Sermons on Cleverness:

The Non-Absentee Farmer

Contributed by Gary Graff on Jul 15, 2017

Jesus doesn't just plant the seeds of the kingdom and then disappear. He sticks with us for the long haul. He nurtures the seeds of faith and helps us to grow.

Don't you just love a baptism? You have the beautiful little baby, the parents and God parents making promises to both child and God. And you have the water and the word. God promising to adopt this child into his family and make him or her his own. There's a lot of stuff going on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus’ Shrewd Side Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 4, 2016

Part of being Christ-like is knowing when and how to be shrewd.

Jesus’ Shrewd Side (Mark 11:27-12:13) 1. A lady lost her handbag in the bustle of Christmas shopping. It was found by an honest little boy and returned to her. Looking in her purse, she commented, "That's funny. When I lost my bag there was only a $100 bill in it. Now there are five $20 ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Part 8 - Matthew 11:25-30 - Without The Encumbrance Of Genius Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jun 20, 2010

Perhaps the reason that I embraced Christianity so easily was that the Christian faith doesn’t demand intelligence. Now don’t be so unkind...

Part 8 - Matthew 11:25-30 - WITHOUT THE ENCUMBRANCE OF GENIUS Perhaps it is the reason that I embraced Christianity so easily was that the Christian faith doesn’t demand intelligence. I have an above average intelligence level. Well, actually, although it was above average according to the IQ test ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Satisfying Summary

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jul 29, 2010

When looking at the parables, we have to make sure we get the main points and don’t get lost in the details. Here is the main point.

Passage: Matthew 13:47-58 Intro: I love summaries! 1. something really satisfying about gathering info and drawing conclusions. 2. we have been looking at the parables from Matthew for some weeks. 3. and we have found some repetition. 4. so here at the last of these parables in this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-58

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Can You Take Jesus At His Word?

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 24, 2011

A short talk for an all age worship service asking whether we demand or expect signs and miracles. Does our trust in Jesus go up and down depending on the miracles we see or do not see or do we take Jesus at his word?

I need some people to help me with my survey of 10 people regarding miracles, healings, answered prayers, unanswered prayers and faith in God. 1 out of 10 people surveyed said: “I do not believe in God. I will not believe in God. My parents told me there is no God. My teachers told me there is no ...read more

Scripture: John 4:46-54

Denomination: Anglican

Where Is Your Heart In Relation To The Future Series

Contributed by Paddy Venner on Apr 28, 2009

See through the ’now’ to where you are headed. the ’now’ is the vehicle to your destiny. Stop looking at things and start looking through them.

• Brian Houston once said “Christianity is not just about having enough food for your table; it is about having enough food to put on the tables of others” • And he goes on to say that that does not mean literally feeding everyone, but having enough in reserve – time, emotional support, finances, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Strongman

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Sep 29, 2018

The problem must be first bound and removed before the strongman is overcome and gone.

The Strongman Too many things try to latch on to us—sickness, disease, things that start out small but work their way in over time, a little pain until we can’t shake it and it becomes debilitating as time goes by. When we do not rise up to combat the problem, pretty soon we are chained so tightly ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:19, 1 John 4:4

Denomination: Methodist

Three Powerful Sins Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Apr 20, 2023

Discouragement, Jealousy and rebellion are three powerful weapons to destroy the Leaders who serve God. All of them had lost their goal on the way to attainment. Great Loss to the great leaders. How about you?

Numbers 11:11-14, 12; 16:1-2, Dangers in the Wilderness Introduction: Today we will learn the dangers of the Wilderness journey. Three key leaders had problems according to their standards of spirituality. Sins of three Leaders: Moses, Miriam, and Korah were three powerful characters in the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:11-14, Numbers 16:1-2

Denomination: Methodist

Dangers In The Wilderness Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on May 15, 2023

Moses, Miriam, and Korah were three powerful characters in the wilderness journey. But each one has a committee sin according to their circumstances. Watch out, where you are?

Numbers 11:11-14, 12;16:1-2, Dangers in the Wilderness Introduction: Today we will learn the dangers of the Wilderness journey. Three key leaders had problems according to their standards of spirituality. Sins of three Leaders: Moses, Miriam, and Korah were three powerful characters in the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:11-14

Denomination: Methodist

Part 1: The Beginning Series

Contributed by Pastor Randall Timblin on Nov 1, 2019

Scientists have been attempting to figure out where and how the universe started ever since Galileo came up with his telescope. Yet, we have discovered nothing.

We have been to the moon and back, we have robots of sorts on Mars and have for years. They have yet to discover any evidence of life...so what have we learned and how much have we spent doing it? Could we not have spent those monies on our homeless and poor? In our scripture, if we look real ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2, Genesis 1:3-4

Denomination: *other

Christ Crucified — The Heart Of Our Worship

Contributed by Ronald Moore on Mar 21, 2025

When St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he was addressing a church in the middle of a bustling, worldly city — a place full of ideas, arguments, opinions, and ambitions. Sound familiar? And yet Paul doesn’t try to impress them.

When St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he was addressing a church in the middle of a bustling, worldly city — a place full of ideas, arguments, opinions, and ambitions. Sound familiar? And yet Paul doesn’t try to impress them. He doesn’t appeal to clever arguments or dazzling oratory. Instead, he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:2

Denomination: Anglican

Twenty-Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Dishonest Steward Or Shrewd Manager

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 18, 2025

Baptized believers should use the worldly resources they possess to serve God's eternal kingdom by being generous and helping the poor, and do it in a way that involves street smarts, enterprise, and proactive initiative.

There’s an old story about Moishe, a medieval Jewish astrologer who prophesied that the king’s favorite horse would die soon. Sure enough, the horse died a short time later. The king got angry at Moishe, certain that his prophecy had brought about the horse’s death. He summoned Moishe and commanded ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Catholic

God Loves Losers

Contributed by Jeff Skinner on Dec 4, 2005

God Loves us exactly as we are.

Open with Napolean Dynomite Clip Have you ever known someone like Napoleon? He’s a loser in almost every sense of the word. I mean sure there are some folks that aren’t popular that we may call a loser. There are poor people whom we may call losers. There are people who are just geeks that we ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

God Is Great! Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Jan 21, 2004

God is great.

GOD IS GREAT! I Corinthians 1:18-25 S: Cross Th: Live the Difference Pr: GOD IS GREAT. ?: What? What makes God great? KW: Descriptions TS: We will find in our study of I Corinthians 18-25, five descriptions that explain the greatness of God to us. The _____ description is that… I. GOD IS NOT ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Jake The Snake Wrestles With God

Contributed by John Stensrud on Apr 29, 2001

Jacob suddenly meets something in his life that he is powerless over.

Jake the Snake Wrestles with God By Pastor John Stensrud Immanuel Baptist Church Elgin, IL October 1, 2000 If he was alive today, hi-tech head-hunters would be on the phone to him regularly. Better yet, he would be well-suited as a shifty-eyed used-car salesman. I can just hear him say: Hi my name ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Baptist