Sermons on Drawing Near To God:

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 24, 2021

As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Let’s look at Jesus’ countercultural instructions in Mark 8:31-38.

Prelude As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Purpose Let’s see the value of taking up our cross and denying ourselves. Plan Let’s look at Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiveness And A Renewed Spirit Series

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 18, 2021

Forgiveness releases us from the burden of guilt and regret we carry. When we're freed from it, our spirit is renewed.

March 17, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 7:36-50 Forgiveness and a Renewed Spirit Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. The movie “The Mission” came out in 1986. Church Times has named it as the #1 movie on their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Lutheran

The Big Problem With The Pharisees, Sadducees, And Herodians

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 22, 2022

All three of these groups dealt with the same problem: hypocrisy. How do we combat that?

ACROSS THE BOARD: The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians all get the same criticism. - Matthew 16:11; Mark 8:15. - In our passage we see the Pharisees and the Sadducees criticized. Let’s add another group before we move on. - In Mark 8:15 we have a similar passage. This is after the feeding ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:5-12

Denomination: Baptist

"who Killed Jesus?"

Contributed by David Henderson on Sep 3, 2021

When we look back at the life of Jesus, I find it helpful to look at it in segments and each segment comes with a theme. We see his birth and dedication in the temple; we’ll call that phase one.

“Who Killed Jesus?” Matthew 12:1-14 When we look back at the life of Jesus, I find it helpful to look at it in segments and each segment comes with a theme. We see his birth and dedication in the temple; we’ll call that phase one. Then we don’t hear anything of anything in the life of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Evidence Of Spiritual Strength Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Sep 14, 2021

Paul is wrapping up his encouragement letter to the Philippians by acknowledging their genuine concern for him, and by reminding them that circumstances have no power of his perspective--he knows that Christ in us is greater than any difficulty this world can produce.

I. Intro: GODZILLA MEAT! A. Want to be as strong as Godzilla?  Eat Godzilla Meat!  “Godzilla Meat—actually 3.5 ounces of corned beef from Tokyo toy maker Takara Company—is packaged with pictures of the stomping, fire-breathing, irradiated dinosaur made famous by movies that started ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-13

Discipleship In The Original Jewish Context: Elijah, Elisha, And Jesus

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 6, 2025

Today we are going to look at Elijah and Elisha and note their potential influence upon the life and ministry of Jesus.

Discipleship in the Original Jewish Context: Elijah, Elisha, and Jesus Parallels between Jesus’ ministry and that of Elijah/Elisha (I Kings 19:1-9, 15-16 compared with Matthew 4:1-11) When Protestants have visions, they usually have visions of Jesus. When Roman Catholics have visions, they often ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11, 1 Kings 19:1-9, 1 Kings 19:15-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Easter Sermon 2023

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Apr 8, 2023

After responding to various theories that doubt the resurrection of Jesus Christ and showing the evidence of Jesus' resurrection, today we will discuss the impact of Jesus' resurrection on us.

Jesus has risen! He is risen indeed! Let's read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8,19-23,51-58. In the past Easter services, I have responded to some theories that deny Jesus's resurrection, like the Fainting Theory, which states that actually, Jesus was not dead yet, but they thought he did; the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Top Four Ways People Cope Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 18, 2023

Top 4 ways people cope with a loved one's passing- need to get in touch with... (Given to bereaved group at a local hospice memorial service)

HoHum: Stacy, MSW, said that she sleeps well. Great, when I was a bereavement coordinator for a hospice in Cincinnati, OH, I did not sleep well. I would go to bed at night and get up the next morning feeling worse than when I laid down. Now, there can be physical complications to sleep. My wife ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:19, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Anchor Of My Soul

Contributed by James Lowe on Jul 24, 2023

An encouraging sermon

The Anchor of my Soul Hebrews 6: 18-20 Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:18-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Autumn Offerings (Numbers 29)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Dec 5, 2024

How did the autumn offerings foreshadow Christ and the Christian life? Let's look at Numbers 29.

What were the feasts observed in the autumn? What do the sacrifices teach us? Why are they no longer necessary? Let’s look at Numbers 29. What was the offering to be made on the Feast of Trumpets? Why did God later say that He hated their sacrifices? Was it perhaps because they didn’t include a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Cycle Of Sin (Judges 8)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 9, 2025

Is there a cycle of sin and repentance? Do we go through cycles? Let's look at Judges 8.

Do we see Israel’s repeated cycle of sin, suffering, sorrow and salvation in Gideon's story? Do we see it in us? Do we still need to repent long after baptism? Let’s look at Judges 8. How did Gideon appease the complaint made by the men of Ephraim? The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Do You Do With The Transfiguration Narrative?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Mar 18, 2025

One the most difficult events in the Gospels to explain! However, there is a light shining through the cloud to us.

What do you do with the Transfiguration narrative? Luke 9:28-36 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Luke 9:28 About eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: United Methodist

Character Study Of Titus Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 26, 2025

Titus was a faithful disciple, a trusted leader, and a promoter of sound doctrine. His life teaches us the importance of faithfulness, integrity, and bold leadership in the church.

CHARACTER STUDY OF TITUS – CHURCH LEADER AND RECIPIENT OF PAUL’S LETTER By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Titus 1:4-5 "To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:4-5, 2 Corinthians 7:6-7, 2 Corinthians 8:16-17, Galatians 2:1-3, Titus 2:7-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sermon On Grief

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 21, 2023

Grief is defined as intense sorrow, especially caused by someone’s death.

Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, once remarked: “Grief is the price we pay for love.” These meaningful words were adapted from a passage written by Dr. Colin Murray Parkes, a psychiatrist based at St. Christopher’s Hospice in Orpington, London. Psalm 31:9-10 reminds us: “Be gracious to me, O ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4, John 14:2-6, John 16:16

Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time, B-- My Inner Demons

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 26, 2023

The demon uses the object pronoun “us,” which is non-binary.

I saw a sweatshirt that said, “I Stopped Fighting My Inner Demons because I realized we’re On the Same Side.” Although most deviant behavior may be explained by natural causes, psychotics, for example, suffer from a loss of object reality while demons are separate spiritual beings. Psychology can ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28

Denomination: Catholic