Sermons on Cultural Adaptation:

Dependence On God's Grace

Contributed by Kenneth Anthony on Oct 23, 2006

Our culture is obsessed with achievement. Perhaps we have it all wrong and become more dependent on God’s grace.

We’ve Got It All Wrong! Perhaps the most successful sitcom of all-time is the Beverly Hillbillies. The series aired on CBS from September 26, 1962 to May 23, 1971 and told the rags to riches story of a Bugtussle, Tennessee family striking oil in the Ozark Mountains. Soon after striking “black ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

My "Other" Life

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Oct 16, 2002

Our culture of blame influences how we look at others, but the Lord says examine your own heart first.

My “Other” Life TCF Sermon February 7, 1999 A lawyer in San Diego filed a lawsuit against the city because, during a rock concert at a city facility, he was "forced" (that’s the word the news item used) to use the women’s restroom. GET THIS: he also sued the company that SOLD HIM THE BEER! ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul, The Complementarian Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 9, 2015

Although detestable to many people and completely counter-cultural, God’s Word teaches that gender roles are not identical.

Paul, the Complementarian (I Timothy 2:8-15) 1. A pastor said: “You need to join the Army of the Lord!” My friend replied, “I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor.” Pastor questioned, “How come I don't see you except at Christmas and Easter?” He whispered ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:8-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Living With Order Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Sep 18, 2012

What happens in our families infuences what happens in our culture. If ever there is a place for quality relationships, it's the family.

“Building Quality Relationships: With Family - Living With Order in Your Home” Ephesians 6:1-4 If I asked you if you thought you could subscribe to the Communist Manifesto, you’d probably be inclined to say “No,” even if you didn’t know what it contained. And if ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dreams In The Bible - Part 2 – Some Dreams Series

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Apr 4, 2012

God has always talked to His children in dreams. Our culture has lost the significance and value of visions and dreams.

We started last week by studying the dream that Jacob had at Bethel. Today we are going to see some more examples of dreams in the Bible. Introduction The ancients understood that the world of dreams opens a channel of communication between mankind and the spiritual world, and opens sleepers to a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:17

Denomination: Baptist

Have I Seen You Before?

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on May 7, 2009

Easter comes and goes too fast...The culture moves on to the next celebration instead of experiencing Easter in a full way.

Have I seen you before? John 20:19-31 We are picking up the Easter story again this week. For us Easter is pretty much over. The stores have the clearance tables filled with chocolate bunnies, peeps, Easter baskets and stuffed animals. They are clearing off the shelves for new stuff; I guess ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Congregational

Biblical Accuracy Proved Through Jacob’s Prophecies Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jul 27, 2013

By studying Genesis 49 we will be reminded that we can TRUST the Bible even when modern culture rejects it.

Genesis 49 Can you trust the Bible? When we say “yes - I believe the Bible,” I think that what many of us are saying is that we believe the STORIES, the MIRACLES, the TRUTHFULNESS of the Bible. We do not doubt the content of the Bible, but do we FOLLOW the Bible? Do we believe it ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:1-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Truths To Deflate Self-Centeredness Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 16, 2013

A look at four passages in Luke that help us to puncture the self-centered tendencies that come so naturally in our culture.

WHAT JESUS EXPECTS: He told us to be servants, but it’s hard to know how to move in that direction in such a self-centered culture. - Luke 22:24-27. - It is a little difficult for us to understand how to be servants when we’re so used to being the center of attention: a. Stores cater ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Finding Our Worth In Christ

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Mar 26, 2019

In a culture obsessed with self-image, how do we find our self-worth and redefine ourselves in the image of Christ?

American Individualism I want you to take a moment, as we reflect on this verse, to think about the culture we find ourselves in today. At its heart, it is a very individualistic, self-centered and image obsessed culture. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love this country and the people in it. But we ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Core 52 Week 7 - The Kingdom Of God Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Mar 2, 2020

We have many "cultural royalty" in America. Be careful who you make king of your life.

To hear the sermon, please visit my podcast at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/697261/2891872 Kingdom of God - Becoming a Great Leader Intro: • King of Rock N Roll, King of Pop, Queen of Soul, Nascar “The King”, King of Country, Sultain of Swat, “King James,” Sausage King of Chicago (jk). • In the ...read more

Scripture: Judges 21:25, 1 Samuel 8:5-9, 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Samuel 9:1-2, 1 Samuel 15:2-3, Acts 13:22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I'm Nobody's Fool I'm My Own Man

Contributed by John Dixon on Jul 20, 2019

There are also a lot of popular proverbs in our culture today. Let’s see how well you know them.

Proverbs 1:1-10 (NASB) 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

True Leadership Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 4, 2021

As the culture of power and death sees it today, leaders have to be tyrants without hearts or they can’t get anything done.

2nd Sunday of Advent Cycle C “Lead, or follow, or get out of the way.” This bulldozer philosophy of leadership sat prominently on the desk of sports-and-media maven Ted Turner. Almost a century earlier, another notorious anti-Catholic, Havelock Ellis, wrote a sneering thought about ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:1-6, Philippians 1:4-11, Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

A Surprise Or A Plan? Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 25, 2021

The church began as a Messianic Jewish movement, but became a trans-cultural Messianic movement. How can we explain this?

A Surprise or a Plan? (Romans 9:22-33) 1, I heard about a pastor after he would preach a man would say to him, “Pastor, that was a warm message today.” or the man would say, “Pastor, that was a warm sermon” or he would sometimes say, “I appreciate those warm words.” One day the preacher caught him ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:22-33, Acts 3:18-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Serving Jesus' Way Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Aug 29, 2022

When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, he broke cultural conventions but also provided an example for his followers to emulate.

Surprised by Underwhelming Expectations I rarely introduce myself as Pastor. It’s not that I don’t want people to know the role I play, but I don’t want my title to become a barrier. Sure, it may open some conversations, but it may also hinder others as people might think I’m some holy man - ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Shame In Shechem Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 24, 2021

Don’t compromise in your commitment to the Lord nor with the godless culture that surrounds you, lest you be consumed by it.

There is an old Russian parable about a hunter who came to a clearing and encountered a bear. The hunter raised his rifle to shoot when the bear said, “Wait, what do you want?” The hunter replied, “A fur coat.” “That’s reasonable,” answered the bear. “I want a full stomach. Let’s sit down and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 33:18-20, Genesis 34:1-31, 1 John 2:15-17, Genesis 35:1

Denomination: Evangelical Free