Sermons on Envying Strife Divisions:

Can We Win More People By Softening The Gospel?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 12, 2017

A study of Jesus' teaching that He did not come to bring peace to the earth and how we need to "fire it up" instead of "watering it down."

CAN WE WIN MORE PEOPLE BY SOFTENING THE GOSPEL? The best plan is not to “water it down” but “fire it up.” - Luke 12:49. - Fire is referred to in this verse. There is a sense in which the truth of Christ is going to bring fire to the earth. - Fire burns down what already exists. - The fire ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Aug 19, 2020

In a day where we are riddled with division and a "cancel culture" where does forgiveness fit in and how does forgiveness in the church differ from what the world offers?

Grace Community Church Winchester, VA www.gracecommunity.com Watch this message at https://youtu.be/oSQkupXCiXk Introduction What image comes to mind when you think of the word “Bounty Hunter.” Maybe we think of a scene from Star Wars as Darth Vader is enlisting their help to fuel his obsession ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Brethren

Disunity Of The Flesh

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 30, 2024

We need to stop singing that we are one in the Spirit and one in the Lord with there are twenty churches of like faith in a ten mile radius.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Lawsuits Against Believers Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on May 8, 2011

In today's lesson we learn about how Christians are to handle disputes among themselves.

Scripture We continue our study in The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians in a series I am calling Challenges Christians Face. One of the challenges that Christians face is the question of whether to sue fellow Christians in civil court. Let’s learn about this in a message I am ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Danger Of Pride

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Apr 7, 2025

Whenever we accomplish something good, it is only natural to have a positive emotional reaction. There is nothing wrong with celebrating an achievement, but there is a darker side to pride that can be ugly.

Alba 4-6-2025 THE DANGER OF PRIDE I Corinthians 4:6-13 In the Peanuts cartoon, one day Linus tells Charlie Brown, “When I get big, I'm going to be a humble, little country doctor. I'll live in the city, and every morning I'll get up, climb into my sports car, and zoom into the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Difficult Return (2 Samuel 19)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 16, 2025

How difficult would it be to reunite a nation or church after a time of division? Let's look at 2 Samuel 19.

How did David handle his return to Jerusalem as king? After betrayal and false accusations, how difficult is it reconciling a divided nation or church? Let’s look at 2 Samuel 19. Did Joab disapprove of David mourning his rebellious son? Then it was reported to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Stopping A Rebel (2 Samuel 20)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 17, 2025

When should we stop a rebel and when not? Let's look at 2 Samuel 20.

When reconciliation cannot be had, how can a rebel’s destructive influence be stopped? Let’s begin in 2 Samuel 20. Did a rebel named Sheba, son of Bikri, stir up division among the tribes? Now a wicked [worthless] man, a Benjaminite named Sheba son of Bichri, happened to be there. He blew the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Raising Lazarus From The Dead Lesson 8 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Nov 4, 2025

What is Jesus’ attitude towards death?

1. When did this miracle occur? Winter after Purim, December (John 10:22) and before Passover (John 11:55). 2. Where did the miracle occur? Bethany, east of Jerusalem (11:1). 3. Why does Jesus wait? “When He (Jesus) had heard . . . He abode two days in the same place” (11:6). • Our agendas are ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Baptist

Strong Leadership In Painful Times Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 5, 2011

Discipline in the church and in the family have their similarities. Whether a conflict is with children in our family or God’s household in a church family, several principles apply.

Strong Leadership in Painful Times (2 Corinthians 2:1-11) 1. WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Frank and Louie the cat was born with two faces, two mouths, two noses, three eyes — and lots of doubts about his future. Now, 12 years after Marty Stevens rescued him from being euthanized because of his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Restoring A Divided Kingdom

Contributed by David Parks on Sep 19, 2006

One of Satan’s greatest weopons is division in the local church. How do we restore a divided church?

RESTORING A KINGDOM DIVIDED. TEXT: Matt. 12:22-25. INTRODUCTION: 1. One of the greatest weapons Satan has in his arsenal is division (text) 2. If you’ve been around very long, you’ve seen churches torn and crippled by cliques, power struggles, malicious talk and the club syndrome. 3. The church ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:22-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are You Taking A Stand Or Taking A Knee?

Contributed by Phillip Smith on Sep 30, 2017

Division has been Satan’s primary means to obtain his loyal followers. It is a time-honored emblem of his control over mankind in the place of God or his Son.

Our culture is very confused, very distracted and very divided in determining what is right and what is wrong. Satan is dividing our nation and deceiving the population making it very hard to speak out and teach our neighbor what is truth. The words of Abraham Lincoln, in his House Divided speech ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-6, 1 Peter 2:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prince Of Peace...?

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 15, 2005

A look at Jesus’ statements about coming to bring not peace, but division.

With this speech, Jesus certainly grabs our attention. “Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” It’s not exactly what most of us come to church on Sunday morning hoping to hear. To a large extent our families are what make us who we are, where we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Uprooting The Roots Of Jealousy

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 12, 2001

How to recognize and uproot the main causes of jealousy and envy that ruin relationships

The Roots of Jealousy (Acts 13:42-52) Illustration:It is the eyes of other people that ruin us. If all but myself were blind, I should want neither a fine house nor fine furniture. Benjamin Franklin. 1. Why do you suppose that many people allow jealousy to hinder their relationships, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:42-52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No More Crumbs

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jul 31, 2002

God never intended for his children to live a crummy life, just getting by on left overs, Ours is life abundant in Christ.

Judg 1:1-7 1Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 2And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 3And Judah said unto ...read more

Scripture: Judges 1:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Back To Life, Back To Reality Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 26, 2009

In the aftermath of defeating Goliath, David experienced a number of significant relationships. I this lesson we try to apply a number of things that David learned from these relationships.

Introduction: A. The story is told of three men who began talking one day about their wives. 1. The first man said, “When we got married, I told my wife in no uncertain terms that from now on she would have to do all the cooking. Well, the first day after I told her, I saw nothing. The second day ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ