Sermons on Cultural Degradation:

Being With It

Contributed by Paul Cull on Feb 6, 2006

The necessity of proclaiming the gospel, the necessity of cultural relevance and the necessity of spiritual integrity

Being with it - the necessity and challenges of cultural relevance There have been remarkable changes in rural communities over the last fifty years or even the last twenty years. When many of us were children, we grew up with a good understanding of the agricultural world. Many of the children ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Bending Too Far

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Feb 19, 2007

Discover how to overcome the dangers of bending too far in a threatening culture.

As a boy one of our favorite fun activities was riding tree saplings, much like you would a wild horse. This is how it worked. We would bend a 3 or 4 inch sapling to the ground. A friend would help us hold the tree while we climbed aboard. After sitting astraddle the sapling the tree was released ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Relying On God Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jun 9, 2007

In a culture which prizes self-sufficiency, we need to rely on God.

Australian males prize self-sufficiency. It’s not masculine to ask anyone else for help. It’s not macho to admit that you can’t handle something on your own. I’m probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to having this sort of attitude. I hate anyone having to show me how to do anything, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 59:1-17, Psalm 59:12

Denomination: Anglican

How The Holy Spirit Steers Us Away From Inappropriate Cultural Leadership Models That Often Trouble The Church

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit teaches us to avoid compromising the truth of scripture with counterfeit models of church leadership.

1. The Holy Spirit teaches us to avoid compromising the truth of scripture with counterfeit models of church leadership. Paul wrote, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:2-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

And Justice For All Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Mar 26, 2014

Custom's set us apart; they become our culture, the attitudes, actions and values that define us. In His early messages Jesus kept referring to the coming kingdom of God and the culture that defines it.

Faith Challenges that will Change Your Summer And Justice for All Matt 5:33-48 7/14/2013 Introduction * The Masai tribe, located in Kenya and Tanzania, greet each other by spitting. When greeting elders, a tribesman must spit in his hand before offering a handshake, thus showing respect. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-48

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

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

Getting Ahead Of Ourselves Series

Contributed by Josh Reich on Jun 4, 2007

Many people in our culture are planners, in fact, our culture holds up planning ahead as an ideal. But what does the Bible say? Does planning ahead take God out of the equation?

A Search for What is Real: Getting Ahead of Ourselves (James 4:11 – 17) Have you ever had a decision and didn’t know what to do? Maybe it had to do with a career choice, which college to go to, who to date, whether to get married, buy that first house, start a family. All of us at different ...read more

Scripture: James 4:11-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Generation Of Christian Leaders Riding Into Sunset Spark Reevaluation

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Jul 2, 2009

With the passing of Jerry Falwell and D. James Kennedy along with the dissolution of the Center for Reclaiming America and the Center for Christian Statesmanship, the issue has arisen once again as to whether or not conservative Evangelicals should partic

With the passing of Jerry Falwell and D. James Kennedy along with the dissolution of the Center for Reclaiming America and the Center for Christian Statesmanship, the issue has arisen once again as to whether or not conservative Evangelicals should participate in political activity. Since things ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Attentive Relationship Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jul 1, 2008

God is giving the Hebrews a way to build and stay in relationship with Him. This two pronged approach from God, building a relationship and weeding out things that will hurt that relationship is effective for us today as well.

Have you ever lost your driver’s license? Isn’t it a traumatic event? I have lost my driver’s license several times over the years and each time it made my life difficult. For all practical purposes I lost my identity. I couldn’t write a check – stores will not take a check without proper ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:1-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Influence And Conformity

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Feb 15, 2010

We will be influenced - but the Word tells us Do not be conformed. Who and what are influencing us, and to what effect?

Influence and Conformity TCF Sermon February 7, 2010 Open with on-stage re-enactment/illustration of this scenario (see below) � ask individuals in your church to come: A few years ago psychologist Ruth W. Berenda and her associates carried out an interesting experiment with teenagers designed ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That Critical Word "unless" Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 13, 2021

Isn’t it true that when we ask Jesus for some favor, His timing is always flawless?

Monday of 4th Week in Lent 2021 One of the most contemptible features of our modern culture shows up today in the Gospel of John. Jesus tells this petitioner: “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The man repeats his request for Jesus to come from where he was in Cana to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-21, John 4:43-54, 1 John 2:15-17, Revelation 21:1

Denomination: Catholic

Every Barrier Down: Mary Magdalene

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 6, 2010

Commitment to the living Christ will let Him break down circumstantial, cultural, and spiritual barriers to our success. Illustrated with the story of Marian Anderson.

I think it was John Lennon, one of the Beatles, who once observed, "Life is what happens while you are making other plans." That really is the issue, isn't it? Getting a fix on our lives. Getting hold of life. Being able to make it go the way you want it to go. And the trouble is that life just ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Did Mary Consent

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 21, 2019

Was Mary willing to receive Divine seed or was she assaulted by God?

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. It is very irritating when people who apparently do not know the Bible and may not have even read it come up with crazy stuff. It is more irritating when people who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:38

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is Enough To Change A City - Acts 19 Intro To Colossians Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Nov 5, 2014

Today's cities are not so different from First Century cities as one might think. Jesus was enough to change Ephesus. He is enough to change your city!

I need to give you a background of the book of Ephesians, so you can see that it applies to our city. This way, you can get a feel for WHY Paul wrote what he did in the book. Ephesus was one of the premier city of the Roman Empire. It was situated on It benefitted from a great road system, ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

The Universal Gift Series

Contributed by John Sears on Dec 3, 2013

In a culture where tolerance is the highest virtue and where sincere belief is the only thing important to faith, are Christians too exclusive in believing that Jesus is the only way to eternal life? What does that salvation look like?

Introduction I have a confession I need to make. I have owned my cell phone for a little more than a year now. In that time, I have lost my charging cord five times. Now don’t blame me. I think it’s possible that charging a phone soon causes the cord to fade into the netherworld ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-14

Denomination: Christian Church