Sermons on Difficult Relationships:

Hot Heads, Cold Hearts

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 6, 2008

Anger drains us when it is either displaced or misplaced. But when we learn to replace it with a relationship to Christ, it becomes energizing.

One day when Margaret and I were college students, she said, “I think you ought to know that the deacons are going to ask for our pastor’s resignation.” We were members of the same church and had shared in appreciation for the thoughtful, exciting sermons our pastor brought us week by week. But ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Expanding Our Souls Through Compassion Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 11, 2009

Our truest self lies not in independance from God but in relationship with God and others…. and finds itself when given to these.

Last week began series entitled LIVING BEYOND SELF… Jesus understood that if we want to truly find ourselves we can’t just look within… to do so will become like the onion being peeled away to find it’s essence… We find ourselves by losing ourselves… not literally ‘losing’… but in giving ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

People On The Move

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 6, 2010

We can and must keep moving ahead in our relationship with and service for Jesus. Here are several moves of a Christ follower.

People on the Move Philippians 3:10-16 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Pursued And Pursuing Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 18, 2010

A good shepherd is serious about feeding the sheep and protecting the sheep; that process begins by rehearsing and growing in our relationship to God.

Pursued and Pursuing (2 Peter 1:1-2) 1. This bit of strange news was released by the Associated Press this past week: RIVERTON, Wyo. – Officials say a magnifying glass set on a stand in a sunny room started a small blaze in a Wyoming home. UPS worker Buddy Armstrong was delivering a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Forest-For-The-Trees Syndrome Series

Contributed by Todd Stiles on Mar 6, 2007

Learn some lessons from the two men on the road to Emmaus about what it takes to move from religion to relationship.

“The Forest-for-the-Trees Syndrome” Luke 24:13-35 Have you ever heard someone recommend, “Don’t miss the forest for the trees?” Or a person say, “You can’t see the forest for the trees!”? That phrase simply means that someone is so overly occupied with all the details and loads of information ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist

Praise Defined

Contributed by Bruce Ferris on May 29, 2006

Praise is an individual choice and is the natural outgrowth of a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord. Praise is an event, a process and the way of life everlasting.

Praise is an individual choice and is the natural outgrowth of a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord. Praise is an event, a process and the way of life everlasting. Laughter is related to temporal happiness but praise is related to eternal joy. Laughter makes our heart glad but ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 52:9

Denomination: Baptist

Staying Unified Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Apr 24, 2008

In order to stay unified, we are to relate to each other the way we relate to Jesus, and in our relationships, be like Jesus.

Philippians 2:1-11 Staying Unified Canadian & American Worms Joke My experience in church life can be like that, but often times it is more that the worms are crawling over one another to get on top! It is amazing that in the smallest churches that I’ve been involved in, there are at least a few ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: *other

Lose Ends Series

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Apr 27, 2008

The Forgivness process is often left with lose ends that we are expected to deal with as we grow up and mature in or relationship with God.

Lose Ends Matthew 5:23-26 Good Morning Silver Creek and house guest, Most of you know that we are continuing in a series about forgiveness. On Easter, we looked at how we can receive God’s forgiveness by asking God to forgive us and beginning the journey back into the direction of God. That ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:23-26

Denomination: Congregational

You Asked Me To Be Your New Pastor

Contributed by Bruce Ball on May 15, 2011

A message from a pastor who has been hired to lead a church to a congregation, establishing the ground rules for their future relationship.

You had heard that due to my health, I had to temporarily retire from the ministry. You also heard that I was healed and contemplating planting our third church. That is when I received a phone call from the leaders of your church, asking me if I would consider being your new pastor. You said ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-50

Denomination: *other

God's Loving Kindness Series

Contributed by Rob Hall on Nov 20, 2012

this Psalm reminds us of God's covenant loyalty. He has special blessings for those who enjoy a relationship with Him

GOD’S LOVING KINDNESS Text: Ps. 103 Intro: 1. In the great fish story of the Bible, Jonah gets angry with God when he doesn’t punish the people of Nineveh 2. He has a most interesting prayer which very clearly highlights the content and condition of his heart: “O Lord, is this ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22, Psalm 33:5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Temptation Of Jesus - Part 1

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 4, 2013

Our temptations do not compromise our relationship with the Lord, but brings to the surface God's amazing grace for us in times of need.

Luke 3:22; Luke 4:1; Luke 4:14 “I can resist anything but temptation,” so boasted Oscar Wilde, Irish dramatist, novelist & poet (1854 - 1900). The story of Oscar Wilde reveals the tragedy of this kind of attitude. Our whole life is bordered by temptations of one sort or another. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Hatred – A Path Of Self-Destruction.

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Mar 11, 2013

Hate is a mental condition that harms the mind, body and spirit, which if allowed to remain will also destroy our relationship with God.

Introduction The Hatfield and McCoy feud was recently on TV; this is one of the saddest things I have ever watched. It is so wrong for people to hate people just because of their name or because of something they have done in the past. When Christians hate people they are in direct violation of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15

Denomination: Christian Church

Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Mar 12, 2013

Are we using our time to advance the cause of Jesus and to enhance our relationship with Him? Is our time well spent?

Sweet Brown is an Oklahoma City resident who was interviewed by local news station KFOR News Channel 4 after evacuating from her apartment building that was set on fire last spring. Her dramatic testimony of the chaotic scene quickly led to massive exposure on YouTube and became viral. On the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16, Ephesians 5:15-17

Denomination: Other

Enslaved To Free Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Jan 4, 2012

WHEN WE MISUNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP OF FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM WHEN IT COMES TO SIN, WE WILL SHORT CIRCUIT TRANSFORMATION IN OUR LIVES.

Enslaved to Free John 8:1-11 April 3, 2011 INTRODUCTION Over twenty years ago, when James Ealy's conviction in the slaying of a pregnant woman and three children was thrown out on appeal. A very guilty man was given his freedom. Freed but not transformed. Over the years he amassed numerous ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

"Working Together In Our Walk Together” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on May 29, 2012

If we are to walk together in meaningful relationship, we must we willing to work together on agreed upon goals and objectives.

The principle laid out for us in Amos 3:3 applies to every relationship in life, beginning, of course, with our relationship with God. If I am going to walk with God, I must agree with Him on His directives for my life. It is only as I am willing to work with God on what He wants to do in me and ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Denomination: Baptist