Sermons on Expectation Vs Reality:

"The Prophet Meets The Messiah”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Jan 6, 2022

When Joshua had the priest step into the Jordan River, they knew God was present, His promise. becoming reality. A new future, past gone but not forgotten. At the River Jordan, Jesus brings a new beginning. (Quotes from Leonard Sweet)

In Jesus Holy Name January 9, 2022 Luke 3:16,21-22 “The Prophet Meets the Messiah” “The Mystery of God” said Isaiah, “is a bittersweet mystery.” It is a mystery for all kinds of people. Those who are bitter against God, or so,for what they consider His lack of concern, and a mystery for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:19-21, Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Lutheran

But They Could Not...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2018

Despite the repeated efforts of mankind to duplicate the work of the Lord, His work is unique and man is unable to do what He does. Eventually, those who imagine they can supplant God crash up against reality, and they are revealed to be frauds.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.”’ And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Real Men Do Cry

Contributed by Paul Green on Mar 13, 2022

The Apostle Paul is renowned for being a woman-hating, doctrine-making, emotionless, rock hard, ice cold; Gospel preaching machine, but in reality he was a man who was never very far away from a good cry for the sake of the Gospel.

In our reading this morning the Apostle Paul is writing to the church he had planted in Philippi and he says, ‘Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 6:6, Psalm 56:8, John 11:35, Luke 19:41-44, Hebrews 5:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Way Back Into Love

Contributed by Je Layugan on Feb 15, 2021

Relationship can be very complicated. Family members hate each other, siblings rival, friends unfriend each other, lovers quarrel. Christians are not exempted of these realities.  In any relationships, the key is to find your way back into love.

# LOVE IS A PRIORITY, NOT AN ACCESSORY 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1 If I speak (our words) in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers (when you operate in what God has given you), and understand all mysteries and all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Colossians 3:14, Genesis 29:20, John 21:15-17, 1 John 4:16, Hosea 3:1, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 13:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 23, 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

Some Visible Results Of Faith Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 7, 2022

When we step out by faith in God, led by the Spirit of God, grounded in the Word of God, we see visible answers to our faith. These answers act as verification for our faith in the unseen spiritual realities and encourage its growth.

HEBREWS 11:28-31 SOME VISIBLE RESULTS OF FAITH [Colossians 1:19; 2:9-10] We have been learning how to leave a legacy through faith lessons from God’s heroes. These men and women became more than they could have imagined because their faith attached them to God. God therefore built His enabling ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:28-31

Denomination: Baptist

Onlookers And The Onlooked Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 10, 2017

The abundance of religious art we see may remind us of the cross, but it can also dull us to the reality that the people involved were real people, not figments of creativity. Let’s take a look at some of those real people.

PURSUING THE MARK Philippians 3:4-14 The starter’s line for this passage is the Apostle Paul’s polemic against false teachers, whose confidence lies in the flesh (Philippians 3:2-4). “The flesh” here represents self-help religion, which stands contrary to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-47

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Mountain Top Glory & The Descent Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 23, 2015

It’s not by chance that Jesus takes his inner circle up a mountain to witness a most significant moment in their apprenticeship. There they see a manifestation of the glory of God in Jesus.On returning they're reminded of the reality of life in this world

Mountains play a large part in the history of Israel. It was on a mountain that Abraham proved his faith in God in preparing to offer his son Isaac to God as a sacrifice. It was on a mountain top that God showed Abraham all the land of Canaan and promised him all he could see in every direction. It ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-29

Denomination: Anglican

How Shall We Live With The Blues

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Apr 15, 2024

Psalm 4 confronts the reality of existential weariness and challenges within the church and leadership, urging a return to the Blues sensibility that acknowledges suffering and seeks faith, peace, and hope in God's promises amid life's storms.

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B How Shall We Live With The Blues Easter is such a joyous, colorful, and vibrant celebration! Now in Eastertide, this second Sunday after Easter this third Sunday of Eastertide, Christ is still risen! The Creation is still waking up! This Sunday provides us with ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Rebekah – Woman Of Faith

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 14, 2021

Rebekah was a woman who walked with God and her life was guided by the Holy Spirit. This story mirrors the reality of the Holy Spirit being dispatched to go and find a chaste Bride and bring her to Christ. In a way, it’s a love story!

REBEKAH – WOMAN OF FAITH GEN. 24 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: GENDER CONFUSION, THE TEXAS WAY 1. Outside the ladies and men’s rooms of a Texas steak house, I found a confused and anxious young woman who sighed with relief when she saw me. 2. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here,” she said. “I was afraid ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:1-58

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Enduring Temptation And Overcoming Sin

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on May 17, 2018

Temptation is the enticement of our natural, God-given desires to go beyond God-given bounds. We can blame our failure to resist temptation on others, Satan, or God Himself, but in reality, we are the ones who choose to indulge.

ENDURING TEMPTATION AND OVERCOMING SIN Study Text: James 1: 12 – 16 Introduction: - One of the greatest challenges of living the Christian life is dealing with temptations. This is especially true for new Christians: For it can be frustrating to know that your sins have been forgiven, only to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Must I Do To Inherit Eternal Life? Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Feb 28, 2020

This month we are going to look at a series of questions that are asked in the texts as we make our way to the cross. In each of these questions is an element of faith - and a reality-check about our individual faith that should cause us to question, think, and decide.

The “I” Test: What Must I Do To Inherit Eternal Life? Mark 10:17-27 Introduction This month we are going to look at a series of questions that are asked in the texts as we make our way to the cross. In each of these questions is an element of faith - and a reality-check about our individual faith ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Back In The Fold Series

Contributed by Kevin Broyhill on Oct 2, 2024

Christians can find themselves drifting farther from the Lord. Psalm 23 gives us a vivid image of this reality. But here’s the good news: no matter how far we stray, our Shepherd is always there to restore us.

Back In The Fold! Psalm 23:3a Introduction: Illust: Two students working for the summer got a job with the Public Works Department. They were given the job of painting the center lines of a rural road. The supervisor told them that they were on probation and that they must stay above the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:3

Denomination: Baptist

Just Remember Who The Star Of The Show Is…..it’s You

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jan 31, 2013

Just how does God expect us Christians to live in such a dark and evil time that we live? Paul says in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Everything in prayer….I believe thankfulness motivates prayer and prayer in turn motivates than

Just remember who the star of the show is…..it’s You Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

One Way We Accidentally Trip Up New Believers Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 14, 2018

The Christian life is challenging and one way we trip up new believers is by giving them false expectations about what the journey will be like. This passage details the difficulties Paul encountered and serves as a good summary of the struggles any believer may encounter.

HOW WOULD THEIR MINISTRY BE DISCREDITED? If their children in the faith didn’t continue the race. - 2 Corinthians 6:3b – “. . . so that our ministry will not be discredited.” - Paul talks elsewhere about his children in the faith being his joy. And certainly they were. Here we see another truth ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Denomination: Baptist