Sermons on cultural oblivion: showing 1,291-1,305 of 30,641

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

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

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: *other

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

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

Series: Recovering Stolen Identity & Reclaiming Misplaced Destiny: Part 5: The Moses Story: "what Are You Doing In The Backside Of The Desert?"

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 10, 2020

Moses is in a condition of waste - Example of Stolen Identity & Misplaced Destiny. He's gone from highest to lowest; from cultured prince to rustic shepherd. He appeared content, but is depressed. God will find you in the backside of the desert and put you back on destiny.

SERIES: RECOVERING STOLEN IDENTITY & RECLAIMING MISPLACED DESTINY: PART 5: THE MOSES STORY: WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE BACKSIDE OF THE DESERT? 1. Exodus 2:11 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:11-25, Exodus 3:1-5

Denomination: Charismatic

Core 52 Week 11 - The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Mar 19, 2020

How we handle threats? People tend toward two very different responses to a threat. Our current cultural focus is on the threat of COVID-19. Some want to completely downplay it and ignore it and others are running around with their hair on fire. What is the Christian response to this current event?

You can hear the sermon on my podcast https://pastorlanny.buzzsprout.com/ Intro: • How we handle threats - rather like my paternal grandfather contrasted to my mother during thunderstorms. o Growing up in SW Oklahoma - “tornado alley” in the 60’s. No early warning, no radar on phones. Sirens went ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

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

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

"Hope: The Heart Of Christmas” Series

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Nov 29, 2022

Wrapping up the book of Acts. Paul has "hope" that he will reach Rome. In our culture many people have lost "hope". Scottish Proverb: “Were it not for hope, the heart would break”. Our "hope" is secured by the resurrection.

In Jesus Holy Name November 27, 2022 Text: Acts 27,28 Redeemer Lutheran Advent I “Hope: The Heart of Christmas” The season of Advent begins today. It is the beginning of a new church year. It is a season of anticipation. A time ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Lent 2019 - Jesus Under Attack Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Apr 6, 2019

Jesus, in His time on earth, was under attack in many ways by the Jewish leaders. He was argued with, defamed and crucified. Many in our society are attacking Jesus as well even from within some churches. Do we know enough about Jesus and His Word to recognize false teaching?

Lent 2019 – Attacking The Rock Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together … 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Matthew 15:2, Luke 6:2, Luke 13:31, John 8:48, Matthew 12:24, John 11:50, Jude 1:3-4, Genesis 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 5:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

The Name Above All Names

Contributed by Jeff Budzinski on Jul 30, 2010

• This morning I want to position you to use the name that is above every name…the Name of Jesus. • In ancient Hebrew culture, names carried great significance. • They might refer to an individual’s personality, relate to an event surrounding a person’

Introduction • This morning I want to position you to use the name that is above every name…the Name of Jesus. • In ancient Hebrew culture, names carried great significance. • They might refer to an individual’s personality, relate to an event surrounding a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Invisible Man

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 27, 2009

As Ralph Ellison helped us see racism as one group treating another as invisible, so today we need to discern who is invisible to us; and we need to see how Jesus is invisible to many until He is connected to the culture and until we make Him visible.

"I am an invisible man." Those words, pecked out on an old typewriter one night in the Vermont hills, began a literary work of unparalleled beauty and power. Ralph Waldo Ellison; encouraged to make music and to write by his father; inspired by the civil rights activism of his mother, began to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Rest Of The Story

Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 27, 2008

Often quoted and very familiar to even people who don’t follow Jesus’ "Come to me" passage. But do we really understand what Jesus means by it? This passage is full of cultural specific references that could easily be lost if we don’t understand the cultu

Memorial Day The Rest of the Story Matthew 11:25-30 May 25, 2008 Often quoted and very familiar to even people who don’t follow Jesus is His declaration, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” This is an amazing passage with a whole host of applications that can be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30

Denomination: Church Of God