Sermons on Exile:

Palm Sunday

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Jewish Scriptural context for understanding Jesus' entry into Jerusalem

The reign of King David was coming to an end. To put it plainly he was old. He was definitely tired. The first half of his life was spent building a kingdom; the second half of his life was spent trying to hold that kingdom together. God had promised that David would never lose his throne, and as ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

The Only Man Who Understood Women Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 22, 2011

The amazing encounter with Jesus and the woman at the well.

Jesus had been in Jerusalem, where he met with a religious fellow named Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a good man, yet Jesus told him that he needed to be “born again”. • Sometimes it was about the crowds…5,000 fed, women touching His hem while pushing through the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Checking Out The Stories

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Dec 13, 2010

Advent... John the Baptist is concerned...maybe even filled with doubt about Jesus Where was the 'wrath of God, the fire and brimstone...but Jesus was preaching God's love, mercy and forgiveness. Includes quotes from Ravi Zacharius, People still doubt tod

In Jesus Holy Name December 12, 2010 Text: Matthew 11:1-4 Advent II Redeemer “Checking Out the Stories” Our gospel lesson begins with John the Baptizer in prison. John was not afraid to proclaim his message to religious leaders who had come down to the river ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-4

Denomination: Lutheran

Was It Really For Me Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 30, 2009

Is Jesus first in your life? Is it all about you, or all about Him? Have you lost your first love, been living for you, turned your back to Him? God looks at all of our lives, and He asks, “Is it really for me??”

Was It Really For Me? August 31, 2008 Zech 7 Intro: One of the really healthy, but challenging, things about preaching through a book of the Bible is that I don’t get to just preach the words of encouragement and promise that make us feel good. Preaching right through a book forces us to take ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 7:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Saved From Hell

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 6, 2009

Many pastors do not want to preach on HELL fearing they’ll not appear relevant. It’s pressure from the culture to not speak anything negative. Apparently we have begun to deny hell. There’s an assumption that everybody’s going to make it to heaven somehow

Opening illustration: Video of ‘HELL’ from center of the earth. Introduction: Many pastors do shy away from the topic of everlasting damnation. "It’s out of fear they’ll not appear relevant. It’s pressure from the culture to not speak anything negative. I believe we’ve begun to deny hell. There’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Struggling To Be A People Of Integrity

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 12, 2009

Preached 1989. A people of integrity will not act as though God is automatically on their side, apart from righteousness; and they will pay attention to the way in which leadership is chosen.

On this Independence Day weekend we think about our nation’s history, our nation’s life. As we do so I want to assure you that we will be wrestling with the word of God, not just scattering political opinions over the landscape like birdseed. I am not here as political pundit, but as a pastor and ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 8:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Handling Temptation Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 16, 2009

One of the most difficult things for a Christian is to resist temptation. Satan brings temptations to us and tries to make it easy and logical for us to fulfill legitimate needs. Jesus shows us just how crafty he is, and how to resist.

We love the great times, don’t we? The times when we feel God’s Spirit flowing through us and when others recognize the Lord in us and rejoice. Wouldn’t it be great if every day was like the baptism of Jesus—with the Spirit of God descending like a dove on us and God telling us He is pleased with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-48

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Home, Sweet, Home

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Jan 2, 2011

When we welcome Jesus into our lives we find ourselves at home as children in his household. This is the fuller fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy.

If someone were to ask you where HOME is, what would you tell them? If you are not living there now, do you ever go back? Why or why not? [Carry on group discussion.] When I was 19 my parents moved to Tempe from San Jose -- where I had spent all but perhaps three months of my life. In my mind, to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:7-14

Denomination: *other

Practicing Solitude Series

Contributed by Chad Garrison on Mar 30, 2009

God has called us to be constantly fanning the spiritual flames inside us, and it is up to us to train ourselves to make the Spiritual Disciplines part of our routine, or lifestyle.

Spiritual Disciplines Practicing Solitude 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. God has called ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:25-26

Denomination: Foursquare

He Shall Feed His Flock

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 2, 2009

Enacted pulpit drama, with props and symbolic actions, as if the preacher were Ezekiel. Immorality and inattention will be judged by God, and until we repent of these we will not flourish.

[Heaving silently, face contorted, head shaking] Immorality and inattention. Immorality and inattention. These things are destroying our people. These things are going to bring God’s judgment on us. I just know it. Immorality and inattention. Selfishness and self-centeredness. Wrong hearts and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Excuses

Contributed by Kyle Gray on May 18, 2009

A message about the excuses we make to avoid God’s plan for our lives. A parallel is drawn to Moses accepting God’s calling on his life in Exodus 3-4.

If there’s any sermon topic we can relate to it’s this one! Everyone knows exactly what we’re dealing with here before I even say a word. We’re all experts on this one. We have all majored in this, we have Ph.D’s in the field of excuses! And I am as qualified as anyone to teach this ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What A Christian Has

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Jun 2, 2009

What a Christian Has

Part of a sermon series on the Book of James. What a Christian has: trials and tribulations, temptation, joy wisdom and freedom. A Recipe for Real Religion by Lewis Fawcett. Get religion like a Methodist, experience it like a Baptist; stick to it like a Lutheran; conciliate it like a ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1

Denomination: United Methodist

Ministry Is A Stretch! Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 3, 2009

Serving is about what is, not what should be. It involves giving and receiving, blooming where you are planted, and seeing both the individual trees and the forest. Ministry is a stretch!

Ministry is A Stretch! (Jeremiah 37-45) 1. Life has a way of socking us between the eyes. I remember my teen and young adult years and the feelings of broken relationships, disappointment, uncertainty about future direction, and all the stresses of that stage of life. 2. As I aged, I found out ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Waiting For The Promised Land

Contributed by David Hodgin on Jun 14, 2009

How God’s promised land applies to our lives, past, present and future. How God works with us even when we fail.

Waiting for the Promised Land One of the reoccurring themes in the Bible is that there is a place called the Promised Land. When we use the phrase Promised Land we are usually synonymous with the geographical place called Israel, but it can be so much more. A Land of Promise Gen. 2:8 Gen. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 47:13-21

Let Us Rise Up And Build

Contributed by Cleavon Matthews Sr. on Feb 5, 2010

Motivational sermon to move forward in the work of the church.

LET US RISE UP AND BUILD! Nehemiah 2:17-20 By Cleavon Matthews October 7, 2007 INTRODUCTION Nehemiah is motivated. Nehemiah is inspired. The urgency is because ‘the survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:17-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ