Sermons on First In The Kingdom:

Diving For Pearls

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Jul 25, 2011

Understanding what it means for us when Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to fine pearls

INTRO What lady doesn’t like pearls? I know mine does. A number of years ago, when Hallie was just a little tike, a Chinese man we knew gave Danielle a string of pearls as a gift. Okay — not what you’re thinking. We were considering bringing this man into our (former) ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:45-46

Denomination: Lutheran

The Humble Birth Of The Savior Series

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on Nov 30, 2015

Great things come from small beginnings. This is what we can learn on that first Christmas when Christ was born of humble beginnings and rose to be King of Israel.

THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR SCRIPTURE READING: Micah 5:2 (NIV) "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." INTRODUCTION; Our sermon series on the Book ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2

Denomination: Nazarene

Marriage And The Jesus Follower - Choosing Faithfulness Over Happiness Series

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on Jul 17, 2013

The reality is that every follower of Jesus has a mission. I hope and pray you are seeking faithfulness over happiness. I pray you know that the power of what you seek is found in the person of the Resurrected Jesus.

Today is Mother’s Day. On this day we honor the women among us who have or are raising children. And this is a worthy thing. Mom’s deserve our respect, attention and honor. But I would like to take a look at something Jesus said, that will broaden your perspective on this day, or at ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stethoscope

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Mar 16, 2009

What do you hear when you listen to young heart? Whatever is within the heart comes out through the words we say and the music we play!

Stethoscope Luke 17:20-21 What do you sound like on the inside? The sounds of the heart tell the story of the life. The following are Real Songs: • “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?” • “Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through The Goalposts Of Life” • “Her Teeth Were Stained, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:20-21

Denomination: Church Of God

Sovereign Sacrifice: Foreknown, Foretold, For Faith

Contributed by John Piper on Oct 30, 2009

A message on the sovereignty of God

So when [Jesus] had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash ...read more

Scripture: John 10:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Two Thousand Years Of Patience

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 25, 2010

Lent, 1987: We are impatient for God to do something, but do not notice that already He is bringing aspects of the Kingdom, slowly but surely. Have faith and wait to see what He is certain to do.

When I was a boy of about eight or ten years old, I undertook a brief experiment in gardening. I was told that a particular piece of ground in our back yard was mine to use, and I was given some packages of seeds and a few instructions and set to work. Well, that morning I cleared that plot of ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of The Talents Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 10, 2009

Often used as the basis for teaching stewardship principles (tithing, time, etc.), perhaps this parable is meant by Jesus to teach stewardship of something a little more important?

The Parable of Jesus The Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30 August 30, 2009 This week is the parable of the talents. We’ll be looking at Matthew’s parable of the talents specifically. Luke has a very similar version. However, the details have been changed (such as talents become minas) and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 25:14-25

Denomination: Church Of God

B(Irth) - C(Hoice) - D(Eath) (Seventeenth Sunday In Ordinary Time)

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Jul 14, 2020

We have to make choices in our lives to make our life journey more fruitful and meaningful.

Reflection B(irth) - C(hoice) - D(eath) Matthew 13:44-52, 1 Kings 3:5-9, 1 Kings 3:10-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 3:16, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:33. Dear sisters and brothers, We all know the English alphabets A to Z. Do you know what comes between B & D? It is C. Yes, we know that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-52, 1 Kings 3:5-9, 1 Kings 3:10-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 3:16, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

They Should Have Known Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Apr 11, 2012

A study of the Gospel of Matthew 4: 12 – 17

Matthew 4: 12 – 17 They Should Have Known 12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

You Have Done A Foolish Thing - 1 Samuel 11-13 Series

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 26, 2023

After being somewhat reluctantly anointed king of Israel, Saul faces his first two tests. How the new king handles these two encounters will set the tone for the rest of his reign.

The Crown – Season One – Episode 3 You have done a foolish thing We left chapter 10 a little confused. Saul seems to lack initiative. He doesn’t exhibit the skills associated with leadership. In some ways there is not a lot of hope for his reign. Yet, Samuel says some very encouraging things about ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Show Love, Not Favoritism (James 2:1-13) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 27, 2022

Favoritism is a tricky thing. But we need to copy God's example, in honoring the poor. Also, my first crack at unpacking "kingdom" in light of Scot McKnight's book Kingdom Conspiracy.

Let's start today by reading James 2:1-4: (1) My brothers, don't, with partiality, hold the faith of our glorious Lord, Jesus Christ. ["w/partiality" =focused] (2) For suppose someone should enter your assembly with a gold ring on his finger, with fine clothing. Now, also a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

The New Birth

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Mar 21, 2011

This message attempts to explain the New Birth.

Text: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Does it seem strange to you that Jesus would say, “…unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”? What does Jesus mean by “born ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Christian Church

Perspective

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Sep 28, 2010

We must learn to see things as God sees them.

Intro: How we see things in our lives and in our worlds is a lot more powerful and has a lot more impact on us than we might imagine. For example, if we see the world as existing to bring us pleasure and happiness, then when it doesn’t we get angry or frustrated or confused: “why is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

From Zero To Hero Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on May 3, 2009

Ruth- The personification of getting to the top by fighting your way to the bottom.

“Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.” These are the last words of Ruth in the entire book of Ruth. These are the words that define this woman. Ruth is a model of selfless concern for others. Ruth is the poster child of Jesus’ teaching: The greatest in the kingdom is the servant of ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Way Of Meeting My Needs Series

Contributed by Randy Hamel on Oct 6, 2008

Sermon looks at the topic of tithing and how God promises blessings in our lives when we put his Kingdom work first

GOD’S WAY OF MEETING MY NEEDS 50 Days of Faith Part 5 – 2nd Cor. 9:6-15 Acknowledgement - Rick Warren For the past four weeks we’ve been in our series “50 Days of Faith.” I’m real excited about what God is doing here at Calvary (ie series, youth, studies). Throughout this series we’ve been ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-13