Sermons on Critical:

Countercultural Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 8, 2023

Did Jesus seek to be culturally relevant or bring new faith to an old culture? Were there people who criticized and ridiculed Him? Let’s find out in Matthew 9:9-26.

Did Jesus seek to be culturally relevant or bring new faith to an old culture? Were there people who criticized and ridiculed Him? Let’s find out in Matthew 9:9-26. How did Jesus call some of His disciples? Is that a picture for anyone who chooses to follow Him? As Jesus passed on from there, He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-26

Denomination: Baptist

Knowing Jesus

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Mar 16, 2023

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do we know Jesus? This sermon will help readers take a personal assessment of their knowledge of Christ based on their answers to 3 critical questions asked in the message.

Knowing Jesus Scripture: First John 2:3-5; Job 36:26; Matthew 28:19-20 The title of my message this morning is “Knowing Jesus.” As I go through this message, I want you to consider this question: On a scale of 1 to 10 how well do I know Jesus?” Now some people could answer this question by ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-5, Job 36:26, Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Identity In Christ

Contributed by Steven Devroy on Mar 26, 2024

Many Christians struggle knowing who they are in Christ. This is really a critical area of our lives. If we do not know who we are in Christ, we can be easily swayed one way or the other.

Opener: Good Morning Church! We are thrilled that you are here joining us this morning. This morning we are concluding our week of prayer and fasting and it has been a tremendous week of refreshment. This morning we are talking about our identity in Christ. If there is one area that I feel ...read more

Scripture: John 14:2, Ephesians 2:4-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Reviving Our Faith: A Lesson From Elijah SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

A critical examination of many churches today shows signs of weakness, lethargy, and decline. The once vibrant fires of revival and renewal have dimmed or been obstructed by sin, personal desires, and evil forces.

The state of many churches today reveals weakness, apathy, and decline. The fires of revival and renewal have dimmed or been hindered by sin, worldly influences, and spiritual opposition. To bring about a change, we must repair the altar of the Lord. The altar serves as a meeting place between the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:30-39

Topics: Faith, Revival, Elijah

Too Silly For A Funeral; Too Serious For A Party

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 2, 2019

Christians must be aware of becoming hypercritical of divine work and of other believers, ascribing what is done as unworthy of Christ. To explore this situation, the message is a study of Jesus' censure of the generation in which He then lived.

“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:11-19

Denomination: Baptist

Youth Minister's Message For The Ages

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Paul wrote, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity show yourself to be an example to all the believers." There is something powerful in a godly example that silences all critics.

Illustration: During the seven years I worked as a Youth Pastor in southern California the Lord showed me the importance of abiding by the truth in I Timothy 4:12. Paul wrote, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity show yourself to be an example ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Torched By An Angel

Contributed by Joe Jones on Jan 21, 2002

Though Matt and Mark give us info on the birth of Christ, I really like the way Luke describes it…Luke takes the approach of a NYC entertainment critic as he gets into the meat of the story

“Torched By an Angel” Dec 9, 2001 Though Matt and Mark give us info on the birth of Christ, I really like the way Luke describes it…Luke takes the approach of a NYC entertainment critic as he gets into the meat of the story The way Luke tells it, events surrounding Jesus’ birth resembled a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Great Is Your Love

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 18, 2003

Love is an uncommon force that copes with suffering. By enduring the pain, sorrow and anger we are exhibiting God’s unconditional love. People who are mature in love endure the pain of selfish, critical and immature scoffers.

How Great is Your Love - I Cor. 13:4-7 Illustration: One evening while appearing on CNN’s Larry King Live, Jack Kemp, the honorable congressman from New York, made an insightful comment about the religious right when he said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Listening To Unchristian America

Contributed by Jay Robison on Nov 1, 2007

Christianity has an image problem. What can we learn from how those outside the church see the church today. I use Jesus criticism of religious leaders to cause us to think.

I have used sermoncentral along with other resources in this message. James White’s Critical Times email was a starting point. I also referred to Kinnaman’s book. LISTENING TO UnCHRISTIAN AMERICA October 28, 2007 Jay Davis Robison MATTHEW 15:1-12 The Church in America HAS AN IMAGE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Every Time The Church Doors Open

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 11, 2010

Preached 1985. What merits our coming to church frequently? We need to come with the expectation that God will meet us in the presence of His people. And then we will respond with prayer for the church, not mere criticism or complaint.

They tell the story about the fellow who on one Sunday morning woke up, struggled out of bed, shuffled downstairs for his breakfast, and then announced to his mother, "Mother, I’m not going. I’m just not going to church today. I don’t feel like it, they don’t care for me down there, I don’t need ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Marks Of An Effective Minister Series

Contributed by David Welch on Feb 14, 2011

16th in the series dealing with Paul's example of an effective ministry. From his testimony about himself I draw several critical elements that should characterized any effective ministry of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians Series #16 “Marks of an Effective Minister” Eph 3:1-13 REVIEW I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-4 A. Paul blessed God for blessing us with every spiritual blessing 1:3-14 B. Paul prayed for their enlightenment 1:15-23 Hope of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Anatomy Of A Worshipper

Contributed by Charles Jones on Dec 16, 2010

Worship isn''t an entertaining showcase for a talented soprano or a lecture on textual criticism or a pleasant weekly reunion of friends and family. Instead, true worship is a joyous celebration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

THE ANATOMY OF A WORSHIPPER by Bishop Charles C Jones 2 Samuel 24:18-24:25 Our focus in this message is to explore the exercise of worship. There is a book out that is entitled ’ Worship is a verb’, in this book the author states that Worship isn''t an entertaining showcase for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:18-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

Faith In Politics Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 28, 2011

When it comes to the believer's involvement in politics, this principle should guide us: God calls us to submit to all human authority because of Christ, because of our critics, and because we are free in Him!

Deborah Horn, of McLeansboro, Illinois, was brushing her 9-year-old daughter’s hair on a Sunday morning when she began to pepper her mother with a lot of questions. Mom was doing her best to answer them until her daughter looked up and asked, “Are we Christians or Republicans?” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Driven To Denial Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Nov 28, 2018

Although there were clear warnings, Peter ignored those and denied Jesus. We may tend to be critical, but we have been guilty of failing to heed the warnings of the Spirit. Warnings left unheeded are of no value.

Driven to Denial Mark 14: 66-72 The long night of pain and suffering for Jesus had begun, and the difficulty continued to mount. He suffered in agony, praying under a heavy burden in the Garden of Gethsemane. After His prayer had ended, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, led a multitude, sent by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:66-72

Denomination: Baptist

Zophar’s Second Attack On Job Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jul 10, 2017

How we respond to people who are hurting STILL matters. Our ability to show grace, compassion, and love to those around us is critical, and it's something we see quite clearly in these conversations.

Zophar’s second attack on Job Job Sermon Series, Part 10 Introduction (Job Slide) - We are continuing to examine Job’s conversations with his friends -- Re: These men came in Ch. 2 to sit with him and mourn his loss - They appear to come to comfort … but quickly their real motives are ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational