Sermons on Gift Of Mercy:

Foundational Guidance (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

How do we get guidance from the Lord? Begin with direction God has already given in His word. This message centers on the command to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).

Micah 6:8 3-6-16 What does God want you to do? Have you ever found yourself asking that question? At one level it is a daily question. Someone gets upset with you at work; and you need God’s wisdom on how to deal with it. You’re at the department store trying to decide which coffee pot to buy. You ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8, Micah 1:10-20, 1 Samuel 15:22, Matthew 7:1-7, Luke 6:28-29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Embracing The Eye Of The Storm

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Sep 9, 2017

A unique look when the storms of life come like a hurricane.

Since the moment I willingly chose to give my life to Jesus and become a Christian, I have continued to experience an ever deepening holy dissatisfaction with spiritual mediocrity. That has been the primary impetus for me to earnestly desire to draw closer to God’s majesty - yearning for more of ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 1:4, Hosea 2:14, Acts 17:27-28, Job 38:1, Nahum 1:3, Psalm 13:1-2, Amos 5:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Saves Jonah, Nineveh, And Us.

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 29, 2020

The story of Jonah tells the story of God rescuing Jonah, not FROM a whale, but BY a whale. It tells of God reaching out to one of the cruellest people in history, the Assyrians. And it prefigures the story of God reaching out to us, through Christ.

GOD SAVES JONAH, NINEVEH, AND US We’re in a series ‘Bible Stories for Grown-Ups.’ Today, we’re looking at the story of Jonah. I’m going to assume most of us are fairly familiar with the story of Jonah and not spend time revisiting it. I’m going to look at the story under three headings: the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Simple Faith

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on May 15, 2021

If you have ever reached a low point in your life where it seems like everything was coming against you, then you know about simple faith. It's the faith that remains when everything else has been stripped from you which enables you to take another step in God's promises.

Simple Faith Scripture: Hebrews 11:1, 6; Romans 5:1-2 The title of my message this morning is “Simple Faith.” As some of you are aware, I retired last Monday after thirty-two years in the pharmaceutical industry. This was preceded by eight years in the U. S. Air Force and five years working as ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6, Romans 5:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thanksgiving

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Oct 3, 2020

This message explores the reasons we have to give God thanks. Our choice to give God thanks should not rest on Him doing something for us - but for what He has already done through His Son and what He continues to do.

Thanksgiving Scripture: Psalm 92:1-4; Psalm 107:8, 15; First Thessalonians 5:18 The title of my message this morning is “Thanksgiving.” This has been a difficult year and some people may be struggling with the idea of being thankful. The Covid-19 pandemic has reaped havoc on the lives of many ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 92:1-4, Psalm 107:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:6-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sometimes We Must Stand Alone

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Aug 26, 2024

As a child of God, we will all face times when we might have to take an unpopular stance for the word of God. When this happens we might find ourselves standing alone. This message tells us how to do it.

Sometimes We Must Stand Alone Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15; John 6:60-67; Matthew 7:13-16 Good morning, Strangers Rest. The title of my message this morning is, “Sometimes We Must Stand Alone.” The eleventh chapter of Hebrews records those of the Old Testament who walked with God in faith. It ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15, John 6:60-67, Matthew 7:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer Part 5 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Sep 16, 2024

New Light Faith Ministries and Barry Johnson Ministries, founded by Rodney V. Johnson and Barry O. Johnson, respectively, are partnering to offer Bible studies for Christians who are seeking to grow in their relationship with Jesus. This is a Bible study lesson, not a sermon.

Prayer Part 5 (Rev. Barry Johnson and Rev. Rodney Johnson) NOTE: New Light Faith Ministries and Barry Johnson Ministries, founded by Rodney V. Johnson and Barry O. Johnson, respectively, are partnering to offer Bible studies for Christians who are seeking to grow in their relationship with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Movies Will You Create In 2025?

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Jan 16, 2025

This message is about the power of our thoughts and how they create movies within our minds that we respond to - spiritually and physically.

What Movies Will You Create in 2025? Scripture: Second Corinthians 10:3-5; Mark 5:25-34 Good morning Strangers Rest! I hope you are excited about what God is going to do in this place in 2025. The title of my message this morning is “What Movies Will You Create in 2025?” Some of you might be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Mark 5:25-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On The Cutting Edge

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 28, 2025

The Holy Spirit, wielding the Word like a scalpel, cuts away our games and pretensions and rationalizations and shows us what we are really like. Jesus is the reason why the knowledge of our sinfulness does not lead us to despair.

My Dad was in the foreign service when I was a kid and my family was stationed in Argentina for a couple of years. We lived in a city called Rosario, about 4 hours north of Buenos Aires. The weather was fabulous, the schools were good, the streets were safe, and there was a club with an Olympic ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Finding Rest In God Alone Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 25, 2025

This sermon on Psalm 62 explores how true rest and security come from placing our trust in God alone, as He is our unshakeable rock, powerful enough to save and merciful enough to desire it.

Introduction ?My friends, we live in a world that is loud, demanding, and often overwhelming. It feels like we are constantly being pulled in a dozen different directions, told to find our value in what we achieve, our security in what we own, and our peace in what others think of us. But how ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

There Is Power In The Blood

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Sep 28, 2022

This message is about the power of the blood of Jesus to literally change our lives.

There Is Power In The Blood Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-28; First Peter 1:13-19; Romans 5:9 When I was growing up in Church, we sang songs about the blood of Jesus. We sung this song that some of you might not be familiar with. It says, “There is a fountain, filled with blood, drawn from ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-28, 1 Peter 1:13-19, Romans 5:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Help Me God, I'm Sad Series

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Oct 17, 2022

Sadness almost always accompanies loss. We all feel sad sometimes. The scripture that deals with sadness the most, and in the most agonizing way, is the book of Lamentations written by the prophet Jeremiah.

8-25-13 (Revised 10-16-2022) HELP ME GOD, I'M SAD! Lamentations 3:19-58 This morning, we are going to be taking a look at the book of Lamentations which has the sad lamentings of the prophet Jeremiah. Have you ever had to pray, “Help me God, I'm sad”? The actress, Brooke Shields, has ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-58

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 13, 2025

Cain’s defiant question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” denied responsibility for Abel’s life. The gospel calls us instead to love and protect others, with Jesus as the true Keeper.

Introduction – The Question Everyone Knows Almost everyone has heard the line “Am I my brother’s keeper?” It shows up in political speeches, social campaigns, even sitcom punch lines. It sounds noble—like a call to look after one another. But here’s the surprise: those words were never a command ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-12, Hebrews 11:4, 1 John 3:11-12, Leviticus 19:18, Luke 10:25-37, Galatians 6:2, John 10:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Where Lonely Hearts Belong

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 25, 2025

The Beatitudes reveal a Kingdom where Jesus blesses the broken, welcomes the lonely, and fills empty hearts with joy that cannot be stolen.

Picture a hillside in Galilee. The day is beginning to soften. The sun hangs low, brushing warm gold across the lake. People settle into the grass, shifting and stretching to find a comfortable place, hoping they arrived early enough to hear every word. Some came curious. Some came ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 34:18, Romans 8:15-17, John 16:33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

How Could Anything Exist Unless God Had Created And Sustained It?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 31, 2025

This takes us to the central Scripture of this Sunday, the beautiful and even humorous tale of Zaccheus, the renegade Jew. I call him “renegade” because only such a person would collect taxes for the despised Roman occupiers of the Jewish homeland.

Thirty-first Sunday Integral 2025 (yr C) The book of Wisdom, which we have heard recently, is a late OT writing that is preserved in Greek rather than Hebrew. Its theology is very advanced. Here the writer addresses God poetically as creator, ruler and master of wisdom: “Before the LORD the whole ...read more

Scripture: John 12:32, Romans 5:3-5, Luke 19:1-10, Psalm 145:1-14, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic