Sermons on Dishonourable Service:

What Does Love Have To Do With It?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jun 25, 2023

John 13:31-35 contains perhaps the most remarkable command given to Christians: that love for others is the characterizing indication of faith for ''all individuals,'' denoting the existence of a genuine believer.

Jesus outlines this as a new commandment, utilizing His own model as the norm. In giving this charge, Jesus indeed predicts His looming demise and exit from earth. To cherish others was not another new commandment (Leviticus 19:18), but rather to love others just as like Christ loved others was ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Simple Steps For An Extraordinary New Year

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jan 6, 2023

Psalm 22 begins as a lament - a desperate plea to God from someone who knows how much he needs God. The terms are clear - without God there is no hope. With God there is always hope, and David gives us a map here, finding hope when challenges are all around us

_____________ To receive sermon notes in your email inbox, subscribe here: https://forsythesermons.substack.com/ To receive emails from John Dobbs on topics of faith, books, photography, and miscellany: https://johndobbs.substack.com/ To watch videos of sermons from Forsythe Church of Christ: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:22-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Are We To Do When God Does Nothing?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 11, 2023

This is a story about one of two men that did not die. Enoch had walked with God and was taken so that he did not see death, Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind.

In the preceding chapter, Elijah has a contest with evil prophets. In this chapter, Elijah flees for his life. In verses 1-4: Jezebel was maddened with regards to the passing of her prophets since they had told her what she wanted to hear, forecasting her future glory and power. Their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Am I Using Faulty Tools?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 30, 2023

The simple things or actions during our Christian walk of faith are just as important as with the things that seem major.

2 Kings 6:1-7 Elisha has now succeeded Elijah as a prophet to the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 2:1-18). He has by now already prophesied and God has performed a few miracles through him. But now we will see something peculiar, he makes an axe head float. This situation shows how God cares for His ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean To Be Commissioned?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Feb 6, 2023

Isaiah’s perspective on God in the initial four verses gives us a feeling of God’s significance, power, and mystery. Isaiah's case of perceiving his sin before God urges us to admit our own wrongdoings.

Isaiah 6:1-13 The image of absolution that Isaiah gives advises us that we are pardoned as well. At the point when we perceive how incredible God is, how guilty we are, and the degree of His absolution, we get the strength to accomplish His work. How does our idea of the significance of God match ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Roll Up Your Sleeves Kind Of Love.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Feb 12, 2023

According to therapist, Dan Wile, “Marriage takes sacrifice, hard, work, and the ability to put up with disappointments and cope with frustration.”

A Roll Up Your Sleeves Kind Of Love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8aNLT A recent e-mail asked readers to reflect on the following questions: Name the five wealthiest people in the world. Name the last five Heinemann trophy winners. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. Name ten ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Do We Know If The Bush Is Still Burning?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Sep 16, 2023

This is the story of when Moses was tending sheep and saw a bush burning that was not consumed by the fire.

What a differentiation between Moses' life as an Egyptian ruler and his life as a Midianite shepherd. As a ruler, he had everything accomplished for him since he was the renowned child of an Egyptian princess. As a Midianite shepherd, he needed to thoroughly take care of himself. He was holding ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Words To The Weary

Contributed by Richard Bowman on Sep 19, 2023

Serving Christ may be wearisome. We do not always receive an immediate reward but God notices as we persist.

A WORD TO THE WEARY Warsaw Christian Church, Richard Bowman, Pastor Text: Galatians 6:7 – 10: Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10

Do We Have A Case Of Spiritual Blindness?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 5, 2023

Spiritual eyesight is needed in our walk with the Lord. We should learn to see the spiritual dangers that are around us.

2 Kings 8-23 tells the story of how Elisha captures an army. But what we will focus on today are verses fifteen - seventeen. Spiritual eyesight is needed in our walk with the Lord. We should learn to see the spiritual dangers that are around us. Elisha’s servant had woken up early and saw the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:8-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Have We Been Chosen For A Specific Purpose?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 27, 2023

You may never know when you will be picked, or chosen, to do or be in a position of prominence. The outcome of that said choosing will depend upon the state of your heart.

In this chapter, the king chooses a new queen. In Chapter 1, King Ahasuerus, had a party to show off his queen, Vashti. She refused so the king banished her and stripped her royalty. After banishing Vashti, the king sent officers out to gather fair young women of all the lands to choose a new ...read more

Scripture: Esther 2:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are We Truly In The Hands Of God?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 9, 2023

What are our hands good for doing?

What are our hands good for doing? They can make things. They can comfort and they can chastise. They write words. Hands can make signals and signs. Hands can be on the offense and hands can be on the defense. Without hands we could not eat, unless we put our face down on to a plate of food but ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:73

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Attitude Of A Servant Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 30, 2022

1) A Thankful Spirit (Romans 1:8), 2) A Concerned Spirit (Romans 1:9–10a), and finally 3) A Willing and Submissive Spirit (Romans 1:10b).

Romans 1:8–10. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:8-10

Denomination: Other

Sacrifices Are Rewarded

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on May 30, 2022

Jesus told us He is coming soon, and rewards are with Him. Today we will talk about rewards.

The Sacrifices Rewarded. Revelation 22:12-21 Those that labor hard are rewarded, their recognized for their performance at job site by being awarded for employee of the month, teacher of the year etc... Then there's those who are The Faithful, The Suffering, The Service Men and Women who ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 22:12-21

Denomination: Methodist

How Can We Stand In The Gap?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 27, 2023

What is it to stand in the gap for someone else? Is it to stand in the place for another?

In Chapter 22, we learn why judgment would be placed on Jerusalem (22:2-16), how it would approach them (22:17-22), and who would be affected by it (22:23-31). The Jewish leaders were particularly liable for the ethical environment of the country since God had picked them to lead. Those actions and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:1-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Can These Dry Bones Live Again?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 1, 2024

How many dry bones can we find in our lives and in our churches?

I have a bone to pick with you. In the valley of dry bones, we can learn something about ourselves and our local churches. Let us take a moment to find out what these dry bones can tell us. Some Bible scholars, theologians, teachers, or preachers may say that the translation of this chapter ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible