Sermons on Focus On Christ:

Psalm 32 - Acknowledging Our Sin Is To Be Our Regular Practice

Contributed by Neil Olcott on Jul 29, 2023

Have you ever felt that your relationship with God has been, not just stagnant, but wooden and hollow, with no life, no relationship, no joy, no vibrancy or flourishing? Like it is forced and faked and empty?

This morning we are looking at Psalm 32 and we find that it is written by King David. It’s a psalm paired with Psalm 51. They’re bound together. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love.” And they’re bound together because the context of the psalm is 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Woman Of Endor And Familiar Spirits

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on May 23, 2023

This message takes a somewhat detailed look at First Samuel 28, the record of King Saul's interaction with the woman who has a familiar spirit.

In 1978 or 1979, I was told about family members driving to Nashville – I’m from Tennessee – to see a lady because there were things going on in their lives that they didn’t understand. They had been praying but it seemed to them that God was silent. So they went to see this lady, who shared some ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Leviticus 20:27, Deuteronomy 18:9-12, 1 Samuel 28:1-20, Ecclesiastes 9:4-6, Job 7:9-10, 1 Samuel 16:1-14, 1 Chronicles 10:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pride Of Babylon Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Mar 9, 2022

Pride and humility sit opposed to one another as if they were sitting on a see-saw on a playground. And many of us see-saw between pride and humility for much of our lives. The Bible’s message is consistent: beware of the spiritual cancer called pride.

While not everyone will immediately recognize the name Chan Gailey, Gailey was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the late 1990s. He had also been the coach at Alabama’s Troy State University. His Troy State team was gearing up to lead his team to play for the Division II National ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Who Gets To Be God's Houseguest? (Psalm 15:1-5) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jul 8, 2022

What types of behavior is God looking for from his people? With what type of people is God pleased?

Today we continue our sporadic study of the psalms by working through Psalm 15. Let's start by reading verse 1: (15:1) A psalm of/for David. Yahweh, who shall live as a guest in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy mountain? The psalmist begins by asking God two related questions. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 15:1-5

A Prayer From The Deep Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 29, 2020

But God had other plans. He appointed a big fish to swallow Jonah and he spent three days and three nights in the most interesting air B and B ever!

A Pray from the Deep ( Jonah 2) Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 9-15-19 Save Me! When my boys were younger, we would go to CAPS pool in Chatsworth in the summer. We got to know the manager and one day she asked me to help with one of the life guard drills. All I had to do ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Five Woes Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 29, 2020

There are two kinds of people. There are the “puffed up,” the arrogant ones that feel like they don’t like they need God. They feel no need to submit to Him or obey Him. Then there are a the righteous. This righteousness is not in themselves.

The Five Woes Habakkuk 2:5-20 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams First Baptist Church Chenoa 5-26-19 Review We have been making our way through the little Old Testament book of Habakkuk and God has been speaking to us through this prophet’s questions and cries. Let me remind you that the name ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:5-20

Denomination: Baptist

A Lying Tongue

Contributed by James Dina on Jul 29, 2020

A lie is something false said with the intention to deceive. When we lie, we are speaking Satan’s native language. It’s music to his ears. Speak the truth in Love. Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

A LYING TONGUE “The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19) The tongue is one of the smallest organs of the body; a world of evil among the parts of the body, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:19, Proverbs 12:22, Psalm 34:12-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

More Than A Pretty Face: Seeing Character In My Future Mate Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

External beauty, attractiveness are always temporary. But internal beauty can get stronger and stronger not only in all of this life but throughout all of eternity.

Many of you know of Benjamin Franklin, one of the fathers of our country, was also the ambassador to France. And while he was in France, he was a member of a literary society. So Ben Franklin, without letting this agnostic literary society know where he had gotten the story, shared with them the ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 25:25

Denomination: Baptist

The Challenge Of Fully Trusting God's Word Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

What makes Abraham so great? Abraham didn’t have any followers or disciples and he didn't write any books. He wasn’t a great teacher, politician, or a great warrior. In fact, the only real claim to fame Abraham really has is this: God chose him and made some very special promises to him.

Today, we continue a series dedicated to the life of Abraham, the father of the faith, the Patriarch who lived 4,000 years ago (Romans 4:11b). Abraham is venerated among Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Yes, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam trace their roots back to this one man. Just how ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Ahab And Jezebel Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Oct 4, 2022

King Ahab is arguably the evilest king of the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel. He was the first Israelite king to marry a heathen (non-Israel) woman, the beautiful but devilish Jezebel. Together they became one of the most sinful couples in Biblical history.

Ahab and Jezebel According to the Hebrew Bible, Ahab was the seventh king of Israel, the son and successor of King Omri, and the husband of Jezebel of Sidon. The Hebrew Bible presents Ahab as a wicked king. Died 852 BC · Ramoth-Gilead, Syria Father Omri Reign 871 – 852 BC Burial Samaria, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 16:30

Denomination: Baptist

Like An Ox To The Slaughter Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Oct 23, 2022

Wouldn't be nice if the choice we have to make in life where black and white, simple and clear cut ... but they aren't. In Proverbs 7, Solomon uses a 'spicy' way to discussing how Sin can be right up in our face and yet we can't see it ... until it's too late.

Last week we looked at Proverbs 9 in which Solomon contrasts Lady Wisdom with Lady Folly. Solomon attempts to make the choice between Wisdom and Folly as clear and as obvious as possible in the hopes of helping us to make the right choice. Would that it were that simple, amen, as making such an ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 7:1-17, Exodus 26:31, Exodus 30:23-25, Exodus 30:31-33, 1 Kings 11:4-6, 1 Kings 11:11-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Cornerstone Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Apr 3, 2022

Placing the stone in your hand at the foot of the cross means that you are willing to no longer see yourself or the world as the guiding force at the center of your life and remind you that Jesus is the Cornerstone that guides our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions.

Cornerstone. The “cornerstone” is the first stone that is set when you start building with stone or brick. It’s the most important part of the building because the position of all the other stones or bricks are determined by the cornerstone. [Hold up piece of paper or bulletin.] Imagine that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:1-11, Jeremiah 7:25-26, Psalm 118:23

Denomination: United Methodist

Equal Justice For All Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 17, 2023

To find true justice in this world, look to God beyond our legal system and beyond your own labor.

A few years ago, 6-year-old Robbie Richardson saw his dad drive through a red light on their way home in Quincy, Massachusetts. The boy warned his dad that he was going to report what he did to police. The dad, Michael Richardson, tried to explain to Robbie that the turn he made was a legal right ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22, Ecclesiastes 4:1-16, 1 Peter 2:23-25

Denomination: Evangelical Free

"if Not Now, When? If Not You, Who?"

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Mar 18, 2023

God calls us to action. We can trust that He is leading us and should not allow the paralysis of analysis to keep us from living!

"If Not Now, When? If Not You, Who?" I. INTRODUCTION: Today Alfred Nobel is known as the scientist who established the Nobel Peace Prize to recognize people's achievements in such fields as physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, and literature, or for someone's work toward ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:1-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Joseph Experience – Prison Life 03 Series

Contributed by Christi Campione on Jan 26, 2025

If you feel like you need to break out of a spiritual prison, this study will help you plan your prison break. Holy Spirit inspired prayers are included.

Download Sermon PDF for easy reading: https://myprayernotebook4life.wordpress.com/sermon-pdfs/ Password: SermonCentral Last week’s homework: Did anyone check for pride in their life? We won’t ask for testimonies. Who memorized scriptures? James 4:6 NKJV or 1 Peter 5:5 NKJV … “God ...read more