Sermons on Connected Ideas:

Playing It Safe: Job's Friend Zophar Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 7, 2009

For Lent and Annunciation: Zophar’s counsel is to "play it safe" by sticking to ideas rather than engaging persons. He thinks that security is the goal. God in Christ takes the risk of loving us and living with us.

Every human heart is so made that it can be hurt. Of that I have no doubt. Every human heart is subject to hurt, to pain, to shock. Every one of us is subject to feelings that we do not enjoy -- disappointment, anger, despair, guilt, anxiety -- a whole range of painful feelings. And we either deal ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Gracious Living

Contributed by Mark Opperman on May 29, 2013

We are responsible for our bros. & sisters. The church family was God’s idea and was meant for good. Encourage always, but sometimes a stronger, bolder approach is needed, while being gracious with one another.

Gracious Living 2 Thessalonians 3:13-18 Intro: Two preachers were on the roadside with a sign that read, "The End is Near - turn around now before it’s too late". A passing driver yelled "Leave us alone you religious nuts." Then the preachers heard a loud splash. One preacher said to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:13-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Am A Disciple Of Jesus! Series

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 28, 2020

We are called to be disciples of Jesus which means we are to follow Him and obey Him as Savior and Lord. We must not allow the idea of discipleship to morph into membership, and Christianity to be replaced by "churchianity."

A. Today’s sermon begins a new sermon series on discipleship that I am calling “I Am A Disciple Of Jesus!” 1. I spent some time wrestling with what to call the series. 2. I thought about naming the series “The Discipleship Adventure” or “The Discipleship Journey” – those titles sound inspiring and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23, Galatians 2:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If You've Seen Me Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on May 19, 2022

What do you picture when you picture God: A heavenly tyrant and scrupulous bookkeeper? "Every idea and assumption, says Trevor Hudson, must be measured against the person of Jesus."

Last Sunday I asked you to mentally or physically draw a picture of what you think God looks like. It may have sounded silly or trite, but I was very, very serious. As preacher, author, and lecturer Trevor Hudson so powerfully and succinctly put it: “In each of our hearts and minds there is ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6-11

Denomination: United Methodist

The Overlooked Question Of Jesus

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Nov 4, 2022

Belief in God is fading from all parts of society. The idea of faith is all but ignored. Jesus told us it would be this way before He returns. Is your faith in the Lord in the same shape as the world?

" Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8, NASB). This question should be a clear signal for anyone with "eyes to see" that any idea of some last minute "national revival", which many well-meaning brethren would like ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:8, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 5:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

Alternative Creation Theory No. 1: Theistic Evolution

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on May 15, 2023

The first theory of creation apart from Scripture teaches that God used evolution as part of the creative process. Is this a viable explanation for our origins? What does science and the Bible have to say about this idea?

Our look at the first of the four alternative theories to the biblical account of creation begins with what I would refer to as a philosophical mix of oil and water. On the surface, this theory might sound feasible for those who worship at the altar of reason and compromise, but it falls short ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:17, Romans 5:12-21, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, Genesis 1:1-3, John 1:1-4, Colossians 1:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Growing Higher Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 6, 2024

The Bible forms the foundation of our faith, and if that foundation isn't sound, your faith could crumble. But why would that be true, and what happens if we don't accept that idea?

ILLUS: A famous Christian writer told of doing a lectureship at Ohio State University. As he was being driven to the lecture, he passed the new Wexner Art Center and the driver said, “This is a new art building for the university. It is a fascinating building designed in the post-modernist view ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Visionary View: Don't Close Your Eyes To The Truth Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Sep 10, 2023

We live in a world filled with various perspectives and ideas, but as believers, it's crucial that we seek the truth found in God's Word. Let us explore the Scriptures for guidance.

"Visionary View: Don't Close Your Eyes to the Truth" Today, we delve into an essential topic: "Visionary View: Don't Close Your Eyes to the Truth." We live in a world filled with various perspectives and ideas, but as believers, it's crucial that we seek the truth ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, John 9:1-41, Proverbs 11:2, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 15:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Does The Bible Say About Sex Before Marriage?

Contributed by Robert Irvine on Aug 2, 2024

Sex outside of marriage is so commonplace (inside and outside the church), and many people do not even consider the idea of getting married, that it appears that no-one actually knows what God wants for us.

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

I Will Be Back Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 18, 2025

The idea that people could rise from the dead is beyond belief. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would NOT come back from the grave. So, why would we believe that we would?

Howard Stern (who’s not really a nice man) has a popular program on Sirius radio where he interviews politicians and movie stars and so on. About 5 years ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a guest on his show and during the interview, Howard Stern asked Schwarzenegger “Tell me, governor, what happens ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Embodying A New Life Part 2 Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 10, 2009

There is a new way of life… it is the life of Christ… who has come and in his death and resurrected life… inaugurated the start of a new humanity… which we can enter and begin to embody. Our spiritual formation involves connecting with the new life that

Embodying a New Life – Part 2 Series: The Liberated Life (Colossians) Brad Bailey - May 31, 2009 Intro – The search for a new means of life that can save us from our own divide. Two of the big early summer films that just came out are the new Terminator and Star Trek films. Like so many science ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Work And Your Calling Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Feb 12, 2020

The church that Jesus intends is made up of people who understand the connection between their work and their calling. The key to being effective as we learn from Joseph is to be N.I.C.E.R. (an acrostic of 5 truths)

Your Work And Your Calling Video – Labor Day Inspiration Good morning MGCC! THIS MORNING – Labor Day Sunday 2019… I want to unpack not only a powerful… BUT – a life and community impacting truth, about ‘Your Work and Your Calling. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:17, Psalm 90:17, Colossians 3:23-24, Matthew 28:18-20, Genesis 39:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Great Commish Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 5, 2003

MAIN IDEA: The Great Commission is the Church’s marching orders, direction from our Commander in Chief, the center of God’s will for a church’s ministry. The Church is about glorifying God, and one main way to do so is by participating in the Great Com

Here is the bulletin insert, followed by the sermon (after the ****’s) The Great Commission Dissected The clearest and fullest presentation of the “Great Commission” is found in Matt. 28:19-20. These words were spoken about four weeks after the Resurrection. The 11 Apostles met Jesus in a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You've Got A Lot Going For You, Part 2: The Trinity

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Jul 29, 2019

It can be confusing to talk about serving one God who is 3 persons. We may think we can just ignore abstract ideas like that. But this part of the nature of our God is one of the richest blessings of being a Christian

Last week we started looking at the main body of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He starts out with a very high falutin statement of the glory of God, listing first, blessings we have received through God the Father, then through God the Son, then through God the Holy Spirit. Starting out like ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Victory Through Sorrow’s Deep Sea – Easter Message From A Poem – Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 21, 2023

In this 3 Part series we are going to look at Calvary and draw material from Isaiah and the Psalms and the Gospels. The messages are focussed on the Trial and what happened at Calvary. They will all be connected with a poem of mine. This is a serious message because Calvary is so pivotal.

VICTORY THROUGH SORROW’S DEEP SEA – EASTER MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PART 1 The following poem is one I did for Easter 2022 but each stanza comes from one of the following sources:- Psalm 22 Psalm 69 Isaiah 52 and 53 The Gospel accounts of the betrayal night and the crucifixion. This is how I did ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:9, Matthew 27:24, John 19:12, 1 Timothy 4:2, John 19:5, John 19:14, Acts 2:23, John 19:15-16, Matthew 8:12, Matthew 7:23, Luke 23:26, Isaiah 52:14, Isaiah 53:10, Hebrews 12:2, Revelation 19:16, Zechariah 14:9, Isaiah 53:2, Psalm 22:7-8, Matthew 27:29-30, Psalm 22:6-8, Mark 14:34, Hebrews 1:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational