Sermons on Distorted Vision:

The Deceitful Heart And Unmasking Self-Deception Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jun 26, 2025

In this sermon, we'll explore the mechanisms of self-deception, its consequences, and the biblical guidance for overcoming this insidious trap.

The Bible warns us that our hearts are "deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17:9). This sobering truth reveals the propensity of our inner selves to distort reality, leading us down a path of self-deception. In this sermon, we'll explore the mechanisms of self-deception, its ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:9

The Priority Of Prayer Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 18, 2022

Paul began chapter 2 with a command to all people to make prayer a priority and to do so by praying for everyone with all kinds of prayer. Then in verse 8, he gave a specific command to the men to lead the congregation by lifting up holy hands in prayer.

Introduction: A. I want to begin today with a wonderful story that the late Peter Marshall, who was the chaplain of the U.S. Senate, used to love to tell, called: “The Keeper of the Spring.” 1. Once there was a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slopes ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-8, James 5:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Schemes Of The Devil

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Jul 16, 2002

Some of the Devil’s schemes and provision God has made for our protection.

The Schemes of the Devil II Cor. 2:11 Eph. 6:11 INTRO.: Christians sometimes forget we are involved in an all out conflict with a powerful spiritual enemy, Satan. His name means Adversary. He opposes all that is good and noble in this world. Jesus called him the "prince of this world." Jn. 12:31. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How The Holy Spirit Protects Us From Self-Serving People (Mark 7:11-12)

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 27, 2002

How the Holy Spirit Protects Us From Self-serving People (Mark 7:11-12)Guidelines for being discerning, wise and Spirit led in guarding yourself from harm

How the Holy Spirit Protects Us From Self-serving People (Mark 7:11-12) Illustration:The deity of the Holy Spirit ought to be clearly recognized in Scripture. Look at these facts: Christ is born; the Spirit is His forerunner. Christ is baptized; the Spirit bears witness. Christ is tempted; the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:11-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Protects Us From Manipulation

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 7, 2004

Regardless of how much abuse the world may heap on us or how small we may seem compared to others, we are precious in the sight of God. Because of Christ, we have immeasurable worth.

How the Holy Spirit Protects us From Manipulation Illustration: One day, educator and comedian Sam Levinson was standing with a group of men who seemed to tower above him. Someone asked, "Sam, don’t you feel strange surrounded by so many tall people?" He replied, "Yes, I do. I feel like a dime ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:2-10, 1 John 4:2-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Would Jesus Say To A Complacent Christian Series

Contributed by Tim Huie on Apr 23, 2008

What would Jesus say to a lukewarm Christian? The letter to the Laodecian church tells us.

1. Illus. of D. W. brother • In a tough time of life. Drove car out to lake he loved, and used a pistol to commit suicide. • Autopsy performed to rule out foul play. Showed it was indeed suicide. • Autopsy revealed an ironic fact. He had liver cancer advanced enough that it would have been ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Seventy Weeks Of Daniel Series

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Apr 27, 2006

The popular dispensational view, or the “Home Alone” view is that these things allegedly deal with ten nations arising from the European federation, the Antichrist, a revived Roman Empire, a seven-year peace treaty with national Israel, and the Great 666

INTRODUCTION In my two experiences of ordination, in both cases I was challenged on eschatology, the study of end times issues. First in 1990 from a dispensational perspective - I was not committed to the pretribulation rapture, because I could not see it in Scripture. In about 1992 I became ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:24-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hearing God In Modern Times, Part 2

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on May 31, 2015

God's Word is were truth is found. Seeking His truth, obeying His Word and following His precepts will set us right in the center of His perfect will.

Title: Hearing God in Modern Times, Part 2 Theme: Discerning God's Voice In a Secular Atmosphere Introduction: I have already covered part one of this message theme. We looked at a Biblical perspective of the foundation of hearing from God, Knowing Jesus' Voice, Being Born Again, and Seeking ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Understanding God's Word, Part 1: The Message Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Aug 18, 2009

This is the first of four messages titled, "Understanding God"s Word." Today, we will see that in order to understand God’s Word, we must have the right message.

I have looked forward to this chapter ever since I started preaching in Ezra, two years ago. When we were in Ezra, we looked at what I consider to be my life-verse. Ezra 7:10 says, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Biblically Sent Series

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on May 9, 2008

The Word of God under the illumination of the Holy Spirit gives us guidelines for nurturing, organizing and training those who are responding to the high calling of missionary work.

Turn your Bibles to Acts 13:1-3 Title: Biblically Sent Theme: Enjoying the Protection of Healthy Oversight Series: Laboring Together With God Listen as I read Acts 13:1-3, “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living The Life In 07

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jul 10, 2007

How can you and I make sure that in 2007 we live The Life like never before. I will try to answer in the few minutes that we have remaining by pulling 5 objects out of this bag and letting them teach us about how we can live our dash well in 07.

Living ‘The’ Life In 07’ I want to start this message out this morning by asking you to take out a pen if you haven’t already (share if you need to). And what I want you to do, on the left hand corner of your outline…or any other piece of paper. I want you to Write the year you were born – (now ...read more

Scripture: James 4:14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Baiting The Trap Series

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Nov 1, 2006

Unforgiveness is a trap that we’ve all been caught in at one time or another. This series attempts to help people find release people from the trap.

Baiting the Trap Series: Escaping the Trap of Unforgiveness July 9, 2006 What I’m going to be talking to you about the next 4 weeks, is possibly the most important confrontation with truth that you’ll ever have! Not because I’m preaching it, but because of the subject we’re going to deal with. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:3-5

Denomination: Wesleyan

Cheap Talk And Free Speech Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Words have power. And whether that power accomplishes good or evil depends on where it comes from, and what it is intended to do.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” You’ve all heard that saying, haven’t you? We’ve probably all used it, in fact - usually when a child comes home from school upset because someone called her a bad name. We do distinguish between words and actions. That is what ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Holiness

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 26, 2002

Because God is Holy, we must hold onto His gift of holiness which he gave us through His Son Jesus Christ.

HOLINESS? Thesis: Because God is Holy, we must hold onto His gift of holiness which he gave us through His Son Jesus Christ. Text: Lev. 19:2 2 "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: `Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. Lev. 20: 7,8 7 "`Consecrate ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sex And The City Of God

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 12, 2006

1. The Bible teaches us that sex is a gift of God. 2. The Bible teaches us that sex is sacred. 3. The Bible presents boundaries for the use of sex.

With the advent of television’s Sex and the City, and a host of shows like it, it should be apparent that our nation is in a moral free fall. The whole idea of who we are and how we should live has become so distorted that it has corrupted our vision of what God created us to be. Rather than ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27-28

Denomination: Methodist