Sermons on Deceptive Appearance:

A Queen Says No Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 29, 2020

In Esther, we will learn that God is at work in spite of appearances. Often it is behind the scenes, quietly weaving circumstances together in order to bring about His will for our good and His glory.

For Such a Time as This: A Queen Says No Esther 1:9-21 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 07-19-2020 Party Animal Last week, we began our study of the book of Esther and found ourselves looking in on not one but two huge parties. Xerxes, the king, held a banquet of feasting ...read more

Scripture: Esther 1:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Where Should We As A Nation Put Our Trust?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 2, 2022

When a man is lost in the desert, he may experience a mirage. That is, he may look out over the sands, and in the distance see what appears to be a lake, shimmering in the sun.

His goal is to get to the lake and obtain water to satisfy his thirst. As he travels toward the “lake”, the lake seems to maintain it’s distance, or at some point just disappears. IT WAS A MIRAGE! Such an experience only brings disappointment and tragedy to the individual who believes the mirage is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

Acts Of The Apostles 35 Of 39

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 14, 2022

In Acts twenty-four we find the apostle Paul is being held in custody as a common criminal, waiting for his accusers to arrive, and is to appear before Antonius Felix, the governor of Judaea.

Felix was a politician in every sense of the word. He had risen from being a subservient person, to the position of Governor of Judaea. He got his start through the influence of his brother at the imperial court of Claudius. He married three Princesses, which also elevated his career. The first ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Love Without Pretend Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Sep 9, 2022

The definition of love by Paul appears in two letters, one is here and another is in 1 Corinthians. Of course, he cites various occasions to explain the love of Christ and the love among the disciples.

Romans 12:09-21 Love without Pretend The definition of love by Paul appears in two letters, one is here and another is in 1 Corinthians. Of course, he cites various occasions to explain the love of Christ and the love among the disciples. Love sincerely - Romans 12:9-15 Paul urges the Romans, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Methodist

The Army Of Light In Retreat: What Went Wrong? Where Do We Go From Here?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

I sense timidity, exhaustion. Why do you look so tired? Why do you look so stretched? You appear as one who lacks hope.

I sense timidity, exhaustion. Why do you look so tired? Why do you look so stretched? You appear as one who lacks hope. Have you no hope? Have you lost it somewhere? Has hope run off and hid itself? Is it running from you, just out of reach? Many walk in a trance, rigid, furled brows, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:12, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 40:31

Denomination: Salvation Army

Pentecostal Results Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 20, 2021

Peter didn’t even give an invitation. There does not appear to be an invitation given anywhere in the early church. People were so moved by the Holy Spirit that they cried out for conversion.

A pastor was telling his visiting grandchildren a fascinating bedtime story. They listened to him breathlessly, but when he was finished one of them took a deep breath and said, “Grandpa, was that a true story, or were you just preaching?” This attitude could be learned by a child in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:37

Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Mar 7, 2025

The cycle, which began in Egypt continued: • God does something great….. The people rejoice. • An apparent obstacle appears…. The people complain. • God does something great….. The people rejoice.

March 08, 2025 Last week, we left Israel on the edge of the desert of Shur. They had just witnessed the power of God in the destruction of the Egyptian Army in the Red Sea and now the greatest adventure of their lives was about to begin. What do you think the people expected? An easy, pothole ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27, Proverbs 17:3, Malachi 3:3

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Wrestling With God October 2023

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Dec 1, 2023

We might think of It as odd that Jacob was involved in a wrestling match with an unspecified person. ….. Was it an another human, his brother Esau, an angel or even God appearing in the form of this wrestling opponent?

WRESTLING WITH GOD Text: Genesis 32:22-32 Gen 32:22-32 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. (23) He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. (24) Jacob was left ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: United Methodist

When You’re Down To Nothing, God Is Up To Something

Contributed by John Gaston on Jun 1, 2024

In the middle of our troubles, when it looks like God is nowhere around – God is at work. His hand will soon materialize. His fingerprints are about to appear. Have faith in God!

WHEN YOU’RE DOWN TO NOTHING, GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. The Pastor's wife walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter. "What are you doing?" She asked. "Hunting flies" He responded. "Oh. Killing any?" She ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 19:32-34

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Are You Saved? Are You Sure?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2023

Jesus warns that there exists people who appear to be serving Him, though they are lost. Therefore, He challenges each person to ensure that He has been born from above.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Denomination: Baptist

Daniel - A Statue In The Night Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on May 22, 2023

While events in history may appear to be shaped by the whim and fancy of men, the truth is that our all-merciful God is “silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.”

May 20, 2023 Our next story from the book of Daniel occurs in the 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. In the night Nebuchadnezzar had a dream – a dream so vivid that he couldn’t go back to sleep. He was so troubled by this dream that he called his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:1-49

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

"expectation Sunday"

Contributed by John Huyser on May 24, 2023

Our passage appears to be at first mere filling in the middle - sandwiched between two of God’s greatest actions in the Bible. The majestic ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and Pentecost Sunday.

The passage we just read is sandwiched between two of God’s greatest actions in the Bible. The majestic ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and Pentecost Sunday. From there, the book of Acts encompasses nearly 30 years of history -- We see everything from transformational preaching and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-26

Resurrection Mercy

Contributed by David Owens on Apr 2, 2024

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus provide the mercy of God that all of us need. In John 21, the resurrected Jesus appeared offered Peter the mercy of God that Peter so desperately needed.

A. How great it is to worship the Lord together today, on the Sunday that many refer to as Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, because it correlates to the Sunday that Jesus arose from the grave two thousand years ago. 1. Praise God that the tomb of Jesus is still empty! 2. Turn to the person ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3, Lamentations 3:22-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On Not Losing What We Have Worked For Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 11, 2002

There is nothing more disappointing than losing something for which we have worked; we are in danger of losing a generation of children if we do not teach forthrightly what Christian values are and if we do not reject intrusive, deceptive messages from th

There is no greater disappointment than working for something for a long time, only to see that work just disappear. You worked hard, but it’s gone. That is truly an awful feeling. A couple of weeks ago, on one of those steamy weekends filled with unpredictable thunderstorms, my wife was ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Making And The Breaking Of A Servant Of The Lord

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Feb 1, 2019

Giving honor to our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, my sisters and brothers, God said, “I made you” [Gen. 2:18, 22, KJV]. Now, in reflection, deception broke Eve [I Timothy 2:14, KJV], ...

THE MAKING AND THE BREAKING OF A SERVANT OF THE LORD by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (December 19, 2018) “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him….And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from him, made he a woman, and brought her unto the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18

Denomination: Friends