Sermons on Discerning Behavior:

Woman, Your Faith Has Saved You Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 13, 2013

We can learn much about faith by contrasting the behavior of the woman with the ointment and the Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner.

What did faith do to save this woman? Why did she go in peace? We can learn much by contrasting her behavior, as Jesus did, with that of the Pharisee. First, she recognized her sin, whatever it was. And, second she did not discount the sin; she took responsibility for it. The Pharisee did not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Catholic

Denial, Coping Skills! Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 13, 2024

We seldom want to evaluate how easy it is to deny and palliate our words and behavior. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

COPING SKILLS: COCK—A—DOODLE—DO! DELUSIONAL! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) **DELUSION: mistaken, a false teaching despite evidence, believing what is not true. CAN I GET AWAY WITH THIS.? THERE ARE SEVERAL DEEP THOUGHTS THAT ARE HARD TO CATCH THE ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 11:1, Matthew 26:3, Psalm 139:23

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Fruitfulness (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 24, 2020

This fruit is the product of the Spirit’s work inside of us and not an outcome of trying, straining, groaning, or behavior modification on our part.

Dance Lessons: The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 3) Galatians 5:22-26 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 6-07-2020 SHHHHHHH! In the backyard at our house in Pontiac used to be an apple tree. All the neighbors hated it. It was bad enough during the day, but at night several ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-26

Denomination: Baptist

Demon Possession In The U. S.

Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 30, 2021

To aid ministers in addressing the unusual area of demon possession, I have compiled articles and statistics on behavior associated with possession.

DEMON POSSESSION IN THE U.S. ARTICLES ON POSSESSION 1. Most people in the U.S. don’t think that demon possession – as pictured in the Bible – is still going on today. This is because behavior that resembles possession is not treated as a spiritual phenomena, but as a mental or physiological ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Lesson 22. The Discipline Of Attitudes (James 3:13-18) Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 3, 2021

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

13Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Fear God And Honor The King

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Apr 15, 2021

This message looks at what the Bible has to say about government, law and order, and the Christian’s behavior in a civil society.

I’ve entitled our message this morning, “Fear God and Honor the King,” and we’re going to be looking at what the Bible has to say about government, law and order, and the Christian’s behavior in a civil society. I’m going to let you know up front that I’m going to be quoting from numerous ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Zeal And Jealousy And Envy--O My!

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 13, 2022

We learn from this story a lot about jealousy. It can be confused with righteous behavior, as in this story. It is essentially self-centered.

Saturday 4th Week of Easter Jealousy. Envy. These are two attitudes that literally can tear a community apart–a church, a political body, a family. We can learn a great deal about these sins from the Scripture. Here we see two results of the preaching and healing done by Paul and Barnabas on their ...read more

Scripture: John 14:7-14, Acts 13:44-52

Denomination: Catholic

Who Are You Listening To? Series

Contributed by Susan Blader on Nov 1, 2006

As we face decisions in life, we need to learn how to be discerning and ultimately seek communication with God rather than directives.

Who Are You Listening To? A sermon on Isaiah 30:21and Proverbs 16:29-30 As we begin each day of our lives, we all have decisions to make. Some are easy and some are difficult. And there are many voices competing for our attention and our loyalty. As soon as I rise each morning, often before I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:21

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Be Careful Out There...but Trust Jesus

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Jul 16, 2005

The parable of the weeds and the wheat...We have to be careful and discerning, but we also have to trust Jesus to sort out the weeds and bless the wheat.

Be Careful Out There…But Trust Jesus Matthew 13:24-30 July 17, 2005 The “Star Wars” saga is now ended. I remember going to the first “Star Wars” movie with my wife and a couple of friends when I was in seminary. We had Episdoe IV, “Star Wars: A New Hope” and then Episode V, “The Empire Strikes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30

Denomination: Methodist

The Muslim Maze, Pt. 1

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Nov 29, 2004

Learn the truth about the maze of Muslim theology. This series will properly prepare anyone to discern Islam’s errors.

“The Muslim Maze”, Pt. 1 Galatians 1:6-9 This study is not an attack on the Muslim, but a way to address the maze that a Muslim is put into once he or she submits to Muhammad’s so called revelations! We will expose their system of belief and unravel the tangled web that makes up Islam! To Begin ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-9

Denomination: Baptist

Permitted But Not Blessed

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 22, 2007

Sometimes God will permit us to do things that are detrimental to us. Spiritual discernment is a must in our relationship with God.

PERMITTED BUT NOT BLESSED TEXT: Numbers 22:20-22 Numbers 22:20 22 -- “And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.” “And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:20-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Tossing The Junk Series

Contributed by Roger Thomas on Jun 13, 2005

Holding on the right things and getting of the wrong things keeps life simpler and more fulfilling. This is the discipine of Christian discernment.

Tossing the Junk Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22; Romans 12:9 Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO Introduction: It was one of those scenes you only see on television. For Rick’s sake, I was glad no cameras showed up. I knew Rick had some ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Simeon

Contributed by Bala Samson on May 18, 2014

At times, we fail to discern the will of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit when we have unrighteousness in our life.

Luke 2:27”And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God….” Today too often we hear the words ‘led by the Holy Spirit’ among ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:27

Denomination: Pentecostal

Good & Bad Traditions (John 2)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 23, 2025

How do we discern between good and bad traditions? Let's look at John 2.

Do believers always choose the right way? Are mandatory teetotaling and selling items at church, good or bad ideas? Which traditions, built upon Jesus, are gold or stubble? Let’s begin in John 2. Should Christians make up rules not found in the Bible, like forbidding even moderate alcohol use? Did ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

This Thing Called Love

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 1, 2023

The kind of love which Jesus models for us takes discipline, discernment, and knowledge of both God and his Word.

The question Jesus answered for the lawyer that day was “Who is my neighbor?” But an equally important question, and one that doesn’t get asked nearly often enough, is “What is love?” Some enchanted evening you will meet a stranger across a crowded room. Neither of you has a clue what the other is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed