Sermons on cultural pressure:

The World Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 6, 2019

As we try to follow God, know that you are swimming against a strong current of the world's pressures.

Some years ago we went up to Minnesota to visit our daughter, Elizabeth, and she took us out to one of her favorite spots, Interstate Park on the St. Croix River. If that name seems strange, it’s not a place where you have a picnic in the median between northbound and southbound lanes. It’s ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, James 4:4, John 16:33

I Hear A Sound

Contributed by Kraig Pullam on Feb 17, 2014

Faith is born out of a personal experience with God and it is measured by your ability to withstand opposition, persecution, pressure and affliction.

The instant and moment a person accepts/acknowledges/believes in Christ as their Savior and Redeemer, they step into a reality that they never truly and really, actually knew existed before. In that instant and moment an individual comes into, for perhaps the first times in their life, a sense of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:41-46

Denomination: Baptist

Halting Between Two Opinions Series

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Nov 15, 2015

This is a message that is from the Elijah series. It deals with compromising spiritual life because of the peer pressure that comes in association with idolatry.

1 Kings 18:17-21 (KJV) And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? [18] And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:17-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Run Away! Run For Your Life! Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 12, 2021

Attempting to stand against the pressure of the evil one is a recipe for defeat, unless and until we are strengthened by the Risen Saviour.

“[The soldiers] seized [Jesus] and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-62

Denomination: Baptist

The Paradox Of Love

Contributed by Kraig Pullam on Feb 18, 2014

Christ uses the teachings of Jewish culture as the backdrop to convey how people should love

One of the strangest moments for me on an airplane is when the plane backs up from the gate and begins to taxi towards the runway and the flight attendants come on and begin to give you instructions concerning the lights and what to do in case there is a loss of cabin pressure. And one of the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-31

Denomination: Baptist

Water To Wine—declaring God's Anointed-1 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 3, 2015

1 of 6. Jesus turned water to wine in order to initiate/call attention to/set apart His public ministry. Where is Jesus heralded as God’s Anointed? or Why turn water into wine? God’s Anointed is heralded on the stage of...

WATER To WINE—Declaring God's Anointed-I—John 2:1-12 Attention: On Stage—The Lion King—2nd highest grossing Broadway musical, pulling in $699.1 Million since 1994. Story of a coming of age reluctant King, threatened by his own uncle, who enviously seeks the king’s ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Living By Internal Prinicple Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jan 25, 2010

The account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego reveals some truths about tribulation and demonstrates how to live by internal principle and not by external pressure.

This morning, we come to one of the most well-known accounts in the entire Bible. But our familiarity with the account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace is actually one of the biggest obstacles we face in being able to understand what this passage has for us today and how we ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

Living Right Side Up In An Upside Down Society

Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Apr 17, 2005

To teach belivers how to live in today’s culture.

PP0242 DATE LIVING RIGHT SIDE UP IN AN UPSIDE SOCIETY! Proverbs 3:1-10. INTRODUCTION: What is a Christian supposed to do? We live in a society that is upside down. Years ago I rode a ride at the State Fair that turned the riders upside down several times during the duration of the ride. When ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Honor One Another

Contributed by Andy Barnard on Dec 27, 2008

To honor one another, although couner-cultural, is Biblical

Honouring To Honour: • To esteem • To ornament • To boast about • To worship • To dignify • To value a person’s worth by saying encouraging things to one another (often this is counter culture) Rom 12:9-13 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Engaging Today's Spirituality Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 11, 2009

How to engage the "New Spirituality" that is prevalent in our culture.

1 Engaging Today’s “New Spirituality” (The following was shared in part on April 27, 2008 by Brad Bailey as part of the series entitled: Holy Conversation. The extent of material could not be shared in full so one will find more here than was communicated in that message. A more developed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:21-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Jesus Has To Say About Sex.

Contributed by John Harvey on Aug 5, 2007

Confronting the lies of culture with the truth of God’s word.

“What Jesus Has to Say about Sex” August 5, 2007 Me: This is a difficult and scary topic. Today needs to be transparent and honest so that we can get to the bottom line, which is a life more like Christ. This is not an area that I have complete mastery over in my life and I am not sure anyone can ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-28

Denomination: Baptist

A Countercultural Mission Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

This sermon looks at four elements to a counter culture mission

A Countercultural Mission Acts 9:1-22 In Dayton, Ohio, attorney Derrick Farmer gave a motivational talk to at-risk teens. Derrick is 48 years old, and has been an attorney since 1999. Now, what was unusual about this event was that it was picketed by 30 Dayton police officers. Why? When Derrick was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-22

Denomination: Methodist

Only Jesus Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on May 20, 2008

We are saved by Jesus alone, not Jesus and culture or law.

Philippians 3:1-14 May 18, 2008 No Confidence in the Flesh Peter and Cornelius – first Gentile convert to Christianity Question: what to do with believers who are not Jewish – do they need to be Jewish to accept Christ? Paul taught no – both Jew and Gentiles come to God in the same way – ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-14

Denomination: *other

It's A Jungle Out There!

Contributed by Bob Coulter on Sep 28, 2011

Application of the message of Isaiah 11:6 in current culture.

Isaiah 11:6 says, “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; and the calf and the young lion together”. Theologians typically interpret by following a specific system (ie literal or symbolic). That often leads to a lot of confusing ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:6-12

Denomination: *other

Women In The Kingdom

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Aug 11, 2003

The Bible is counter-cultural in its attitude toward women

1 Corinthians 11:2-16 26/06/94 Women in the Kingdom Women in Jewish and Greek Culture Ancient Middle East culture had an extremely low view of women - women were seen as property, either of their father or husband - not testify in court, not inherit property, not claim any right to education - ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, 1 Corinthians 12:1-14

Denomination: *other