Sermons on Empowered Life:

Tis The Season

Contributed by Jacob Burdette on Dec 6, 2023

A look at Christmas themes and how they apply to the church.

Tis the Season If you have your bible, please open it to Ecclesiastes 3. We`re going to use a lot of scripture today, but that's where we'll start. One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Curious Questions About Islam And The Confusing Qur’an

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jan 1, 2024

It has been over 24 Years since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, when a group of Islamic Jihadists attacked the United States and 4,000+ people died.

Currently (2026), Israel is still at war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi Islamic Jihadists who want to destroy them, as well as those who support the terrorists such as the Palestinians. With all the wars and terrorist attacks around the world, it certainly feels as if we are close to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:21, Revelation 13:1-10, Daniel 7:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Acts 17:29, Mark 3:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Here's A Man Who Needs No Introduction Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 1, 2024

To take somebody else’s off was considered absolutely degrading. If you had servants, one of the rules was you could never make a Jewish servant take your sandals off. That would be too degrading to make a fellow countryman do.

We celebrate celebrities. Whether it is rock stars, actors, or actresses, or athletes. Our culture loves celebrities. They are celebrated because of their unique talents and skills. The Gospel of John introduces us to the celebrity of the universe – Jesus Christ. Because there is nobody but nobody ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, John 1:29-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Diversions & Distractions

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on May 6, 2024

This message is about two tools that our enemy uses against us to keep our focus off things we need to be doing for the Lord. Those tools are diversions and distractions.

The Power of Diversions and Distractions Scripture: Second Corinthians 2:10-11; Joshua 9:3-14; Deuteronomy 20:10-11 Good morning Strangers Rest. This morning I am going to ask you to give me your undivided attention. Yeah, I know I should not have to ask, but as you listen to this message, it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, Joshua 9:3-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Road Back Home PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 29, 2025

God lovingly exposes our hidden flaws to awaken us, inviting us to repentance and restoration through His grace, not shame, so we may return to Him.

Some mornings the mirror tells the truth better than our memories. You’re brushing your teeth and you notice a new gray hair. It didn’t ask permission to arrive. It just showed up, whispering, “Time is moving. Pay attention.” Gray hairs have a way of doing that—gently alerting us to what we have ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 7:1-16

Topics: Delayed Return, Repentance

Playing God PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 25, 2025

The sermon urges us to surrender judgment, embrace mercy, and let God transform our critical spirit into kindness and grace toward others.

Some of us carried a quiet critic into church today. He rode in the car with us, sat beside us during worship, and has opinions about everything from traffic to the tempo of the first song. He’s subtle—civil even—but he speaks in sighs, shrugs, and silent scores. We know his voice: the whisper that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-2

Topics: Criticism, Judgment

It’s Not About The Prodigal Son

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Jul 16, 2025

This message is about three parables that Jesus told that, although separated in Scripture, is really one message about how we should respond when someone repents and accepts Christ as Lord and Savior.

It’s Not About The Prodigal Son The title of my message this morning is “It’s Not About the Prodigal Son.” This sermon title might not make sense to some of you but I promise you that by the end you will understand what the Spirit is saying to us through this title. When the Bible was translated ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Ezekiel 33:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Evidence Of A Man Walking With God

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jul 24, 2025

Acts 4:13 says this about these dedicated Christians, “They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.”

Look at the word “knowledge” in our text. This is the word “epiginosko.” This word means that they had come to know something with certainty. WHAT IS IT THAT THEY HAD COME TO KNOW WITH CERTAINTY? They came to recognize a definite difference had occurred in the lives of these Christians, since ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:8-13

Denomination: Baptist

Come Up Here

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 25, 2025

A message about ultimate power as John is given a revelation of the throne room in heaven.

Title: Come up Here” Heaven – the holy place of the holy God. …”holy of holies” Text: Revelation 4-5 Subject: Who is able to meet our (existential) hopes and is therefore worthy of our allegiance and worship? Complement: the one who sits on the highest throne and holds the keys of life and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:1-2, Hebrews 9:11-12, Colossians 1:19-22, Revelation 4:1-11, Revelation 5:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Matthew Part 1 (Nasb)

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Dec 13, 2025

Notes by biblegateway.com

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah 1 The [a]record of the genealogy of [b]Jesus (In Heb Yeshua (Joshua), meaning The Lord is salvation) the [c]Messiah, (From Gr Christos, which means Messiah (Heb for Anointed One)) the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

Freedom

Contributed by Brent Williams on Jun 7, 2001

The Gospel of Christ gives us Freedom. A study of Christ’s Gospel proclaims 4 things: Self Realization, Upward Search, Challenge, and Hope.

“Freedom” John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Intro: In these two verses Jesus told us that we could be set free if we would hold to his teachings. ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding Reconciliation

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 8, 2001

To lead the people to understand how to bring reconciliation in among their family, friends and neighbors.

Unit 11 – Hard Times Lesson 33 – Joseph, He Brings Reconciliation to His Family – Gen. 43-50 Preparation for the Teacher Introduction 1. Aim: To lead the people to understand how to bring reconciliation in among their family, friends and neighbors. 2. Explanation of the Aim: Joseph teaches us how ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Defeat Of The Devil

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 8, 2001

To lead the people to understand how God has already determined how He will defeat the devil in the final days and throw him into the eternal lake of fire.

Unit 15 – Satan and His Demons Lesson 42 – God’s Victory Over Satan and The End of the Book – Gen. 3:15: Rev. 12:7-11; Rev. 13:1-10; I John 4:4; Rev. 20:7-10 1. Aim: To lead the people to understand how God has already determined how He will defeat the devil in the final days and throw him into ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Death In The Family

Contributed by Michael Treston on Jun 10, 2001

Martyrs for jesus come in many shapes and forms

The scripture we read this morning is quite a grim text isn’t it, but in the eastern orthodox church they use this same scripture to celebrate the end of the Christmas story. In that church, they have set aside the 29th of December as a holy day. A holy day where they commemorate the lives of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:16-19

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Give More Than Money Series

Contributed by Jack Allen on Jun 12, 2001

While I do not see much of this directed at the church, too many parents seem to confuse money with love.

It seems that the church and the family in America mirror each other. We can probably agree that the church and the family should be the places where one finds love. Yet, neither seems to be a very safe place to find love today. Families break apart and church people gossip. Little sense of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:6

Denomination: Baptist