Sermons on First Things:

Maintaining Readiness

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Nov 26, 2019

Jesus shares illustrations to show that his return will be sudden and unexpected. His call on us is to be ready at any moment. The First Sunday of Advent reminds us that Jesus came, and Jesus is coming again!

Matthew 24:36-44 Maintaining Readiness The military has a readiness system of green, amber and red, to illustrate threat levels we might face at any given time. When you go on base or on post, you’ll see a Force Protection Condition, or FPCON, ranging from normal to delta. Likewise, the president ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44, Acts 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

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

"Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Sep 5, 2005

A ’sermonette’ if you will, in response to Katrina

When tragedy strikes, when chaos reins, when calamity turns lives upside down, people ask questions. In their anger and their grief some of the most common questions are about God, even from people who otherwise ignore or even claim to disbelieve in Him. “Why does God let bad things happen?” ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:15-19

Denomination: Orthodox

When Things Don't Go Your Way

Contributed by Sang Kwon on May 12, 2002

How to overcome our suffering?

Introduction: Last June, one of my students named Steve applied for university. As July came closer and closer, all of Steve’s friends began to get their college and university acceptances except for Steve. He got rejected at every school he had applied to and now; he is having very hard time ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

The Best Is Yet To Come

Contributed by Frederic Whittier on Oct 31, 2006

This sermon looks at Jesus’ first miracle to show us that better things lie ahead of those who believe in Jesus.

The Best Is Yet To Come John 2:1-11 Life can throw some interesting curve balls our way, can’t it? I truly believe there is not one person here who has never had a “Oh my land, I just want to die!” moment. They can come at us at any time, even when we least expect it. This past Monday, ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Nazarene

01 - Identity Series

Contributed by Michael Collins on Jun 16, 2021

This is the first sermon in the series called Perspectives, where we look at a few important things in life from a Christian perspective.

PERSPECTIVES # 1 – IDENTITY Hello and welcome to the 1st of a series of talks on ‘Perspectives.’ If you’re reading this message with someone, turn to them and say, “Hi Who are you?” (If you’re reading it alone, of course, just read). You know we never greet somebody with the words “Hi, Who are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Romans 8:17, 1 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 5:13, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:5, John 1:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Parable Of The Workers In The Vineyard: The Ranking System Of The Kingdom Of God Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Sep 12, 2022

Today we’re in the vineyard. We’re in the grape fields. Very important in ancient times. Very important today, the wine and juice industry is huge. But we’re in the vineyard again. Last few weeks we’ve been in the vineyard.

Today we’re in the vineyard. We’re in the grape fields. Very important in ancient times. Very important today, the wine and juice industry is huge. But we’re in the vineyard again. Last few weeks we’ve been in the vineyard. Jesus as we know very often used common practices to explain deep spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Denomination: Salvation Army

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Mar 17, 2006

A look at several biblical reasons for Christian suffering.

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE? - Read 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 As we look at this passage, we wonder, "If God is in control, and He is; and if God is all powerful, and He is; why did He let all of this stuff happen to His man Paul? If God is in control, why do bad things happen to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Oct 3, 2001

Why do bad things happen to good people? Let’s look at Job to see if we can find the answer

INTRODUCTION  Open with the “A Hero’s Faithful Final Hour.” (www.crosswalk.com)  Why did this have to happen to all these good people?  I could sit up here today and read you story after story about the good people who died in 911 2001.  Many people are asking ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Five Things You Must Do To Be A Healthy Christian

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Mar 4, 2008

1. Worshipping God publicly and privately 2. Grow in knowledge of God 3. Fellowship with others 4. Share our faith with others 5. Use our gifts

“Five Things You Must Do to Be a Healthy Christian” March 9, 2008 Everybody seems to be on a health kick these days. Turn on just about any channel on TV and you will find someone selling something to make you healthy. It may be a juicer or Bow flex or pill – but everyone wants you to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Denomination: Holiness

Rev.# 75~21:1- 4 All Things Made New Series

Contributed by William D. Brown on Oct 29, 2010

Chapter 21 begins a new section of the Book of Revelation: all of the judgments, the deaths, heartaches and pains are finally gone for ever, its simple beyond our mental comprehensions of such harmony and perfect peace. In this chapter we see that the his

REV.# 75~21:1- 4 ALL THINGS MADE NEW 10-16-10 Lets not confuse the Millennium here on this earth as Christ is reigning from Jerusalem, as this earth as we’re used to will be completely renovated, lets not confuse it with the New Heaven and new earth. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Exchange: Trading Worry For Worship

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Sep 11, 2025

Exploring Jesus' timeless cure for anxiety, this sermon calls listeners to make the great exchange—trading the illogical, faithless burden of worry for a life of worship that seeks first the Kingdom of a Father who knows and provides for their every need.

Introduction: The Tyranny of "What If?" Good morning, beloved. There is a quiet tyranny that seeks to rule our hearts. It is not an invading army or a foreign power. It is a voice in our own minds, and its weapon is two simple words: "What if?" It is the tyrant that wakes you at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Baptist