Sermons on Closeness:

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

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

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

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

The Old Year

Contributed by David Salisbury on Sep 12, 2002

A sermon for closing out the old year by realizing that "the end of a thing is better than it’s beginning." (Ecc. 7:8)

As I reflected on the end of the year and what to say to you in this last Sunday morning sermon of 2001, I thought of Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes 7:8 “The end of a thing is better than its beginning;” Now I know some brethren would like to say that a proper translation of that verse is that the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:8, Ecclesiastes 7:10, Lamentations 3:27, Isaiah 40:31, Revelation 2:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

"Let The Redeemed Of The Lord Say So”

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Nov 21, 2004

Every child of God needs to take a close look at the “who, what, where, when and why” of sharing their witness of salvation with everyone they meet.

“LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO” “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-3, Matthew 23:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

So Near And Yet So Far

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 14, 2009

We will never be as close to Christ as we could be or think we are if we are oblivious to today’s issues or build monuments to past achievements.

We can be close to something, and yet miss it. We can be almost on target, almost where we want to .be, and yet, if we’re not exactly where we ought to be, we miss it. So near and yet so far. A couple of years ago, when my wife and I were touring England, we were in Victoria Station, one of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-36

Denomination: Baptist

Grow Up! Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on May 28, 2009

We are to be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, and we are to be moving towards maturity in the faith. This sermon looks at this teaching more closely.

Grow Up! Text: Ephesians 4:13-16 By: Ken McKinley (Read Text) Nostalgia is a powerful thing. Have you ever noticed that when some people talk about the past they refer to it as the “Good ole days?” TV commercials have picked up on this. I remember seeing the commercials for Life cereal where ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rekindling Your First Love Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Dec 28, 2008

The first churches in history were just like the churches now...and they have a lot to teach us about staying close to Jesus.

Sermon for CATM – December 28 – Churches of Revelation – Ephesus and Sardis – Revelation 2:1-7; 3:1-6 Today we begin a 5-part series on the Churches of Revelation. Yes, it is a bit odd that we’re beginning such a series on the last Sunday of the year and that we will be starting the new year with ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Life God's Way

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Jan 25, 2010

Because Christ is the source of all life, you must stay close to Him in order to experience “the abundant life”.

I. The Nature of God obligates you to submit to Him. A. God is present (omnipresent). B. God is active (immanent). Genesis 1; Eph 4:6 II. The Nature of man obligates you to reflect the glory of God. A. Man surmises He is an accident. B. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

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

Overcoming Sin

Contributed by Mark Roper on Nov 20, 2007

Sin is nothing to play with. It has the strength to defeat you if you get too close to it with excessive confidence in your own strength.

Sin John 8:34 Sin is more than wrong doing; it is wrong being, Sin is nothing to play with. It has the strength to defeat you if you get too close to it with excessive confidence in your own strength. A well-to-do man advertised for a chauffeur. Three applicants came. His first question ...read more

Scripture: John 8:34

Denomination: Church Of God