Sermons on Foolish Ideas:

Lesson 42: Preach Without Notes Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 26, 2018

How to preach extemporaneously, without notes or a manuscript.

Lesson Goal In this lesson I hope to teach you how to preach extemporaneously, without notes. Lesson Intro Reading through Acts 2 we get the idea that Peter preached off the cuff. Okay, it's time to crank the ratchet up yet another notch. You have seen me allude to this before, but now it's time ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Encounter Four. Two Thieves. (Includes Discussion Questions At The End)

Contributed by Paul Hardy on May 3, 2022

Jesus tells us exactly what we must do to go to heaven. This encounter between Jesus and the two thieves proves God has a PLAN for your salvation!

How will I INTRODUCE the message? A REAL FAKE As his identity was unknown for a long period of time, the “unsub” (an “unknown subject” in F.B.I. speak, also called a “John Doe”) was called the “Skywayman” by the law and the press, because of his posing as an airline pilot. (In scene 11, Abagnale ...read more

Scripture: John 19:17-27, John 19:28-37, John 19:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

Risk, Investment, And Getting Old - Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 31, 2025

One of the biggest obstacles to enjoyment of life is the troubles connected with old age. This message will show you how to enjoy life even amidst the ravages of aging.

11:1 Send your bread on the surface of the waters, for after many days you may find it. 2 Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don't know what disaster may happen on earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or the ...read more

Walk In Love Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 28, 2020

1) The Plea (Ephesians 5:1–2a), 2) The Pattern (Ephesians 5:2b), the warning of 3) The Perversion (Ephesians 5:3–4) and finally the consequences of rejecting the walk in facing 4) The Punishment (Ephesians 5:5–7).

Ephesians 5:1-7 [5:1] Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. [2] And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God[3] But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-7

Denomination: Other

Is What Sounds Good Always Good?

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Jan 18, 2016

What pleases the ear is not always sound doctrine; yet, what pleases the ear is what people want to hear. What is sound doctrine regarding Jesus' return?

Illustration: What sounds good does not always end up being good. By the time the Nazis came to power in January 1933, the German people were totally fed-up with the incompetence and corruption of law enforcement under the Weimar Republic. Hitler, on the other hand, posed as a champion of law and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:29-31

Denomination: Christian Church

We Have An Illogically Logical Faith

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jun 7, 2002

how Abraham’s faith was able to take God at his Word and so can we

June 9, 2002 Romans 4:18-25 Beyond all hope, Abraham in hope believed he would be the father of many nations, right in line with what had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Leadership In The Home

Contributed by Alan Perkins on May 29, 2001

How the Biblical model of male headship should work, and what it is meant to show us about God.

This morning, my choice of topics presents me with a difficult task. No one compels me; I willingly undertake it. But it is difficult. Because I know that what I have to say concerning leadership in the home – or rather, what the Scriptures have to say – will likely encounter some resistance. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-24

Denomination: Baptist

Reflect The Purposes Of Christmas #3 - "(To Proclaim) Recovery Of Sight" Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 15, 2002

Third in series reflecting on the "mission statement" of the Messiah.

Reflect the Purposes of Christmas #3 – “(To proclaim) Recovery of Sight for the Blind.” John 9 December 15, 2002 Introduction John Newton’s famous hymn has a famous line that most of us are familiar with. “I was blind, but now I see.” He was not talking about physical sight, but about ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41, Luke 4:18-19

Denomination: Wesleyan

"What Is Truth?"

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 15, 2009

Message about Pilate’s question to Jesus.

“What is Truth?” John 18:36-38 October 18, 2009 General introduction Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. Frank Turek make some important points regarding truth in their book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Crossway Books, 2004). Some of their material is quoted below: "We demand truth in ...read more

Scripture: John 18:36-38

Denomination: Wesleyan

B Imitators Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 1, 2009

What does it mean to imitate God? And what stops us from doing that effectively?

OPEN: Lily Tomlin is a famous woman comedian. Once she said, "I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." APPLY: A lot of people would like to be somebody. The past couple of nights, little children went "Trick Or Treating" dressed up to be “somebody”. Some of those ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forming Family Values Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Apr 4, 2005

1 of 6 messages on Putting Family First. This message gives three steps to helping families choose Godly Family Values.

Forming Family Values Which way is your Deck Chair Facing? There’s something about the cartoon strip, "Peanuts" that can evoke a chuckle while simultaneously piercing our conscience. That’s what happened to me when I discovered a profound message in one of Charles Schultz’s comic strips. ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Making Marriage Marvelous Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

What a wife is and does determines more in a marriage than any other factor. She is the star at the wedding, and must go on being the star, for when she falls the sky is dark indeed.

Some little girls were having a great time playing wedding. They had a couple of bridesmaids, a bride and a maid of honor. The mother of one of the girls observed that the groom was conspicuous by his absence, and she asked, "What about the groom?" One child quickly replied, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Making Marriage Marvelous Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

The wife plays the leading role in marriage even though she is to be submissive to her husband. When the biblical view of marriage properly understood, no woman can ever complain that she is treated unfairly.

Some little girls were having a great time playing wedding. They had a couple of bridesmaids, a bride and a maid of honor. The mother of one of the girls observed that the groom was conspicuous by his absence, and she asked, "What about the groom?" One child quickly replied, "We ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-7

The Beauty Of Order Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

Christians are to be admired because they add order, and in so doing add beauty and harmony to the church and the state, and every other group they belong to.

Paul Aurandt tells of how even the disorders of life can sometimes be a blessing. Only hours after Pearl Harbor the Japanese went after the Philippine Islands. American and Philippine troops were taken by surprise and had to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula. These brave troops became famous for ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5

I’ve Got A Mansion…do You?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Oct 28, 2022

A little boy got on the elevator with his father at the Empire State Building. They were going to the observation deck at the top and view the city.

• As the elevator ascended the boy watched the signs flash as they went by the floors: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70. • The farther up they went, the more nervous the boy became. • Finally he looked up as his dad and said, “Daddy, does God know we're coming?” (Leighton Ford, "Hope for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-20

Denomination: Baptist