Sermons on Council:

Spirit Of The Law Part 1

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 27, 2023

Who better to give a commentary on the Old Testament than it's author, Jesus? Let's look at the Spirit of the law in Matthew 5.

The best commentary on the Old Testament is by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. In each case we learn several things, 1) the Spirit of the law, 2) our utter failure to live up to it, and 3) our need for forgiveness and mercy. Let’s begin to understand the intent of the law by its author. Let’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-37

Denomination: Baptist

A Clear Conscience

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Sep 15, 2022

Webster’s Dictionary defines the conscience as “an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior.” The conscience is something God has given every person--an alarm that sounds inside you, which often leads to feelings of guilt or shame.

Three Kinds of Conscience: 1. A Clear Conscience — the alarm is working properly Acts 23:1, “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” Acts 24:16, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:10-16

Denomination: Baptist

Living Out The Scriptures

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Aug 29, 2024

We must apply what we learn from the Bible to our lives. Scripture must change us. We must live out the Scriptures.

THE BIBLE! WHETHER YOU USE LATIN OR GREEK, THE “BIBLE” MEANS “BOOKS” OR “THE BOOKS.” THE BIBLE CONTAINS MANY OTHER BOOKS. THERE ARE 73 BOOKS IF YOU ARE CATHOLIC AND 66 BOOKS IF YOU ARE PROTESTANT. WE HAVE SEEN AS MANY AS 81 BOOKS IN SOME ORTHODOX TRADITIONS. THE BIBLE, GOD’S WORD REVEALED TO US, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27, 2 Timothy 3:16, Isaiah 55:10-11, Luke 11:28, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

A Christmas Message From The Peanut Gang

Contributed by Kenneth R. Jenkins on Dec 10, 2022

Good Grief! What does Christmas really mean? In this message, the famous Peanut Gang gives a lesson on what Christmas is all about.

I would like to try and preach from one of the familiar books in the New Testament that depicts the beginning of Christendom. A beginning of how Christmas really gotten started. And I am not putting down the other legends or folklores of traditions of Christmas like the story of the Christmas Tree ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

God With Us

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 17, 2022

The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25.

The world’s most important birth was about to take place. Why was it almost unknown? What was Joseph's dilemma? What were the baby’s names? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? Let’s look at Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph’s Dilemma Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Pentecost

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Apr 28, 2023

In 1967, she prayed this prayer, “Father, I give my life to You. Whatever you ask of me, I accept. Just teach me to follow Jesus and to love as He loves.” The fire quickly spread, even to other Christian denominations.

On Tesco's brand of Tiramisu dessert, printed on the bottom of the box, it says, “DO NOT TURN UPSIDE DOWN.”1—(too late!) I want to consider how the Holy Spirit has a way of turning things upside down. Like in the Acts of the Apostles in our First Reading, the devout Jews from every nation ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Implications Of Raising Lazarus

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Mar 27, 2023

There are many questions surrounding the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Jesus. The sermon is designed for Passion Sunday but can be easily adapted as it explains the context surrounding 'why Jesus had to die'

Implications of raising Lazarus When I go to the gym and join classes I always keep an eye on the clock. I like to know when it’s halfway- if it’s a hard class I’ve endured the 1st half, and downhill now to the end. Similarly if it’s a boring class. half way- not long to go now. Half way - ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45, John 11:50

Jesus Was Treated As A Common Criminal Yet Was Rich In His Death.

Contributed by Robert Irvine on Aug 13, 2024

Last week, when I dealt with verse 8, I showed that the prophet Isaiah indicated that the suffering servant would die. Now, Isaiah says that the suffering servant would be assigned a grave with the wicked and the rich in his death.

Last week, when I dealt with verse 8, I showed that the prophet Isaiah indicated that the suffering servant would die. Now, Isaiah says that the suffering servant would be assigned a grave with the wicked and the rich in his death. If we look at Jesus Christ, then this was certainly the case. As ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:9

Denomination: Baptist

Lord Of Hosts

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 8, 2023

Lord of Hosts refers to Lord who dwelleth between or among a group of hosts. The Lord is in the center, surrounded by the hosts. Lord lives among the Hosts.

The Lord is also called Lord of Hosts. Lord of Hosts refers to Lord who dwelleth between or among a group of hosts. The Lord is in the center, surrounded by the hosts. Lord lives among the Hosts. Because the Lord resides between the cherubim, the Lord is referred with the name as LORD of hosts in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:2

Words Without Knowledge

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 10, 2023

Job began to speak in great detail about his current circumstances and about God. These words had no knowledge of God and brought a misunderstanding or wrong understanding about God. It revealed a lack of comprehension about God.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?” Job 38:1 Darkens counsel means to confuse an issue by introducing irrelevant or ill-founded considerations about God. Job began to speak in great detail about his current ...read more

Scripture: Job 38:1

The Epiphany Of The Lord- Be A Star

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 19, 2024

“You will see his glory within you… shone anew upon the eyes of our mind!”

The idea of "be a star" during Epiphany is a way to reflect on the story of the Magi, or the three wise men, following a star to find baby Jesus. To be a star is not the same thing as being called a star. E.g., The leader of the patriots in the second Jewish War, A.D. 130-135, Bar Kosba, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Cities Of Refuge (Deuteronomy 19)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jan 6, 2025

How did Jesus make the laws against murder even stricter? Let's begin in Deuteronomy 19.

What were the laws about manslaughter, murder, property markers and witnesses? Did Jesus make the law against murder even stronger, applying it to our hearts? Let’s look at Deuteronomy 19. What was the law regarding cities of refuge for those involved in manslaughter? When the Lord your God cuts ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Twenty-Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Divine Passives

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 3, 2025

How? By (1) being small; (2) daily fervent prayer (3) and knowing that God’s grace precedes and enables our good works, the (4) fourth is tapping into the “fulfillment formula” of God’s sovereignty by God’s divine passives.

Walking or moving in the Opposite Spirit is a teaching from Saint Ignatius of Loyola, [Agere contra, Latin “to act against"]. This spiritual practice involves purposefully acting in the opposite direction of your natural inclinations to produce a positive spiritual resolve and result. So, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:5-10

Denomination: Catholic

Apology Excepted

Contributed by Perry Greene on Aug 13, 2025

Reconciliation between people is more than an obligatory apology.

Apology Excepted Two brothers had argued and vowed never to speak to each other until the other one apologized. They attended the same church but never said more than three words to each other. However, God began working on their hearts. They had always ignored foot washing, but on a special ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:23-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Addressing Festus (Acts 25)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 18, 2025

Are we willing to go to dangerous places for the Gospel?

Did Paul’s enemies bring him before another governor? Are we willing to enter dangerous places for the Gospel? Let’s look at Acts 25. After Antonius Felix left office, did Paul appear before Porcius Festus? Festus then, having arrived in the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from ...read more

Denomination: Baptist