Sermons on Fresh Encounter:

Nearer, My God, To Thee Series

Contributed by Jonathan Twitchell on Dec 7, 2006

When we are most in need of a "Close Encounter with the Divine," is when we should look for God to build a ladder to us, that we might experience His grace and guidance.

Texts: Genesis 28:10-22 Date: Sunday, July 21, 2002 Author: Rev. Jonathan K. Twitchell Last week, we watched Esau trade in his birthright for a simple bowl of red stew. Overcome by hunger, he gave into his selfish, deceitful younger brother Jacob and traded the double portion of his father’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: Nazarene

Queen Corinth And Her Court Series

Contributed by Donald Mcculley on Mar 19, 2019

? It concerns division in the church with regards to litigation. Jesus said the world will know we are His disciples by love not lawsuits! Here’s yet another problem Paul encounters.

QUEEN CORINTH AND HER COURT I CORINTHIANS 6:1-11 INTRODUCTION: This passage really has nothing to do with a beauty pageant. If it did you would be wondering how such “ugly” got to the throne! Then what’s it all about? It concerns division in the church with regards to litigation. Jesus said ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob's Ladder Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Jan 23, 2018

Continuing on with our sermon series in Genesis. In this sermon we look at Jacob's encounter with the Lord, and how God directs him, and provides for him, because of God's purpose in election

Jacob’s Ladder Text: Genesis 28:10 – 22 By: Ken McKinley (Read Text) You know… our salvation is first & foremost about what God has done; and only secondarily about our response to what He has done, and I personally can’t think of many passages in the Bible which make that more clear than what ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Instruments Of Liberation Of The Poor Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 11, 2016

it means working to eliminate the structural causes of poverty and to promote the integral development of the poor, as well as small daily acts of solidarity in meeting the real needs which we encounter.

Thursday of the 32nd Week in Course 2016 Joy of the Gospel As we move into the last Sunday and last week of the liturgical year, we continue to be challenged by Jesus to follow Him all the way to death. We know not what that end shall be, except that He has promised to be with us. We live for the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:36-37

Denomination: Catholic

The God Who Shows Himself

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Apr 17, 2019

This is a sermon based on Jesus' encounter with Thomas following the Resurrection. It focuses on how the LORD Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas and helped Thomas find faith, security and peace.

Scripture: John 20:24 – 31 Title: The God Who Shows Himself INTRO: Grace and peace this morning in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! I want to talk to you about the God who cares so much that He takes the extra time to reveal Himself to us even in those times that we may not ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-31, Judges 7:9-14, Luke 15:11-24

Denomination: Nazarene

Samson: Trouble In Timnath Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 12, 2020

Samson may not have known it, but this first encounter, as recorded in Scripture, would lead to a lifetime of problems, heartache, and a lot more. He was about to enter trouble in Timnath.

Introduction: Samson was one of several “miracle” babies, born to women who could not conceive a child except by God’s power. Other women facing that situation included Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah, Rachel, Elisabeth, and the Shunammite woman mentioned in 2 Kings 4. The virgin Mary is of course a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Follow Christ Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Feb 22, 2023

The foremost step to elevation is to Follow Christ. Follow the footsteps of him. The first thing the disciples observed after encountering with Jesus was that he walked into Jordan, then into wilderness for fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday 22.02.2023 Text: Mark 10:32-34 Steps to Elevation: Step: 1, Follow Christ Introduction: During this Lent season we would mediate under the theme steps to elevation. These are the Steps to victory, jubilation and joy. Today, we are meditating the first step to elevation, that is, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-34

Denomination: Methodist

Shine Like Stars

Contributed by Larry Hale on Sep 5, 2022

God wants his church to be a strong, unified family with the common goal of reaching lost souls and disciplining new BELIEVERS by being the light of CHRIST to everyone we encounter.

Shine Like Stars – August 28, 2022 – Larry Hale, Sr. Pastor Glenvale Church of God, Marysville PA Philippians 2:12-18 NIV This year’s theme for Camp Yolijwa was “Shine Like Stars”. The name for the theme came from Philippians chapter 2 verses 14 and 15. This morning I would like dig a little ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:6-40, Philippians 2:12-18

Amazing Faith

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Apr 19, 2022

It may be hard to find a place to put our faith in this modern world, but Jesus encountered a man who had amazing faith and we can learn from him.

I think we can all feel that right now our culture is really struggling to find faith. We talk about it in different ways. We talk about the need to restore family values. We talk about the need for spirituality. We may not talk about it, but I think we feel a need for a sense of purpose in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:1-10, Matthew 8:5-13

Learning From Thomas Series

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Apr 4, 2024

We can learn a lot from Thomas that by encountering Jesus and hearing the testimonies of others, we don't have to lose faith, doubt and fail to believe.

I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT IT WAS THOMAS WHO GETS A BUM RAP AS THE “LONE” DISCIPLE OF DOUBT. WHEN WE SPEAK OF THOMAS, HE IS USUALLY REFERRED TO AS “DOUBTING THOMAS.” ALTHOUGH UNDERSTANDABLE, IT REALLY ISN’T FAIR. ALL THE REMAINING DISCIPLES DOUBTED AS WELL. DEPSITE THEIR JOY OF PROCLAIMING “WE ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, Deuteronomy 31:8, Romans 8:28, Hebrews 11:1, John 14:27, Matthew 11:28-30  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

Go! And Be Healed Through Faith In Jesus - Luke 8:43–48 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 17, 2025

True healing flows from faith in Jesus—not from rituals, not from religion, not from worldly remedies, but from a personal, life-transforming encounter with the Lord of all.

Go! And Be Healed Through Faith in Jesus - Luke 8:43–48 Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, we thank You for the healing power that flows from Jesus Christ. Open our hearts today to understand what true healing means. Let our faith be stirred, our burdens lifted, and our lives transformed as we place ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:43-48, Leviticus 15:25-27, Matthew 9:29-30, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, James 5:15, Matthew 11:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Let Us Go Up The Mountain Series

Contributed by Vinicio Jimenez on Feb 27, 2026

In the Bible, mountains are never just pieces of geography. They are sacred places, places where heaven and earth meet. On mountains, people encounter God in profound and life-changing ways.

Whenever I hear the word mountain, something inside me awakens. I feel excitement. I start wondering: Where is it? How high is it? Can we climb it? In Scripture, mountains are never accidental settings. They are theological spaces. They are places where heaven and earth meet where God reveals ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

When The Fire Goes Out

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

Apathy melts when wounded believers encounter the gentle, pursuing love of Jesus—and a church that mirrors His compassion becomes a place where hearts burn again.

I want to talk to you this morning about something that sits quietly in the corners of our churches. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t slam doors. It doesn’t usually make the headlines in church board minutes. But it drains the life out of congregations and breaks the heart of Jesus. I want to talk ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:15-20, Isaiah 42:3, Hebrews 3:7, Luke 15:4-7, Psalm 34:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Overcoming Life's Storms SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 10, 2023

When we choose to believe in falsehoods over God's truth, we encounter difficulties. Never cease praying and believing until you've sought God's guidance.

One of the greatest battles we face in life is the battle against spiritual slumber. When we are spiritually asleep, we become vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. Just as physical sleep can leave us unaware of our surroundings, spiritual sleep can blind us to the schemes of the devil. In this ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:5-6

Topics: Addiction, Faith

Worthy Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 28, 2018

Learning more about God is the greatest intellectual pursuit of the human mind. The subject of God is transcendent … as vast as infinity. But studying God, to me, is the most satisfying, uplifting, edifying, expanding, and glorious task we could ever undertake.

How many of you had a kaleidoscope growing up? We all at least know what a kaleidoscope is, right? It’s usually a tube that you hold up to the light and see a beautiful picture made up of colorful pieces of glass or stones or paper. You turn the end of the tube and the mirrors rotate and the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24, John 17:1-3

Denomination: United Methodist