Sermons on Choosing Friends:

Daniel’s Friends: "But If Not—“

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 8, 2020

Suppose your employer or ruler demanded you worship an image or idol, and would be put to death if you refused? That happened to Daniel's three friends, who were willing to die for their faith before ever bowing down to any other god besides the God of Israel.

Daniel’s friends: “But if not—“ Introduction: Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon during Daniel’s youth, certainly did not lack a sense of ego or self-importance. In chapter 2, he made an impossible demand on Babylon’s wise men, instructing them to repeat the king’s dream and what it meant or else ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Make Friends And Influence People Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 26, 2019

"How To Make Friends And Influence People" has been in print for over 70 yrs. It's popular because it addresses how to make friends. But Colossians tells us God's fool-proof way to make friends

OPEN: I read the true story of a woman who’d just given birth and had brought her newborn to the office to the child off to her fellow office workers. Everyone gathered around, ohhhing and ahhhing and totally enthralled with the baby. In the meantime, her 7-yr. old son had gotten bored and he ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:5-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Critics Are Your Best Friend

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 30, 2021

Most prophecies today speak to greatness. "You will be a financier of the Kingdom!" "You will have a worldwide ministry!!" Not every prophecy in Scripture was affirming nor was every prophet popular.

Beware of only listening to those who always affirm your decisions because the majority has often been wrong. Indeed, Jeremiah was outgunned 400-1. Four hundred prophets told the king everything he wanted to hear and prophesied victory. Then along came Jeremiah, who said the four hundred were ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-9

Denomination: Baptist

What Does It Mean To Be A Friend Of Jesus? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 27, 2021

This passage mentions multiple times that we are Jesus' friends. What does that mean exactly?

- “Refrigerator rights.” The idea that you become good enough friends that when you’re at their house you don’t have to ask to get something out of the refrigerator. THE PROOFS OF THE FRIENDSHIP: 1. His proof of friendship is His sacrifice. - John 15:13. 2. Our proof of friendship is our ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Winter: Darkness My Closest Friend? Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Oct 29, 2022

In the season of winter, often called the dark night of the soul, one finds that despite its cold, harsh, and often painful reality there is much one can do to honor God: pray, prune, wait upon the Lord and reflect on all things unseen.

Spiritual Rhythm Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 The following sermon series is based on Mark Buchanan’s book, Spiritual Rhythm: Being with Jesus Every Season of Your Soul. There are seasons or “cycles of the heart” that each of us either by our own choices or more ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"four Crazy Friends"

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Mar 26, 2022

This is a sermon from a series on the life of Christ.

Title: “Four Crazy Friends” Script: Mk. 2:1-13 Type: Expository/series Where: GNBC 3-28-22 Intro: Earlier this week someone saw my sermon title and said: “Four Crazy Friends?” Pastor, I’ve got way more than 4 crazy friends, and those are just in my family! There once were three crazy ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Loyal Friends (1 Samuel 20)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 16, 2025

How rare is it to find a true friend willing to die for you? Is Jesus such a friend? Let's begin in 1 Samuel 20.

Are loyal friends hard to find? Are we loyal to our friends even to death? Is Jesus a true friend? Let’s look at a special friendship in 1 Samuel 20. Did David ask Jonathan why Saul was determined to kill him? David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and said, “What have I done? What ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Don't You Believe Me?

Contributed by David E. Watters on Aug 16, 2011

This scripture from John includes one of the most well-known conversations in the New Testament. It was the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. This moment recorded for us by John captures some very important insights into our Christian faith and

This morning, I would like to start out with a little saying that I read this last week. It goes like this...‘Some people change their ways when they see the light, others only when they feel the heat.’ (Repeat). Our scripture today from John includes one of the most well-known ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

Are You On The Lord's Side?

Contributed by Maurice Brown on Mar 14, 2001

The Importance of making a definite decision to follow Christ.

Introduction A. One of the Greatest Questions in the Bible is found in Ex.32 1. Asked by Moses when he came down from the Mountain with 10 commandments. 2. What he saw angered and infuriated him! And no wonder... 3. God’s People were worshipping a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:19-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wellspring Of Joy Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Nov 27, 2015

Reinforce You Joy by Growing In Love, Choosing the Best, Being Devoted to Christ, Doing What is Right

Wellspring of Joy Part 2 The Pursuit of Happiness (from the July 15, 2013 Time Magazine) The Pursuit of Happiness: Why Americans are wired to be happy, and what that’s doing to us. “Our happiness… (is) an almost adolescent restlessness, an itch to do the Next Big ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Samson Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 8, 2015

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.”This statement – which is a profound biblical truth describes the life of our Bible character Samson.

Series: Samson! The book of Judges: It is the history of the Judges of Israel and is connected with the previous book of Joshua, as a “link in the chain of books.” It describes the history of Israel under different leaderships, governments and their deliverances from other powers for ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Is In The House

Contributed by James Lee on Nov 19, 2013

Jesus has come back to Capernaum and is in the house of Peter, where He is quickly surrounded by people desperate for His Word. One man had four friends who were desperate to get their friend to Jesus. How desperate are we?

Way back in the 90s, I had to preach the funeral of a man I never met. The funeral home called and asked if I would perform the service since I was the pastor of the church, where he was to be buried. I found out something very interesting about the man, as I spoke with the family members. It seems ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do With Loneliness - Paul Series

Contributed by Mark Nichols on Nov 29, 2009

Loneliness is how satan wants us to live our lives, but God’s remedy for loneliness is friends!

TEXT: 2 Timothy 4:1-16; various others in proverbs TITLE: What to do with Loneliness - PAUL SERIES: When Life Gets Messy… TOPIC: Loneliness & Friendship OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, November 22, 2009 PROP.: Loneliness is how Satan wants us to live our lives; but God’s remedy for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"showdown On The Mountain" Series

Contributed by Dwight Davis on Aug 16, 2003

This is the second sermon in a series of four exploring the life and ministry of the prophet Elijah.

Elijah Part II “Showdown on the Mountain” Let’s begin this morning by reviewing briefly our previous sermon in this series dedicated to the life and ministry of Elijah. First of all, do you remember what Elijah’s name in the Hebrew means? It means “Yahweh is my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:1-39, Joshua 24:15

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Considering God’s Choice

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 27, 2002

God’s criterion for choosing His servants is far different from man’s in that man tends to look only at the cover of a man, while God looks at the core of a man.

Text: I Sam.16: 1-5, 13a Intro: If you were going to choose someone to do an important job, what would be your criteria? Would they have to have the finest educational background, be a picture of vigor and health, and exude charisma, or would they simply have to be able to do the job, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Samuel 16:1-5

Denomination: Baptist