Sermons on Defend Belief:

Placebo Faith

Contributed by David Hodgin on Jun 9, 2009

People are impressionable and the world takes advantage of that, trying to mold our minds and conform our thoughts to align with theirs.

A young teacher with obvious liberal tendencies explains to her class of small children that she is an atheist. She asks her class if they are atheists too. Not really knowing what atheism is but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks. There is, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Science And Christianity Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jul 5, 2010

Is Science in conflict with the claims of Christianity? How can someone hold to the truth of Science and the truth of Christianity at the same time?

This is a series based on and heavily dependent on Timothy Keller’s Best Seller "The Reason For God" for which I’m deeply grateful. It uses much of his argument though with various additions by myself or the other preachers of the series. How do you answer your friends or colleagues when they ask ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9

Denomination: Anglican

What We Believe, Does It Matter?

Contributed by William D. Brown on Dec 10, 2008

Some folks it seems think that as long as their sincere in what they believe, that one religion is as good as another, but as we’ll read today that is not the case.

ACTS 17: 10-34 WHAT WE BELIEVE, DOES IT MATTER? Some folks it seems think that as long as their sincere in what they believe, that one religion is as good as another, but as we’ll read today that is not the case. Here in Acts 17: we find that Paul had been preaching ‘Jesus” in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:10-34

Denomination: Baptist

Walking On Water Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 14, 2008

Maybe there was a time in your life when you were walking on water on a regular basis – a time when your heart was much like Peter’s: “command me. Tell me to come to you.” Or perhaps it’s been a while since you’ve got out of the boat – but the Lord is pa

Opening illustration: You may have heard the story about a man who gets too close to the edge of the Grand Canyon, looses his balance, and slips over the edge. Just before falling 1000 feet, he grabs on to a root sticking out from the edge. "Help me!" He hollers. "Is there anyone up there? Help ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prince Caspian: Confidence Without Evidence Series

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 21, 2009

Faith, by definition, requires us to move beyond our senses and our reason into an area that cannot be proven.

Prince Caspian: Confidence without evidence 1 Peter 1:8-9 The children are confronted with a choice. They don’t know which way to go to get across the gorge and meet Prince Caspian. Earlier in the story, Lucy sees Aslan, and points him out to the others. He is guiding them a specific but hidden ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:8-9

Denomination: Mennonite

Poolside Views Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Apr 27, 2009

Does God still perform miracles? Of course He does. But what why does He? Is it to cause people to believe in Him? The sad fact is that most people who witness the miracles of God still refuse to believe—just like the people in today’s passage.

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com/ This morning, we come to a new section in the Gospel of John. We have noticed before that John didn’t set out to record every single miracle of Jesus. As a matter of fact, in the last verse of the book, he wrote, “And there are also many other things which ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Only Believe

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Jul 14, 2008

Fear is an impediment to faith. This message looks at the example of Jairus that allowed his faith to overcome his fears.

Only Believe Mark 5:36 Sunday, April 20, 2008 Pastor Brian Matherlee Mark 5:21-43 Talking points to the story • Mark has grouped together 4 miracles from 4:35-5:43 • He is giving us a glimpse of the reason behind the frenzy of people pressed around Jesus. It wasn’t a calm scene. No, the people ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Wesleyan

Identity: Live Like You Mean It Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 8, 2009

After having learned who we are in christ in the first three chapters now we know right belief. Paul begins the last three chapters of Ephesians with right behavior. It begins with unity and leads to maturity.

Intro: Bruce Howell tells of “I Can’t Change Jesus” Bill Irwin, a man who is blind, has a talking computer he uses to study the Bible. He’s had a few chuckles over some of the pronunciations. "For a long time," Bill says, "the computer pronounced Holy Bible as ’holly bibble’ until I figured out ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Your Turning Point

Contributed by Kevin Jones on Feb 25, 2009

Everyone life needs a turning point. Abraham found his when he chose to believe the promise of God. He just believed and was counted as set-right-with-God.

Your Turning Point I want to share a very simple yet very powerful message for your life tonight. It does not matter where you find yourself in life. It does not matter where you have been or what you have done in life. It does not matter what mistakes that you have made in the past. It does ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take Action Today!

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Mar 9, 2011

In Mark 9 Jesus’ disciples could not cast a demon out of a young boy. What was Jesus explanation as to why? Pray!

Take Action Today! When I read the Bible- like to personalize the Bible. What does God want me to take away from- verses. Often when I read- underline/circle action words. How do those words affect my life? Is there action I need to take in response? This morning-share-verses I read recently-Mk ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:19

Denomination: Charismatic

Power For The Future Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Apr 5, 2011

It's amazing how quickly we settle for less that what is promised and possible. So what do we do with Jesus' outlandish promises about power for living?

“Setting Troubled Hearts at Rest: Power for the Future” John 14:7-14 In one of Charles Schultz's ‘Peanuts’ cartoons Snoopy, the hound of heaven, says of Woodstock, that would-be bird of paradise, "Someday Woodstock is going to be a great eagle." Then in the next frame he ...read more

Scripture: John 14:7-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"Believing In Our Hearts - Knowing With Our Minds" Series

Contributed by Rich Anderson on Jan 10, 2011

Ture wisdom only comes from God. And as we gain more wisdom our faith becomes stronger. We want to serve God and we have a desire to know Him. And the more we know Him, the more we love Him.

I read once of a man who was lost in the desert, just dying for a drink of water. He stumbled upon an old shack – a ramshackled, windowless, roofless, weather beaten old shack. He looked around and found a little shade from the heat of the desert sun. As he glanced around he saw a pump about ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:1-7

Denomination: Christian Church

A New Beginning-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jan 10, 2011

2 of 2. Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus yielded the essentials of being born again. Being born again is essential to God’s plan. What is essential to a new beginning? The concessions essential to a new beginning are a Fulfilled...

A NEW BEGINNING-II—John 3:1-21 Attention: Little Jimmy was so happy to see his grandmother that he ran up and gave her a big hug. "I'm so happy to see you, grandma. Now daddy will have to do that trick he's been promising to do!" His grandmother was curious. "What trick is that, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Believe And Hope With No Reason At All, That's The Start Of Faith - Romans

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Aug 12, 2011

Believe And Hope With No Reason At All, That's The Start Of Faith - Romans 4:18-19

Believe And Hope With No Reason At All, That's The Start Of Faith - Romans 4:18-19 Romans 4:18 Abraham believed and hoped, even when there was no reason for hoping, and so became "the father of many nations." Just as the scripture says, "Your descendants will be as many as the stars." Romans ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:18-19

Denomination: Pentecostal

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Contributed by William Baeta on Aug 28, 2017

“He said to them, ‘but who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” (Matt. 16:15-16)

Introduction: The life of a believer is often compared to the construction of a building in Scripture. The most important part of the building is the foundation and a weak or wrong foundation will only lead to the collapse of the building. It is not wise to build a house on a wrong foundation ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed