Sermons on First Steps:

The Divine Interplay Of Prayer In God's Unfolding Plan 1 Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on Feb 2, 2005

This is the first 1/2 of a two part sermon addressing the link between God’s sovereignty to act without us and his requirement that we pray so that he can act.

I think in the last year we’ve learned much about what it means to pray. True enough most of our prayers are for healing and comfort but we certainly have been learning to pray by practicing I think. But praying, by definition is speaking to God, worshiping God, Thanking God, or imploring God to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A New Beginning

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jun 24, 2004

This was written for the church I was an associate pastor in before we planted our new church. Because of devotion in service to the Lord, He gave them their own building, and this is the first sermon preached in that new building.

by Pastor Bruce Ball Senior Pastor, CrossWinds Bible Church (former Associate Pastor of Grace Christian Church) Please allow me to deviate a bit from my usual message topics. Today, I want to talk to you about this church, and what it has done, what it is because of that, and what it will be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: *other

Be Sad, Mad, Then Glad! How To Worship An Emotional God!

Contributed by Kelly Durant on Nov 1, 2014

God desires our sadness and soberness to enter into a relationship with Him, then we get angry at our our sin, just as He is angry against sin, and after cleansing ourselves, we can then become authentically happy in Him.

How to Worship Our Emotional God! Be Sad, Mad, then Glad! Worship God! We just got to visit out daughter and one thing very funny about her I that remember is that when she was little she was very emotional! Maybe something happened and she would cry big tears but then if I did few faces or ...read more

Scripture: James 4:6-10

Denomination: Salvation Army

What Is Your Calling? (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 10, 2016

Are you going to take the effort to listen to God? How has your faith panned out for God? Will you step out even when God tests your faith by making the most difficult sacrifices in your life? Do you obey God at every level?

Opening Illustration: Narrate the story of our call to the USA as missionaries. Introduction: The Lord's call for Abram to journey to the Promised Land is often equated with a call to missionary service. For the missionary, there is a sense where God has called them from the ease and security of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Bodly Go

Contributed by Richard Francis on Jun 23, 2007

To bodly go in Jesus name is our commission, we first must pray, know God is soverign and ask for his mighty hand to clear the path for us. Then nothing can stop us.

Are we there yet? Have you ever longed for something only for it to turn out to not really meeting your expectations? Have you ever wanted or recently perhaps got excited about something or maybe someone only for the reality to turn the expectations and excitement cold, disappointment again? Have ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Want Christmas To Be Over!

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Oct 28, 2005

Christmas can be difficult and sometimes you just can’t wait until it is over. This sermon looks at the first Christmas through the eyes of Joseph and what it must have been like for him.

Maybe you can relate to this. I got this story from a friend of mine, and it tells the story of how the tradition of putting the angel of top of the tree began. When four of Santa’s elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones, Santa was beginning ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Methodist

Resolutions That Last

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Mar 13, 2003

A sermon for making New Year’s Resolutions.

Resolutions that Last Philippians 3:7–14 INTRODUCTION Illustration Once a man moved into a retirement home to spend the rest of his life there. It wasn’t long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents. There was one lady he was especially attracted to and she was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Paradox Of Blessing Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

To be eligible for forgiveness we must first sin by disobeying God and, therefore, this is a blessing we are to avoid. It is a blessing to offer this forgiveness to the fallen believer, but it is not a blessing to have fallen and needing such forgiveness.

Doing your best could be the worst thing you could do. That sounds like a contradiction, but it can be explained so that it makes sense as a paradox. A paradox is a statement, which at first sight seems absurd, and contrary to common sense, but which can be explained so as to be well grounded ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Finding My Place In The Body Series

Contributed by Glenn Newton on Sep 11, 2005

A challenge to find and exercise the God given Spiritual gifts for the building up of the church.

Stewardship Series #1 - Finding My Place in the Body (spiritual gifts) Pastor Glenn Newton Sept. 11, 2005 1CO 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-6

Denomination: Nazarene

The Unruly Freedom Of The Word Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 11, 2014

God's plan is truly a surprise, but it is always directed toward our salvation and the spread of the Gospel.

Thursday of the 28th Week in Course 2014 Joy of the Gospel The Holy Father’s letter on the Joy of the Gospel tells us: “God’s word is unpredictable in its power. The Gospel speaks of a seed which, once sown, grows by itself, even as the farmer sleeps (Mk 4:26-29). The Church has ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:47-54

Denomination: Catholic

You Can See God Series

Contributed by Kranthi Kumar Medida on Dec 26, 2006

But now, because of Jesus, his heart is crying out loudly without ceasing, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty”. This was and is and will be the first encounter of any human being in this world with the true God of Holiness.

Scripture portion: Matthew 5:8- “BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART: FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD” Introduction: In the previous chapter, we have seen that mercy and holiness are the two qualities which prepare us for our ministry. We meditated deeply about being filled with mercy. We also learned that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Moving To The Head Of The Line Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 14, 2010

Jesus hated pride and used the Pharisees to highlight the evils of that sin. But why would God hate pride, and how would I know if I suffer from it?

Last Sunday we introduced the “Upside Down Teachings of Jesus”. The teaching of Jesus that just don’t make sense to most people. Today’s sermon will continue that theme by focusing on Jesus’ teaching: “the Last shall be First, and the First shall be Last”. OPEN: When my dad first married my mom, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Think I Might Need God In My Life: What Should I Do?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 26, 2021

So maybe some wonder: "I see your Christian life, the proofs of God's existence, and I've realized that there's something to all that. And I want to take the next step. What do I do?"

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me." -Proverb 8:17 So maybe some wonder: "I see your Christian life, the proofs of God's existence, and I've realized that there's something to all that. And I want to take the next step. What do I ...read more

Scripture: James 4:8, Proverbs 8:17, Lamentations 3:25, Jeremiah 29:13

Denomination: Salvation Army

A Big View Of God

Contributed by David Yarbrough on May 29, 2001

Don’t we have big problems, big worries, and big questions? Of course we do, and the only thing that can truly help us is a big view of God. This message challenges people to take a step closer to God and see God in everyday life.

“A Big View of God” Cheap Seats Luke 18:35-43 If you were going to a sporting event, or concert what we would be the best seats? If you were going to a basketball game it would be center court front row. If it were football it would be the 50-yard line, front row. If it were a concert it would be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:35-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moving Forward

Contributed by C.a. Mccracken on Apr 5, 2005

One man said this..."If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always be what we’ve always been." This message deals with taking the next step forward in pursuit of God’s plan for our lives.

Gen 26:12-13 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: If we look closely at our scripture we will notice that Isaac became great because of God’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 26:12-13

Denomination: Pentecostal