Sermons on Closer To God:

Reach Out And Touch Someone

Contributed by Chip Blackshear on Dec 3, 2016

Although He didn't need to, Jesus usually healed people by touching them. Human touch is very powerful and it can actually bring us closer to God.

This morning I want to talk about a very “touchy” subject. No, I don’t mean politics. For the past couple of months we have been discussing off and on the five senses and how we use them to know God better and today we’ve come to the fifth and final message in this series. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

St. Patrick, Faithful In Turbulent

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Mar 10, 2018

St. Patrick said “Am I willing to draw closer to God in turbulent times.” It was during St. Patrick’s time in slavery that he grew to have faith in prayer.

St. Patrick, Whose He? Faith in Turbulent Times One of the great leaders of New Testament is the Apostle Paul and he gives us this exhortation in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) Psalm 116:8-9 says, “For you O Lord, have delivered ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Should Christians Use Imagination In Prayer And Worship?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jul 8, 2023

Since the first century, every Born-Again Christian has a desire to draw closer to God through prayer and worship because the Holy Spirit occupies their spirit, mind, and body.

Prayer is part of the daily sanctification process by the Holy Spirit to prepare us to meet Jesus face-to-face when we leave this world and enter eternity (John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:16-21). Many 'techniques' have risen to help people along the path ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:6, 1 Corinthians 2:9, John 1:1-3, Proverbs 29:18, Hebrews 11:1, Joshua 1:8, Philippians 4:8-9, Mark 7:20-23, Genesis 6:5, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does The Bible Teach Meditation And Guided Imagery

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Apr 12, 2024

There is a resurgence of the word 'meditate' being used in churches today about personal devotional prayer as a way to draw closer to God as a person contemplates His divine attributes.

Many 'techniques' have risen to help people along the path of daily sanctification by learning how to pray and worship, which has resulted in something called contemplative spirituality, also known as meditation, guided imagery, centering, or listening prayer, using imagination and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8, 1 Timothy 4:11-16, Romans 12:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What God Says About God Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jan 25, 2009

God is bigger than we imagine and yet closer than we realize.

What God Says About God Isaiah 40 Rev. Brian Bill 1/25/09 Video: “Who is God?” (Dare2Share) People in our culture have a lot of questions about God. Unfortunately, many have no idea who God really is because their view of Him is an amalgamation of what they see on TV or movies or read in books. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

One Step Closer To The Tomb Tenebrae Service

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 27, 2023

This is a solemn service for the night of Good Friday. It is a candlelight service that brings Jesus to the tomb and then ends with a solemn and quiet dismissal.

Welcome. Introduce guests. Instructions: Tonight is going to be a little different from most services that you are used to. A solemn occasion. It commemorates the crucifixion, the death, and burial of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we begin our service, I emphasize that as the service ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Avoiding Arguments Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Oct 17, 2008

This sermon looks at three desires that cause arguments and four steps to help resolve arguments. I. Give in to God II. Resist the Devil III. Draw closer to God IV. Seek forgiveness

Avoiding Arguments We are going to look today at how to avoid arguments. Remember I have said that James is a very practical book – perhaps the most practical book in the Bible. As we get to chapter four James talks about how we are to avoid arguments. He doesn’t beat around the bush when he ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gratitude's Nemesis: The Grumble Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Understand the harmful effects of grumbling and the benefits of gratitude. Grumbling leads to discontentment and distances us from God, while gratitude brings us closer to God and improves our overall well-being.

Do you remember the movie 'Inside Out'? You know, the one with all the emotions living inside the girl's head? Imagine if there was a character in there called 'Grumble'. He'd be the one always complaining, always seeing the glass half empty. Funny in a movie, but not so cool in real life, right? ...read more

Topics: Gratitude, Complaining, Emotional Impact, Positive Psychology

The Danger Of Spiritual Backsliding In Leadership Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 16, 2025

The story of Manasseh reminds us that leadership carries great influence—either to bring a nation closer to God or to turn it away. It also illustrates the dangers of spiritual regression and the consequences of ignoring God’s covenant.

THE DANGER OF SPIRITUAL BACKSLIDING IN LEADERSHIP By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Kings 21:1-26 Supporting Texts: Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 Chronicles 33:1-20; Romans 1:21-28; Revelation 2:5 INTRODUCTION: 2 Kings 21 is one of the most tragic chapters in the history of Judah. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 21:1-26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Anatomy Of A Storm PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 12, 2023

Explores God's power and justice in life's storms, emphasizing that these trials serve to refine us and draw us closer to Him.

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a joy to gather together, even if it is in spirit and not in person, as we open God's word and seek His wisdom. Each time we come before the Lord, we come with open hearts and minds, ready to receive His divine instruction. Today, we turn our ...read more

Scripture: Nahum 1:2-7

Topics: God's Use Of Storms

Faith And Doubt In Between

Contributed by Jon Lipka on Apr 29, 2014

During our life, from baptism and going home to the Lord, we live "in between" faith and doubt. But not all doubt is bad, and it can be used to draw us closer to God.

What is our motto? “A believing church in a doubting world.” St. Thomas the Disciple is a church that believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. What does that—believing in Jesus Christ—mean? Isn’t that the real question? Lots of churches, real and so-called, profess some ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-21

Denomination: Anglican

God's Way Of Guiding Us Through Discomfort PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 15, 2024

This sermon explores how God's presence and promises provide comfort and growth through personal grief, leading to unshakeable joy and closer relationship with Him.

Beloved congregation, as we gather together today, let our hearts be open and our spirits receptive to the message God has in store for us. We find ourselves in a world that is often filled with sorrow and grief, a world where heartache is a common language spoken by all, regardless of race, ...read more

Scripture: John 16:22, Psalm 34:18

Topics: Grief, Loss

How To Thirst For God

Contributed by David Scudder on Dec 4, 2011

What do we need more than anything else in our lives? We know that the answer is "God" but do we really live that way? Trials reveal what we are trusting to make life work. Here we see David's deep longing to be closer to his God.

INTRODUCTION: "In his riveting and unsettling book Night, Elie Wiesel describes his boyhood experiences as one of the countless victims of the Holocaust. Ripped from his home and separated from everyone in his family except his father (who would die in the death camps), Wiesel suffered a dark night ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Jesus Message For The Good Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Apr 28, 2023

There are people whose lives are lived closer to God’s calling than others. One of those is found in Acts 10 - and he was not a faithful Jew. Instead, he was a Gentile named Cornelius.

The Jesus Message for The Good  Acts 10 Introduction After the resurrection of Jesus, the news of new life began to spread. In Matthew 28, Jesus characterized it as a Message for the Globe. In Acts 2, a confrontation of those who had crucified Christ, a Message for the Guilty. In Acts ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pray Without Ceasing

Contributed by Michael Buckingham on Jun 24, 2011

Are you close to God? Do you feel like you need to or want to get closer to God? Read this sermon about prayer and find out how you can hold a real conversation with God!

Pray Without Ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 says “pray without ceasing” which is the title of our sermon today. I have recently been reading the biography of George Muller, and like many others I have been very much inspired in reading about his amazing prayer life. It is recorded that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Denomination: Baptist