to rise from the dead. No way! But the Good News is that he did and it is Good News for all people. Do you believe in the God of surprises?

Do you believe in the God of surprises? Now, let’s be clear, just in case anyone’s not sure. Although The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of my favourite books, and one of my favourite films, I know that it’s only make-believe; but just like the parables that Jesus told – the stories he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Anglican

Three Words - Come And See

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jan 20, 2012

A short talk given at an all-age baptism service. This talk focuses on the phrase 'Come and See'. Just as Philip encouraged his friend Nathanael to come and see, so we can encourage others to come and see Jesus for themselves.

Can you remember when you first heard about Coca-Cola? It’s a product that has far outgrown its humble beginnings. In 1886, Dr. John Pemberton first introduced Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. The pharmacist prepared a caramel-coloured syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his garden. He ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Denomination: Anglican

Tears

Contributed by Scott Johnson on Sep 28, 2011

Are we able to weep with urgency over our friends, family, and people throughout our neighborhoods who aren't in Christ? Are we willing to repent and change that God may use us to bring all the sheep back home?

Tears (Luke 15:1-10; Phil. 3:17-19) INTRO: I grew up hearing that “real men don’t cry.” Raise your hands if you’ve ever hear that? We are told it shows weakness – makes you look kind of lame…so society often tells us. Now, I have to tell you, I’m a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:17-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Three Tokens Of Love For Christ

Contributed by Randy Bataanon on Feb 3, 2011

Six days before Jesus offer His life on the cross, three people among his friends gave three tokens of love to Jesus. Martha offered the token of Service, Mary the token of worship and Lazarus the token of Testimony for Christ.

THREE TOKENS OF LOVE FOR CHRIST John 12:1-11 A week before Jesus Crucifixion is saga of popularity to rejection, of friendship and betrayal, of love and hate. On that same week, Jesus is about to face the peak of His mission. He will be offered as a sacrificial lamb. He will bear the sins of the ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Gift Of The Magi

Contributed by Craig Condon on Mar 30, 2015

The Magi were humbled by the state of reverence that they felt for the Christ Child. That, my friends, is the appropriate motivation for worship in our church services today. We need to put away our pride and worldly baggage and worship Christ sincerely.

Well, the 12 days of Christmas are over for another season. All of the decorations are down and put away for another year, and the presents have been opened. The craziness of the Christmas season is over for the secular world, but here in the church, we have some more of the Christmas story to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Denomination: Anglican

Loving Others At Their Worst

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Sep 9, 2017

The more intimate a relationship is, the more certain we are to experience the worst side of a spouse, child, parent, friend... Jesus loved--and yes, loves--us at our worst, and beckons us to be his ambassadors by doing the same for others.

LOVING OTHERS AT THEIR WORST I. Introduction - Not long ago I read the story of a man who came to love a woman named Helen, who was a drug addict. She was living with an abusive man who supplied her drugs and in return used her for his pleasure. But another man, an honest and virtuous man, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:12-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, John 17:1-26, 1 Corinthians 12:4-31, Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Prepare For A Spiritual Confrontation Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jan 4, 2025

How should a church or believers deal with gross sin which is found in their midst? Ingore it? Cover it up? Tell your friends? Gossip? Why not find out what God's Word says about the subject?

One of the most important questions any Bible-believing church must ask itself is this: How will we respond when we find that gross, even unrepentant sin is present in our church body? Many of us who fashion ourselves as born-again Bible-believing Christians might respond something like this: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:3-12, Deuteronomy 17:6-7, Deuteronomy 19:15-19

Denomination: Bible Church

Martha - The Hostess

Contributed by Claude Alexander on May 15, 2022

Martha is well-to-do and highly respected within her community. She lives in a big house . She lived with her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus. They were a Jewish family who were friends and followers of Jesus

Martha - the hostess Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44 Martha has received quite a lot of criticism over the years, for every woman is told not to be like Martha, and consequently they heave upon themselves the burden of guilt and condemnation when they are. Do you look down on yourself because God ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Will You Be My Spiritual Counselor? Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 16, 2021

The call to discipleship is a call to serve as a good neighbor. This call is more than a mere social event where pleasantries are commonly shared. In the call to discipleship, we are challenged to ascend to godliness and become a spiritual friend to people in our sphere of influence.

The call to discipleship is a call to serve as a good neighbor. This call is more than a mere social event where pleasantries are commonly shared. In the call to discipleship, we are challenged to ascend to godliness and become a spiritual friend to people in our sphere of influence. In John ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fire Of The Contentious

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 27, 2022

A contentious spirit is like fire which burns up all that is good, and puts families, friends and co-workers at odds. This spirit finds a small fire of strife, kindles it and keeps feeding the issues which cause distrust, hatred or malice.

Fire Of the Contentious The Negative Influences of a Person Who Seeks Strife The King James Bible tells us “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to a fire; So is a contentious man to kindle strife.” (Proverbs 26:21) “Contentious” (?????? ma?ôn) means to be argumentative, a person who is ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 26:21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living In Joy Sermon Ii: Joy Sees The Good, Seizes The Chance, Shares The Gospel Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Mar 4, 2020

With God's help and steady support of Christian friends, we live in real joy by continuing to spread God's love, share the Good News, serve the Lord with gladness even in the face of harsh criticism and opposition.

LIVING IN JOY SEES THE GOOD . . . SEIZES THE CHANCE . . . SHARES THE GOSPEL A farmer began to look at his farm through critical eyes. Everywhere he looked, he saw something wrong. So, he decided to sell his farm and move somewhere else. He contacted a realtor who came out ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-21

"No Other Love”

Contributed by Bubot Parago on Feb 14, 2019

Jesus went beyond just dying for His friends, He died for His enemies, that is, He died for you and for me, because we’re all sinners. THAT IS LOVE! NO OTHER LOVE CAN COMPARE WITH THIS. NEVER WILL BE.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” KJV 16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Giving Joy To The Lord’s Heart Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 3, 2018

Today’s passage reminds us that with salvation comes the responsibility to join the task of sharing the good news with those who have not yet heard. Some will go great distances, others will share with friends and neighbors, but we are all called . . . .

10-26-04 Bringing Joy To The Lord’s Heart Luke 10:1-10:24 Luke’s Gospel account is the only one that tells of the sending out of the seventy. It is also the only version that describes their joyous return and victory over the forces of darkness. These seventy men are not called apostles ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Wedding Crasher

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 20, 2018

Friend you can wear no other garment to the wedding except the righteousness of Jesus. Confess your sins and be baptised then profess your faith and seek a closer walk with the Lord. Those not clothed in wedding garments are cast out into outer darkness.

The Wedding Crasher Matthew 22:1-14 Summer is a time for weddings and often Jesus attendance at the wedding in Canaan gets mentioned. We see in John’s gospel that Jesus His mother Mary and the disciples were all invited guests. The guest list is one of the most difficult things for an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Revelation 19:5-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Compassion - Part 2 Of 2 Series

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Jan 26, 2018

Compassion is the fuel that enables & drives us. It is the only fuel that will enable us to fulfil God’s will and finish the task He has set us. In this passage, compassion was the four men’s motivation to get their sick friend to the feet of Jesus.

COMPASSION BRINGING A SICK WORLD TO CHRIST - Part 2 of 2 Mark 2:1-12 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Church Of God