Sermons on Debt Collectors Persecute:

Why Bad People Can Get To Heaven

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jul 27, 2008

Message based on Jesus’ words to the religious leaders who were missing the message while the tax collectors and prostitutes were hearing and responding.

Why Bad People Can Get to Heaven Matthew 21:28-32 July 27, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me: During my freshman year in college, I went back to my high school to visit and to play in the band for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

Why Did The "Sinners" Love Hanging Out With Jesus?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 30, 2013

It's a fact worth pondering: the tax collectors and sinners LIKED being with Jesus. That's not usually how the lost feel around us. What did Jesus have that we don't?

AN IMPORTANT FACT: The tax collectors and “sinners” liked hanging out with Jesus. - Matthew 9:10. - It’s easy to rush past verse 10 and get to the rest of this story, but it’s worth settling for a moment here and thinking about its implications. The tax collectors and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Happiness Through - Humility (Beatitudes) Series

Contributed by Thomas Bartlett on Nov 2, 2020

In Jesus day, the Pharisee’s taught information without transformation, no authority. Jesus turns this upside down and speaks words that captivate the ears of the people, words that brings life. Today we will explore happiness through humility.

Happiness In An Unsettling World Steele Creek Church, Eastfield Campus Dr. Tom Bartlett – September 6, 2020 Matthew 5:3 OUTLINE Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (ESV) For most, happiness comes from things, but could it be the source of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Other

What John Taught (Luke 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 5, 2024

Is what John the Baptist taught relevant to us? Let's look at Luke 3.

What did John the Baptist teach about fruits of repentance? What did he say about the poor, tax collectors and soldiers? What did God say at Jesus’ baptism? Let’s look at Luke 3. How are we introduced to John the Baptist’s ministry? Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"the Great Mercy Of God"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jul 26, 2023

A sermon about something we are all guilty of.

“The Great Mercy of God” Luke 18:9-14 Have you ever driven past another person holding a sign “will work for food” and felt a bit of disgust or even contempt in your heart toward them…kind of like a feeling of “I’m better than you”? Have you ever felt superior to a prostitute, a drug addict, an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Jesus' Guest List

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 19, 2024

You’re probably heard the saying, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. You would think that Jesus could please all of the people all of the time. But he didn’t.

You’re probably heard the saying, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. That sounds true from my experience. No one can please all of the people all of the time, but … if there ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Under Arrest Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Mar 30, 2009

Paul goes to Jerusalem and is arrested; is he doing the will of God?

“Under Arrest” Acts 21:17-36 July 13, 2008 Could Paul have been wrong? Certainly, as I’ve repeated, he was a man, a man of flesh-and-blood, and he was not above sin! There are two points in today’s passage at which different commentators believe that Paul made an error. There ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:17-36

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Breaking Out Of Debtor's Prison

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jan 15, 2002

A biblical widow listened to the advice of Elisha to get out of debt. The techniques that she used can get us out of debt too.

March 18, 2001 2 Kings 4:1-7 “Breaking out of debtor’s prison” INTRODUCTION In the American religion of materialism, there are two words more sacred than any other: "Charge it!" Yet, consider the following two scenarios in evaluating the intelligence of using plastic: 1. Ellin is 30 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Deeds Of The Day Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Sep 30, 2022

Paul starts this passage with the words that no debt remains outstanding, except the debt of Love. The principle of love, the agape love, and the divine love could help us not to harm anyone. In order to pay the debts of love, we need the love of God.

Romans 13:08-14 – Do the deeds of the Day 1. Pay the debt – Romans 13:8-10 Paul starts this passage with the words that no debt remains outstanding, except the debt of Love. The principle of love, the agape love, and the divine love could help us not to harm anyone. Love does not commit adultery; ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Denomination: Methodist

Got Credit? Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Apr 20, 2005

Debt can be very bad. Our spiritual debt is so bad it has killed us! But God has a credit plan that is out of this world!

Jenny and I are making payments on our kid’s college loans. We considered it an investment to send them to Christian colleges and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It has been one of the wisest choices we have made for our children. But it came with a cost we couldn’t pay for without credit. We ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pay It Forward

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 4, 2011

Jesus paid the debt of sin for us. Now we are obligated to pay it forward. We repay this debt by writing checks of love and forgiveness to others.

Pay it Forward Romans 13:8-10 A woman and her husband came to the pastor and said, “We're going to get a divorce, but we want to come to make sure that you approve of it.” There are people who come to the pastor hoping that when they say there is no feeling left in their marriage, the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-10

Denomination: Baptist

I Owe You Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Sep 7, 2017

As a nation, state, and people, we know debt. In Romans 13, Paul calls us to have one more debt: love one another.

Being in debt is never fun, nor is it easy. As a country, we know what it is like to be in debt. Our national debt is astronomical. It is roughly 19 trillion dollars. If you were to break that down, that would be $61,000 per citizen, or $165,000 per tax payer. This debt is also not going down ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-10

Denomination: Lutheran

Knowing God's Phone Number Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 23, 2004

Why did God tell Jeremiah to "call upon" Him? And just how do I "call upon the name of the Lord?"

OPEN: Last year, when Jim Carrey starred in his movie “Bruce Almighty” the writers of the script gave God a phone number that Carrey could dial to talk with the Almighty. But instead of using the 555 prefix that movie makers and TV shows generally give phone numbers – they gave God a 776 prefix. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:1-3, Jeremiah 33:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Beatitudes In Isaiah 57 Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 20, 2014

God wants us to be godly even within an ungodly culture, as defined by Isaiah and generalized into principles by Jesus.

The Beatitudes in Isaiah 57 (Isaiah 57:1-2, 13-21) 1. An interesting story broke from UPI this week: “PORT ST. LUCIE , Fla., May 16 (UPI) --Florida police officers who were attempting to catch a suspected car thief got a little help when an alligator decided to cross the road. Port St. Lucie ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 57:1-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

“finding Help To Live In An Anti-Christian Culture”

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Jul 14, 2014

In an ever-increasing anti=Christian culture, how are American Christians to respond?

We live in a scary time. During my lifetime, I remember a time when our country was what I would call, “Christianized.” In witnessing, you could start with statements like, “You believe the Bible, don’t you?” or “Where’s your church membership?” ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Baptist