Sermons on Facing Criticism:

God In Conversions And Conflicts Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 11, 2004

Look for God’s hand in all of life. We rejoice in his presence when souls are won to Christ. We can also rejoice in his presence when things look critical.

Acts 16 describes the conversions of Lydia and an unnamed Philippian Jailer. Some commentators also believe that the girl with the spirit of divination whom Paul exercised was converted. That may be possible, but we have no information to confirm or deny it. What the Holy Spirit did inspire to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:10-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Romans, Part 26 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Mar 24, 2011

The most critical point in Christian growth is understanding that we must have a total love for God, and from that love we would be obedient to do His work in every aspect of our lives.

Romans, Part 26 Romans 8:28-30 Introduction - Mission of our church: To connect people with Jesus Christ - How? By loving God and especially by loving our neighbor - The most critical point in Christian growth is understanding love for God; first! - If we have no love for Him, then there is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

12 Keys To Grow In Your Authority - Spiritual Warfare Part 3 Series

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on May 8, 2009

(PowerPoint Slides freely available by emailing Emile@Wolfaardt.com) We have been at war but not in a war. Understanding the critical fight we are engaged in, and the stakes we are fighting for.

Spiritual Warfare - Part 3 12 Keys to Growing in Spiritual Authority (A) Eph. 6:12 You and I are engaged in a multidimensional war that is being intensely, intentionally, intelligently and incessantly waged all around us in the invisible realm. I say multidimensional because it is being fought on ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12

Denomination: *other

Triumph And Tragedy Series

Contributed by Jon Rohr on Mar 18, 2008

Where do I fit in to the Triumph and tragedy of Passion week? Am I celebrating the presence of Jesus or critical of Him? Am I overwhelmed by Him, or contemptuous of those who follow Him?

Sermon: Triumph and Tragedy or Where Do I Fit? Series: Easter Season 2008 Text: John 12:1-11 March 16, 2008 AM John 12:1-11 (NIV) Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 "Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Movie Is Playing In Your Mind?

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Aug 15, 2017

What we see in our minds is critical to our ability to walk in this life as Jesus did when He was on earth. But far too many of us allow "movies" to play that should be deleted.

An article in a recent USA Today reported that in an online survey of 1000 adults, “three-quarters of Americans believe the country was better off in the ‘80s than now.” What is noteworthy about the poll is that some who answered in the affirmative weren’t even alive during the 1980s. Isn’t that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:28, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:5-15, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Mark 5:25-34, Leviticus 15:19-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Countercultural Jesus

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 8, 2023

Did Jesus seek to be culturally relevant or bring new faith to an old culture? Were there people who criticized and ridiculed Him? Let’s find out in Matthew 9:9-26.

Did Jesus seek to be culturally relevant or bring new faith to an old culture? Were there people who criticized and ridiculed Him? Let’s find out in Matthew 9:9-26. How did Jesus call some of His disciples? Is that a picture for anyone who chooses to follow Him? As Jesus passed on from there, He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-26

Denomination: Baptist

Our Identity In Christ

Contributed by Steven Devroy on Mar 26, 2024

Many Christians struggle knowing who they are in Christ. This is really a critical area of our lives. If we do not know who we are in Christ, we can be easily swayed one way or the other.

Opener: Good Morning Church! We are thrilled that you are here joining us this morning. This morning we are concluding our week of prayer and fasting and it has been a tremendous week of refreshment. This morning we are talking about our identity in Christ. If there is one area that I feel ...read more

Scripture: John 14:2, Ephesians 2:4-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Grumblers And The Scandal Of Grace

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Sep 19, 2020

In this text Jesus tells the parable (Laborers in the Vineyard) in which Jesus is saying to his critics: “Your idea of God is all wrong, this is what God is like: The kingdom of God is like a “good employer.”

In Jesus Holy Name September 20, 2020 Text: Matthew 20:1-2,15 Redeemer Grumblers & The Scandal of Grace John Reuman in his book “Jesus in the Church’s Gospel’s” writes; “Jesus….stressed the “grace of God”. Mercy, goodness and love for sinful humanity is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-2, Matthew 20:13-15

Denomination: Lutheran

How The Bible Came To Be - 2 Peter 1:20-21 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jan 20, 2026

What is our answer to critics who say the Old Testament only copied other literature? Or that the New Testament was written hundreds of years after the fact so the teachings of the original Apostles is lost?

For free audio or video download of this message, visit https://www.treasuringgod.com/sermons-by-scripture or my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson. What is our answer to critics who say the Old Testament only copied other literature? Or that the New Testament was written ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:20-21

An Introduction To The Book Of Zephaniah Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on May 6, 2024

Zephaniah presents a powerful message of judgment, repentance, and hope. His prophetic ministry occurred at a critical time in Judah's history, marked by rampant idolatry, social injustice, and moral decay.

An Introduction to the book of Zephaniah The book of Zephaniah, nestled within the Old Testament as one of the Minor Prophets, presents a powerful message of judgment, repentance, and hope. Zephaniah, the prophet, ministered during the reign of King Josiah in Judah around the late 7th century BC. ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17, Zephaniah 2:3, Zephaniah 1:7, Zephaniah 3:12-13, Zephaniah 2:4-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Be Supportive Of Other Churches Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 30, 2021

If we serve the Lord with the impure motive of personal gain, instead of with the intention of leading people to faith in Christ, then we can become self-focused, critical and judgmental of other believers and other churches.

The apostle Paul once admonished the Philippians, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). In ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-41

Denomination: Baptist

The Faith Of Thomas

Contributed by Byron Perrine on Jul 9, 2019

Thomas should not be condemned or even criticized for his insistence upon empirical evidence. Thomas provides an exemplary modal from which we can learn more about the nature of convincing faith.

(If you have found this sermon useful, please visit us at www.HeritageRestorationProject.org or www.ChristianWisdom.info.) When we think of the Apostle Thomas, we sometimes think of him in a somewhat negative light. The event involving Thomas in John 20:19-31 has given rise to the phrase, “Don’t be ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: United Methodist

There Are Two Certainties In Life; Taxes And Death. And I'm Not Here To Talk About Taxes

Contributed by Robert Irvine on Aug 16, 2024

Being diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer back in March (presently at Stage 3), really changed my outlook. It also brought me face to face with the fact that I am going to die at some point. Death isn’t now some concept that I could ignore, but a reality that I had to face.

Being diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer back in March (presently at Stage 3), really changed my outlook. I started to declare the Good News of Jesus Christ much more seriously. It also brought me face to face with the fact that I am going to die at some point. Death isn’t now ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:43

Denomination: Baptist

America Has Gone Too Far

Contributed by Cooper Abrams Iii on Sep 17, 2001

In the face of America’s current trend to deny God where can we find comfort.

America Has Gone Too Far! A nation of people that have no fear of God. Amos 7:1-13 Date: November 6, 1998 Intro: The elections of this past week have proven clearly that America has no fear of God. I rarely preach messages addressing current events or politics, but I feel compelled to ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Love, And We Are Not

Contributed by Randall Long on May 30, 2019

A lot of us go through life with a watered-down idea of what God's love is. We will look at two incidents from the Gospel of Luke in which someone met that love face to face to help us understand both His love and His holiness.

There is a saying that appears a few times in the Old Testament. Proverbs 9:10 puts it like this: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom". Other verses use slightly different wording, but they all declare the value of the "fear of the LORD". I was troubled by that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Luke 8:26-39, Proverbs 9:10

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance