Sermons on Cultural Milieu:

The Life And Death Struggles Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 11, 2021

Today we are in a struggle like that between Moses and Balak, or between Jesus and the religious authorities, a battle to the death between God’s people and a pagan secular culture.

Homily for Monday in 3rd Week of Advent Balaam was a prophet for hire. He was a wealthy and respected prophet of Yahweh, but he was not an Israelite. Balak, a king who was in the way of Israel as they moved toward the Promised Land, was nervous about all these people moving across his territory. ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 24:2-7, Numbers 24:15-17, Matthew 21:23-27, Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Excellence Excludes Excess Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

Paul says this is what Christian leaders are to be. They are not to be people who get captured by the culture, or by circumstances. They are to be people who are stable and consistent in their commitments regardless of changes in life.

As I read Barbara Shields book Winners-Women And The Nobel Prize, I was so impressed by the life and leadership of Agnes Gunxha, better known as Mother Teresa. As I read of her life and ministry I kept seeing her fulfilling the requirements that Paul lays down for one to be an elder, or leader, in ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-9

Ask, Seek, Knock: The Pathway To Divine Encounter" Series

Contributed by Dr. John D. Wentworth on Apr 3, 2024

In our text, Jesus imparts several profound lessons that are referred to as the "Ask, Seek, Knock" passage, encapsulate fundamental principles that transcend time and culture.

Title: “Ask, Seek, Knock: The Pathway to Divine Encounter" Text: (Matthew 7:7-12) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Honored Women In The Life Of Jesus

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 11, 2017

Jesus came to save and restore. One aspect of his mission was to raise and restore the status of women in his culture. Many women were involved in the Ministry of Jesus.

1. Over the years women have often been mistreated in various arenas. The feminist movement of the 1960s and '70s originally focused on dismantling workplace inequality, such as denial of access to better jobs and salary inequity, via anti-discrimination laws. ... As such, the different wings of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:18-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Do We Take Pleasure In The Death Of The Wicked? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 21, 2024

A look at the ways we have allowed the culture war to make us hate those God called us to love as well as put secondary things first.

- [Maybe put this made-up passage up on the screen or in the sermon outline.] - Imagine that there is a Romans 17. (I’m not going heretical here - this is just a thought experiment with a point.) Imagine that at the end of Paul’s letter he shared some additional advice. - Let’s say that Romans 17 ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:23

Denomination: Baptist

"Samson's Fury & Infatuation" Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Aug 25, 2002

Samson is a tragic hero of Scripture, especially gifted but ensnared by the pagan culture, which captured him morally and then literally. He was a man of great physical strength but ethical weakness.

“Samson’s Fury & Infatuation”, Judges chapters 13-15 Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Introduction Samson is a tragic hero of the Bible. He was especially gifted but he became ensnared by the pagan culture, which captured him morally and then literally. ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

What Does 9.11 Make Of Us?

Contributed by Don Hawks on Sep 6, 2002

In spite of the tragedy, what “man meant for evil, God used for good”, thus how will Christians and American citizens be a part of the reshaping of culture since 9.11.01?

(Power Point available--email author) SLIDE 1 “WHAT DOES 9.11 MAKE OF US?” 8:30 with Video presentation (adapted from Leonard Sweet’s message on 9.11) Slide 2 “Night fell on a different world.” These are some of the first words President George Bush used to reflect on September 11, 2001. Slide ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20, Romans 13:8-10

Denomination: Methodist

The Precious Gift Of Freedom

Contributed by Don Carpenter on Nov 5, 2000

If you study the character of mankind over the centuries, you will find that there is one passion that transcends all languages, cultures, and barriers. Man has an in born desire and drive to be free

The Precious Gift Of Freedom John 8:31-36 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Denomination: Baptist

Amos - The Amateur But Authentic Prophet Series

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 16, 2001

Amos was an Amateur but Authentic Prophet who faithfully delivered God’s message to Israel, clashing with the culture and church of his day, with a vital message for the church of all ages.

AMOS - THE AMATEUR BUT AUTHENTIC PROPHET Amos had no intention of becoming a prophet. He’d never attended "the schools of the prophets" that were the conventional launch of a prophetic ministry. In fact he was a sheep breeder and a fig-tree grower who lived about 2,800 years ago in the Judean ...read more

Scripture: Amos 5:21-27

Denomination: Baptist

Lamb: The Image Of The Human

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Jan 17, 2003

Today we are accustomed to a weaponsculture. Man develops inner psychological weapons as well as external physical weapons. But we need to develop a culture that tries to make the weak stronger.

Some years ago, there was a very famous film star, MG Ramachandran by name, in Tamil Nadu in India. In his films he always acted as a fighter of injustice and a saviour of the poor, the helpless and the oppressed. He was the saviour who wiped the tears of misery and showed the helpless the way to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-42

Denomination: Catholic

Engaging Today's "New Spirituality" Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on May 22, 2008

What initially appeared as simply a temporary "New Age Movement" trend has become a more dominant cultural shift that I would refer to as simply the ‘new spirituality.’

Introduction Over the past few weeks we’ve been considering how to engage in Holy Conversation… that is.. how to talk about God in everyday life. One aspect that deserves some consideration…is that of engaging some of the increasingly popular ideas regarding spirituality. Several years ago… these ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Voice Of Hope Series

Contributed by Josh Reich on Mar 10, 2007

What is the hope that lies within all Christians, the hope people are looking for? Grace. This message looks at how to live out grace and create a grace filled culture.

Today is the last week of our series an elemental church. Hopefully, you are starting to see more of what God is calling us to and what he wants to do among us and through us as we move forward as a church. The past two weeks, we have been using 1 Corinthians 13:13 as our launching point. This ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The All Sufficient Grace Of God

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Oct 29, 2009

Grace is the theme for this Reformation Sermon. Illustrations are from recent "cultural" views or comments like "who is that guy hanging on the cross" "good people go to heaven when they die."

In Jesus Holy Name November 1, 2009 Text: Romans 3:21-24 Reformation “The All Sufficient Grace of God” Twenty years after the demonstrations that brought down the Berlin Wall many say that East Germany is spiritually near death. The Nazi and Soviet regimes that ruled East Germany tried ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Carrying The Cross Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Sep 8, 2010

Jesus calls his followers to deny themselves and carry the cross. What does this look like? What does it mean to deny ourselves in a culture and society based on consumerism?

Luke 14:25-33 “Carrying the Cross” INTRODUCTION Have you noticed that we appear to be buried under an avalanche of forms? When Faye had her shoulder surgery done this spring she sign enough forms to have killed two or perhaps three large trees. The paper work involved in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Three Women And A Basket

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 23, 2009

Leaving no child behind means that we parents set aside our own pleasures, that we learn to advocate for our children, and that we cross cultures with our resources.

It was every parent’s worst nightmare. My son, my own flesh and blood, standing in front of me, and announcing that he was taking lessons in ... skydiving! Skydiving! That’s where people walk out of airplanes and float downward to earth, supported by a thin sheet of cloth and a few little ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist