Sermons on Cultural Debates:

My Self-Esteem And What Became Of It

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 2, 2019

Self-esteem is detrimental to the health of the Christian and to the health of the church. Christians must cultivate humility of spirit that permits them to serve Christ and to serve their fellow saints.

“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Hard Or Simple?

Contributed by William Mouser on Oct 25, 2005

In one of the final debates with the Pharisees, Jesus exposes their penchant for complicating the simple meaning of God’s Word, while ignoring those parts of God’s word which truly are full of mystery.

Hard or Simple? Matt. 22:15-22 A university research wished to study the differences in perception that are related to ones vocation. So, they devised a simple test in order to detect how a person’s professional vocation influenced their answer to a simple question. The first to be tested ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Core 52 Week 24 - Our Calling And Election Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Jun 14, 2020

Predestination. Election. Free will. These are some of the most hotly debated doctrines in the church. We think we have to be in one camp or the other. But is that true? Let's find out together.

You can listen to the audio of the sermon on my podcast at: https://pastorlanny.buzzsprout.com/ Core 52 Week 24 - Our Calling • Threw away the rent check. Before you judge me, how many gift cards got thrown out at Christmas time in the wrapping paper at your house? • So easy to overlook or lose ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:2-13, Matthew 22:14, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4, Acts 10:34, 1 Peter 1:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Guidepost Four – Image Of God Vs. Modern Identity Wars Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 26, 2025

Human worth is received from God, marred by sin, and renewed in Christ; true identity is found in His image, not cultural labels.

Introduction – The Question Beneath Every Question In every century people have asked, Who am I? The wording changes—What defines me? Where do I belong? How do I find my true self?—but the ache is ancient. Today it comes with new intensity. Debates about gender, race, achievement, sexuality, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27, Colossians 3:1-12, John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Which Side Of The Cross Are You On? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 20, 2005

Titus ministered in an area where the culture influenced the Christian community with immorality, independence, and idleness. These same character traits exist in our culture as well - placing Christians on opposite sides when they don’t need to be.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in the church was like you? I’ve heard it said before that “church is great – except for all the people.” The fact is, the church is the people – imperfect members of the human race who came to Christ from various backgrounds and dysfunctions. Sometimes I wish ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-16

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Our Calling For Tomorrow

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jan 2, 2012

The USA culture is in trouble - and the reason is, for the most part, the church culture in the USA is in trouble. The calling for followers of Christ and the Church of Christ is to show Jesus so the world can KNOW Jesus. This message speaks to our call

Our Calling for Tomorrow Philippians 3:1-15 * Over the past couple of weeks I have digested large portion of written material by a 20th century preacher/prophet/revivalist named Leonard Ravenhill. He was indeed a man, the likes of which we have not seen in many years. Witnesses say that when he ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Heart Trouble

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Jul 15, 2014

The Scripture teaches that persecution comes from every side to those who live like Jesus. Living for Jesus is radical. It is intrinsically counter-cultural. To walk like Jesus we walk against the flow of our culture.

Heart Trouble Mark 15:1-20 Jesus before Pilate 1 Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:1-20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

A Simple Prayer For Complicated Times

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Dec 3, 2020

In a culture that wants to hear and tell lies and are obsessed with who has what and how much they have, this prayer is a breath of fresh air. Our culture is very self-centered but Agur's prayer is God-centered.

Lessons From The Prayer of Agur Proverbs 30:7-9 Introduction: In recent years a lot of public attention has been focused on prayer. Our courts have banned prayer from public schools, public functions, and public display. And as we've seen in protest, regardless of opposition, it hasn't ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:7-9, Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Methodist

Witness Protection Program Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Aug 2, 2024

Jesus offers us 3 witnesses: 1) human testimony, 2) the very things Jesus is doing, and lastly, 3) the Scriptures themselves. If you’re wondering if it’s crazy to believe Jesus is God, the same kinds of evidence they had is the same kind of evidence you have.

When your world is in chaos, do you think life is random? When your world is a snow globe shaken in every direction, do you feel as if there is no one who is in control? In the midst of chaos, Jesus steps forward to say, “I’ve got this.” We begin a series entitled “This Is Your Captain Speaking.” ...read more

Scripture: John 5:31-47

Denomination: Baptist

The God Perspective

Contributed by Chris Surber on Jun 11, 2009

When we look to the culture for answers we go astray. We need God’s perspective in our lives.

The God Perspective, 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 Introduction An American Indian tells about a brave who found an eagle’s egg and put it into the nest of a prairie chicken. The eaglet hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All his life, the changeling eagle, thinking he was a prairie ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

What To Do After November 4

Contributed by David Nuhfer on Nov 6, 2008

In light of the cultural changes that could take place in our nation as a result of the November 4, 2008 elections, what should the church be doing?

This past week, course of our nation took a turn. After a long and often bitter campaign, we went to the polls and, after over 100 million votes were counted, a new President was selected. The vote reflected a lot of interest, a lost of discussion and the realization that we are a nation of people ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

A Request For Refuge

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 19, 2015

When times are tough its time to fight for your faith, knowing that your times are in His hands.

A Request for Refuge Psalm 31 Rev. Brian Bill July 18-19, 2015 Beth and I celebrated our 30th Anniversary on Monday. When I posted a picture from our wedding day many people complimented Beth. Me, not so much. Here are just a few of the comments: • Look, you have hair • She looks ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Cross The Line

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 19, 2018

Our world has drawn new lines in the sand in an effort to separate us from those who need what only Jesus can give. Our world says – keep your religion to yourself – we don’t want it here. Jesus says cross the line, I'm here for you.

Cross the Line John Chapter 11 Jesus crosses the line and goes back to Judea where his friend Lazarus has died. Sometimes God will call us and ask us to cross the line. To go from a place of relative safety to a place of danger. The last time Jesus was in Judea they tried to kill Him by ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Revelations Has To Say To The U.s. Church Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 14, 2020

Do we have anything in common with the first-century church of Ephesus? Unfortunately, yes we do. Too much have we abandoned the love of Christ we had at first.

Monday of 33rd Week in Course 2020 In this penultimate week of the Church year, the Church gives us snippets from the Book of Revelations, the last and in some ways most difficult book of the New Testament. You see today the style of the letters; the ones we have this week are written to churches ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-4, Revelation 2:1-5, Psalm 1:1-6, Luke 18:35-43

Denomination: Catholic

The World System's Utopian Fantasies & The Resistance Awaiting A Better World

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 5, 2021

One may browse through a hundred news articles a day or reflect on the situations facing humanity with great trembling. And one may reflect back upon history to consider how history repeats itself.

I'd like to arrange several elements which we'll reference during this reflection. We'll be referencing sources including Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, the novels 1984 and Animal Farm by Orwell, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, an obscure Walt Disney film from 1979 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-12, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:13

Denomination: Salvation Army