Sermons on Context Of The Text:

Who Is My Enemy?

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 5, 2013

The devil, and the whole armor of God. Link inc. to formatted text, audio.

Who is My Enemy? Ephesians 6:10-18 Complete sermon at: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/myenemy.html We move now from Walking in Unity, Purity, and Harmony to Walking in Victory. The Christian life is not a playground, it's a battleground. It's not a frolic, it's a fight, the good fight! It's not ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Who Is Christ And Who Am I?

Contributed by Bryan Beverly on Sep 16, 2014

This text reminds us that distorted views of God and ourselves are revealed by trouble.

3) And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24) A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25) And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26) And he said to them, “Why are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Denomination: Baptist

Who Killed Jesus Christ?

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 17, 2014

7 frontrunners. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Who Killed Jesus Christ? John 12:23-24 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WhoKilled.html Jesus died and was buried, and sprung up in everlasting life! He begins now to give the disciples some teaching about what they are about to witness in a just a few days. This is all new to them, but the cross ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-24

Denomination: Baptist

Resurrection Of Jesus

Contributed by Chris Blackshaw on Apr 13, 2012

In depth explanation of the biblical text and a reflection of what it means for us today

What a day it turned out to be, in fact what a life changing and challenging week it had been. Jesus’ arrest, interrogation and crucifixion, leading to his death on the cross, had seen his faithful followers scatter and hide themselves away, as they shared with each other their grief for a ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

"Speak, For Thy Servant Heareth” (1 Of 2)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 22, 2022

Notice these words in our text, “Speak Lord…thy servant heareth.”

There is a commercial on television by the Verizon phone company, where a man walks around with a cell phone in a large city, and he repeatedly says, “Can you hear me now?” The purpose of the commercial is to show us that if you have this particular cell phone you can hear from anywhere. One of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Who Is Willing To Consecrate His Service To The Lord?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 24, 2022

Today in our text, we have a question that is asked of everyone of us.

Have you noticed how many unnecessary questions we are asked each day? You can go to some of these fast food places, and say to the man or the woman who is waiting on you, “Please give me a hamburger with everything on it!” But you do not get the words out of your mouth, before the employee will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:5

Denomination: Baptist

God Move Us This New Year

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Dec 23, 2021

The text offers us an image of why we should Praise God.

“God Move Us This New Year” Psalm 148 1. God move us to Praise? • The Psalmist tells us that heavens and their host will give Praise 1-4 • Earth offers its Praise 7*9 • All of humanity offer praise verses 11-12 • The people of God praise v 14 2. So, What is it that ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

"Ready Or Not… Here I Come!" Series

Contributed by John Bright on Dec 8, 2023

This sermon was preached on the first Sunday of Advent Teaching sheet at the end of the text

“Ready or Not… Here I Come!" Mark 13:32-37 First Sunday of Advent Mark 13:32-37 “32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:32-37, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, Ephesians 5:13-16, Revelation 21:3-5, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Blessed Be The Holy Name Of Jesus

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 31, 2024

The two texts look contradictory, but they are not, and that itself is part of the Good News.

Holy Name of Jesus 2025 Christian apologists are not people who are constantly making apologies, like some politicians. No, Christian apologia is defense of our faith. One of the recurring accusations made against the Christian Scriptures is that there are contradictions in the received texts. So, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23, Psalm 113:1-8, Philippians 2:5-11, Isaiah 7:14

Denomination: Catholic

Fight The Good Fight

Contributed by John Bright on Nov 2, 2025

This is a sermon for Veteran's Sunday. Teaching sheet at end of the text.

“Fighting the Good Fight” 1 Timothy 1:12-19 Veterans Sunday Pastor John Bright 1 Timothy 1 “12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-19, 1 Timothy 6:11-12, 1 Timothy 1:19-20, Ezekiel 33:1-6, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Genesis 4:8-9, Acts 5:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Parable Of The Lost Sons Luke 15:11-32

Contributed by Damon S Adams on Mar 16, 2016

This message is a exposition of the Parable of the Prodigal. The message demonstrates how rich the parable is and how the Middle Eastern context adds to our understanding of the meaning and application of the three main characters of the parable.

The Parable of the Lost Sons Luke 15: 11-32 Introduction – Going to Cyprus for an extended stay of 3 months when I was 3yrs old back in 1963, I experienced village life that plunged me into a context that in some ways probably resembled something of the village setting of the parable of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Overthink Truth

Contributed by Don Campbell on Apr 20, 2023

Overthinking the truth can result in the paralysis of analysis or it can result in distorted truths that are torn from the context in which they were spoken and made to serve as handmaidens for many false doctrines.

DON’T OVERTHINK TRUTH “Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?” (Eccl 7:16) INTRODUCTION A. Solomon is not suggesting a lukewarm relationship with God nor a lackadaisical pursuit of knowledge or wisdom, but we can overthink the truth, resulting ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:23-34, Matthew 23:23-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Seven Churches Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

The idea of 7 being symbolic of perfection and completion is almost universal, and, therefore, it is the easiest of all symbolic numbers to understand. It usually means all of the category being dwelt with in the context.

A math teacher asked one of her less enthusiastic students, "If I take 23 away from 30, what is the difference?" He responded, "That's what I say, what's the difference?" In other words, it made no difference to him. Not everybody enjoys math and working with numbers, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4

The Friend Of God - James 2:20-24 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 6, 2021

We are often told to trust God. But this passage makes trust seem more desirable by casting it in the context of friendship. This message defines friendship and explores what it means to have that with God.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical ...read more

Scripture: James 2:20-24

A Covenant Community Communicates Clearly Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 30, 2024

As James closes his letter to exiles, he concludes with instructions on three different topics - communication (oaths), prayer, and care. This sermon looks at the first of those in the context of a covenant community.

In the run up to the 1988 Presidential Election, Vice President George H.W. Bush famously said “Read my lips: no new taxes.” He was running on a platform of consistency. He sought to take the policies and success of the Reagan years into a new term. He, in essence, swore an oath, made a promise ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:25, Matthew 5:34-37, Matthew 23:16-22, Matthew 19:22, Zechariah 8:14-17, Psalm 32:3-4, 1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist