Sermons on Courtyard:

When Prayer Doesn’t Change God Series

Contributed by Charles Payne on Oct 31, 2025

We’ve all heard it — whispered in prayer circles, shouted in pulpits, written on plaques: “Prayer changes things.” And it does. But here’s the misconception that twists this truth: “Prayer changes God.”

MODERN CHRISTIAN MISCONCEPTIONS SERIES “When Prayer Doesn’t Change God” (It Changes You) PROLOGUE We’ve all heard it — whispered in prayer circles, shouted in pulpits, written on plaques: “Prayer changes things.” And it does. But here’s the misconception that twists this truth: “Prayer changes ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14-15, Malachi 3:6, Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 38:1, Jonah 3:4, Luke 22:42, Philippians 4:6-7, James 5:16, Romans 12:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jahaziel's Prophecy (2 Chronicles 20)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 17, 2025

How loyal are we to God?

Where do we go when threatened? How friendly should we be with people who hate God? Let’s begin in 2 Chronicles 20. What national threat sent the people of Judah to prayer and fasting? Now it came about after this, that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Three Great Skeptics . . . Who Believed Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Apr 19, 2017

The very people we only think of as being great believers in Jesus in the first century were actually absolutely skeptical about Jesus' promise that He would be resurrected. The 3 resisted belief despite multiple supernatural evidences.

Three Great Skeptics . . . Who Believed Selected Scripture The TV Progam Sixty Minutes was recently did a feature on Sesame Street, the pre-school educational program that involves the Muppets. After explaining that it was originally an experiment to see if under-privileged pre-school children ...read more

Denomination: Bible Church

A Stewards View Of Stuff

Contributed by Dan Cale on Jan 24, 2004

This is the third in a series of stewardship sermons and deals with our handling of the material goods of life. Includes tithing and stuff managment.

A Stewards View of Stuff Mark 12:41-44 This morning we are going to continue our time in stewardship month looking at a Stewards View of Stuff. Comedian George Carlin (who by the way I do not recommend you listen to) proclaims, ¡§A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. That’s all your ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: *other

Good Reason

Contributed by Timothy Finch on Mar 14, 2006

God is constantly at work.

Good Reason Matthew 26:1-68 1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away-- and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:1-68

Denomination: Baptist

Finding God In Narnia: In A Land Far-Far Away Series

Contributed by Marty Boller on Nov 3, 2005

#2 of 8 Narnia teachings. Geared to help you draw out and apply the powerful scriptural truths found in C.S. Lewis’ classic: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

This sermon uses a “tour guide” to take your listeners through the Land of Narnia. My wife, Sandy, dressed as a typical tour guide with a winter coat & hat. I began the teaching with a review of the 3 major points shared in our first week’s teachings…only to be ‘interrupted’ by the Narnia tour ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:3-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cool To God, Not So Cool To Us Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 10, 2003

God’s Idea of Cool Sometimes Surprises Us. Sometimes what is cool to God is not so cool to us. We must learn to understand God’s way of thinking and adjust our minds to tune in with His revealed will. Let’s note three qualities that are so essential t

Cool To God, Not So Cool to Us (Luke 18:1-14, Matt. 20:1-16) INTRO 1. It amazes me how little has changed in the teen world since I was a teen. I reached the age of 20 in the Fall of 1976, by the way. 2. The music doesn’t sound much different, except for rap---which is not new; it is simply old ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-14, Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Thicker Than Blood

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 10, 2002

A study in a love for parents

Introduction: Jesus Christ had returned home to Capernaum. Upon His arrival, a great crowd gathered which was so dense that no one could get through the doorways of the house where He was. The crowd interfered so badly that Christ and his disciples could not even eat bread. The friends or ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

Remember The Wonder

Contributed by David Dewitt on Nov 28, 2004

The first gift of Christmas was given to us by God through Jesus and belief in Him will make the bell of belief ring in your heart

Remember the Wonder Matthew 1:1-17 November 28, 2004 First Sunday of Advent Introduction Chris Van Allsburg has written a wonderful Christmas book called The Polar Express. The book tells the story of a young boy who wakes up one Christmas Eve to the sound of a train in his front yard. As he goes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Church Of God

"The Basis Of Our Thanksgiving"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 20, 2002

A Thanksgiving sermon.

PSALM 100:1-5 “The Basis of Our Thanksgiving” By: Rev. Kenneth Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA The 100th Psalm was written for the people of Israel. God had basically said to them, “When you come into the promised land, and settle down in your warm homes, and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: United Methodist

Barriers To Blessing

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 26, 2007

It is the spirit that you have that really counts. If we have the wrong spirit, blessings can never flow to us or through us.

BARRIERS TO BLESSING Mark 2:1-5 INTRO: All of us have read the story about the dykes of Holland According to the story, one day one of the dykes sprang a leak and the water began pouring in through that hole. But a heroic boy thrust his arm into the hole and held the waters back and saved the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Bronze Laver (Or Bronze Washbasin) Series

Contributed by Larry Brincefield on Jun 10, 2007

In a continuing series about the different furnishings of the wilderness tabernacle; we now come to the bronze laver. This sermon looks at its use in the day of Moses, and what it means metaphorically for us today.

Introduction The Tabernacle was a beautiful place... many of the furnishings adorned with gold...some with bronze... The beautiful colorful fabrics... I’m sure it must have been a sight to behold... however, the beauty of the tabernacle is not found in the precious metals or the colorful ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 30:17-21

Denomination: Nazarene

Unusual Places God Can Take You!

Contributed by Tony Abram on Nov 6, 2007

THIS SERMON SUGGESTS THAT SOMETIMES GOD WILL LEAD US INTO PLACES THAT HE MAY GET THE GLORY. SOMETIMES GOD BRINGS US TO OUR PLACE OF TESTING. My wife and I have been in many unusual places ourselves as for the past 45 years we have traveled and ministered

Unusual Places God can take you! THIS SERMON SUGGESTS THAT SOMETIMES GOD WILL LEAD US INTO PLACES THAT HE MAY GET THE GLORY. SOMETIMES GOD BRINGS US TO OUR PLACE OF TESTING. My wife and I have been in many unusual places ourselves as for the past 45 years we have traveled and ministered ...read more

Meet The Parents Series

Contributed by Dan Brown on Dec 20, 2007

Part one of our De-santa-tizing Christmas series: After centuries of tradition, Christmas Carols, Rankin & Bass Christmas specials, and countless retellings of the Christmas narrative the whole story has been cleaned up and much of the true meaning has be

Sermon-07-12-2-Meet the Parents Christmas Pop Quiz 1– True of False-As long as Christmas has been celebrated, it has been on Dec. 25th. (False, not until about the 4th century was the Dec. 25 date settled on) 2-True or False-Mary and Joseph were married when Mary became pregnant. (False, ...read more

Denomination: *other

Jesus: The Fulfillment Of Hanukkah

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

In the middle of the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), where the people remembered the Most Holy Place being reconsecrated, Jesus says He is consecrated and set apart by the Father just like the Most Holy Place and just like the Temple.

Intro It is now winter. The fall harvest complete, the skies are now a darker hue, and the festivals are over. The Israelites have kept God’s ordained festivals and now the long, cold wet winter descends until the spring festivals begin. We can easily lose our focus on God during this time ...read more

Scripture: John 10:22-39

Denomination: Lutheran