Sermons on Clear Thinking:

Ta Da! Christ Is Risen! (Easter Season)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 25, 2013

A teacher asked " What do you think were Jesus first words when He came out of that tomb?" A little girl shouted excitedly "I know,!" "Bethany what did he say." Extending her arms high into the air she said: "TA DA! Beloved TA DA Christ has risen!

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day are: Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2.14-24 ; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 and John 20:1-18. A Sunday School teacher had just finished telling her third graders about ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Denomination: Anglican

Judas Iscariot

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 26, 2015

Judas-probably the most notorious figure in history. But before we claim to be nothing like him I would say, “Hold on; not so fast.” We may not be a Judas but I do think we have the capability to develop some of his characteristics if we're not careful.

JUDAS ISCARIOT We might look at the bad things people did in scripture-like Cain killing his brother Able or David committing adultery with Bathsheba or Peter denying he knew Jesus and think to ourselves, “I would never do such a thing”. This definitely holds true when it comes to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:6-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If God Is With Me, Why Can't I Hear Him? Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Aug 12, 2012

I have come to this conclusion. Finding God is only difficult because of us. Not because of Him. God doesn’t want us to be in the dark. God doesn’t want us to wonder what He wants us to do. Think about it this way: if there was something you wanted y

Finding God at Christmas “If God is with me, why can’t I hear him? 1st Kings 19 I had been away leading a conference on church growth in another church. We had experienced a good week but I was ready to get back home to my family. The conference closed on Friday night around 9:00 so ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

"nimrod's Folly"

Contributed by John Huyser on Sep 5, 2023

From Sunday School I remember vividly all sorts of lessons on The Tower of Babel. I think almost all of them missed the mark. The issue is far less the Tower of Babel - in fact the tower is a symptom of humanity wanting to do their own thing without God. Jesus came down to reverse that.

It was a moment of folly, a church in Northwest Iowa prefers to forget. Busting at the seams, they broke ground on a new building in the early eighties. Their sanctuary and parking lot would double in size. Featured too were a large kitchen and fellowship hall and many a classroom and extra ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Jesus' First Miracle Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Feb 20, 2019

“This just doesn’t seem to make much sense.” How many times do you think the people there for Jesus' first miracle asked that question? This event in the life of Jesus confirms exactly who Jesus was and how God works – amazing solutions that we would have never expected.

Just this past week, one of my daughters was looking through the scrapbooks that my wife has assembled throughout the years of various events in their lives. One of the things you’ll find for each of them is the famous “First day of school” picture. Those pictures are kind of fun to look at and ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Mobilize People For Action

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Too many people are worried about things being done right that they neglect doing the best things. Few lay people think that they have what it takes to be used of God as those who are professionally trained ministers. However, God equips everyone uniquely

How to Mobilize People for Action (Eph. 11-13) "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A New Name

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 5, 2003

As we think about the new year, we need to see that: 1. God is always doing a new thing. 2. Only God can bring about real change. 3. God’s new name for us means a new beginning.

I love to read the comics, and one of my favorites used to be “Calvin and Hobbes.” Calvin and Hobbes are talking about the new year when Calvin says, “I’m getting disillusioned with these new years. They don’t seem very new at all Each new year is just like the old year Here another year has ...read more

Scripture: John 1:25-42

Denomination: Methodist

Rejoice In The Lord Always

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 28, 2003

Too many believers forget where real joy comes from. In our self-absorbed society it is easy to think that joy comes from personal pleasures, people or possessions. The following points contain some helpful motivations to obey the scriptural commmand, "Re

Rejoice in the Lord Always (Phil. 4:4) Too many believers forget where real joy comes from. In our self-absorb society it is easy to think that joy comes from personal pleasures, people or possessions. The following points contain some helpful motivations to obey the scriptural commmand, "Rejoice ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When You've Done Something You Swore You'd Never Do

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 24, 2004

This passage deals with a horrible sin committed by people who I’m sure didn’t think they could ever sink that low. What does God have to say to those in our congregations who’ve done things that they never thought they would?

- I was going to skip this passage, because, to be honest, it’s disgusting/I’m not saying it isn’t inspired Scripture, I’m not saying that it didn’t happen, I’m just saying that it’s disgusting. - not all of Scripture is pleasant to read. - but God opened up to me a message from within this ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Wonders Of A Woman's World Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on May 12, 2003

All of us, men and women, have doubts about how well we are doing in this world. In this message, we are thinking through seven of the significant doubts that a woman might have. If you answer all these “I wonders” in the right way then your life and fa

MOTHER - Job Description POSITION TITLE : Mom, Mama, Mommy, Mother JOB DESCRIPTION : Candidates must be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Baptist

Two Minute Warning

Contributed by Thomas Dibble on May 30, 2003

More than ever we need to pay attention to: Our walk with God, Our prayer life, Our heart, Our attitude, and The way we think. Why? Because it’s two minute warning time. Jesus is coming soon.

The two minute warning is something that takes place at the end of certain sporting events. Its an alarm or buzzer that goes off, or a pause in the game to let the participants know that there is only two minutes left in this game. It tells the opponents one of two things: 1. I’ve either got to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-28, 2 Peter 1:10

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Without God..."

Contributed by Winson Butler on Apr 21, 2004

In the 21st Century it’s hard to think of anyone living in our world without some modern convenience. More tragically would be someone living with everything made modern possibily and without the most important thing in his or her life, God.

"Without God..." Ephesians 2:12 -Dr. E. Winson Butler- Introduction I. Can you imagine it, anyone, someone living without at least one modern convienence in this world of ours. Running water, a bed, a clock. To many this would be horrible. Yet no one takes the time to think what life would be ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:12

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas - Season For Giving & Receiving

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 5, 2001

As Christmas comes, we think, "Maybe it’s not impossible. Maybe we really could have hearts filled with love. Maybe we really could be kind to each other, & not just once a year, but all year long."

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2017) TEXT: Luke 2:8-14 ILL. It's Christmas time, & Lucy comes in where Charlie Brown is standing & says, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. 'Tis the season of peace on earth & good will toward men. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Father Who Deserved Better

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Jun 11, 2003

The father in this parable certainly deserved better than what he received from both his sons. I think we can all agree that our heavenly Father deserves better than what He receives from His children today.

A FATHER WHO DESERVED BETTER 11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 "And the younger of them said to his father, ’Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Just Another Brick In The Wall

Contributed by Steven Spillman on Jul 14, 2008

Something I said in the last letter has had me thinking. “If we’re all bricks in the same building, stretching back over thousands of years and covering the whole earth, then I have trouble with the idea of my ‘church’ and your ‘church.’”

“You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:10-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational