Sermons on Contrasting Ideas:

Encounters With The Living Christ

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Mar 17, 2008

Often we do not recognize when God is at work in our lives. Even those that walked with Jesus had difficulty recognizing the Risen Lord (Ideas for this sermon taken from an article entitled A Manifold Resurrection by John Witte and a Christianity Today

Introduction As I was reading the accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ … most started with … Mk 15:22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. (Picture- skull/cross bones, Tina Manthorpe) There is a principle that unfolds out of ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-22

Denomination: Charismatic

Encounters With A Living Christ Series

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Mar 25, 2008

Often we do not recognize when God is at work in our lives. Even those that walked with Jesus had difficulty recognizing the Risen Lord (Ideas for this sermon taken from an article entitled A Manifold Resurrection by John Witte and a Christianity Today)

Introduction 2nd part of series- examining how people responded when they encountered Jesus after His resurrection If we lived when Jesus walked on- earth, how would we have responded to- man- claimed to be God? Would we believe He was who He said He was? Why would the miracles convince us He ...read more

Scripture: John 20:31-34

Denomination: Charismatic

Dispute And Debate In The Church

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 12, 2008

From this text, we get a few ideas of what to do whenever disputes arise in the church. 1- Legalism always leads to trouble 2- Trouble should be handled by the leaders 3- Leaders must always follow God’s Spirit

INTRO.- ILL.- A married couple were arguing with one another. The husband said, "Don’t you remember promising to love, honor and obey me?" His wife, "Yes, but what else could I do, I was in church!" ILL.- A wife said, "Dear, could I have some spending money?" Husband, "Money, money, money. If ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Can A Person Have An Encounter With The Living God Series?

Contributed by Eugene Morell on Jul 23, 2012

This series looks at the people who had encounters with the Living Lord and it ask the question why can't we have one today. I got the idea for this series from the Lord and I got a lot of help from Sermon central

CAN A PERSON HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING GOD SERIES? Part 1 Acts 4:1-32a. I usually start the next week message after I preach on Sunday Morning. I have been switching back and forth from Joshua to teachings on the Fruit of the spirit. By Monday evening I though that I had everything ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Core 52 Week 23 - The Cross Before Me Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Jun 7, 2020

Jesus turns our cultural ideas of "the good life" upside down by affirming a radical shift in our thinking and actions away from our own agenda and living for Him will bring us true happiness and contentment.

You can listen to the audio of the sermon at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/697261/4078034 Intro: • Yale course on happiness. Taken by over 2 million people. • Professor Laurie Santos - demand is a “bit surreal but understandable given that people are looking for evidenced-based ways of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-25, Matthew 5:3-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Three Fold Warnings Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Jun 1, 2018

The book of Joshua is book with innovative ideas to Conquer the Land. The Israelite were forced to fight and chase the enemies. However the hand of God was with them to chase the enemies. Promised land can't compromised, can't given up.

Be strong, very courageous and be careful Josh 1:7. Introduction: Douglas MacArthur, American general best known for his command of Allied forces in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. His farewell speech at West Point, May 12, 1962... "Duty," "honour," ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:7

Denomination: Methodist

Wisdom: The Ultimate Multi-Tool Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 24, 2016

Main Idea: Cultivating wisdom is one of the most important things we can do to increase our “personal capital.” Wisdom is an amazing multi-tool that helps us in so many realms and with so many particular decisions.

Wisdom: The Ultimate Multi-tool (Proverbs 24:1-6) 1. Two guys are bungee-jumping one day. The first guy says to the second. "You know, we could make a lot of money running our own bungee-jumping service in Mexico. "The second guy thinks this is a great idea, so the two pool their money and buy ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christmas Gifts

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 27, 2017

Tomorrow's the big day! We'll be diving into the mountain of presents and experiencing our moments of glee. The idea of giving gifts on Christmas originated with the wise men presenting gifts to Jesus. Today we'll look at what those gifts represented.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS Tomorrow's the big day! We'll be diving into the mountain of presents and ripping and tearing and experiencing our moments of glee. The idea of giving gifts on Christmas originated with the wise men presenting gifts to Jesus. Today we'll look at what those gifts were and what they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Imagine: No Hell Below Us; Above Us Only Sky Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Jan 28, 2018

Two-thirds of Americans believe there is no hell. Let's imagine for a moment there is no hell. Lest you take me literally, I DO believe in the existence of heaven and hell. But what would you do if you wanted to eliminate the distasteful idea of hell?

INTRODUCTION There are many theories about the afterlife. Some people believe in reincarnation. Three men died and stood before God, who asked them how they wanted to spend their next life on earth. The first man said, “I want to come back as myself, but I want to be 10 times smarter.” “Poof,” God ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:42-49

Denomination: Baptist

Urgency

Contributed by David Spiegel on Mar 6, 2015

The signs of the times are evident. Where is the sense of Urgency that the church should have? Jesus said He is not willing that any should perish, so why are we so comfortable with the idea? Shouldn't we be about the family business of making disciples?

Make no mistake, we have an “urgency emergency”! I wish I could stand here this morning and say, “Everything is alright”. You can just coast through this life and enjoy it as you live to a ripe old age and be gently laid to rest among family and friends as angels carry you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Trans-Generational Value

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jun 26, 2014

Though necessary, I often find it hard to preach sermons to the women of our church in relation to their role as wives and mothers. Paul had a better idea. Much of such preaching could be done without the pastor. The aged women were to teach the younger!

Trans-Generational Values Mother’s Day Sermon 2014 May 11, 2014 Titus 2:3-5 Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Heal The Wound, Leave The Scar

Contributed by Shawn Andrews on Mar 14, 2019

Big Idea: Forgiveness is healing the wound, even if it leaves a scar. Forgiving others means choosing not to be imprisoned by the actions of our offender. Jesus will heal our wound, but the scar remains to remind us of God’s work of grace in our lives.

INTRO: STORY: Last year, you all know I had shoulder surgery. I didn’t want to have surgery. I avoided it as long as possible. But eventually, my shoulder hurt all the time. It became debilitating. It was only when I became aware of what my wound was keeping me from, was I willing to do ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:5, Isaiah 58:9-10

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

5. The Shield Of Faith Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Dec 1, 2019

Merely sort of agreeing with Christian ideas won't carry you far when life gets difficult. The real strength comes when we are solidly connected with our God through a deep and living faith inour hearts.

This morning we'll continue with putting on the armor of God. We live in a world that bombards us with things that battle against our souls. And God has provided armament to be able to resist them, not only to resist, but to stand strong and firm and hold our ground. We start by putting on ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17, Luke 17:5-10

Ascension (And Decension)

Contributed by Paul Andrew on May 7, 2022

I would like to talk about Ascending with Christ in our bodies by the Cross, which helps our minds and ideas. John Chrysostom said that the Cross establishes my thoughts, so that I may sing and glorify Thy saving Ascension.”

Christ descended to the lowest depths of humiliation, then raised up to the height of exaltation, Ephesians 4:8 says. The ascension life. “We can ascend with him in our hearts,” Saint Augustine said, “set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, … not on the things that are on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:46-53

Denomination: Catholic