Sermons on Close:

Not Far From The Kingdom Of God

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 5, 2022

You've heard the phrase, "close but no cigar". It communicates that getting almost there is not good enough. Jesus had an encounter with a teacher of the law in Mark 12 where he tells him that he was not far from the kingdom of God.

NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD Mark 12:28-34 You've heard phrases like, "close but no cigar" or “almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades”. These communicate that getting almost there is not good enough. Jesus had an encounter with a teacher of the law in Mark 12 where at ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-29, Philippians 3:4-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Regrets I

Contributed by Jason Jones on Nov 16, 2022

Two fundamental truths that I want to establish before I preach on revival in our month of prayer and fasting: first that revival is “fresh life based on a renewal to closeness to God,” and second, revival presupposes a church with a tainted or languishing intimacy with God.

Background to passage: Paul is talking about a letter that he wrote to confront the church about a sin in the church. In brief, there are two kinds of sorrow/grief in view; godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow. “The difference between godly grief and worldly grief is that the first issues in repentance ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

The 6 Last Plagues Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Jun 6, 2024

Now every person has made their choice and destines have been decided. The door of mercy is closed. All those who have willingly chosen to follow Satan will experience the full force of God’s holy displeasure against sin.

June 08, 2024 Revelation 14 concludes with 2 great harvests – the Wheat Harvest and the Grape Harvest. God’s people are represented as the Wheat gathered into Christ’s barn while the unrepentant are represented as Grapes trodden in the winepress of God’s wrath….. Chapters 15 and 16 build on ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 15:1, Revelation 7:16, Revelation 15:5-8, Revelation 16:1-16, Exodus 7:16-25, Exodus 10:21-23, Psalm 119:105, John 1:1-4, Isaiah 44:24-28, Isaiah 45:1, Revelation 19:11-16, Exodus 8:1-15, 2 Peter 3:9-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Man Has Twisted, Contorted, Inverted, And Opposed All God’s Creation – Part 5 – Genesis Chapters 1 And 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 6, 2023

We begin with Man in Eden and progress through the timing of man’s creation and the new heaven and new earth, and the New Jerusalem. We look at the great statement, “It is done.” Part 5 draws to a close all that has gone before.

MAN HAS TWISTED, CONTORTED, INVERTED, AND OPPOSED ALL GOD’S CREATION – PART 5 – GENESIS CHAPTERS 1 and 2 This message will bring to an end the series looking at the first two chapters of Genesis to see how everything God instituted and created has been set aside by sinful man who has twisted and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:31, Genesis 2:7, Hebrews 11:3, Hebrews 11:6, Genesis 2:8, Genesis 2:15, Colossians 2:4, Colossians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, Revelation 21:1, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 20:2-3, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 21:2-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Is How I Fight My Battles!

Contributed by Delray Lentz on Dec 17, 2024

Last week I challenged you to consider how you prepare yourself for worship before you enter the Lord’s house and His presence. Crystal closed out the message with a prayer that we worship everyday, not just on Sunday’s!

Today’s word is about worship. I looked back at all my sermons since 2020 and strangely enough, not a single one was on the topic of worship. So I am rectifying that today! The title of today’s message is “This is how I fight my battles”. We will examine 4 passages, 3 of which are centered around ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Whispers Of The Enemy

Contributed by Samuel M on Jan 5, 2024

The words of doubt or unbelief that our dead situations will not change and God’s promises will not be fulfilled are the whispers of the enemy. These whispers can come from our surroundings or even from our close friends. Social media is flooded with all this whispers of the enemy.

These days lot of Christians live a life of defeat or disappointment by believing the whispers of the enemy. Our situations in life may be dead or defeated. When our situations are dead and defeated, we easily believe the words of our surroundings or friends that situations are dead and will not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:36

Fresh Revelation Of Slain Lamb Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 6, 2023

Just as John discovered or came to know in Revelation 5 that the Lamb is worthy to break(or open) the 7 seals and open the scroll, a fresh revelation of the slain lamb of God can break the locks and open all the closed doors in our lives.

Just as John discovered or came to know in Revelation 5 that the Lamb is worthy to break(or open) the 7 seals and open the scroll, a fresh revelation of the slain lamb of God can break the locks and open all the closed doors in our lives. No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open ...read more

Thank God That Trouble Don't Last Always

Contributed by Ronnie Mcneill on Nov 24, 2007

This sermon is one of encouragement to those who are going thorugh tough times. When it seems as though there is no way out of a situation and everything is closing in on you, you can rest assure that God is just a whisper away to help you. All you have

Introduction: The word trouble is often looked upon with a dark color. Trouble and trials are two of a kind. Webster’s dictionary defines trouble as a condition of distress, anxiety, or danger. We as Christians are well aware that we face trouble and trials in our day-to-day living. James ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:8-32, Exodus 1:8

Denomination: Baptist

Our Spiritual Checklist For 2008

Contributed by Jonathan Falwell on Jan 14, 2008

Today, as we bring this year to a close and we begin to think about 2008 and where this new year will take us, I thought it would be wise for us to take a look back at where we’ve been as a springboard for where we are going.

Our Spiritual Checklist for 2008 On July 1, 2007, as we celebrated our 51st anniversary of Thomas Road Baptist Church, we shared an important vision for the next five years of our church. We talked about some of the goals that we want to see accomplished and why we should try to accomplish them. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

Meaning Of The Wine Series

Contributed by Dennis Lawrence on May 12, 2003

What’s in a glass of wine? What’s in a tiny glass of wine? Forgiveness, rightness, closeness, conscience-cleansing, redemption, cleansing- that’s what. It’s not so little, is it? The amount of beverage might be little, but it carries big meaning!

Meaning of the Wine April 5, 2003 Each time we come to church and participate in the Lord’s Supper, the second symbol we use is wine. Now that’s a potentially controversial symbol today, in some circles, but was a very ordinary matter of meals in Jesus’ day, and still is in many cultures. Just ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:23-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Will Let You Choose

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 15, 2006

Two criminals were nailed to the cross beside Jesus. Both were close to Him, but responded differently and thus ended worlds apart. Blessings flow when we admit our mistakes and open our heart to God with faith. Choose wisely.

Calvary is the place of the three crosses. • Two criminals were led to be executed with Jesus that day. • They were in a way, privileged to be so close to Jesus during the last moment of His life, and their own lives. • That gave them the chance, the last chance to know the One who could save ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Can The Lord Help Us When We Have Been Betrayed?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 16, 2006

Remember how the Lord came to the rescue of Paul the apostle who was betrayed and forsaken by close companions. Paul writes, "Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas because He loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.

How Can the Lord Help Us When We Have Been Betrayed? by Paul Fritz 2 Timothy 4:9-4:10 What are some of the ways we can deal with human betrayal: 1. Remember how the Lord came to the rescue of Paul the apostle who was betrayed and forsaken by close companions. Paul writes, "Do your best to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Wired For The Kingdom Of Light? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 12, 2011

God lit up the night with angels to celebrate Christ’s birthday. We can light up the world when we do the same... but are we wired to do that? (Uses a famous sycronized home light display as the opening and closing of the sermon).

Open with youtube video of Christmas lights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F44d2IzCrKo (beautiful synchronized Christmas light display featuring “Carol of the bells”) APPLY: The light show you just saw was put together by the Holdmans of Pleasant Grove, Utah. For the past few years 1000s of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is God A Has Been? Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 23, 2010

When one of the Sons of Korah looked at the current horrible disasters, he could not understand why God allowed these things. Like him, we struggle with reconciling God’s character and what God permits, especially when it strikes close to home.

Is God A Has Been? (Psalm 44) 1. We do not have a lot of information about the Sons of Korah, but we do about their competing group, the Sons of Asaph. 2. According to I Chronicles 25:1-3, "David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 44:1-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Free Refills Of His Goodness Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 16, 2010

Mary & Martha said that Lazarus was the one whom Jesus loved. But how could Jesus treat a friend like He did? Why would He callously stay away while this close friend died... and He could have prevented it?

OPEN: “How many of you know the name of the brother of Mary and Martha who Jesus raised from the dead?” (most of the audience raised their hand). Who was it? Lazarus. Read text: John 11:1-47 followed by prayer. ILLUS: A few years back I read a story about a may village in southwest ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-47, John 11:1-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ