Sermons on Down In The Water:

Playing The Fool To Defeat The Fool Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 29, 2012

No matter how diligently you walk with God, some people within a congregation may look down upon you and falsely criticize you. Sometimes you should ignore the criticism and move on. At other times you need to respond. Paul provides a case study of fight

Playing the Fool to Defeat the Fool (2 Corinthians 11:1, 5-15) 1. A Louisiana man has been released from death row, becoming the 300th prisoner nationwide to be freed after DNA evidence showed he was innocent. Of those 300 prisoners, 18 had been on death row, according to lawyers from the New ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:5-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Love Cures Christmas Depression

Contributed by Dennis King on Dec 17, 2018

Depression can overcome anyone at any time. But if we turn to the love of Jesus that is a cure that works in any season. And God's love is so abundant, so truthful, so freely given we can share this love to all who may feel down and out.

Depression can overcome anyone at any time. But if we turn to the love of Jesus that is a cure that works in any season. And God's love is so abundant, so truthful, so freely given we can share this love to all who may feel down and out. After tossing and turning at night, have you ever awoken ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11, Philippians 1:6, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 3:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Hope Of Redemption

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 19, 2018

The Hope of our souls arrived for us all in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s own Son. God did in fact answer Isaiah’s plea to "pull the Heavens apart and come down to us;" for the Heaven’s themselves were rendered to make possible the birth of Christ.

The Hope of Redemption Isaiah 64:1-9 Today we celebrate the Hope that Jesus fulfilled when He was born to be our Redeemer. Redeemed has taken on a whole new meaning in our day and age of Pawn Shops and Discount stores. If you happen to be a civil servant, teacher or a business owner you might ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9, Isaiah 51:4-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

An Unshakeable Nickname

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Apr 25, 2019

For a man named "Doubting Thomas", he makes one of the greatest confessions of faith: "My Lord and my God!" This sermon briefly walks through the text and examines Thomas' confession in an applicable way for the hearer by breaking the confession down into two chunks.

Sometimes, it just isn’t possible to shake a nickname. One of my favorite athletes, Landon Donovan, has that problem. Landon is arguably one of the best soccer players the United States has ever produced, but has the nickname, “Landy Cakes.” How did he get that? By constantly underachieving ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-29

Denomination: Lutheran

The Prophet And The Prostitute Series

Contributed by Matt Black on Oct 18, 2019

Why would God ask a prophet to marry a prostitute? What a shocking love story that ultimately points to the greatest love story in God’s Son laying down his life on the cross for an unworthy and unfaithful bride. In the symbolism of Hosea, God is the Prophet and we are the prostitute. What grace!

OUTLINE 1. GOD’S LOVE IS UNDESERVING (1:1-3a). 2. GOD’S LOVE IS URGENTLY NEEDED (1:3b-9). 3. GOD’S LOVE IS UNRELENTING (1:10-2:1). Do you remember when you were a child? When children are small they run to their mother’s arms. We have little children all around here. Those arms of mama and ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 7, 2016

What are we projecting to other people about our service to the Lord if we are complaining about it instead of having fun while we are doing it? We get hung up when people in the world try to trip us up and slow down our walk to a crawl.

Take Up your cross Matthew 16:24-27 Years ago I remember hearing a radio broadcast of Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family. He was retelling a story about his son Ryan who was about three years old at the time. Little Ryan had gotten up early one morning before his Dad and Mom. He managed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Self-Discipline And Self-Control Series

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jul 15, 2013

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”(Hebrews 12:11) "A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

Self-Discipline and Self-Control A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. Proverbs 25:28 (NLT) “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Satan’s Hindrance Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

Paul was no pessimist. He was hindered by Satan, but he never sat down and gave up. He didn’t get to do what he wanted, but Paul rejoiced in spite of his frustration because in spite of the hindrance he had perfect confidence that ultimate victory would be his.

Children are constantly coming up with that profound argument that they feel is an infallible guide to what ought to be-“But I wanna.” I remember explaining to Steven one time that we don’t always get to do what we want, and Cindy felt that was good advice. So the next time he was refused and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

Daniel’s Friends: "But If Not—“

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 8, 2020

Suppose your employer or ruler demanded you worship an image or idol, and would be put to death if you refused? That happened to Daniel's three friends, who were willing to die for their faith before ever bowing down to any other god besides the God of Israel.

Daniel’s friends: “But if not—“ Introduction: Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon during Daniel’s youth, certainly did not lack a sense of ego or self-importance. In chapter 2, he made an impossible demand on Babylon’s wise men, instructing them to repeat the king’s dream and what it meant or else ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

One Thing

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Oct 10, 2014

It’s interesting to try to narrow things down to one. When you do that you are identifying the most significant thing. We see this principle applied in scripture. Let’s look at some of these incidents and see what we can learn from them.

ONE THING If you could have only one thing in the world what would it be? If you could only go one place where would you go? What about if there was only one thing standing in the way of you accomplishing something. It’s interesting to try to narrow things down to one. When you do that you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

To Love Is To Obey

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 16, 2014

We must slow down at God’s “yellow lights,” stop at His “red lights,” and proceed at His “green lights” for the highest reason - love. The absence of obedience just shows our rebellion and UN-love for God.

Opening illustration: One morning as I left Maureena for work, I began to wonder, why should I obey God’s laws? The answer played out as I approached a traffic light that had just turned yellow. A driver at the intersection waited to make sure I had fully stopped. Why did I stop? I asked ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Wants..to Be A Millionaire?

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Oct 22, 2014

So many people miss out on all that God has for them because they are weighted down by the world and the drama of life..Some people almost feel guilty when they have been blessed, Now..who do you suppose would want to make you feel that way??

Who wants to be a Millionaire? Who hasn't ever thought about making a lot of money.. Or who hasn't ever wished they would hit the lotto.. When it was a couple of hundred million dollars? Even if your the most adamant against gambling.. Who hasn't thought about how they would spend the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rising Above The Turkeys Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 23, 2018

When people try to make changes, other people may hold them back. As Jacob tries to overcome his scheming nature, Laban drags him down. God intervenes, so that Jacob can rise above that old turkey, Laban, and his own nature as well.

RISING ABOVE THE TURKEYS—Genesis 30:25-31:55 “I could soar like an eagle, if I didn’t have to deal with so many turkeys.” My uncle raised turkeys. Turkeys are pretty stupid. They are always crowding each other, pecking at each other, fighting over food, so they can get big enough to be ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Need Of The Church Series

Contributed by Grant Adams on Feb 8, 2020

If you sat down and asked what does the church need today, what would be your answer? A lot of times we think of the material things, but God is more interested in the people that make up the church. What are the needs of the people? I hope to answer that question for us all.

The 2nd and 3rd chapters of Revelation, tell us of real churches in real places. These churches also are representative of different ages of church history. The Laodicean church is a description of this church age. The church that is neither cold nor hot. A church that was rich and said it had need ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Still Throwing Stones At Others?

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 9, 2020

Let me talk about stones. God requires Christians to take care of each other. Not to pamper people in their wrongs, but to encourage them get back up when they do wrong or fall. We must have that Barnabas Spirit – to be willing to help each other when down.

John 8:1-12: 8 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-12

Denomination: Charismatic