Sermons on Fact Not Fiction:

"I Know What You Are Going Through…"

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 22, 2018

Too easily, we try to comfort people in sorrow and pain, saying that we know what they are going through. The fact is that mostly we don't. But Jesus knows what we are going through, because he has been there. What does that imply for us?

[Sermon preached on 18 February 2018, 1st Sunday in Lent / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] I was still a student when we gathered with a group of theological students for a training seminar on pastoral counseling. One of the members shared some of her childhood experiences that had recently come to the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:17-18, Mark 1:12-13

Denomination: Lutheran

"Can I Really Believe The Bible?" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on May 31, 2018

There are also millions who still ask the question … can I really believe the Bible? How can I know that it is actually true and based on fact? How do I know that it is actually God’s word? How do I know that God is actually the author?

“Can I really believe the Bible?” 2nd Peter 1:20-21 and 2nd Timothy 3:14-17 The slide you see here is the Museum of the Bible. It is located in Washington D.C. Let me give you a few quick facts about it …. • The total square footage is 430,000 • It is 8 stories high • It cost over 500 million ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Jun 26, 2015

AS WE COME TO THE LAST OF OUR SERIES ON FAITH, WE ARE LEFT WITH, “FAITH”. IN OUR PASSAGE JESUS USES A VIVID ILLUSTRATION TO SPEAK ABOUT FAITH. WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT IS NOT, AND WHAT IT SHOULD BE. IN FACT SCRIPTURES USES THE ILLUSTRATION OF TREES, GARDENI

FAITH AND THE FIG TREE Matthew 21:18-21 Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. 19  Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:18-21

Denomination: Baptist

The King Chooses A Queen

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 25, 2022

Esther is an illustration of God's care and direction for our lives. In order to effectively serve God, we must have faith that God is in control, working through both good and bad times, despite the fact that we may question certain aspects of our lives.

Have you been chosen? Esther is an illustration of God's care and direction for our lives. In order to effectively serve God, we must have faith that God is in control, working through both good and bad times, despite the fact that we may question certain aspects of our lives. Persian rulers ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Let's Go To Bethlehem

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 19, 2021

There are “Bethlehems” in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia, and even Texas. In fact, I located twenty-eight towns named Bethlehem around the globe and in the United States. They have streets named Manger Avenue and Shepherd Street. But Bethlehem hasn’t always been so prominent …

Thank you for being a part of one of three Christmas Eve services tonight. If we could travel anywhere in the world tonight to celebrate Christmas Eve, where would you want to go? Many of us might choose the house we grew up in celebrating many wonderful Christmas family celebrations. Others may ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Close The Gaps - Circle The Wagons

Contributed by Val Black on Oct 21, 2019

God's work never goes forward without opposition from the enemy. In fact, opposition is almost always caused by success and not failure. In building the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah faced much opposition but he knew what to do and now we can know also.

Nehemiah 4:7-23 (NLT) “But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8  They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:7-23

Denomination: Charismatic

Truth - A Bargain At Twice The Price Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 14, 2023

Proverbs 23 says we should "buy truth." But you'd think "truth" was highly valued enough in society that you wouldn't have to be told to pay for it. Why would God advise us buy it?

(I spent a couple years as a student at Purdue University, and this is one of the jokes I heard there) There were a couple of students - one from IU and one from Notre Dame - standing beside a flagpole discussing something. About that time, a student from Purdue walked over and asked “What ya ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dealing With Doubt

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

When it comes to Chris-tian truth, God doesn't want us to be skeptics, but I don't think He wants us to be gullible either. In fact, our faith can be strengthened when we ask tough questions and even when we struggle with doubts.

Some people are natural skeptics. My Grandfather was one. When man first landed on the moon in July of 1969 and the TV pictures came back from the lunar surface, my Grandpa thought it was all being faked. He figured those pictures were coming from a desert somewhere in Arizona. Sometimes he was a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

We Are Fully Forgiven

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Jun 10, 2003

In most cases we do not understand what that means or do not accept the fact that God loves us that much. Our minds cannot comprehend unconditional love. We cannot understand how or why God could possibly love us that much that we could be fully forgive

WE ARE FULLY FORGIVEN Last week in our bible study we discussed being fully forgiven. In most cases we do not understand what that means or do not accept the fact that God loves us that much. Our minds cannot comprehend unconditional love. We cannot understand how or why God ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

When Seats Become Set-Ups

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Feb 6, 2003

IT IS A fact THAT You have been SET UP for FAILURE, FRUSTRATION and the FORFEITURE of all that which you have FORCLOSED! In practice, your FAITH has FAILED to FUNCTION in the FACE of SET UPS. YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN SEATS BECOME SET UPS.

Perhaps you are wondering, ’Why it is that your Service always seems to SET YOU UP?’ I don’t know, but I’m Speculating. I’m not sure, but its possible that you might be puzzled as to Why your SERVICE ultimately SET YOU UP for FAILURE? I can’t be absolutely certain, I have a sneaking suspicion ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 20:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

When Water Thirsts

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 10, 2003

Now I acknowledge the fact that in the natural order it sounds foolish, even funny to talk about Water being Thirsty! Who ever heard of water getting dry and needing a drink? What could quench the thirst of water? If water got thirsty, what would it ask f

Holy Father, I ask that You order my steps in Your Word; that you temper my temperament as I teach the text; that You pace my passion as I pull and promote proven principles from this powerful passage; and that You allow my proclamation to be powered by purpose. I offer this petition in the ...read more

Scripture: John 19:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Immeasurable Difference Between Our 'deservings' And Our 'receivings' Series

Contributed by Peter Bines on Sep 10, 2005

What is written in big letters all over the book of Jonah is God’s great grace and patience; His amazing mercy and kindness. How little we deserve it; in fact we don’t deserve it at all. As Richard Baxter put it: “What an astonishing thought it will be to

JONAH CHAPTER THREE INTRODUCTION During the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay, the work fell badly behind schedule because a number of workers had accidentally fallen from the scaffold to their deaths. The engineers and administrators couldn’t come up with a solution ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"What Is Prayer?” Series

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Apr 3, 2005

Jesus actually had very much to say about prayer. After all, He spent a great deal of time in prayer. In fact, Jesus refers to prayer in His teachings 42 times, and the gospels record Him personally praying 28 times. So, what is prayer exactly?

Jesus and Prayer – Part 1 “What Is Prayer?” Matthew 6:5-15 Jesus actually had very much to say about prayer. After all, He spent a great deal of time in prayer. In fact, Jesus refers to prayer in His teachings 42 times, and the gospels record Him personally praying 28 times. Several times, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 5:6-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preparing For A Miracle Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Mar 20, 2011

We will in our life face circumstances where we need the Lord to work powerfully. In fact, He often leads us to situations where we will only get through with His work in and through us. What does He want us to do in those situations? Are there things

Preparing for a Miracle Mark 6:35-44 Admit your need Assess your resources Assign your resources to God Anticipate God’s multiplication Intro Good morning. Slide I am excited today. We are beginning our “Paving the Way” series and focus which will be a time that I believe is going to be ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:35-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Consider Your Promise Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 15, 2010

When you’re knee-deep into a project, you can tell how well things are going and they weren’t going well for the people in today’s passage. God promised the people a fresh start, but that didn’t change the fact that what they were called to do was impossi

Have you ever faced something that looked impossible? Maybe you were diagnosed with something that seems impossible to overcome. Maybe you’re facing a family crisis and you can’t see the way out. Maybe you’re looking at a mountain of debt that is about to come crashing down on you. Whatever it ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:20-23

Denomination: Baptist