Sermons on Close Encounter:

When People Hurt You - Ecclesiastes 3:15-4:3 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 15, 2025

How do you avoid bitterness toward people who have hurt you and refuse to repent? Even when you affirm that God meant it for good, still, how do you not get upset over the fact that the person meant it for evil?

Ecclesiastes 3:15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed. 16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous ...read more

Kept By The Power Of God - 1 Peter 1:4-5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 25, 2024

Not only is our inheritance kept for us, we are kept for it.

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:4-5

Got Milk? - 1 Peter 1:23-2:3 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 7, 2024

You could read and memorize the entire Bible and not grow spiritually. This passage describes what must be added so that Scripture will bring growth.

1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another continually, from a pure heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, "All ...read more

The Politics Of Praise - 1 Peter 2:13-17 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 18, 2024

Your placement in the world’s authority structure is a good thing – God’s perfect design. This message will help you appreciate the blessing of your earthly authorities.

1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Exodus Part 6 (Notes From Biblegateway.com)

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Dec 29, 2024

Chapters 26-30, NASB; Everything has spiritual significance; putting God's laws into action - Marilyn Hickey Ministries; she said the temple is in the shape of a cross, but I can't confirm that: Brazen altar and laver; Ark, Mercy Seat, Table of Showbread, Altar of Incense, Golden Candlestick

The 7 feasts are as follows, with hints re: Christ (from Hickey): Passover (1 Cor 5:7) Unleavened bread (John 6:35) 1st Fruits (Mal 3) Tithing is mentioned in several places in the New Testament (Google AI): Matthew 23:23; Jesus endorses tithing but expects his followers to go beyond the ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

Blessed Are The Merciful - Matthew 5:7 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 6, 2024

This message is a summary of the whole biblical teaching on the subject of mercy. And it will help you understand with clarity the difference between what Jesus called “the weightier matters of the law” and the less weighty ones.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

The Greater Righteousness - Matthew 5:20-21 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 3, 2024

How can Jesus say anger is equivalent to murder? Killing a human being has such greater consequences and is so much more extreme. This message will show how the two sins have the same DNA and will expose how even our best efforts to obey God’s Word can degenerate into legalism.

Matthew 5:19-26 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20-21

2 Samuel Part 3

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Aug 11, 2024

NASB

This is "one of the most famous and tragic events of David’s life. We will pay close attention to how the storyteller presents the narrative, taking care to learn as much as we can while focusing on the primary message being communicated. Perhaps the question is not whether we will fail, but ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

What Are You Doing More Than Others? - Matthew 5:43-45 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 24, 2024

Matthew 5:47 …what are you doing more than others? That question speaks volumes about what the Lord expects from the Christian life. Jesus requires that citizens of His kingdom have a kind of love that is fundamentally different from the world’s kind of love.

Matthew 5:43-48 You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-45

Joy For The Downcast Soul - Psalm 42-43 Pt.1 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 9, 2025

These two psalms are the diary of a desperate man. They are in the Bible to teach us how to handle times of discouragement, depression, sorrow, and the downcast soul.

Psalm 42 For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, ...read more

Christ Wins - 1 Peter 3:17-22 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jan 24, 2025

Scripture requires that we not only endure suffering for righteousness sake, but that we actually rejoice in it. How is that possible without pretending?

1 Peter 3:13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17-22

Grace Management - 1 Peter 4:10 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jan 27, 2025

Your spiritual gift isn't just for you. It's a stewardship of grace. Are you distributing that grace generously?

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's multifaceted grace. 11 If anyone speaks, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10

Desiring A Dangerous God: Why Did God Kill Uzzah When He Was Just Trying To Help? - 2 Samuel 6:1-12 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 10, 2025

David wanted God’s presence more than anything. One ox stumble later, he’s terrified to even touch the Ark. The twist that changed everything

For free audio or video download of this message, visit https://www.treasuringgod.com/sermons-by-scripture or my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson. Introduction This has got to be the ultimate example of raining on someone’s parade. The people are the happiest they have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-12

There Is No Private Sin

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 22, 2025

To create and to enhance unity, we must put away falsehood and practise speaking the truth in love.

“Having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” [1] Lone-Ranger Christianity has no relationship to biblical Faith. God’s purpose is to build His church—a vibrant, world-encircling community of Faith. This is so much more ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25

Denomination: Baptist

The Sins Of Mankind Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Mar 8, 2024

When God gives up on humanity, it is left to itself. When man is left to himself, only evil follows.

1:29 “…being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness…” It seems to me that these are not the first in the list, but a title over the list. “Sexual immorality” is not in more modern versions, following different Greek texts. But he does mention it in his lists in 1 ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:29-32

Denomination: Assembly Of God