Sermons on Cultural Pressure:

Choosing Pleasure Over Pain Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Jun 26, 2012

Study of Hebrews 11:24-26 where Moses leaves an example and truth for us as we press on in a culture that disdains “the reproach of” anything. The truth is that the path to joy is littered with sacrifice. We can embrace this pain and suffering injustice b

Text: Heb 11:24-26, Title: Choosing Pain Over Pleasure, Date/Place: NRBC, 6.24.12, AM A. Opening illustration: Judson was united in marriage to Ann Hasseltine February 5, 1812, and was ordained the following day. He had counted the cost of being a missionary. When asking Mr. Hasseltine for the hand ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:24-26

Denomination: Baptist

Real Christianity: Clothing, Buildings, Money, & Extravagance

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

There is a lot of stuff out there claiming to be Christian, when it's not really Christian. It's a difficult situation for any real Christ follower. On one side you have a culture and society growing progressively more hostile toward Christian values.

There is a lot of stuff out there claiming to be Christian, when it's not really Christian. It's a difficult situation for any real Christ follower. On one side you have a culture and society growing progressively more hostile toward Christian values. On the other side you've got a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, Romans 1:5, Psalm 34:14

Denomination: Salvation Army

Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 19 – Judah Is Heading For Big Trouble - And Lying Prophets Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 29, 2024

Governments and rulers and institutions and people have turned away from God. Why is that we might wonder? Has the message been passed from one generation to another? Have the churches been faithful in relaying the gospel, or has Christianity become something infused into the culture?

PERSONAL STUDY AND TEACHING IN JEREMIAH – PART 19 – JUDAH IS HEADING FOR BIG TROUBLE - AND LYING PROPHETS PART 19 - Jeremiah 5:10-27 CHAPTER 5 [A]. THE VINEYARD STRIPPED OF ITS TREACHEROUS BRANCHES {{Jeremiah 5:10 “Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but do not execute a complete ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:10-13, Amos 3:11-12, Matthew 7:13-14, Acts 17:30-31, Jeremiah 5:14-17, Exodus 22:2, Jeremiah 23:29, Isaiah 33:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Is "i Am” - God's Personal Name

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Feb 26, 2024

In Jewish culture, you know everything about a person from his/her name. What better way to get to know God than to look at His name? In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself to Moses by His personal name, which is “I am.”

JESUS IS “I AM” – GOD’S PERSONAL NAME 1. INTRODUCTION In Jewish culture, you know everything about a person from his/her name. What better way to get to know God than to look at His name? In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself to Moses by His personal name, which is “I am.” Exodus 3:13-15 ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:13-15

Denomination: Church Of God

What You Believe Is Important! Series

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jun 20, 2023

Paul was always interested in what people believed. What you believe determines how you live, what you do and what you can receive. Spirit-filled Christians live different from culture, customs, and surroundings. They live as lights in a dark world.

Sermon – What You Believe Is Important! Scripture Acts 19:1-7 “While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-7, Joel 2:28-29, John 1:12, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20, John 7:37-39  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Serving The Lord

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on May 27, 2025

What does Luke 10:17-24 mean? It cannot be taken literally. Understanding the metaphors and culture of Jesus' day explains everything. Going out to spread the Gospel is a major part of discipleship. When one is doing this Christ is with the person through the Holy Spirit

Serving the Lord Luke 10:17-24 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Luke 10:17 Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” 18 And He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 “Behold, I have given you authority to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:17-24

Denomination: United Methodist

Twinkies Or Broccoli

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Aug 16, 2005

Love of the world and love of God are mutually exclusive, just like a healthy diet cannot be full of both twinkies and broccoli

Twinkies or Broccoli TCF Sermon August 14, 2005 Opening illustration – I need someone to help me eat a snack. This is an either/or demonstration. Either eat a good snack, or eat a bad snack food. Maybe we’ll have a little of both. In one bag is the twinkie. Classic junk snack. In the other ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Don’t Want To Be Bitten, Don’t Pet The Beast

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 24, 2009

Modesty in women’s dress is no accident. It is the result of training and adherence to biblical standards of decency in order to strengthen the witness of women.

“Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”[1] A 54-year-old British woman tried to pet a lion in the El Arca wild animal ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Opposing The Opposition

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Sep 21, 2015

These are hard times for the churches across North America. We have the greatest message the world could ever hope to hear but people shut their ears and hearts to it. So what are we to do?

Opposing the opposition - Jeremiah 11:18-20 This week I was drawn to the book of Jeremiah. God called him to a difficult task at a difficult time. Jeremiah was calling out to the people of God but they wanted none of it. In fact they had enough of Jeremiah and planned to kill him because he ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 11:18-20, 1 Peter 4:16-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Search For Success

Contributed by Micah Fries on Feb 18, 2003

As we live our lives in culture that is dramatically opposed to God we must be careful to live lives that honor Him. Our church has unfortunately lost it’s impact as a result of the decline of holiness among its people. This sermon will help us to learn h

“Search for Success” Joshua 14:6-15 I.) Directed by a passion for God (6-8) a. Conviction (7) [in my heart!] “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every ...read more

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

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

Holding Our Ground In The Faith,

Contributed by William Yates on Mar 24, 2004

We in America and in the church are in the midst of a great cultural war. How do we respond when we hear of gay marriages and gay pastors being ordained? We can learn from 1 Chronicles 11 that we need to not retreat, but rather hold the high ground.

Holding Our Ground in the Faith Note: I am a United Methodist pastor who wrote this sermon in response to a recent ruling to allow a gay pastor to retain her ministry in the church. Though this message exhorts United Methodists to take a stand against a few radical elements within our fold, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:12-14

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: Methodist

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