Sermons on Cultural Pressure:

Pay The Toll In Order To Reach The Goal

Contributed by Keith Shuler on Nov 3, 2002

What if Jesus had quit? What if Jesus had given in to the pressures of trying to please man instead of pleasing God.

Pay The Toll To Reach The Goal Matthew 26:36-46 My wife and I took a journey up north a few weeks ago, because we had decided to visit New York. As soon as we entered Richmond, we had to pay a toll fare. As soon as we reached D.C we had to pay a toll. From Maryland to New York we had to pay a toll ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sing In The Power Of The Holy Spirit For A World In Desperate Need Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 8, 2021

The Holy Spirit should be our constant counselor and guide. We are under tremendous pressure in the Christian churches and schools these days.

Acts 16: 11-21 and John 15: 21-27 When we listen to the Gospel of Luke and the Acts, and to the Gospel of John as well, we get the impression that the Holy Spirit was more active in the early Church than today. Paul was forbidden by the Spirit–probably warned by a prophetic utterance–not to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:16, Acts 16:11-15, John 15:26-27, John 16:1-4

Denomination: Catholic

Trusting God In The Midst Of Trouble

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jan 10, 2026

This sermon teaches believers how to maintain unwavering faith and confidence in God even when confronted with trials, pressures, and uncertainties.

TRUSTING GOD IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Psalm 46:1 Key Verse: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, KJV) Supporting Texts: Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 43:2; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; John 16:33; Romans 8:28 INTRODUCTION: Trouble is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Girded Saints

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 20, 2026

Girding precedes armor; readiness begins with being held together so faithfulness can endure pressure without collapse.

There is a kind of readiness that feels loud. It announces itself. It comes with urgency, energy, momentum. People speak faster. Plans multiply. Language sharpens. For a long time, many of us assumed that kind of readiness was faithfulness. If someone was energized, they must be ready. If ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:7, 1 Peter 1:13, Ephesians 6:14, 1 Samuel 17:38-40

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

How We Got In This Mess Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 4, 2001

Only the good news of Jesus Christ can overcome the moral mess of our culture.

Our world is a mess. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in ethics to realize that our world has become a dangerous and messed up place to live. Here in American in the last forty years violent crime has increased 280% (Bennett 15). Every year 20,000 people in our nation are murdered, half by people they ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Steers Us Away From Inappropriate Cultural Leadership Models That Often Trouble The Church

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit teaches us to avoid compromising the truth of scripture with counterfeit models of church leadership.

1. The Holy Spirit teaches us to avoid compromising the truth of scripture with counterfeit models of church leadership. Paul wrote, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:2-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remember To Rest

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on May 27, 2008

In a world filled with what seems like never ending activity we as a culture maybe need to take time and slow down and rest more so than previous cultures.

Remember to Rest I realize that I am surrounded by a church full of busy people. Not just busy for busyness sake but productive, highly active people who like to accomplish a lot and often. In fact every time I drive down the road to church I am confronted by your hard work since the fields all ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:3

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Kingdom Values

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 9, 2010

The values of the kingdom of Heaven are really different from the values of the world. And the greatest value of God's kingdom is really counter-culture, even though the culture gives lip service to it.

Passage: Matthew 18:1-9 Intro: Growing up in the 1960’s, we learned the meaning of “counter-culture” 1. whole group of people called hippies who marched to a new set of values. 2. they called it “the new morality”, which Christians said was just “the old ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Sheep, Wolves, Sheepdogs

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 15, 2018

We are not called to apply the superficial wisdom of American culture to reshape our Catholic identity. We are called to alert Americans to the wisdom of Catholic culture that is given to us by Our Lord.

Fourth Sunday of Easter 2018 The Good Shepherd In a popular movie from a few years back, the main character, a gung-ho SEAL from Odessa, tells his listeners that there are three kinds of people: wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs. The wolves prey on the sheep, the sheep cower in fear, and the sheepdogs ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18, 1 John 3:1-2

Denomination: Catholic

Dare To Bear Series

Contributed by Harley Jay Nickless on Dec 4, 2005

It is vitally important that we do not allow the pressures of this life to harden our hearts. Tall order wouldn’t you say? How do you do it? How do you prevent the problems and pressures of this life from hardening your heart? I think the secret is fo

Prescription For Pressure Part 2 “Dare To Bear” Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 (NIV) Introduction Little Bobby had a habit of stretching the truth just a bit. One day while walking home from school he saw a large black dog run across the street in front ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Examine Yourselves

Contributed by Roger Roark on Mar 23, 2016

Daily examination of our spiritual walk

EXAMINE YOURSELVES 2 Cor. 13:5 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! As Jeremiah lamented over the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5

Denomination: Baptist

A Change In Time Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 13, 2025

History changed the day, but grace restores the meaning—calling us to worship the Creator who never changed His rest.

Introduction – A Change No One Voted On Some of the biggest changes in history happen so quietly that we only notice their results. Languages drift, customs morph, recipes evolve, and one day we realize the original flavor has vanished. That is how the Sabbath changed. It was not a decision of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:48, Philippians 1:6, 1 John 4:19, Colossians 3:14, Luke 6:35-36  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Gift Of Time Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 13, 2025

The Sabbath remains holy and God’s enduring invitation to rest in His finished grace.

Introduction – A Change No One Voted On Some of the biggest changes in history happen so quietly that we only notice their results. Languages drift, customs morph, recipes evolve, and one day we realize the original flavor has vanished. That is how the Sabbath changed. It was not a decision of ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:25, Revelation 14:6-7, Mark 2:27-28, Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 58:12-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Lions In Daniel's Den Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 15, 2006

Daniel gives us a great example of how we ought to live and behave. Just as he was a child of God living in a foreign, pagan culture, you and I are children of God living in a culture that is becoming less and less Christian with each passing day.

INTRODUCTION The title of this series from Daniel is “Turning Chaos into Character.” In chapter one, Daniel refused to eat the king’s rich food. He went on what I call the “Daniel Diet.” In chapter two, the king saw a vision of a multi-metallic statue representing Gentile Kingdoms. Here in chapter ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Using Comparisons Between The Traditional Versus Progressive Outlooks In Cr

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 11, 2001

Using Comparisons Between The Traditional versus Progressive Outlooks in Cross-Cultural Evangelism

Using Comparisons Between The Traditional versus Progressive Outlooks in Cross-Cultural Evangelism Introduction - Throughout the world there is a growing trend towards more effective - contextual evangelistic approaches. Increasing evidences of God using preaching that draws from people’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:24-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational