Sermons on Evil Inclination:

Look Out, Look In, Look Up - James 1:17-18 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 26, 2021

What does the Bible tell us to do about our evil desires? This passage describes three attributes of God that, if we understand them, can repair evil desires.

James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-18

Is Your Church A Cruise-Ship Or A Battleship?

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 5, 2011

Which image better describes a church? Your church? I know, it’s a metaphor. All metaphors break down at some point. When making a choice, our natural inclination is to choose the cruise ship over the battleship any day.

Opening illustration: watch an illustrative audio-video clip Introduction: On the surface we would believe that the early church in Acts was blessed with outstanding growth due to the anointed preaching of the apostles; their balanced practices that would evolve into much of our church programming ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Plum Of Patience Series

Contributed by James Westervelt on Nov 21, 2001

It is our natural inclination to be impatient with people - to get angry at them for the things they do which displease us, to fly off the handle when they say or do something against us, to express great displeasure when they do things the wrong way.

THE PLUM OF PATIENCE This morning we begin the OUTWARD FRUIT, those qualities we will exhibit in our relationships with other people: patience, kindness and goodness. Let’s look at the plum of patience: I’ve chosen a plum because patience is a plum of a virtue - it is one ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, Colossians 3:12-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heart Of A Woman Series

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Dec 8, 2019

Greetings In The Holy Name Of Jesus Yahshuah, My sisters and brothers, I speak to the issues at-hand that behoove me to beg the difference in how we think...

The Heart Of A Woman by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (December 8, 2019) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:9, Jeremiah 17:9-10

Denomination: Friends

The Love Deal

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 18, 2009

Our society confuses LOVE and LUST. Unlike lust, God’s kind of love is directed toward others, not inward toward ourselves. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is natural to love them that love us, but it is supernatural to love th

Opening illustration: Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me." Dr. Crane suggested an ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Answering Our Culture #8: "If God Is So Good, Why Is There So Much Evil?" Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 26, 2002

Eight in the series on answering objections to the faith.

Answering Our Culture #8 – “If God is So Good, Why Is There So Much Evil?” Various Scriptures September 22, 2002 NOTE: I am greatly indebted to the books, "The Case for Faith," by Lee Strobel, and "True for You, But Not for Me," by Paul Copan. Introduction There is no question that evil exists ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:8

Denomination: Wesleyan

Message 17 - 1thessalonians Chapter 5:22 – Abstain From Every Form Of Evil Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 14, 2023

What may appear innocent can be barbed because it can become a form of evil. Abstaining from all forms of evil is examined in this serious message. What does it mean “to abstain” and several examples are looked at.

MESSAGE 17 - 1THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5:22 – ABSTAIN FROM EVERY FORM OF EVIL THE INTRODUCTION {{1Thessalonians 5 v 22 “Abstain from every form of evil.”}} The KJV is “Abstain from all appearances of evil.” NIV is “Reject every kind of evil.” NASB and ESV is “Abstain from every form of evil.” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 1 John 2:15, James 1:15, Matthew 16:21-24, Genesis 39:9, Luke 3:22, Luke 9:29, John 5:37  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 8 – National Evils Are Widespread – Murder, Injustice, No Repentance, Delusion Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 25, 2024

The guilty argue with God and there is no repentance. Again God requests that Judah remembers her past devotion and return to the Lord. Idolatry is everywhere and the innocent poor are killed. There is no justice anywhere and delusion is rampant.

LESSONS FROM JEREMIAH – PART 8 – NATIONAL EVILS ARE WIDESPREAD – MURDER, INJUSTICE, NO REPENTANCE, DELUSION PART 8 - Jeremiah 2:29-35 CHAPTER 2 [A]. YOU ARE A CONTENTIOUS PEOPLE BUT YOU HAVE TRANSGRESSED {{Jeremiah 2:29 Why do you CONTEND with Me? You have all TRANSGRESSED against Me,” ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:29, Haggai 2:22, Ezekiel 21:27, Jeremiah 2:30, Revelation 6:9-10, Jeremiah 2:31-32, Jeremiah 2:33, 1 Timothy 2:12-15, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Jeremiah 2:34-35, Exodus 22:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You See A Good Fight...get In It

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Aug 17, 2013

The Christian faith does not offer an illusory hope of life on earth without evil. Instead, Christian faith calls us to fight evil with good in the world as it is.

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” In the 1994 movie, “The Road To Freedom: The Vernon Johns Story starring the great actor James Earl Jones who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12

Denomination: Baptist

Education, Immigration, Development And The Gospel Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 27, 2010

One little act of evil just leads to more evil, not good; if we are to help humans develop, we must fact the twin problems of education and immigration

Monday of Holy Week 2010 Caritas in Veritate The notion that doing one “little act of evil” in order to fulfill a good purpose is the original sin. So Judas, one of the early disciples and probably the earliest treasurer, raked off some of the collection plate money for something he ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Rebel

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Jan 5, 2012

When wrong is right, then right is wrong. When right is wrong, then wrong is right. In other words, when our culture has confused truth to the point of calling good evil and evil good, then we are obliged to do what many would think is evil because it is

rebel: noun or verb? rebel (n): a person who resists authority, control, or tradition; an agent of change rebel (v): to dissent from an accepted moral code or conventional behavior rebellion (n): revolt, revolution, uprising, insurgence // antonyms: complacency, compliance To the question: Am I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:11

Denomination: Baptist

Be Grateful Series

Contributed by Godday Osoba on Aug 2, 2023

Although we know that we should cultivate an attitude of Gratitude to God and to Man, the problem is that we are more inclined to grumble and complain, while there may be ten things for which we be Grateful for, we tend to focus on the one thing that irks us.

Let's thank God, please don't be an ungrateful child. Let’s give him Thank, Father I thank you, in you I put my Faith, trust and hope and you who didn’t allow me to be put to shame. Remember Hannah put her faith upon the Lord that day as she prayed... THAT SAME GOD didn’t put her to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Teshuvah - Repent - Return (A Message For The Days Of Awe From Rosh Hashanah Through Yom Kippur)

Contributed by William Akehurst on Sep 14, 2021

We hear the word "repent" or "repentance" many times through scripture. But what does it really mean? Translated from the Hebrew word Teshuvah, we can dig deeper by understanding the root meaning of this Hebrew word.

2021.09.14 REPENT/REPENTANCE Defined. Thoughts during the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, the Days of Awe, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. William Akehurst HSWC TESHUVAH – REPENTANCE – RETURN At the beginning of HIS Ministry, JESUS said, “Repent for the Kingdom is at hand”. Matthew 4:17; ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spirit Powers - 1 Peter 3:18-22 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jan 24, 2025

What happened when Jesus confronted the most powerful evil spirits after his resurrection?

1 Peter 3:13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22

The Story #16 Good King - Bad King

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jan 20, 2014

This lesson is a contrast between a good king (Hezekiah) and an evil king (Manasseh) who ruled Israel. It should be noted that even the evil king was blessed upon his repentance.

1. Colonial Attitudes toward God and Kings a. In 1774, a report went to the King of England from the Governor of Massachusetts in Boston which read, "If you ask an American who is his Master, he will tell you he has none, or any governor but Jesus Christ." b. Prewar Colonial Committee of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ