Sermons on Counter Culture:

How Useful Are You?

Contributed by David Elvery on May 7, 2009

Living as salt and Light

“How useful are you?” Gladstone Baptist Church – 6/5/07 pm 1. What are the characteristics in people that we respect? Are we respected by the way we live our life? Have you ever noticed that some people come up with some really stupid ideas. Like freezers for Eskimos, like Battery powered ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

What Must I Do? You Must Remain In The Vine Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Aug 6, 2013

Christ followers want (and need) an unbroken fellowship with God; this sermon gives three pointers to assist us from John 15:1-17.

WHAT MUST I DO? REMAIN IN THE VINE JOHN 15:1-17 INTRO We are asking ourselves “What Must I Do?” and looking at the New Testament for answers. We have discovered that “Whatever God’s Word says I MUST do, God knows I CAN do!” and it is with that confidence that we ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-7

Denomination: Nazarene

The Dance Of Holiness

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Nov 10, 2021

What does it mean to live a life of Holiness?

Title: The Dance of Holiness Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40; 2 Peter 3:18; Proverbs 4:18 Theme: Walking in Holiness INTRO: Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit! I want to talk to you today about holiness. In particular, I want to talk to you today about living the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40, 2 Peter 3:18, Proverbs 4:18

Denomination: Nazarene

Seek God's Blessing Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Feb 21, 2005

Jesus’ instruction to His followers about Christian living and how to seek God’s blessings in your life.

(Adapted from Bob Russel’s series, “Living a Life of Integrity”) SERIES: “WORDS OF WISDOM FOR KINGDOM LIVING” TEXT: MATTHEW 5:1-6 TITLE: “SEEK GOD’S BLESSING” INTRODUCTION: A. Several years back, Leadership Journal had a cartoon by Lee Johnson depicting a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Would God Say About.. Abortion Series

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jan 29, 2005

1st in 5 lessons prepared and delivered at InSight - Discovery Christian Church’s Believer’s Service. This message, given during Sanctity of Human Life week, is a Biblical perspective on abortion.

"What Would God Say About... Abortion?" Insight Service - Discovery Christian Church - January 27, 2005 DEUTERONOMY 18: 9 - 13 INTRODUCTION: (Please turn to text) Several years ago, there was a motion picture entitled, "Who’s Life Is It, Anyway?" It was a film starring Richard Dryfuss, and ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:9-13

Denomination: Christian Church

Selfless Obedience (Mother's Day) Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 11, 2013

Selflessness is the key characteristic in Jesus' command to take up our crosses and follow him. The stories of Jochebed, Hannah, and Mary (Jesus' mother) illustrate selflessness.

One of the critical characteristics of a follower of Jesus is almost completely non-existent in our society. Now I say “almost”, because there are still times when we see and celebrate it, but those times are largely times of extremes. The prevailing “wisdom” is completely ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-25

Denomination: Baptist

Slowing Down Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 28, 2008

Every moment is scheduled in our lives. The Bible tells us that all this hurrying has dramatic negative effects on us. So how can you slow down? The strategies I’m going to share with you today to slow down your life to a more rational, reasonable pace a

Slowing Down When You’re Running On Empty Ecclesiastes 4:4-8 John Ortberg tells the story of calling a wise friend to ask for some spiritual direction not long after moving to Chicago. I described the pace of life in my current ministry. The church where I serve tends to move at a fast clip. I ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:4-8

Denomination: Methodist

Science & Faith: Does God Exist? Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 20, 2021

Truth is under attack today. In fact it’s suggested that we live in a post-truth culture. But I don’t believe that’s true. Truth is by it’s very nature exclusive.

Truth is under attack today. In fact it’s suggested that we live in a post-truth culture. But I don’t believe that’s true. Truth is by it’s very nature exclusive. And that tracks with reality. Multiple contradictory truth claims can’t all be true. If 2+2=4, that is the only answer to that question. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:19-20, Psalm 14:1

Denomination: Salvation Army

Holy War – Then And Now Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 23, 2002

struggling with the "complete destruction" of the residents of Canaan, especially in light of our culture and the prevalence of Holy War talk since Sept. 11

Holy War – Then and Now Joshua 10-11 - July 20/21, 2002 Intro: Plans were introduced this past week detailing various proposals for what to do with the site on which the World Trade Center towers stood until last September 11. The clean-up is completed, the search for human remains abandoned. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Was Jesus Jewish? Series

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 24, 2007

To really be able to understand and immitate Jesus we have to understand His Jewishness and the Jewish time and culture into which He was born.

Introduction: A. As you know, most religious groups have identifying characteristics. 1. A kindergarten teacher gave her class a "show and tell" assignment of bringing something to represent their religion. 2. The first boy got in front of the class and said, "My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let's Take Christ Out Of Xmas

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Dec 26, 2006

Instead of putting Christ into Christmas, maybe we should take him out of what Christmas has become in our culture.

Let’s Take Christ Out of Xmas” Luke 2:1-20 December 24, 2006 Christmas Eve I am going to go out of my way to be provocative tonight. You see, I believe that we should take Christ out of Christmas. I believe that there is no place for Christ in Christmas. We ought to put aside all the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Methodist

Spiritual Living In A Secular World

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 21, 2007

How do we live in, and respond to, the culture in which we live? The examples of: Jonah, Esther and Daniel.

How do Christians live in, and respond to, the culture in which they find themselves? About a half century ago, H. Richard Niebuhr attempted to answer that question in his book Christ and Culture. He offered five possible responses to the question. First, he said that some Christians have ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Methodist

Safety First? Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 29, 2007

In a safety and security conscience culture, does the narrow way of Jesus offer such a radical departure that we have missed the danger of the Kingdom?

Series on the Mount Safety First? Matthew 7:13-14 October 28, 2007 We live in a safety first culture. When I was a kid, we didn’t wear helmets when riding our bikes except on the BMX track. I turned out ok. Today we wear seatbelts, have car seats, and heaven forbid that the kids might actually ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Denomination: Church Of God

The Spirit Of Truth

Contributed by Samuel Stone on Nov 15, 2007

Human beings of all culture and races throughout history tried to figure out how to know what we want to know.

John 16:12-15 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will ...read more

Scripture: John 16:12-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Be Different Series

Contributed by Matthew Doebler on Aug 13, 2003

God calls us to be different than the vile, unbelieving culture around us. He offers us power to do that.

Be different! Preached August 4, 2003 It’s not easy to be different, you know. You see a young lady with pink hair spiked up like a porcupine at Pizza Hut. Her clothes are black, her eyes are black, her fingernails are black. All is black except for the silver glint of her countless metal ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Lutheran