Sermons on Deceptive Appearance:

A Tale Of Two Kings

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Mar 24, 2020

There would have appeared to be no contest in a contest between the great King Herod and the little baby Jesus. But Jesus' power of humility and holiness and obedience to God, displayed at Christmas was greater then and continues today.

Our text for this morning is Luke 2:1-7, the story of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. You’ve probably heard it many, many times before. Can there be anything new in it, any way that this ancient text relates to our world today? Let’s see. I encourage you to open your Bible to it as Linda ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Why Can Spiritual Stuff Be So Scary? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Nov 1, 2019

Mary was "greatly troubled" by the appearance of the angel. Many are in a similar spot - "greatly troubled" by all things spiritual. What can help them take a step forward?

“GREATLY TROUBLED”: Spiritual stuff can be scary. - Luke 1:29. - An angel shows up to speak to Mary. On the one hand, the angel is light and not wielding a sword, so there is a sense in which he shouldn’t be scary. But, of course, we don’t see angelic beings very often and I’m sure his presence ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-33

Denomination: Baptist

Oh, That You Would Bless Me!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 20, 2019

It appears that Jabez came from a dysfunctional family, with a mother who tried to lay a guilt-trip upon her son, and a father who is not even mentioned in Israel's genealogy list.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER, RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK TEXT: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 ILL. During some of the darkest days of the American Revolution, after the Continental Army had experienced several defeats, a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, Ephesians 1:3, Genesis 12:2, Psalm 37:23-25, Genesis 6:5-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Loved But Lost Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 28, 2021

This almost perfect moral young man appeared to be as spiritually healthy as one could possibly be, but Jesus saw something in him that called for radical surgery if he was to ever find eternal life.

This is the story of the rich young ruler who, unlike the rich old ruler, Nicodemus, did not come to Jesus by night, but came to Him publicly in the daytime. All three of the synoptic Gospels tell the story, and each add something extra to the total picture. Matthew tells us he was young. Luke ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22

What Is The Right Question?

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Oct 6, 2021

The rich young ruler ran up to Jesus and asked Him what he had to do to get eternal life. Jesus not only looked at his outward appearance but his inner being.

October 10, 2021 Sermon Title: What is the right question? Scripture Text: Mark 10:17-31 There are many things we can disagree on but drug and alcohol is not normally one of them. Here is just some of the information. Despite the rise in opioid addictions, alcohol abuse is the most ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Ecstasy Before The Agony

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 23, 2024

Religious excitement does not necessarily translate into spiritual worship. Rather, the one following Jesus must guard against being turned aside by that which appears good. Remember that good is enemy of the best.

“The large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Qualifying Round - Mark 3:16-19 (Luke 6:12-16) Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 4, 2023

Jesus selected 12 men who, by all appearances, were deeply unqualified. But he was very deliberate about who he selected. Why did he chose the men he choose?

Mark 3:13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve-- designating them apostles-- that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:12-16

Go Out In Joy And Peace

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jun 30, 2025

Isaiah 55 is a poem that starts like a commercial. God appears as a street vender in the marketplace near a river, eager to sell his goods, but with a big difference. What He’s offering is free.

Isaiah 55 is a poem that starts like a commercial. God appears as a street vender in the marketplace near a river, eager to sell his goods, but with a big difference. What He’s offering is free. His merchandise--wine and milk--represent life’s blessings. Milk is a symbol of nourishment, wine a ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

A Tale Of Two Mothers

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on May 9, 2019

This is not your typical Mother’s Day message.

A Tale of Two Mothers Good morning and Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers here today. This morning, in pulpits around the country, pastors will be singing the praises of their mothers and the mothers of their children. They will probably talk about the impact their mothers had on their lives ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:20, Genesis 4:1, Genesis 3:1-6, Genesis 2:16-17, Luke 1:26-28, Luke 1:34, Luke 1:34-35, Luke 1:40, Luke 1:51  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Wise Investments Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Jul 27, 2021

Perhaps the greatest challenge the church faces is finding her place in changing world, on that doesn’t appear to be getting better. John gives an imperative for the church, make investment on in God’s promises which are eternal, not in a worldview that is destined to fail.

Our society is infatuated with extremes, there seems to be no common ground for living. I developed a model, Pathway to Recovery, that illustrates this dynamic. While at a bookstore, I observed a group of students. They were polls apart when discussing religious thought. I had made the comment to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Has A Bad Memory

Contributed by Pastor Cosmos on Jan 4, 2011

This sermon explaines the unpardonable sin as mentioned in the Bible, this subjects is usually misunderstood by most people, Enjoy! For more sermons and bible studies like this one just click on my name and all my sermons will appear, more will be added i

Have you ever wondered, ‘What is the unpardonable sin?’ Some believe it is when you’ve sinned more than God is able to forgive you. So I wondered --- what is the unpardonable sin really? You know, a lot of people have tried to guess what this sin might be, and they’ve come up with some pretty ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:31-33

Denomination: Charismatic

Don't Follow Folly

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

Will we live on the streets of “sin city,” laying our head down in the gutter of wickedness? Or will we listen to the invitation of wisdom, to follow in God’s ways and live in the glory of his eternal mansions?

How wonderful all things were in the beginning! When we read Genesis 1, we hear this theme repeated: “And God saw that it was good.” Time and again, culminating with this declaration on the sixth day: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (v 31). It was very good. Man and woman ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:1-18, Proverbs 9:13-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

8 Reasons Why People Leave The Church

Contributed by Sheryln Miller on Apr 11, 2019

Are you surprised when you hear that a once faithful Christ follower has turned away from the faith and now doubts whether scripture is true or not? If you are like me, you wonder how this happens but then you remember this is nothing new. Apostasy appears throughout the bible.

In Hebrews 6:4-5 the writer notes some will turn away from the gospel although they once tasted the good Word and received the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew we would be tempted to turn away from the truth but He reminds us to remain faithful to the end (end of our lives) if we want to receive the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:12-14, Hebrews 6:4-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Value Of Warnings Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Aug 9, 2020

Message demonstrates the proliferation of warnings in Scripture and addresses the value of such warnings. It is tempting to avoid giving warnings. However, people can benefit from them when given in the right spirit.

We are in a study of Philippians and our text today is found in chapter 3, verses 1-7. Follow with me as we read from the New International Version. “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:7-9, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 24:4, Acts 11:27-29, 2 Thessalonians 2:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Assurance Explained Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on May 13, 2024

This exposition of Romans 4:16 celebrates the assurance of salvation by grace while encouraging believers to continue in the faith.

Intro In Romans 4, Paul uses Abraham as a model for how to be saved. He makes this statement in verse 13: “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”i The promise of being heir of the world is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-25, James 1:17, Romans 11:19-22, Hebrews 3:12, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 13:5, Hebrews 12:3-13, Matthew 24:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic