Sermons on Closeness:

Overcoming Marginal Living

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Sep 21, 2010

God wants to help us move away from the margins (edges) of His love and continue to grow as close to Jesus as possible.

Overcoming Marginal Living -Several months ago Robin and I were sitting in the living room one night and all of a sudden there was a big thump! We went into Zoe’s room to check it out and she had fallen out of bed. She was fine. We helped her back in and she didn’t even remember it in ...read more

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

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Are You Doing In Sodom? Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Feb 19, 2012

Sodom represents the allurment of the world. It proved deadly for Lot, and it will just as surely destroy our lives if we venture close to the world.

Our passage gives us a powerful lesson concerning worldliness. The key question from Genesis 14, “how close can you get to sin before it corrupts you?” The key verse, is Genesis 14:12. There we learn that while Lot first “pitched his tents near Sodom, now we read that Lot was ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 14:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Enduring Soldier

Contributed by Victor Ramlall on Nov 21, 2011

Our life for Christ is in many ways required to closely parallel that of a soldier who is committed to his calling in discipline, obedience and loyalty.

It was indeed a moving ceremony to witness the graduation of recruits as they are recognized as Marines! The new Marines were thrown together, to live together, enduring together, tolerating each other, supporting each other, working together and striving to that day when they are finally ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Signs Of A Dead Church And The Cure

Contributed by Mark Wooley on May 22, 2019

Churches are closing at a alarming rate in America.. Why are they dying? The Lord gives us a picture of a Dead church and gives us the solution

I like Murder Mystery’s. And before you get mad and leave the church because you are thinking that I am promoting violence. I like them because I want to solve the mystery or who did it before the show reveals it. And the key is the Autopsy – It usually reveals the cause of death which gets you ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Logic For Unbelievers To Consider

Contributed by Dennis King on Aug 28, 2018

When you come to a mind closed to God, Jesus, and all Biblical Truth, maybe logic can be used to begin a discussion?

God's Grace is freely offered to all., but what if there were no Bibles, no written words showing the way to eternal salvation? Some peoples close their mind when you just mention the God or the Bible. How could you influence someone you knew had an ironclad mind against hearing God's Word? Surely ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, Romans 14:11, Matthew 25:41, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Matthew 25:46  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

None Can Oppress You!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Aug 1, 2015

The moment you start walking close with God through consistent prayer, fasting and reading of His Word, the devil would flee!

They dare not touch you! Psalm 105:14”…he allowed no one to oppress them….” After giving water baptism for two young girls in our church, we returned home and I was not able to come out of that anointing! Yes, I felt the presence of God in a mighty way at the place of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 105:13-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Final Personification Of Wisdom

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 15, 2015

Wisdom is compared to the virtuous woman in this closing poem of the book of Proverbs: the very personification of Christ, and of all that we all should be in Him.

A FINAL PERSONIFICATION OF WISDOM. Proverbs 31:10-31. The book of Proverbs closes with an acrostic poem which commends the virtues of a certain (literally) “strong woman” (Proverbs 31:10). If we have been reading through the book up to this point, we will find that we have met her already. This ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Judas Series

Contributed by Rick Boyne on May 12, 2020

Third message in a 7 sermon series. Judas shows us just how close a person can get to Jesus and not be a Christian.

Journey to the Resurrection Judas March 15, 2020 Morning Service Easter 2020 Series Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: Judas shows us just how close a person can get to Jesus and not be a Christian. Focus Passage: Matt 26:14-16, 21-25, 47-50 Supplemental Passage: And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-50

Denomination: Baptist

Jehoahaz Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Oct 2, 2022

Sermon introduces the church to the era covering the last three kings of Judah (minus Zedekiah) and how it closely mirrors American today.

Three Kings- 1 CCCAG, September 11th, 2001 Scripture: 2 Kings 23:30-35 Today we are going to begin a short series of three messages detailing the lives of the last three kings of Judah that ruled after Josiah died. I say 3 and not 4 because I’m not including Zedekiah as he was not a true king, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 23:30-35

Denomination: Assembly Of God

An Enemy Within (1 Samuel 18)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 14, 2025

How often do we find an enemy who is close to us? Let's look at 1 Samuel 18.

Will faithful servants of God have enemies even from within? How should we treat them? Let’s begin in 1 Samuel 18. Did Jonathan and David become the best of friends? As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When Doubt Is Called Proof

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 27, 2025

True prophets invite testing; a claim that denial proves authenticity is a closed loop and never the biblical measure of God’s voice.

Opening – The Self-Proving Prophet Let me start with a single, startling sentence: > “One proof I have that I am a prophet of God is if you deny that it is so.” Let it sink in. It sounds clever at first, like a riddle that wins no matter how you answer. If you agree, the claim is ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 8:20, Matthew 7:15-20, 1 John 4:1, Acts 17:11, John 10:37  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

But If From There PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 25, 2023

God wants to be found and is always close to us, and we must continually seek a deeper relationship with Him through wholehearted pursuit.

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, it's truly wonderful to see all of your smiling faces today as we gather to worship and seek the Lord together. Have you ever felt like God is distant or hard to find? Well, I have some incredible news for you today: God wants to be found and He is closer ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:29

Topics: God's Presence

A Better Hope Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 19, 2018

If you truly want to become a better person, don’t depend on the law; depend on Christ, your powerful and perfect High Priest.

In his recent book Soul Keeping, John Ortberg talks about being with friends at an open-air street fair when they spotted a mechanical bull that tries to buck people off. They guy operating the bull said, “Watching it isn't nearly as fun as riding.” So John told the bull operator that he wanted to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 7:18-28

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Response To The Carnage And Human Suffering

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Sep 12, 2001

There is too much violence and God is mad about it but we need to take a close look at our own hearts and respond with the hope of the Gospel.

A Response to the Carnage and Human Suffering Tonight, we are stunned as board members of PBC! -Shortly before 9am, first plane crashes into one of the towers. - Shortly after 9 am, second plane crashes into second tower -40 minutes after the New York attacks, another aircraft crashes into ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18, Luke 15:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Heavenly Worship Series

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Sep 18, 2007

Our worship on earth is often a man-made construct of songs, actions and words. It ought to more closely resemble the worship that is occurring in heaven!

Encountering God – Part 5 – “Heavenly Worship” Review: I have been preaching about worship for the past few weeks. Last week, If you weren’t here, you missed an opportunity to connect with God in a powerful way. There are many reasons people come to church, (see friends, hear music, hear a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:11-12

Denomination: Baptist