Sermons on Fixed Focus:

Growth Through Suffering

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 9, 2001

God often teaches us through suffering. Why? Because in good times, we have a tendency to forget God. But adversity helps focus us on what is most important.

You may be familiar with a story that’s been in the news recently [Bobby Knight allegedly choking one of his players]. My purpose this morning is not to take a position on whether or not he should be fired. What interests me is how some of the very people that this man supposedly abused are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Light In The Darkness

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2002

Peter stressed that we "pay attention" to the words of the prophets. But why? What did Peter think was so important about Scripture that we needed to give it such a focus of our attention?

OPEN: I have a quiz for you this morning. I’m going to give you 10 different quotes and then ask you if the phrase if from the Bible or not 1. "To the victor go the spoils." (False—This was written by William Learned Marcy in his Life of Jackson.) 2. "Can a leopard change his spots?" (True—See ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preparing For Patience Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 30, 2003

Since patience means “slow to get angry,” we’ll focus on some of those things that cause us to burn with anger so that we can learn the discipline of waiting

Preparing for Patience Rev. Brian Bill July 1, 2001 A truck driver sat down to eat at an all-night restaurant. The waitress had just served him his meal when three guys riding Harley’s showed up and swaggered into the diner. One grabbed the man’s hamburger; another took a fistful of his French ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:11

Denomination: Baptist

Look!

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jun 3, 2003

When we focus on Jesus, it changes how we see every other part of our lives - ourselves, our future, our past, our attitudes and our relationships.

June 1, 2003 Colossians 3:4-11 “Look!” INTRODUCTION Once we get our focus on Jesus and heavenly things – that’s the “Look up” part, it changes our perspective on every part of our lives. It’s time we took a second look at parts of our lives that we thought we had seen accurately ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Facing The Sorrow Of Death With Hope In The Ressurrection

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Dec 15, 2003

This Sermon was preached on November 8, 2003 in memory of Sis. Emily White, a valiant soldier of God. The objective is to keep the believer’s mind focus on the resurrection during times of death.

The Apostle Paul addresses the question concerning the state of those who die in the Lord. The Thessalonians knew that Jesus had risen and they believe that his return was imminent. But they were confused concerning those who were dead already. They thought that somehow their deceased love ones ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Miracle Greater Than The One On 34th Street Series

Contributed by Douglas Bryan on Dec 31, 2003

First in a series of sermons called "A Classic Christmas." Using a short clip from some Christmas Classics, these messages seek to help the hearer focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS: A GREATER MIRACLE THAN THE ONE ON 34TH STREET Matthew 1:18-25 INTRODUCTION: A. Over the past few years I have had a growing appreciation for some of the old classic movies 1. I suppose that it all began with April and Alan getting involved in the plays at school a. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Rx For Discouragement

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 1, 2001

Discouragement comes when we focus on the problem rather than God, on the wonders of God rather than the Word of God, on our inadequacies rather than God’s resources.

We find ourselves at an interesting time of history. Perhaps, more than any other time, we find ourselves polarized as a people. During the world wars the country seemed to come together in patriotic unity, but with the absence of war, and the influx of prosperity, we seemed to have lost ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-15

Denomination: Methodist

What Time Is It?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral message for Mr. Jeremiah Reese, a businessman to whom one of our members had witnessed in his closing weeks, and who requested that his funeral focus on Ecclesiastes 3.

The other night, as all too often happens, I fell asleep in front of the television set, watching who-knows-what and who-knows-why. It’s just one of the more disturbing realities about getting a little older – that if I sit still for more than about twenty minutes, I’ll get sleepy. I’ll try to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The End Times - Signs Or Salvation Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 22, 2005

Jesus gives His disciples some signs to look for in the end times - but not so they would focus on the signs, but so that they wouldn’t panic and would do the Master’s will instead

Today we’re going to study the end times. No, I’m not going to set a date for Jesus’ return. No, I’m not going to answer all questions about the Tribulation or the Rapture. But what we are going to see is what Jesus tells us to think about the last days. And it might actually surprise you. 1 As ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Part 2 - Dividing To Every Man Series

Contributed by Rev. Bruce A. Shields on Apr 8, 2005

Part 2 of our Spiritual Gifts Series will focus on every Christian having a Spiritual Gifts from God, and that gift was determined and given by God to fit the needs of the body of Christ.

Spiritual Gifts Series Part 2 – “Dividing to Every Man” Rev. Bruce A. Shields – First Baptist Church Tawas City Michigan www.TawasBaptist.org I would like to welcome you to the First Baptist Church of Tawas City, we are very glad you are here today. If you are visiting, please fill out a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:11

Denomination: Bible Church

The Anatomy Of A Worshipper Series

Contributed by Stuart Blount on Aug 10, 2005

Our focus in these messages is to explore the exercise of worship. A book on my shelves is entitled …..’Worship is a verb’….and its title summarizes my aims. Worship is not a passive thing, it is an activity.

Our focus in these messages is to explore the exercise of worship. A book on my shelves is entitled …..’Worship is a verb’….and its title summarizes my aims. Worship is not a passive thing, it is an activity. I want to use David as a guide to illustrate this truth. David was not only a musician ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:18-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Economics Of War

Contributed by Ron Hietsch on Oct 10, 2005

We are at war against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. To win a war it is necessary for all to sacrifice and focus effort and resources on winning the war.

Text 2 Corinthians 8: 1-5 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Standin' In The Need Of Grace

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 20, 2005

It’s easy for us to focus on ourselves and our alleged abilities. It’s far better to realize that we are constantly in need of the sustaining presence of God’s grace.

Passage: Judges 6:25-32 Intro: There is an old spiritual that we all know. Very simple. 1. “It’s me, it’s me oh Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer” 2. this is not a song celebrating selfishness, but the recognition of need 3. its amazing how easily pride worms into our hearts, how we begin ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:25-32

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Been There, Done That, Got The T-Shirt

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 9, 2001

This sermon was done while peeling off T-shirts, one by one. The focus is that the presence of the Lord in our lives, as an active participant, drives out cynicism and preserves our joy.

I wish I had bought stock in the T-shirt industry. Of the making of souvenir T-shirts there is no end. People are using T-shirts to send all sorts of messages. Some T-shirts advertise products. Some T-shirts identify the work places. Some focus on the club memberships. And then some T-shirts ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

There Is No Other Besides Him

Contributed by Charles Scott on Nov 20, 2006

In this world that offers so many choices, it is difficult to focus on the one ultimate in life, our God, beside whom there is no other; loving God first is our life, our duty.

(Proper 26B) There is no other besides him Devotion to the only One Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Moses said to the people, “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Anglican