Sermons on Cultural Adaptation:

Embracing Change — Making Room For Pure Religion Series

Contributed by Ron Auch Jr on Jun 8, 2025

Change Isn’t a Threat—It’s a Call Change is never easy. But in the Kingdom of God, change is often the doorway to growth. The Church has always been called to adapt—not by compromising truth, but by shedding old forms that no longer serve the mission.

Sermon 1 “Embracing Change — Making Room for Pure Religion” Authentic Worship, Missional Evangelism, and the Call to Genuine Relationship Key Texts: • James 1:27 • Matthew 4:19-22 • Acts 10:34-35 • John 4:23-24 • Matthew 28:18-20 Change Isn’t a Threat—It’s a Call Change is never easy. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:27, Matthew 4:19-22, Acts 10:34-35, John 4:23-24, Matthew 28:18-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Don't Let The Grinch Steal Christmas

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

Adapted from another sermoncentral sermon, this reinterpretation of "The Grinch who stole Christmas" Movie and Dr Seuss book encourages us to look for the real meaning of Christmas. Given at Midnight Mass 2000

In the name of the living, incarnate God, +Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Everyone down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot… But the Grinch, did not! The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

It About Understanding

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Mar 16, 2003

This sermon is an adaptation from Max Lucado, that describes the lengths that God has gone to to win our trust. It shows the depth of his love for us and his willingness to do what it takes to reach us.

The Message of Thirst John 12:35-36, John 14:1, Act 14:23, Rom 15:13, Heb 2:13, John 19:28-30, Psa 107:35, 114:8 Isa 44:3, John 4:6, Mark 6:6, John 2:15, Mark 4:38, John 11:35, Mat 4:2, Mark 15:22—24, Heb 4:15-16, John 19:28,13:18, 17:12, 19:24, 36, 37, 20:9, 2 Cor 1:3—5 December 17, ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1, Hebrews 4:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Present Of Our Tithes And Offerings Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Dec 4, 2006

This sermom, originally prepared for the Christmas Season, but easily adaptable for other times, deals with the issue of Tithes and Offerings, looking at What they are, Why God wants us to give them, and What we are to give.

The Presents of Christmas The Present of Our Tithes and Offerings 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5 INTRODUCTION: Everybody likes presents under the Christmas tree. We all gather around and wait eagerly, with quiet or not so quiet anticipation, the “opening of the presents”. Now in some houses there is a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Totally Awesome

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 9, 2012

A sermon on 3 reasons for the resurrection of Jesus Christ preached on Easter Sunday (Material adapted from Jack Cottrell's book, The Faith Once For All, chapter 14 The Work of Christ, pg. 272- 277)

HoHum: There’s a story about a Sunday School kindergarten teacher who was trying to determine how much Christian training her new students had. She found one 5 year-old boy who knew absolutely nothing about the story of Jesus. She began by relating to him the death of Jesus on the cross. When ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let's Restore The New Testament Church

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 22, 2011

A sermon on areas that need to be restored from the New Testament church (Outline and material adapted from Ed Bousman at http://edbousman.net/pages/default2.asp?active_page_id=383)

Introduction: I got this outline from Brother Ed Bousman who has gone on to be with the Lord. Let’s restore the New Testament Church. Perhaps a better way to put it would be, let us restore the people to the church of the New Testament. The New Testament Church has been here since the Day ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Holy Spirit And Conversion Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 26, 2012

A sermon on what the Holy Spirit does during conversion (Material adapted from Dr. Jack Cottrell's book Power From On High, chapter 7, and the Holy Spirit: A Biblical Study, chapter 5)

HoHum:
Every time we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we mean that we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it- J. B. Phillips (1906–1982) WBTU: A common way of referring to a person’s becoming a Christian is to ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Joy Of Learning Contentment Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Feb 13, 2010

This sermon give four insights on learning contentment. 1. Learn Not to Compare Yourself To OTHERS 2. Learn To Adapt To CHANGE 3. Learn To Draw On Christ’s POWER 4. Learn To Trust GOD

The Joy of Learning Contentment In 1965 the rock band, The Rolling Stones, released a song – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It became the Rolling Stones first number one hit in the United Sates. In this world there are many people that seem to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-19, Philippians 4:13-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Out Of Envy Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 4, 2014

A sermon on the envy of the religious leaders of Jesus' day (Material adapted from Bob Russell at: http://bobrussellsermons.org/religious-leaders-who-envied-him?filter_name=Religious%20Leaders)

HoHum: A wise man said: Nothing arouses ambition so much in the heart as the trumpet-clang of another’s fame. WBTU: A. Why would anyone want to kill Jesus of Nazareth? 1. Great teacher- “The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-57

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Against Process Theology

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 12, 2013

A sermon loosely based on Isaiah 46 which dwells on God's immutability (Much material adapted from Dr. Jack Cottrell's book, God Most High, chapter 25 "The Immutability of God")

HoHum: Lars Wilhelmsson says, “We are all in process. We are being made.” Yes, we are but not God. WBTU: A. Exegesis on Isaiah 46 Vs. 1 Bel and Nebo were names of two false gods the idol-worshipping nations served. It is as if now God gets personal, “naming names” ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Telltale Signs Of A Carnal Christian

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 22, 2020

4 telltale signs of a carnal Christian from 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 (Adapted from Bob Russell's book on 2 Corinthians called "Take Comfort")

HoHum: A famous sportscaster said that, for him, the start of the Indianapolis 500 was the most spectacular event in sports. To see those turbocharged automobiles roaring around Turn 4 and zooming across the starting line at 200 miles an hour to start the world’s most famous race is an incredible ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, 1 Corinthians 3:3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Satan Uses Pain

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 20, 2022

Start with Job and then talk about how Satan wants to use pain from John 11 with the account of the raising of Lazarus (Adapted from a book by Joe Beam called "Seeing the Unseen")

HoHum: When speaking about Job, one time I said, “Satan can do nothing without God’s permission.” This opened up a whole can of worms. If God is good and all powerful, then how do we explain the existence of pain, suffering, and evil in our world? There are no easy answers. WBTU: Take for ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Standard For Leadership

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2020

A standard for leadership from 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4 (adapted from Bob Russell's book, Take Comfort, chapter called a standard for leadership pgs. 15-28

HoHum: “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes”- Jim Carrey. What is being said here is that arrogance has no place in leadership, even more so in spiritual leadership WBTU: In 2 Corinthians, Paul defends his qualifications as a leader. He set some standards that we can still use ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Confident Christian

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 22, 2020

4 ways that we can gain confidence from 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 (adapted from Bob Russell's book, Take Comfort, the chapter entitled The Confident Christian)

HoHum: Confident, confident, dry and secure; raise your hand, raise your hand if your Sure- if only when I used that deodorant I felt confident and secure WBTU: The Christian should be a humble person. The Christian should be a confident person. How do we reconcile these two things? What does ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, Philippians 4:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If You Want To Move Forward Then Retreat

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 18, 2016

Let's talk more about the 3 disciples of solitude, community, and ministry (Material adapted from Henri Nouwen in Leadership Journal Spring 1995, article entitled, "Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry")

HoHum: Bill Hybels- If we are involved in the marketplace at all, we are trained to believe that time is money. That’s why we talk about managing time, using it efficiently and profitably. Cram more in. Start earlier. Work later. Take work home. Use a laptop on the commuter train. Phone ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:12-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ