Sermons on First Things First:

How To Influence Someone To Do The Right Thing

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jan 26, 2015

Paul was good at knowing how to talk to people. He was wise in how he chose his words. The letter he wrote to his friend Philemon is a great example of that. Let’s take a look at how Paul sought to influence his friend to do the right thing.

HOW TO INFLUENCE SOMEONE TO DO THE RIGHT THING INTRODUCTION: Book-“How to gain friends and influence people”. Paul was good at knowing how to talk to people. He was wise in how he chose his words. The book of Philemon is a great example of that. Paul writes a letter to his friend ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Honoring Marriage

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on May 15, 2011

A message that challenges the church to make a commitment to honorably stand up with courage, and defend traditional marriage as God first ordained.

INTRO What is sixty years worth? The last sixty years have paid tribute to the election of ten U.S. Presidents. Yuri Gagarin, sixty years ago, rocketed into history as the first human to travel beyond the clouds, and to orbit around the earth for nearly two hours. Sixty years is the span of my ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

The Matter Of Thomas

Contributed by Laren Whaley on Apr 17, 2023

This morning’s message brings us behind closed doors with the disciples in those bewildering first days after Resurrection.

The Matter of Thomas John 20:19 - 29 (NKJV) 19Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When He had said this, He ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-29, John 11:8, John 11:16, Psalm 139:6

Denomination: Church Of God

How Does God Know All Things? Series

Contributed by Keith Foskey on May 25, 2014

Orthodox Christians have always held that God has absolute and exhaustive knowledge of everything, including the future. But how is He certain about the future?

Sometimes, there are statements made in the Bible which are very meaningful, yet easy to overlook. I believe that this passage in the Sermon on the Mount is one such statement. Jesus is telling us something about the nature of God in this passage which is so sublime that it should cause our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Meditate Upon Things Worthy Of Virtue And Praise Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 17, 2020

In our study of Philippians thus far, Paul has told his Philippian friends that they should empty their minds of fear and anxiety and anything else that will detract from their pilgrimage of faith. Now he gives them a list of virtues they should think about and meditate on.

Date: 7/22/19 Lesson #32 Title: Meditate upon things worthy of virtue and praise • “Special Notes” and “Scripture” are shown as endnotes. • NIV Bible is used throughout unless noted otherwise. Scripture: (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV) 8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

10 Things God Does With Your Sins

Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 18, 2019

God laid our sins on Christ, hurled them into the sea, stomped them under His feet, threw them behind His back, blotted them out, refuses to remember them, takes them away as far as East from West, cleanses them, and nails them to the Cross.

10 THINGS GOD DOES WITH YOUR SINS INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Why the Preacher got Arrested 1. A man lost two buttons from his shirt and put them in his pants pocket. But the pocket had a hole, so the buttons fell into his shoe. Unfortunately, the shoe sole also had a hole, so he lost the buttons. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:13-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Four Loves

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Feb 11, 2024

Paul's teachings on Love in First Corinthians 13 can be made to sound petty when misunderstood. it is important first to realize Love has a number of different meanings, which is why we need to define all our terms and realize all Love is the same as other Love.

The Four Loves Good Morning. And as you might have seen by the bulletin cover, this morning we are looking at love and 1 Cor 13, the Love Chapter. And while this is a good reminder for Valentine’s Day, it’s not really about that. Some of you might know this, and I preached about it 3 years ago, ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Christ's Timing Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Dec 11, 2020

In today's lesson, we learn about Christ's timing for his first and second advents.

Scripture Today is the Third Sunday of Advent in 2020. “Advent” (from the Latin adventus) means “coming,” and it refers to the season immediately before Christmas. The “first advent” looks back to Christ’s first coming. The “second advent” looks forward to Christ’s second coming. We live ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:36

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jeremiah The Preacher

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Feb 19, 2012

Part of Jeremiah's First Sermon. (Powerpoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: • Picture 1: A plundered slave (vs 14-19). • Picture 2: A Stubborn Animal (vs 20). • Picture 3: A degenerate vine (vs 21). SERMON BODY: Ill: • If you want to embarrass a preacher: • Just ask him how the first sermon he ever preached ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:13-23

Denomination: Brethren

Things That Make You Say Hmmm…

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Jan 2, 2011

Paul spoke of a mystery in Ephesians 3:1-13. That mystery is...the Gentiles would share equally in God's provision for them in the future.

I’m not a big fan of talk shows. But years ago, there was a talk show host, I think it was Arsenio Hall who had a segment, about things that appeared mysterious. He called that segment, Things That Make You Say Hmmm… This story is one of those stories that make you say, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Goliath: He's Back!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

A first person monologue, done as King David, who wishes he could feel the rush of victory when he first slew Goliath; but he has learned that evil recurs, does not recognize God, is related to power. He needs a greater than David to come and deal with i

Ah, if only I could go back to those wonderful days! If only I could be a young man again and feel the rush of victory! But I cannot. I am old and tired, and I feel defeated. I have lost so much. My body is weary and my soul is drained. If only I could go back and feel victory ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 20:1-8, Psalm 51:2-12

Denomination: Baptist

One Goal: To Live Is Christ

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Nov 2, 2025

What is the one thing your heart desires? Paul gives us encouragement this morning not only to make sure that the "One thing" is Jesus, and the spreading of the Gospel, but also to make sure that we don't let the worries of the world pull us away from that one thing. 

Good Morning. Our epistle lesson today began with Paul’s word’s: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. When the Bible gives you a warning, it is there for a reason. Paul assumes his readers assume that they have ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14, Ephesians 5:15

Denomination: Anglican

Offering My Time Series

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 7, 2016

We do no one any service when we take them from their family or their spouse in order to serve the needs of the church instead of serving the needs of their family first.

Offering my time - Exodus 18:15-27 Did you know that in Arab countries they learn to tell time by measuring the length of their shadows. It proved to be a fairly accurate way to determine the hour of the day. The Bible tells us that our Heavenly Father has measured out our days in a more perfect ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Joseph: Hope For Troubled Times (4) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Oct 22, 2014

The last in a series on the life of Joseph, this three-point expository sermon reveals that Joseph is finally remembered, rewarded, and reconciled. Lots of application and illustrations.

Joseph: Hope for Troubled Times (4) Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 6/8/2014 ILL. A husband noticed that his wife was under a lot of pressure lately and she called him at work to tell him she was having a bad day, so he decided to do something he’d never done before. ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Making Hard Choices

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 1, 2009

Today’s world is filled with energy-saving devices that make life easier, but there is something to be said for embracing life’s challenges. The apostle Paul found serving Christ hard, but he didn’t see it as a cause of discouragement. The goal was worth

Opening illustration: On September 12th, 1962, President JF Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, TX, about the difficult challenges facing the nation. He also shared his passion for the US to place a man on the moon. In balancing the needs of his people with the desire to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational