Sermons on Defying Norms:

Homosexuality And The Christian

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Aug 4, 2017

Same-sex attraction and homosexual lifestyles - hardly mentioned in public a few years ago - are mentioned daily in news, entertainment, and other venues. Public acceptance is on the rise. How is the Christian to respond to this development?

Homosexuality and the Christian I. Introducton Read the story of Lot in Sodom (Genesis 19:1-11) God destroyed Sodom because of its utter sinfulness. Clearly, theirs was homosexual sin. When I was coming of age in the 1950’s, I was barely aware such a thing as homosexuality existed. I naively ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-11, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Timothy 1:8-11, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Romans 6:12-13, James 1:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Real Hunger Games

Contributed by Larry Turner on Mar 26, 2015

Esau hungered for stew but we are commanded to hunger for justice. This sermon takes a look at the results of hungering for the right thing.

John and his friend George went golfing together one Sunday morning, as they had for many years, while their family was at church. This particular Sunday was Palm Sunday, the Sunday that celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This led to a very empty golf course with only John and George ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Denomination: Foursquare

Pentecost Sunday 2012

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 5, 2012

The God of the Universe has befriended us, promised to walk every step right beside us, and calls us to obedience.

Pentecost Sunday 2012 Ezekiel 37 What does God have to do to get your attention? Sometimes, the Bible is just plain weird. We are used to it. We’ve heard Ezekiel 37 and Acts 2, which were read earlier in our service, before. They are familiar stories, so we miss how weird they actually ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Faithful Series

Contributed by John Newton on Feb 13, 2022

Jesus is faithful to us—and calls us to be faithful to him

For six weeks we have been looking at the Letter to the Hebrews. If you hadn’t noticed before, you are probably aware by now that it is far from the easiest book of the New Testament to understand, with its frequent quotations from what often seem obscure passages from the Old Testament, and with ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-6

Denomination: Episcopal

Be Wise And Filled With The Spirit Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Apr 1, 2018

You can't help but be filled with something. Be filled with the Spirit of God.

March 18, 2018 Sermon - Be Wise and Filled with the Spirit - Ephesians 5:15-20 You have got to be filled with something. Aristotle, an ancient thinker, said “Nature abhors a vacuum.” He based that on noticing that nature requires every space to be filled with something, even if that something ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon On The Mount - Part 7 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jun 21, 2019

Part 7 in a 14-part series of studies I call “The Christian Character” as described by Jesus to a crowd of people on a Galilean hillside as he delivered what is more familiarly known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” This part considers blessedness in persecution and insults.

Part 7 - Beatitudes – The Persecuted and Insulted Sermon on the Mount The Christian Character Matthew 5:3 - 7:27 (Cf. Luke 6:20-49) This is Part 7 in a 14-part series of studies I call “The Christian Character” as described by Jesus to a crowd of people on a Galilean hillside as he delivered what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12, 1 Peter 4:15-16, Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1-2, 1 Timothy 1:15, Mark 13:9-13, Mark 13:14-20, Matthew 10:28, 2 Timothy 3:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Following God Takes Courage…

Contributed by Gina Krause on Jan 12, 2026

A few months ago, I preached from 1 Samuel about the prophet, Samuel and then the first king in Israel, Saul. And Saul, he started off as a good King, full of the Holy Spirit and humble…but by chapter 15, he drifted far from God.

I Samuel 16:1-11 Following God takes courage… . A few months ago, I preached from 1 Samuel about the prophet, Samuel and then the first king in Israel, Saul. And Saul, he started off as a good King, full of the Holy Spirit, HUMBLE…but by ch 13, he drifted far away from God. In ch ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-11

Grievances In The Church PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Mar 13, 2024

This sermon explores confronting sins, cleansing from unrighteousness, and claiming our kingdom inheritance through understanding and applying Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11.

Good morning, beloved family of God, gathered here today in this sacred space, where the presence of our Lord is palpable and His grace is abundant. We are here, not by coincidence, but by divine appointment. Our hearts are eager, our spirits are thirsty, and our souls are yearning for a fresh ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Topics: Courting, Sins

Uprooting The Roots Of Jealousy

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 12, 2001

How to recognize and uproot the main causes of jealousy and envy that ruin relationships

The Roots of Jealousy (Acts 13:42-52) Illustration:It is the eyes of other people that ruin us. If all but myself were blind, I should want neither a fine house nor fine furniture. Benjamin Franklin. 1. Why do you suppose that many people allow jealousy to hinder their relationships, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:42-52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Taking People Where They Are

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: Faith and obedience take precedence over ritual.

Thesis: Faith and obedience take precedence over ritual. Intro.: 1. Tonight we conclude our study of "WHO IS A CHRISTIAN?" 2. In this last lesson we want to turn to 2 Chronicles 30 and the story of Hezekiah's celebration of the Passover. a. We will discern an important principle in this ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 30:18-20

How The Holy Spirit Uses Various Channels To Communicate Christ's Message

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit is not limited to any channel in communicating Christ's messages.

1. The Holy Spirit is not limited to any channel in communicating Christ's messages. Dr. Luke wrote, "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Hopeless Situations

Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000

A miracle inside of a miracle! 2 apparently hopelesss situations THERE ARE NO HOPELESS SITUATIONS FOR THE ONE WHO HAS POWER OVER SICKNESS AND DEATH Jesus is the Hope of the Hopeless; the Help of the Helpless He can tackle the most desparate situation and bring restoration and life When ha

A miracle inside of a miracle! 2 apparently hopelesss situations THERE ARE NO HOPELESS SITUATIONS FOR THE ONE WHO HAS POWER OVER SICKNESS AND DEATH Jesus is the Hope of the Hopeless; the Help of the Helpless He can tackle the most desparate situation and bring restoration and life When have we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Overcome Intentional And Unintentional Hypocrisy

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. Recognize any personal or organizational Pharisaical tendency to view people through the law rather than through grace.

1. Recognize any personal or organizational Pharisaical tendency to view people through the law rather than through grace. The Pharisees' values were rooted in their traditions, laws, and culture. They found a great sense of their identity in their clique. They resented anyone who failed to live up ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Living Church

Contributed by Greg Waddell on Feb 3, 2003

This sermons draws out the similarities between a human body and the Body of Christ (the Church).

The Church is a living body . . . the body of Christ. Upon close examination, we find that the Church shares many characteristics with the physical human body. I. A BODY IS UNITED. A. The members of a healthy body work together to accomplish things. 1. The brain sends commands to the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:4-5, Ephesians 4:15-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"...be Filled With The Spirit"

Contributed by Asiri Perera on Jun 5, 2006

Every Christian is called to be filled with the Holy Spirit

…..be filled with the Spirit. Eph 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Introduction • (We might have expected the apostle to plead for abstinence as over against intemperance. But he takes a more startling and positive line. He urges his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-21

Denomination: Methodist