Sermons on Defining Standards:

Forms Of Modern Idolatry

Contributed by Phillip Smith on Aug 23, 2024

What do you define as idolatry? Should you be concerned with the idea of idolatry in modern times?

What do you define as idolatry? Should you be concerned with the idea of idolatry in modern times? If you ask assembly goers about whether idolatry exists in modern times they may say, “Yes”! If you ask them if it is a concern for them they might say, “No, it does not affect me because I do not ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:5-11, Exodus 20:3-5, Ephesians 5:5, Matthew 6:24, Colossians 3:5, 1 Samuel 15:23, 1 Peter 4:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon On The Pursuit Of Happiness

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 30, 2021

Happiness has been defined as an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfilment.

Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist once remarked: “Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.” Ecclesiastes 3:12 reminds us: “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13, John 14:27-28, Jeremiah 29:11

Sermon On Fire & Family Traditions

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 16, 2024

Tradition is defined as the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.

Gustav Mahler, a Bohemia-born composer once remarked: “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” Mark 7:8-9 reminds us: “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5, Ephesians 6:4, Psalm 104:4, Luke 12:49

Sermon On Divergence

Contributed by William Meakin on May 21, 2024

Divergence is defined as a situation in which two things become different, or the difference between them increases.

Charlan Jeanne Nemeth, a female professor of psychology at the University of California once remarked: “Consensus, while comforting and harmonious as well as efficient, often leads us to make bad decisions. Dissent, while often annoying, is precisely the challenge that we need to reassess our own ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Genesis 1:1-31, Isaiah 14:1-32, Genesis 2:4

Sermon On Emotions

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 29, 2021

Emotion is defined as a strong feeling deriving from one’s circumstances, mood or relationships with others.

Jeffrey Kent Eugenides, an American novelist and short-story writer once remarked: "Emotions, in my experience, aren't covered by single words. I don't believe in "sadness," "joy," or "regret." Maybe the best proof that the language is patriarchal is that ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 12:15, 2 Timothy 1:7, Galatians 5:22-23

Sermon On The Devil Within

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 12, 2021

Wikipedia defines a devil as: “The personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions.”

William Ralph Inge, an English author, Anglican priest and professor of divinity at Cambridge once remarked: “There is no law of progress. Our future is in our own hands, to make or to mar. It will be an uphill fight to the end, and would we have it otherwise? Let no one suppose that evolution will ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7, Romans 10:13, 1 Peter 5:8

Sermon On The Power Of Prayer

Contributed by William Meakin on May 26, 2022

Prayer is defined as: A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a French Catholic Discalced Carmelite nun once remarked: “Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven. It is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” Philippians 4:6 confirms: “Do not be anxious about anything, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:24, Matthew 6:6, James 5:16, Ephesians 6:18

Jesus Lives For Us

Contributed by Pastor Duncan Shabane on Feb 27, 2021

Jesus was full of love, He was the defination of what love is, reflecting the glory of His Father.

evidence of life is love  (1 John 3) ___(V 14-15) ** the evidence of love is Christ ___(Romans 5:8) ___(John 15:13) ** the practice of love is..... (V.17-18) ___two things 1) Sacrificial ___the love of Jesus was sacrificial. He laid His life for us. We had a debt we could not pay and He ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:14-23

Denomination: Other

Sermon On Frustration Or Despair?

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 8, 2024

Frustration is defined as the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something.

Mark Goulston, an American psychiatrist and writer once remarked: “Being alone with fear can rapidly turn into panic. Being alone with frustration can rapidly turn into anger. Being alone with disappointment can rapidly turn into discouragement and, even worse, despair.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 reminds ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33, Isaiah 41:10, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Philippians 4:6-7

An Identity Crisis

Contributed by Jason Jones on Nov 16, 2022

Today, we will look at three powerful things Christ does that help define you as a believer

Background to passage: one of the most spectacular, all-encompassing letters in the NT regarding the church and our place in it. It puts on display God’s ultimate purpose for creation, the church, and your life. It was written to the Ephesians and possibly other churches in the region. One of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On First Love

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 21, 2025

First Love has been defined as the initial romantic experience a person ever encounters in life.

John Green, an American author once remarked: “You remember your first love because they show you, prove to you, that you can love and be loved, that nothing in this world is deserved except for love, that love is both how you become a person and why.” Revelation 2:4-5 reminds us: “But I have this ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:19, John 3:16, John 13:35, Romans 13:10

Sermon On A Scapegoat

Contributed by William Meakin on Feb 4, 2025

A scapegoat is defined as a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency.

Lloyd Blankfein, an American businessman once remarked: “There is a line in which populism can cross over into demagoguery. Demagoguery is the crossover where populism becomes a bad thing, and people make things up, and they assign responsibilities that aren't fair and justified, and scapegoat ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, Philippians 3:21, Galatians 6:5

Sermon On Tolerance

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 28, 2023

Tolerance is defined as the ability or willingness to accept the existence of opinions or behavior that one dislikes or disagrees with.

Linda Diane Thompson, an American songwriter and former actress once remarked: Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience molds us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Exodus 14:14, Colossians 3:12-13

Sermon On The Palindromes Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 7, 2025

A palindrome is defined as a word, name, sentence, verse, or even number that reads the same backwards or forward.

Yayoi Kusama, a female Japanese artist once remarked: “With just one polka dot, nothing can be achieved. In the universe, there is the sun, the moon, the earth, and hundreds of millions of stars. All of us live in the unfathomable mystery and infinitude of the universe. Pursuing 'philosophy of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Galatians 6:7, Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:11-13

Sermon On A Holding Pen

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 12, 2024

A Holding Pen is defined as a temporary enclosure for confining livestock or pets, but it can also appertain to life.

Henry Miller, an American novelist and short story writer once remarked: “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” Romans 12:2 reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 13:21, Zephaniah 2:14, Job 30:7, Jeremiah 33:12