Sermons on Cultural Pressure:

The House On The Rock Series

Contributed by Eric Carey-Holt on Dec 29, 2002

I believe that we must be a church that has the courage and the heartbeat of God to reach people of every culture and situation, people who are lost and broken, people who are tattooed and pierced and in baggy clothes, people who are different from us in

BUILDERS MT 7:24-27 TEXT Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Denomination: Methodist

The Christian Response To Social Evil

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 19, 2024

How shall followers of Christ respond to the growing wickedness of our world?

“[Jesus] said to [His disciples], ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Sudden Impact

Contributed by Fred Mueller on Jun 1, 2001

A Memorial Day sermon with a strong anti-war message - while trying to be sensitive to the memory of those who lost loved ones. A sermon that shows how Christ at work in us runs counter to the culture.

The Reformed Church of Locust Valley Easter VII May 27, 2001 Acts 16:16-34 “Sudden Impact” Christianity is nothing but trouble. Ever since Jesus started his work he has done nothing but cause trouble. The leaders of his day were aghast at him. Jesus was a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Halloween: Problem Or Potential

Contributed by Christopher Roberts on Sep 20, 2002

Halloween is a major-moneymaking holiday that captures our lives this time of the year. Every store is filled with Halloween candy, costumes, and decorations. Halloween is rooted deep into our culture. What should we do?

Please e-mail me with any comments or if you use any part of this at your church at Mail4ChrisR@aol.com. I would love to hear about it. God Bless! - Chris Halloween: Problem or Potential? The culture in which we live challenges a Christian lifestyle daily. As Christians, we often face tough ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:21, Ephesians 5:11

Denomination: Methodist

Hypocrisy

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 19, 2004

It seems that this passage describes God’s indictment of all hypocrites, regardless of race or religion, culture or creed. Both Jews and Gentiles are included in this discussion, but the Gentile often appears in a better light than the Jew.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: Despite the mind-numbing brutality of the Joseph Stalin regime in the Soviet Union, his propaganda machine did its job well. Many Russians hailed him as a hero and a savior, including a young school girl who was chosen on one occasion to greet Stalin. Years later, this ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

3 Godly Guidelines For Great Families

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Feb 18, 2005

The makeover for a house comes from Hollywood, but the makeover for a home comes from heaven! The declining life of children translates into a declining culture of life! We must provide a godly home for the sake of our children!

3 Godly Guidelines For Great Families Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Remember last week I ask - have you ever prayer a prayer like this, “God, I just commit my child to your safe keeping”? The Pastor’s Cat… Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Redemptive Role Of The Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 13, 2003

I feel very strongly that the commencement of Celebrating our Cultural and Spiritual Heritage as African descendants must begin with a recognition and appreciation of the Role of the Holy Spirit in our Redemptive History. For He was and is and is yet to p

“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 59:19

Denomination: Baptist

The End Of The World As We Know It 2 Series

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Mar 1, 2011

As Christians we are still in the world, we participate in culture, business, almost everything – however, we are of a different substance, our treasure is elsewhere our citizenship is in another land. Everything HAS changed!

Dakota Community Church February 27, 2011 End of the World 2 Ephesians 2:1-3 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Mennonite

Easter: They Didn't Get It, Do You?

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Apr 5, 2007

This sermon looks at the first reactions of the women and disciples, upon arriving at the tomb. Some people in our culture still don’t get it. After evaluating the facts, there is a choice to make. He is risen!

In Jesus Holy Name April 8, 2007 Text: Luke 24:1-12 Redeemer “They Didn’t Get It! Do You?” He is Risen! He is risen, indeed! In February Oscar-winning director, James Cameron (The Titanic) along with Emmy award-winning documentary film maker Simcha Jacobovivbi held a press ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Really - A King?

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Dec 1, 2011

We are culturally conditioned to believe in our own autonomy: my rights, my choices, me as the boss of myself, me in control of what I want to do, so is Jesus really our King?

Really – A King? various Scriptures November 20, 2011 Intro: In the church year, today is the last Sunday. Christian new year starts next week, with the first week of Advent, and the annual rhythm of worship begins anew. About a hundred years ago, in response to a growing individualism ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

Failure Not Final Sermon Vi: Why Would Anyone Go From Persecutor To Persecuted Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Mar 11, 2020

Since many folks in our culture appear to be consumed by hatred - much of it aimed at, but some of it by, Christians - we would be wise to review our Lord's confrontation with and transformation of Paul.

WHY WOULD ANYONE CHOOSE TO GO FROM PERSECUTOR TO PERSECUTED? You knew that any focus on the theme Failure Is Not Final with the Father had to get around to the persecutor who became the persecuted. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:9-20

Individualism Series

Contributed by Scott Berry on Aug 27, 2020

Have you ever thought about why you think the way you do? What are the cultural lenses that you are looking through? Let us think about the water we are swimming in.

Rom 12: 9 – 21 Looking at our lenses: Individualism (Have you spotted consumeristic thinking in yourself this week?) Individualism is the social outlook that stresses independence and self-reliance. Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires, while opposing external ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Entitlement Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jun 16, 2013

Entitlement is when people feel that the world owes them something without having to do anything to earn it. We llok at entitlement in our culture and then see what Scripture has to say about it

Entitlement James 4:1-3 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 In his commencement speech to the Wellesley High School Class of 2012, English teacher David McCullough delivered some sobering words: “None of you is special. You are not special. You are not exceptional.” He called the graduating ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Denomination: Methodist

The Greatest

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Sep 12, 2013

The analogy of the child being the greatest in God’s Kingdom was completely contrary to the prevailing culture then and now. Imagine how His disciples must have reacted to Jesus then and how indifferent it is even today.

Opening illustration: If God was taking resumes, what would you put on yours? In other words, what makes a good Christian? What would really impress them when you arrive in heaven? Experience, qualifications, references, character traits … The reason I asked is because followers of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Worshiping Nature Or The Creator?

Contributed by John Hickman on Oct 22, 2013

Is our culture today worshiping "Mother Nature" instead of the Creator? Jesus went out into God's Creation to hear from God, to pray, to be refreshed and recharged for ministry. Shouldn't we be doing the same?

One hundred years before the birth of Jesus a Roman Philosopher, Cicero, wrote, “Nature herself makes the wise man rich.” The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said that “Nature never hurries. Atom by atom, little by little she achieves her work.” Antoinette Brown Blackwell wrote ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:35-38

Denomination: Charismatic