Sermons on Cultural Adaptation:

Against Universalism

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 6, 2021

1) What does Bible say about universalism? 2) Because of what Bible says, how is church to conduct herself? (Material adapted from David Faust in his book, "Growing Churches, Growing Leaders", chapter called Children of a Graceful God, pgs. 108-113)

HoHum: David Faust asks, What do you get when you cross a Jehovah’s Witness with a universalist? A knock on the door for no apparent reason. Universalism is a widely accepted philosophy. Universalism says that no matter what everyone will eventually be saved. Today people say things like, “Oh ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, 1 Corinthians 9:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Emotions And The Christian

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 29, 2016

Let's talk about emotion from several angles (Material adapted from two main sources 1) Mark Copeland at: http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/top/emotion.htm 2) David Riggs at: http://oakridgechurch.com/riggs/emotion.htm)

HoHum: In his book, None of These Diseases, Dr. S.I. McMillen says, "Medical science recognizes that emotions such as fear, sorrow, envy, resentment and hatred are responsible for the majority of our sicknesses. Estimates vary from 60 to 100 percent." One patient was told by his doctor, "If you ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fruit Of The Holy Spirit: Love, Joy And Peace

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Jul 25, 2024

Prayer is an essential part of our daily lives and sharing prayer is an ideal way to grown in faith. The Church has a manifold resource of prayers from which we can use and adapt and indeed grow in faith. The Revised Common Lectionary collect for the 9th Sunday after Trinity is one such prayer.

Collect for Trinity 9 Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy and Peace The Holy Spirit is available to whisper to us thoughts of love and joy and peace and patience every moment of our lives. Our collect for today is a beautiful prayer and so full of meaning and purpose – an ideal prayer for our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105, Romans 12:9-12, Matthew 13:52

Why Are Jesus' Genealogies In Matthew And Luke Different?

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Mar 21, 2023

From https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/why-are-jesus-genealogies-in-matthew-and-luke-different This post is adapted from the Four Portraits, One Jesus: Jesus’ Birth, Childhood, and Early Ministry, a free online course taught by Dr. Mark Strauss. My notes will be added later.

The birth narratives in both Matthew and Luke help answer the question, “Who is Jesus and where did he come from?” One of the ways each book does this is by recounting Jesus’ genealogy. The problem is: the genealogies are different. The Old Testament predicted that the Messiah would come from the ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

The Son Of God Was Inconvenienced Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 1, 2025

Using this as a starting point to highlight 3 stages of our Savior's life and ministry (Material adapted from Brian Wilbur [with his permission] at: https://www.southparisbaptist.org/sermons/sermon/2019-12-22/he-had-to-be-made-like-us)

HoHum: Oak Ridge Boys sang a song written by Kyle David Matthew called Inconvenient Christmas some years back: Among the bills that I'd received was a postcard marked “Apologies, The Christmas gifts you ordered aren't in stock” So I packed up the kids for Grandpa's house Then a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:9-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Needs Revival?

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Apr 30, 2006

If our church is to grow numerically and spiritually, if our church is to have any impact on the culture around us, if our church is to please God – we must have revival within the church! What does God see as He looks at our church? Who needs revival?

Disclaimer: Source material for this sermon has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources whenever possible. Please feel free to use this message as God’s Holy Spirit directs your heart. WHO IS IN NEED OF REVIVAL? Psalms 85:6 Will You not revive us ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:6

Denomination: Baptist

Search For Success

Contributed by Micah Fries on Feb 18, 2003

As we live our lives in culture that is dramatically opposed to God we must be careful to live lives that honor Him. Our church has unfortunately lost it’s impact as a result of the decline of holiness among its people. This sermon will help us to learn h

“Search for Success” Joshua 14:6-15 I.) Directed by a passion for God (6-8) a. Conviction (7) [in my heart!] “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Fear No One Bearing Gifts

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 6, 2003

Solomon built the Temple using foreign gifts and foreign artists. Each of us brings to today’s church the limitations of his own culture, and must learn to ask for and trust the gifts others can give. Working together we learn to savor God’s greatness.

The Latin poet Virgil, in his epic poem, The Aeneid, has one of the Trojan warriors murmur, when a giant wooden horse was offered as a gift by the Greek armies outside the city walls, “I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts.” “I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts.” That is a statement of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Holding Our Ground In The Faith,

Contributed by William Yates on Mar 24, 2004

We in America and in the church are in the midst of a great cultural war. How do we respond when we hear of gay marriages and gay pastors being ordained? We can learn from 1 Chronicles 11 that we need to not retreat, but rather hold the high ground.

Holding Our Ground in the Faith Note: I am a United Methodist pastor who wrote this sermon in response to a recent ruling to allow a gay pastor to retain her ministry in the church. Though this message exhorts United Methodists to take a stand against a few radical elements within our fold, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:12-14

How Will God Find You?

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 18, 2011

Many times we as Christians live our lives in the dark. We think we are reasonably good people trying our best. But our past, our associations, the flesh, and the culture around us, conspire to blind us to many things that are not like the Lord going on i

The church today is in trouble. Two recent surveys show that church attendance, even among professing Christians, is way down. Many people today also feel that while they acknowledge faith in Jesus, also want a Burger King style religion—the “have it your way” mentality of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Makes A Church Ugly? Ephesus Pt 5 Series

Contributed by Kent Kessler on Oct 14, 2010

The problem with Ephesus is they were doing so much inside the walls they never went out. They were a “come-and-get-it” church and not a “go-and-get-them” church. This church saw their culture as something you stay away from.

“What Makes a Church Ugly?” Ephesus. Revelation 2:1-7 The world tries to get it right, but in all of its wisdom it can never measure up to the truth of God—it is all foolishness. LOVE is not a feeling to be lost—but it can be forsaken. LOVE causes us some great and full ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Methodist

Saved From Hell

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 6, 2009

Many pastors do not want to preach on HELL fearing they’ll not appear relevant. It’s pressure from the culture to not speak anything negative. Apparently we have begun to deny hell. There’s an assumption that everybody’s going to make it to heaven somehow

Opening illustration: Video of ‘HELL’ from center of the earth. Introduction: Many pastors do shy away from the topic of everlasting damnation. "It’s out of fear they’ll not appear relevant. It’s pressure from the culture to not speak anything negative. I believe we’ve begun to deny hell. There’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Guidelines For Christianity: God's Gift Of Sex Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 26, 2015

Most people in our culture today don’t often associate the word "God" with the word "sex". We’re going to try to answer these questions. What does the seventh commandment actually address? Why is adultery wrong? What leads people to adultery?

Today we’re gonna talk about sex. Now that I have your attention. . . God does not have a Commandment about worshipping Him in a temple or sanctuary. He planned to live in the body of His people. He wants to be glorified in your body and carry out His ministry through you. Here’s a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:14

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing For Perseverance

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Dec 29, 2019

In the midst of a rapidly changing culture, with struggles unlike we've faced in the past, how do we overcome and remain vibrant in ministry? Paul answers these vital questions within the text. Those who overcome and remain passionate for the Lord must make necessary preparations.

Preparing for Perseverance 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 As we close out another year and stand on the verge of the New Year, no doubt this has been a memorable year for each of us. We have all faced difficulties and adversity, heartache and pain; and yet these struggles were tempered with grace and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

3. The Breastplate Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Dec 1, 2019

Our modern culture is desperate to feel good about itself. But God has provided a true way to feel good about ourselves, to feel good because we are doing good, and to find God's forgiveness when our own efforts fall short.

We are continuing to look at what the Apostle Paul called the whole armor of God. In his letter to the Ephesian Church, chapter 6, he talked about our world as a battle field. And he wasn't picturing the kind of battle like that occurred when we began our attack on Iraq, where our forces ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17