Sermons on Common Ground:

Doing The Holy Hug Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 4, 2013

The "holy kiss" was a common way to show love and acceptance in the early church. What was that "kiss" intended to accomplish for God and how can we (who often don’t do that) accomplish the same goals?

OPEN: For the next 4 weeks, we’re going to be looking at what the Bible says about kissing (pause). You know, the Bible is just FULL of kissing. There are stories where sons kiss their fathers. Friends kissing friends/ brothers kissing brothers. People kissing false idols. Kissing between a woman ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:3-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Deeper Look: Verses 3-4 Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jul 11, 2014

Jude told the believers in this letter that his desire was to write to them about their 'common' salvation, which is in Christ, but that there was a MUCH more pressing matter that he felt compelled to address! A heresy was 'afoot' that he desired to quell

Sermon Brief Date Written: July 08, 2014 Date Preached: July 09, 2014 Where Preached: OPBC (Wed - PM) Sermon Details: Series Title: A Deeper Look: Key Verses Sermon Title: Verse 3-4 Sermon Text: Jude 1:3-4 [ESV] Introduction: 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Universal Sin Problem For Humanity Series

Contributed by Robert Simmons on Jan 1, 2014

PAUL HAS SHOWN THE RELIGIOUS AND THE HEATHEN ARE ALL BOUND BY SIN IN ROMANS 1 & 2. IN ROMANS 3, HE GOES ON TO SHOW HOW ALL OF HUMANITY SHARES A COMMON PROBLEM OF OUR SINFUL NATURE & STATE

Romans 3: Universal Sinfulness of Mankind 1. What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? a. Paul is going to address the benefit of the law and truth in our sinful lives. 2. Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. a. Psalms ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-31

Denomination: Church Of God

With Whom Are We At War?

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Sep 26, 2009

Ordinary Proper 21: Divisions among Christians are not new. Unfortunately, they are all too common - even among the same church members. But we are called to be one because of the price paid to make us one - the Cross!

At one time, we had a large aquarium. It was fun to keep it up and to learn about the different sorts of tropical fish that we kept. One of my very favorite fish was the Betta Splendens. Sometimes they are called bettas or they are called Siamese Fighting Fish. There is a picture of a betta on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-41

Denomination: Lutheran

Lazarus And The Rich Man

Contributed by Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Aug 2, 2012

It has become common practice to see as the whole meaning of this story that the rich should help the poor... But this particular story especially, if one allows oneself to be affected fully by its original meaning, is a very concrete proclamation of the

One cannot understand and preach the gospel concretely enough. A real evangelical sermon must be like holding a pretty red apple in front of a child or a glass of cool water in front of a thirsty person and then asking: do you want it? We should be able to talk about matters of our faith in such a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Returns To Home Of Mary And Martha Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 24, 2018

As the pilgrims came to Jerusalem for the Passover, there was a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm over the ministry of Christ. Popular opinion among the common people was in His favor. However, the leaders made it clear that anyone who saw Christ---

Bethany (41) Returns to Home of Mary and Martha John 11:55-12:1 55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you ...read more

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 Church Of The New Testament - Part 6 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Feb 14, 2018

Part 6 - While still in its infancy, the church began to experience serious problems. Problems in the church from inside and outside sources seem to be a common element that plagues Christians in every age. What is the solution?

This 13-part series of classes has been many years in the making. About 25 years ago I began in earnest to examine the features, character and characteristics of the church as it existed in its earliest years. As I sometimes do, I kept my notes all along the way, and this series of classes is to a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:43-47, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 1 Corinthians 11:20-34, 1 Corinthians 11:1-17, James 5:1-8, James 4:1-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Galatians 3:1-5, Galatians 1:6-10, 1 Corinthians 15:1-58, 1 Corinthians 14:1-40, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Galatians 2:11-21, Acts 6:1-6, 1 Corinthians 7:1-40, 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, Romans 14:1-4, 2 Peter 2:1-22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

He’s Here; Lives And Communities Are Changing! Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Nov 23, 2012

Gorped, To stare wide eyed at something, jaw hanging down in amazement. Please feel free to use this word, you will not likely find it in dictionaries, but is in reasonably common use in New Zealand. The King has been forecast for thousands of years. Man

Forecast King! Advent Last weekend, the long weekend on the Friday along with what must have been most of the population of the South Island, Rochelle and her parents and I went to the A[griculture] & P[astoral] Show. We did all the standard show stuff, the watching balloons drifting heavenward ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Romans 13:11-14

Denomination: Salvation Army

My Need For Revival Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Apr 13, 2024

Ezra tore his garment, pulled out some of his hair, and collapsed on the ground in a public place so that the remnant could see his grief. When you tore your garment in Bible times, you weren’t pitching a fit. Instead, you were showing deep remorse.

Every Christian and every church will need revival. Most every single Christian I know has times in their lives when they need revival. Revival is part of the pattern the Holy Spirit uses to reconnect you to the gospel.1 Revival and spiritual awakening is when a group of people rediscover the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 106:34-39, John 16:8, Luke 5:8, 1 John 1:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

How To Experience The Goodness Of God

Contributed by Cameron Conway on Dec 13, 2018

A core part of our relationship with Christ is rooted and grounded in our faith in the goodness of God. By that I mean we have a trust, love and respect for God which is built upon our knowledge that He is a good and loving God who is trying to restore a creation which has gone haywire.

A core part of our relationship with Christ is rooted and grounded in <strong>our faith in the goodness of God</strong>. By that I mean we have a trust, love and respect for God which is built upon our knowledge that He is a good and loving God who is trying to restore a creation which ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:6, Nahum 1:7, Mark 10:18, Job 36:11, Psalm 107:8, Romans 8:28, Psalm 34:8-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare

By What Authority?

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 21, 2014

Who is Jesus? Was He just a man. Or was He a myth? Or is He the Divine Christ?

By What Authority? Luke 19:45-20:8 Luke has just given extensive coverage of the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday. (See sermon: “It’s My Party, and I’ll Cry if I Want To”) So why does Luke give only one verse to the cleansing of the Temple when Matthew and especially Mark give extensive coverage? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Modern Family - Pt. 3 - Arranged Marriages Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 23, 2012

We are a long ways from the days of "Leave it to Beaver"and "The Brady Bunch"! What does God have to say to the "Modern Family"?

Modern Family
Pt. 3 – Arranged Marriages The Partridge Family ain’t singing no more. Family Affairs has a whole new meaning now that Mr. French would have never imagined. We will never be able to go back to yesterday. We must learn to deal with today and tomorrow. However, even ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ministry Is A Liability

Contributed by Heather Cook on Jan 4, 2019

A personal story of my first few years in ministry. I tie it into the fact that when you are doing effective ministry you will have enemies. Just as Christ did.

I was 21 when I first set foot in Connecticut Valley Seventh-Day-Adventist Church. I was nearly a month married, full of enthusiasm and excitement for the adventure of “real” life. Totally unprepared for the reality of it. I was well armed with a bevy of important and well-educated sounding ...read more

Scripture: John 7:6-7

Denomination: Adventist

Hanging In There Through Anxiety Series

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Oct 10, 2007

Anxiety is common to all people, even Christians. We can learn to handle our anxiety by understanding that God is our ever present help, His strength is adequate for anything you might face and His help stands on its own.

We are living in anxious times. As I grew up we faced total annihilation by way of the bomb. My folks actually considered building a bomb shelter. Some of you may have done that. We wondered what would happen. Our anxieties are ever expanding. We have seen people poisoned by simply eating food that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Baptist