Sermons on Closer To God:

God's Refinery

Contributed by Chip Blackshear on Jun 2, 2012

Why does God permit pain and suffering? One reason is to help shape us to be more like Christ.

“GOD’S REFINERY” Isaiah 48:1-11 First Presbyterian Church, Corpus Christi, TX Rev. Charles S. Blackshear • April 29, 2012 Have you ever had one of those days when it seems that nothing is going your way? From the time you get up in the morning it’s as if the whole ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 48:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Relationship With God

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 23, 2025

Cultivating a personal relationship with God is a deeply meaningful journey—one that blends intentionality, vulnerability, and spiritual practice. Eventually, this relationship impacts all our other relationships. What is your relationship with Jesus?

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Play the video “The Story.” INTRODUCTION: God desires to build a personal relationship with each of us, cultivating our hearts, character, and purpose to reflect His love and grace in the world. You might wonder, “Why would God want a relationship with me?” Well, He loves ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:9-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

89. The Love Of The Father Series

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Nov 18, 2018

It is the love of the Father that has initiated this whole process of creating a holy people within whom He can come and dwell

89. IN GOD'S IMAGE - THE LOVE OF THE FATHER This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Ephesians 1:5, Ecclesiastes 3:11, John 17:20-26, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 5:19, 1 John 4:7-8, 1 John 3:1, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Luke 19:10, Romans 5:8, Romans 8:38-39, John 10:38, 2 Corinthians 13:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Fourteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B: Country Music, I Aint Leaving You, Thorn

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 4, 2024

then I realized that God uses not just our gifts, but our thorns too

Country music often tells stories about real life problems, thus the joke, “What do you get when you play country music backward?” You get back your wife, your dog, and your truck. One song tells about a man taking his beloved wife, whom he truly loves, to his 10th High School reunion, where he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7

Denomination: Catholic

Practicing Your Piety In Secret

Contributed by Carla Powell on Jan 2, 2002

The life of faith is low-profile. We minimize ourselves so that God can be magnified and glorified. Contrasts showy piety and quiet faith actions.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day in Lent, the season of the church year during which we focus our attention on our devotion to God before Easter. Ash Wednesday gives us an unusual opportunity to focus on our mortality and our sin. These are not popular topics, nor issues that we like to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 6:16-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Sermon # 28 - Discerning Prophecies Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Nov 22, 2024

Jonah was a prophet of God sent with a prophetic word for the people of Nineveh. In today’s context, ‘How can we discern who is a true prophet of God and who are false?’ God’s word gives us clear instructions on how to test and treat prophecies.

We read in Jonah 3:3-4, “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city, of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, 1 Kings 13:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 14:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Mark 10:9, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

The Love Of God

Contributed by Gary Huckaby on Feb 16, 2003

God’s Love saves sinners! But it is God’s Love that calls us to the ministry too!

A Sermon For You A Ministry of Huckaby’s Evangelism Today’s Sermon Title The Love of God By Evangelist Gary L. Huckaby Greetings, my dear brothers and sisters In Christ Jesus. Thank you for seeing fit to come and listen to this humble servant of our Lord and Saviour. I hope and pray that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:5-17

Denomination: Baptist

Focusing On God Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Nov 23, 2004

What a powerful church; what was their secret? They had learned to make focusing on God in praise and thanksgiving a life habit -- they got the "gratitude attitude." *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

FOCUSING ON GOD (3rd in a Purpose Driven Series - "The Way the Church Ought to Be" NOTE: I am indebted to some sermoncentral.com users for some of the illustrations in this sermon. Ac 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Holiness

A God Copier

Contributed by Frederic Whittier on Feb 27, 2007

We are called to be like God in this present world. This sermon shows what a "God-copier" looks like.

A God Copier! Ephesians 5:1-3 While I was still in High school, the Theatre Arts department took a group of students to New York City. A friend of mine, named Jason Carr, was one of the lucky theatre people who got to go. While in NYC, he encountered a man selling watches on the street. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-3

Denomination: Nazarene

Thanksgiving To God

Contributed by William Baeta on Aug 15, 2003

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Fa

Theme: Thanksgiving to God Text: Pr. 9:1-6; Eph. 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for the forgiveness of sin that reconciles us to God and the other is for the ability to lead a victorious life that glorifies God. Whether we admit it or not, each one of us longs for ...read more

Scripture: John 6:51-58, Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Peace Of God

Contributed by Bob Johnston on Jul 2, 2005

Sometimes in the struggles of life even we Christians… Who trust and believe… in Jesus Christ… Forget about… the Peace of God that passes all understanding!!

THE PEACE OF GOD INTRODUCTION Sometimes in the struggles of life even we Christians… Who trust and believe… in Jesus Christ… Forget about… the Peace of God that passes all understanding!! In the struggles and heartaches of life it is so easy to get burdened down… To fret and to worry… and to ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Church Of God

Honoring God Series

Contributed by Keith Andrews on Sep 22, 2008

In this passage, Nebuchadnezzar gives us two lessons in how to bring Honor to God.

Honoring God: Daniel 4:28-35 Sermon by CH(CPT) Keith J. Andrews All scripture marked ESV: The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society. This morning I bring to you a story of Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was the great king of Babylon the great hero of ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:28-35

Denomination: Baptist

God Of Wonders

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 4, 2014

God reveals Himself through the plagues. He is powerful, purposeful and merciful.

God is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. • But our understanding of Him is not. We grow in our knowledge of Him, continually. Our understanding is not always right. • Our view of Him is challenged by the changing circumstances around us, by the experiences ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Is Merciful Series

Contributed by Robert Fa’atoia-Collins on Aug 18, 2011

God is so merciful that he is willing to forgive us even if we have fallen deeper to the point that we think that no one can save us.

God Is Merciful Robert F Collins When I grew up in the church, I remember having a basic understanding of what Christians believe and what I thought Christianity is all about: basically, that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for us, and that he rose from the dead. But I did not understand ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:11

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

God Of The Shakedown

Contributed by Chad Garrison on Aug 3, 2009

We will all encounter struggle and pain in our lives, but God is still GOD in these things, and will use them for growth in you and ultimately His glory!

God of the Shakedown 1 Kings 19 We’ve all had moments where the world seems to fall down around us don’t we? Some of us may be walking through a season like this right now. I want to thank Geri for her message last week again on the victory that we have in our savior. But why is it that as soon as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:8-18

Denomination: Foursquare