Sermons on Closed To Others:

Nowhere To Rest! (Luke 9:57-62)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2007

It hurts when we lose someone we love, and it hurts because we love them. Love and pain are never far from each other. You can’t have one without the other.

Q: Why did the Palestinian cross the road? A: We don’t know either, but if he wont’ tell us what he was doing, crossing a road without a permit, we will detain him until we find out! I was looking for a joke with a jarring ending to introduce what I consider to be a particularly jarring Gospel ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Cast Down, Scattered Down, Sent Down

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 8, 2009

World Hunger Sunday: God’s judgment will come on a people whose consumption habits oppress others and whose patriotism masks greed. But God will continue to send blessings on a people who will invest more in others.

The laws of physics say that what goes up must come down. You pitch a rock into the air and right away it comes down with a thud. Hendricks throws a football in a long arc out over the New York Giant defenders and knows that it will come down, he hopes into the hands of Monk or Clark or Sanders who ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 147:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

The God Who Waits

Contributed by Arthur Miller on Dec 14, 2013

In a marriage relationship each person enters into a covenant with the other. For better or worse, richer or poorer. We commit ourselves to each other and it requires changes in our lives to uphold the covenant made. The same is true with God.

The God Who Waits Hosea Chapter 3 As we continue our series on the book of Hosea we will continue looking at the tumultuous relationship between Hosea and Gomer. In chapter 2 we witnessed a faithful husband who came to the point where he could no longer provide for his unfaithful wife who refused ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 3:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lessons From The Life Of Abraham (1of 5)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 27, 2022

Make no mistake about it; some folks lives are more exciting than others. But many live a less exciting life than others. In fact, some people call our age the “Boredom Boom!”

This boredom has driven some people: • To quit their jobs • To quit their marriages • To quit their churches • To turn to drugs and alcohol • To run away from home • To experiment with homosexuality When some people have been exposed to every kind of evil there is, they then ask, “IS THERE ANYTHING ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Manipulation By Guilt Vs. Straightforward Requests Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 26, 2016

Manipulation is a dishonest method to control others, get our way, or make others think an idea was theirs; it stands in contrast to making honest straightforward requests. Manipulation by guilt is perhaps the most common form of manipulation.

Manipulation by Guilt Vs. Straightforward Requests (topical) 1. A lot of persuasion — even in church — can be based upon emotion and a lack of logic. “Pastor Smith was winding up his sermon about the dangers of alcohol and the need for temperance. He shouted, 'If I had all the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:11-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Transformation Of Zacchaeus, And Us Too If We Would Listen And Believe.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Nov 1, 2016

What others think of us is irrelevant to the Lord. It is what he see in us that is important. Zacchaeus show us how the power of God is used to free us from the influence of others, and free us to be ourselves.

This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 30th October 2016; Holy Trinity is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. The readings for today are: Habakkuk 1.1-4; 2.1-4 Ps 119.137-144 2 Thessalonians 1.1-4, 11-12 Luke 19.1-10 Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal

Parable-The Ten Pounds Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 17, 2018

As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem from Jericho to celebrate the Passover with His disciples and others, He told a parable to the crowd to show that the kingdom they had been telling others about would not be established immediately as they had thought.

November 19, 2006 Jericho (40) Parable-The Ten Pounds Luke 19:11-27 11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Baptist

Will It Be Milk Or Meat?

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 12, 2014

Paul is clear to the Corinthians that there are two levels of Christian living. Some believers are living in the flesh, the carnal and others are living in the spiritual. This is still true today. Some believers are still on milk while others eat meat.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service, there are four readings prior to the Message. Today's lessons are Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 and Matthew 5:21-37. Paul begins the 3rd chapter of his letter by telling the Corinthians that there are two levels of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-2, 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, 1 Corinthians 3:7-9, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Denomination: Anglican

The Love Triangle Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 28, 2021

Some need to learn to love themselves before they can love God. Others need to love God to escape a perverted self-love. Still others need to love their neighbor to balance out an inadequate love.

One of the great tragic plays of all time is Shakespeare's Othello. Othello was a general in the Venetian army. He secretly married Desdemona the daughter of a Venetian senator. Desdemona was the most lovely of all Shakespeare's characters. She was a beautiful and ideal wife. Othello was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Go! And Spur One Another On Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 15, 2025

The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. We are called to live in community, to stir one another up, to encourage one another, and to keep each other’s faith burning bright until Christ returns.

Go! And Spur One Another On Introduction: There’s a story told about a coal left on its own. A group of men were sitting around a fire one evening when one man, who had stopped attending church, was visited by his pastor. The pastor didn’t say a word. He simply picked up a glowing coal with the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Acts 2:46-47, Romans 13:11, Acts 3:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Called To Serve

Contributed by Michael Bates on Sep 14, 2023

Every Christian is called to serve in the ministry. Only a select few are called into full-time pastoral ministry, but many others are called to serve God in other capacities. This short sermon explores that calling a little further.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10-11: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Luke 10:12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sermon On The Grass Is Not Always Greener...

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 10, 2024

The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side is a singular, speculative, but focused idiom that suggests the indeterminable fallacy that other people or places in one’s imagination always appear to be in a better, or more acceptable cachet than oneself.

Kasper Schmeichel, a Danish football goalkeeper once remarked: “The grass is not always greener on the other side. It is about recognizing what you do have and being grateful for what you do have.” Philippians 4:11-12 reminds us: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:11, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Ezekiel 17:24, Genesis 3:22

Courageous Love Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Apr 15, 2024

God loves us with a brave and sacrificial love, and this love should overflow from our hearts into the lives of others. To love courageously means putting others' needs before our own and being moved with compassion.

Hey guys! You know how we all love superhero movies, right? The hero always sacrifices for others, fights the bad guys, and saves the day. Well, guess what? We have a real-life superhero, and His name is Jesus. He showed us the ultimate love by giving up His life for us. And He wants us to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:16-24, Luke 10:30-35, Philippians 2:5-8

Topics: Divine Inspiration, Selfless Love, Spiritual Courage, God's Love

Strength To Stand-6 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jul 21, 2017

6 of 11. Paul closes his direction to the Ephesian church by encouraging them to find their strength in the Lord. But where or how can God's people find the strength to stand victorious? God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious thru a distinct...

STRENGTH To STAND-VI—Ephesians 6:10-20 Attention: NO OPENER Need: Courage—to stand firm for & in Christ—against the lost world’s direction. Confidence—knowing that we cannot compromise with the opponent. Perseverance—knowing that the Lord’s armor holds & protects thru every ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

How To Hear God Speak Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 23, 2010

Whether God’s Word gets through to us or not depends on our attitudes. Is yours a closed mind? A superficial mind, a distracted mind, or a willing mind? It is only when you really listen and obey can your life be changed and you become productive and use

[Adapted from Rick Warren’s sermon of the same title.] This morning we’re beginning a new series, "Conversing with God". I will cover it in 4 sessions. • Frankly, nothing is more important in our walk with God, than be able to hear and understand what God is saying. • Let’s look at Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible