Sermons on Dishonourable Service:

Was A Sacrificial Lamb Really Necessary For Humanity?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jun 9, 2024

If a sacrificial lamb was necessary for people during Biblical times, is one still necessary for people of today?

As the Hebrews arranged for their departure from subjugation in Egypt, they were told to make bread without yeast (“unleavened bread”) on the grounds that they lacked the necessary amount of time to sit and wait for it to rise. Yeast was likewise an image of wrongdoing, so they were directed to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Servant Leadership Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Jan 1, 2023

Understanding Servant Leadership

Matthew 20:17-28 & Luke 18:31-34 [Intro] (1) Review: The Rich young man and the laborers in the vineyard / 11th hour workers. (2) Jesus / disciples are journeying closer to Jerusalem where Jesus will be betrayed and given over to the chief priests and he will be crucified. The disciples most ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Time To Get Back To Work

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 2, 2023

It appears like everybody needs something from us, family members, friends, bosses at work, the schools that we may attend, our churches, clubs, etc. We wind up racing through life, taking care of the necessary, the immediate, and the urgent.

Repeatedly the important is abandoned. Our problem is not the volume of requests or lack of organizational skills, but values - what is really important to us. Our values and our priorities are reflected in how we use our assets/resources. Frequently our activities give a false representation of ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

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 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

Every Church/Ministry Needs An Epaphras

Contributed by Bright Adeyeye on Mar 13, 2021

Epaphras is mentioned three times in the Bible. Yet his life of service is what every minister of God should emulate.

“12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.” ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:12-13, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Doing Good Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

Paul says there are two kinds of seeds we sow in life. There are the seeds of self-indulgence which please the sinful nature, and there are the seeds of doing good to others which please the Spirit.

In the spring of 1897, Thomas Hanna, a 25 year old Baptist pastor fell out of his carriage and landed on his head. When he woke up he was in a state of total amnesia. Dr. Boris Sidis and his assistant Dr. Goodhert had to teach him to talk, to eat, and to go to the bathroom as if he were a child. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Sharing Ministry Together

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on May 13, 2021

When the volunteer workload is placed on the shoulders of just a handful of people, then these individuals get burnt out; and since they can’t do everything, then a lot of needs go unmet. Ministry is something to be shared among all believers.

I wish to begin our message by sharing a personal account contributed by a pastor who was serving at a church in Washington State during the wake of the Mount St. Hellens eruption. This pastor said, After Mount St. Helens blew up in May 1980, [the] church needed cleaning up. Ash was in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding Service -What Should A Servant Of Yahweh Expect? (8) Series

Contributed by Dove Inspirations on Jun 11, 2021

Encouragement for Kingdom workers

What should a servant of YAHWEH expect?  A servant of YAHWEH should expect the following though not always but almost always: Preparation YAHWEH always prepares HIS servants to serve HIM. This may be through our experiences or the experiences of others. Every experience is beneficial to us ...read more

Scripture: John 14:21

"It’s That Simple. It’s That Complicated”

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jun 15, 2021

How to love.

“It’s that Simple. It’s that Complicated” John 13:1-5, 12-15, 34-35 Have you ever taken a moment to think about how totally profound this encounter is between Jesus and His disciples on the night that Jesus was betrayed? I’m not referring to the fact that Jesus washed His disciples’ dirty ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-35

Denomination: United Methodist