Sermons on Fence Sitting:

Pontius Pilate: Stuck In People-Pleasing Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

Pilate was a classic people-pleaser, who found that his behavior produced popularity that masked contempt, pessimism, and powerlessness.

The story has it that during creation, as God was sitting up in heaven turning out all these creatures, some of the angels asked if they could help. It looked like fun, making plants and animals, birds and beasts. And so God, who had just finished fashioning something, said, "All right. Come ahead. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Religion Doesn't Work

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 3, 2009

The folly of false religions. Only fullness and freedom are found in Christ.

The setting is the front of a small church. The pastor says from the pulpit, ‘I’ve misplaced my sermon notes, so I’m just going to read from this devotional—if I can find it here. While I look, maybe the choir can lead us in a hymn’. He glances at the choir which has one person.   The choir ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hosea's Love - Betrayal And Judgement Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Nov 2, 2005

Hosea gives a picture not only of the way God hurts when his people are unfaithful, but about the real power of his love. Here is a love that expects a response of single-minded faithfulness, and that won’t rest until it gets it.

If you’re familiar with the story of Les Miserables, then you’ll know that the story begins with Jean Valjean, a convict on parole, coming to a town where the only person who’ll give him a room and a meal is the local bishop, Bp Myriel. The bishop welcomes him into his house, feeds him and gives ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Christ The Promise Of Glory Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 7, 2005

The gospel we have to share is a message of both warning and of great hope. It’s a message that proclaims Jesus Christ, the promise of Glory.

There’s a paradox here. The message we proclaim as Christians is a glorious message. It’s a message that shines like a bright light in the darkness. It’s a message that Paul describes in Romans 1 as the power of God for salvation. Yet the means by which this message is presented is so often ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Fellowship Series

Contributed by Tim Zukas on Apr 25, 2006

Building God’s Church through Fellowship(Bob Russell - When God Build’s a Church)

In honor of all those folks who say that they are closer to God on a gulf course than they are in a church, here is the 23rd Psalm for golfers. The Pro is my Shepherd, I shall not Slice. He maketh me to Drive Straight Down Green Fairways; He leadeth me Safely across Still Water-Hazards; He ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How God Sees Our Community

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Sep 2, 2007

As a church, the first step in developing a great connection with the community is to give serious thought toward our attitude to the community. Are we its judges, or our we the ones who bring blessing?

Sermon for CATM on September 2, 2007 - “How Does God See our Community?” Luke 13:34 Jesus said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lion, The Lamb And The Throne Room Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 19, 2016

Almost everyone has a picture in their minds of what Jesus looks like... but almost no one visualizes Him the way He's shown in Revelation 5. Why does God paint us a portrait of a wounded lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes?

A preacher was showing a child a painting of Jesus. Trying to explain that we didn’t really know what Jesus looked like he said: "It's not really Jesus. It’s just an artist's conception of him." The child looked long and hard at the picture and said; "Well, it sure looks like him," ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Your Plan - God's Plan Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

Think about your life for a moment. Have you missed an opportunity you regret? Do you think you are still on “Plan A” for your life? For many in the room with any years of experience, you feel like your closer to plan "ZZ" rather than plan "A."

[Scripture read before this sermon] 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:20-32

Denomination: Baptist

Beware Of The Bad Dogs

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 3, 2022

Anyone such as a ….Mail man, Insurance salesman, Paper boy, UPS Delivery person, Milk man…

knows when they pull up in front of a house and see a sign on the fence that says, “Beware of the bad dog”, that sign means “BEWARE OF THE BAD DOG!” The background for this Psalm is found in that passage of scripture known as 1 Samuel 19:8-17. There are many things about this passage that are ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Matter Of Motives

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 29, 2022

Have you ever heard anyone say a person, “LACKS MOTIVATION!”

Illus: On a national television program they had a power lifting competition. These BIG FELLOWS would walk up to a bar of weights that would take six or seven men in this congregation to pick up. One after the other they would walk up to the bar and powder their hands and would work at getting ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

Ten Broken Commandments

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 3, 2025

How many of the Ten Commandments have you broken in the past month?

Ten Broken Commandments “Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Going For The Gold

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jan 18, 2002

This sermon give 4 reasons why God forbids coveting and then gives examples of people who allowed coveting to control and destroy them.

Sept 24, 2000 Exodus 20:17 “Going for the Gold!” INTRODUCTION This week, I’ve had a little bit of time to watch some of the Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The series of events that I got to watch the most was the swimmers and their races. In each of the water events, there were ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:17

Denomination: Baptist

Peace Starts With Me Series

Contributed by Eric Snyder on Apr 4, 2002

Part 1 of a new series

Peace starts with me, Live @ Peace series Romans 12:18, Philippians 4:1-9 Eric A. Snyder, Minister, Farwell Church of Christ April 7, 2002 A Lawyer was duck hunting in Montana recently, when he attempted to cross a fence into a field to retrieve a duck he had shot. A farmer suddenly pulled up in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-18, Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pick Up The Oars!

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 5, 2003

This week we’re going to talk about the difference between how we want to be perceived as Christians, and how we should be perceived. Learn how we’re nothing special, but we’ve got an important job to do.

How do you like to be seen? What’s the image you like to portray to the outside world? Maybe for you its self confidence, or knowledgeable, or “too cool for school”. At a golf course, four men approached the sixteenth tee. The straight fairway ran along a road and bike path fenced off on the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Nesting In The Mustard Tree

Contributed by James May on Jan 5, 2005

What type of faith nest are you building in the Kingdom of God?

Nesting in the Mustard Tree by Pastor Jim May God, in His great love and infinite mercy to fallen man, has given us a mustard seed of faith that is planted in us by hearing the Word of God. That faith gives us the ability to please God and to believe that He is God, and in turn to worship Him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible