Sermons on Decent And In Order:

Being Tested

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 30, 2022

Life will always test us. We can't escape it. But in all of our tests in life we have to include the testing of our faith. In order for our faith to be strengthened it has to be stretched.

When I was a teenager, I used to deer hunt on a lease in Leakey, Texas. These are not mountains by any chance. But even in the Hill Country of Texas it can be challenging to get to a hunting spot on the side of one of those hills. I got the notion one time to climb to the top of the hill. What ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14, James 1:2-4

Denomination: Baptist

Elders In The Congregation Part 2 Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 20, 2018

When Paul left Crete, there were certain things that still needed to be set in order; there were false teachers to be silenced, and there was the pressing need for recognized spiritual guides in the assemblies. He left Titus to handle these matters.

Chapter 1, Verses 5-9 Title: Elders in the Congregation For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-9

Denomination: Baptist

Loss Is Gain Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on May 7, 2018

While serving the Lord and walking with Him, we learn a great paradox - genuine gain often comes through loss. We must lose certain things in order to gain what the Lord desires for us.

Loss is Gain Matthew 16: 24-26 1 Tim.6:6-7 – But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Many in our world today are fixated on material wealth and social status in this life. The majority of their energy is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Denomination: Baptist

Be Patient!

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 23, 2018

Curiosity and greed are part of our DNA, patience is not. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and must be cherished and fed in order to grow in our lives. We must be patient with others and with God just as God is patient with us.

[Sermon preached on 10 December 2017, 2nd Advent / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] I remember how as a young child I became very impatient when Christmas was drawing near. Not so much because of Christmas, but because I also had my birthday. Like most kids, I also had many things on my wish list. My ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Lutheran

My Hiding Place - Psalm 32:6-7 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 3, 2025

In order to find closeness with God you must seek with all your heart. Why does God make it so hard to find him? If he wants us to be near him, why not make it easy?

Psalm 32:6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the flood of mighty waters rise, they shall not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah. Introduction About eight or nine ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:6-7

Joshua 6, Odd Strategy, Amazing Results! Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 9, 2024

Joshua had just received his literal marching orders from the LORD. But the strategy and instructions were not like anything any army had ever done before. Israel obeyed, and the LORD gave victory!

Introduction: Israel, by now, had crossed the Jordan River and were staying at Gilgal for the moment. The men of Israel had undergone circumcision, following the Law, and had celebrated their first Passover in the Promised Land. But Israel was never intended to remain packed in one small area, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

23. The Kingdom Parables – The Sixth – The Pearl Of Greatest Price – Part 3 Of 4 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Nov 28, 2025

The matching church for the Parable of the Pearl of Greatest Price is the church at Philadelphia, the next in the order. Every one of these Kingdom Parables has a matching church and a period in Church History. We examine in some detail the church in Philadelphia.

23. The Kingdom Parables – The Sixth – The Pearl of Greatest Price – Part 3 of 4 WHAT DOES PHILADELPHIA REPRESENT? WHAT’S ITS PLACE IN CHURCH HISTORY? [1]. INTRODUCTION FOR PART 3 We have completed the Study of the Pearl of Great Price, and looked at the Merchantman and the formation of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:45-46, Revelation 3:7, Revelation 3:8, Revelation 3:9, Revelation 3:10, Revelation 6:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, 2 Peter 3:8, 2 Timothy 4:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Survive A Crisis Series

Contributed by Thomas Ward, Sr. on Dec 11, 2002

This sermon deals with how God worked through the life of Joseph a spirit-filled man in order to deliver Egypt and his own family from a serious crisis--starvation. The way Joseph survived the crisis is the same today.

Introduction: “A study of 300 highly successful people like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, Mahatma Gandhi, and Albert Einstein revealed that one-fourth had handicaps such as blindness, deafness, or crippled limbs. Three-fourths had either been born in ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Being Culturally Relevant

Contributed by Ronald Ferrell on Oct 10, 2002

With so many changes taking place in our culture today, IS THE CHURCH KEEPING PACE? Our MESSAGE must never change, but our METHODS do in order to reach the culture we’ve been commissioned to reach.

October 13, 2002 – Covington, IN BEING CULTURALLY RELEVANT 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 It is a common mistake. Pastors and churches can be trapped by this misunderstanding and never know it. Specifically, that the church must do little more than open its doors on Sunday, and the non-Christian will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

Of Florida Swamps And Brooklyn Bridges

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 23, 2003

As Jeremiah risked everything to buy some apparently worthless real estate in order to give a sign that the Lord would triumph, so I also asked our church to adopt a new but venturesome vision for its life.

Could I offer you a real estate deal this morning? Oh, it will be the deal of a lifetime! You can’t pass this up! Can I get you to buy a piece of land, sight unseen, in a sort-of shaky area? True, it might be taken over by the military, but, hey, who’s worried about that? Come on and buy! ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-41

Denomination: Baptist

Trusting In The Goodness Of God

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 23, 2001

In order to trust the goodness of God we need to understand that: 1. God has given us freedom. 2. God created a good world. 3. God can redeem evil. 4. God is with us.

Epicurus, the Greek philosopher (c. 306 B.C.) raised the question: “Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to; or he cannot and does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, and does not want to, he is wicked. But, if God both can ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

Grape Expectations (2) Series

Contributed by James Westervelt on Apr 17, 2002

In order to have a maximum yield, grape vines need lots of sunlight, just the right amount of rain, and pruning at the right time....Since chastening and pruning are both painful, how can we distinguish between them?

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS part 2 Last week we started learning about the "cultivation of grapes." In order to have a maximum yield, grape vines need lots of sunlight, just the right amount of rain, and pruning at the right time. If a branch is bearing no fruit, the vinedresser picks ...read more

Scripture: John 15:7-14, John 10:10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prepare For Persecution

Contributed by Greg Nance on Apr 29, 2002

Have you ever noticed how much the Bible teaches about suffering for the cause of Christ? Are you ready to walk with Jesus through the valley of suffering in order to receive a crown of life? Let’s get ready.

Preparing for Persecution A couple of years ago we had a bad wind storm and afterward, as Jenny and I walked around our block we saw where a huge tree had fallen on top of a neighbor’s van. The van looked like a new one, but it was totaled by the tree. There were lots of other big trees in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, Acts 7:1-60

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living In The Favor Of The Lord

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 21, 2007

In order for us to live in the Favor of the Lord, we must position ourselves and align ourselves with Him in several areas of our lives. The Lord wants to bless and favor people who diligently and fervently seek after Him.

Text: Psalm 5:12 (NASB) Introduction: c I. Living in the Favor of the Lord Through Prayer A. A major key in maintaining a right relationship with God and to live in the Favor of the Lord is through prayer. B. Psalm 5:1-3 (NASB) 1Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning. 2Heed the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Raised Up For Righteousness Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Mar 13, 2008

The Lord works sovereignly over the world & individuals because He created both the world & its people. It is His right as Creator & Sustainer. What God does He does in righteousness in order to bring forth righteousness.

ISAIAH 45: 8-13 RAISED UP FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS The Lord works sovereignly over the world and individuals because He created both the world and its people. It is His right as Creator and Sustainer. Those created have no right to rebelliously question the Creator’s ways. What ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:8-13

Denomination: Baptist