Sermons on Contrast:

Any Other Gospel Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 3, 2011

Without attention and energy, we humans will default back to our flesh pleasing ways even after coming to Jesus. That's where the lie of legalism is so pervasive. Paul begins his battle against legalism by contrasting human achievement with grace.

We humans love to accomplish things. It’s so we can tell whether we are a success or not. This is also true when it comes to pleasing God. “Lord, I prayed and read your Word for an hour today.” “Father, I refrained from clobbering that guy who cut in front of me.” We ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-23

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

At The House Of Caiaphas

Contributed by Melvin Newland on May 19, 2015

We’re stopping at the house of Caiaphas, & what we see there is rank hypocrisy. So let’s to look at it. But after we do, we’ll also look at the genuineness of Jesus, & point out the contrast between the two.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK When people are invited to attend church, an excuse we sometimes hear is this: “I don’t go to church because there are so many hypocrites there.” Have you ever heard that excuse? It’s been around a long time. Those who love the church have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:57-75

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Red Sticks - Blue Sticks

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Aug 7, 2009

Ordinary Proper 14 - St. Paul draws a contrast between the follower of God and the person who doesn’t know of his love in Christ. He encourages us to guard our identity in Christ by illustrating what life in Christ "looks like".

Recently I was remembering the very first sermon that I preached. It was in the mid 70s at a Baptist Church. I was a young sailor recently married. My new bride had been raised in a Baptist church and I was a freshly catechized Lutheran. We tried the local Lutheran Church – but it was not an ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

The Law Of Christ

Contributed by Phil Smith on Feb 23, 2009

Sometimes in all the Christian rhetoric, we forget the simplicity of what following Christ looks like. "Good Works" has been given a bad name because they are viewed as a contrast to faith and grace. However, once you get past the elementary teaching of

The Law of Christ I. Introduction Lately, the ladies of our church have had a couple of opportunities to help some folks. If you are not already aware, some of our ladies are cooking meals for Peter and Theda Kempenar on a regular basis. Also, they supplied a good bunch of sandwiches for Teri ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jairus’ Daughter Raised And A Woman With A Hemorrhage Healed Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Aug 8, 2017

You can see here the contrast of light and darkness. The little girl is twelve years old and the light is passing out of her life. The woman has suffered from an issue of blood for twelve years, but now she is passing from darkness into light.

-AD 28- East Shore of Galilee Lesson: Jairus’ Daughter Raised and a Woman with a Hemorrhage Healed Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56 Matthew- 18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56

Denomination: Baptist

Kingdom Promised Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Aug 25, 2017

Jesus is talking about His second coming, when He will come in glory to judge the world. This is a great contrast to His first coming when He was abused and despised by the people. But at his second coming we will see the Captain of our salvation coming

-AD 29- Caesarae Philippi Title: Kingdom Promised Matthew 16:27-28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:26-27) -Matthew- For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (Matthew 16:27) Jesus is talking about His second coming, when He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:27-28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:26-27

Denomination: Baptist

After God’s Own Heart

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jan 21, 2022

David was a man after God’s own heart, because of his integrity. Through an overview of David's life, we explore what it is to have the heart of God, by contrasting “Saul’s heart of defiance” with “David’s heart of obedience.”

Baptist Men’s Day, on the Southern Baptist Convention calendar, is observed on January 24, 2021 (which, of course, we are a week late). I have written this morning’s sermon to recognize the men of our congregation, and we’re going to be looking at living a life of integrity before God. Our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:21-23

Denomination: Baptist

Jephthah = Rejection – Victory – And Disaster - All In The One Cup - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 6, 2022

The story of Jephthah, a judge of Israel, continues and takes us through deceit, stupidity, betrayal, victory, defeat. It reveals the honour of a daughter contrasted with the utter and complete disgrace of her father. Jephthah, a flawed man had to "battle his demons".

JEPHTHAH = REJECTION – VICTORY – AND DISASTER - ALL IN THE ONE CUP - PART 2 Read PART 1 before reading this second part. It will then make a lot more sense. MAN’S EVIL LAID BARE – GOING BACK TO FIRST BASE {{Judges 11:7 Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:7, Judges 11:8-9, Judges 11:10, Judges 11:12-28, Judges 11:29, John 14:16-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:34, 1 Peter 4:7, Judges 11:30-31, Judges 11:34-35, Judges 12:1-3, Judges 11:36-40, Judges 12:7, Hebrews 11:32  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Rich Young Ruler Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Aug 3, 2023

When the rich young ruler comes to Jesus, we have a living example before the eyes of the disciples of the contrast. Here is someone willing to pay the price of spiritual discipline, yet someone who could not with childlike faith give his all to Christ.

What are some of the qualities that our present-day culture put’s value on? Our society values youth. The beauty industry capitalizes on the quest for the eternal youthfulness. They sell skin creams, facial packs, hair color and offer cosmetic surgery. It is all because people value ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-27, Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 18:18-30

Denomination: Baptist

Listening With Love

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Dec 22, 2019

Sermon for Advent 4, Year A. Sermon contrasts how Joseph could have treated Mary and how he actually acted toward her. Mary has a story (and thus Jesus) because Joseph listened with love and showed mercy.

Preparing for 2020: Listening with Love I feel for Joseph. Not only because he’s often overlooked, but in some ways I understand what it’s like to be Joseph. In 1994 I found a new level of solidarity with Joseph. The children’s director concluded that the pastor’s grandson didn’t need a “speaking” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Episcopal

God’s Kingdom Economy Series

Contributed by Apostle Dr. Ruben L. Broadnax Jr. on Oct 25, 2024

"This sermon introduces God's Kingdom economy, contrasting worldly financial systems with Kingdom principles. It emphasizes financial victory through alignment with God’s Word and explores how Kingdom living leads to freedom and provision."

In a world dominated by financial stress, economic uncertainty, and the unending pursuit of more, God's people are invited to embrace a different reality—God’s Kingdom economy, which operates on principles that are higher and more stable than the world's systems. Jesus makes this clear when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Other

Sermon. Choosing The Right Path

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Sep 4, 2025

Psalm 1 also call on all of us to make a decision and then summarizes the contrast between the righteous and the wicked by describing the blessed life of the righteous as a thriving tree nourished by God's word, and the futile life of the wicked as chaff blown away by the wind

Sermon. Choosing the Right Path Scripture Text: Psalms 1:1-6 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6, Jeremiah 6:16, Genesis 41:52

Denomination: Methodist

A Faith That Still Speaks Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 26, 2025

This sermon contrasts Abel's faith-based worship with Cain's self-reliant religion, demonstrating how a life of true faith earns God's approval and creates an eternal legacy that still speaks of righteousness today.

Introduction: The World's First Worship Service I want you to travel back with me in your imagination to the dawn of human history. The gates of Eden are closed, guarded by an angel with a flaming sword. The world is brand new, yet already stained by sin. Adam and Eve, our first parents, are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:4

Denomination: Baptist

Strength Beyond Self: Receiving The Power Of God

Contributed by Jessica Linde on Sep 29, 2025

In contrast to the self-reliant grit our culture so often advocates, this sermon’s ultimate goal is to highlight that true and lasting strength comes from allowing God's "power" to work in and through our human fragility.

Over the past several Sundays, we have been working through a sermon series on Paul’s letter to the early church in Philippi—a now ruined city in north east Greece. As we’ve worked through this series (which we are concluding today), we’ve seen how this little letter is overflowing with faith, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-13, 2 Corinthians 4:6-10

26. Romans Chapter 6 Verses 6-21 - Messages In Romans – Contrasts – If You Are Dead To Sin Why Is Sin Still Ruling You? – Message 26 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2025

Having died in Christ means to be alive in a new life, but the old nature tries for dominance and will not stay dead. Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ. The great victory is that we have died to sin in Christ and now walk in resurrection freedom.

26. ROMANS CHAPTER 6 VERSES 6-21 - MESSAGES IN ROMANS – CONTRASTS – IF YOU ARE DEAD TO SIN WHY IS SIN STILL RULING YOU? – MESSAGE 26 We continue this important Chapter 6 carefully looking at the great doctrines of sin and deliverance, and living the Christian life in the freedom won for us at ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:6-7, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:8-11, 1 John 3:14, Hebrews 9:27, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational