Sermons on Gnosis:

Beyond Jesus?

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Oct 24, 2003

In our day, as in John’s, there were people promoting a faith beyond the faith in Jesus Christ. Is there anything worthwhile beyond Jesus?

I wonder sometimes if the Church hasn’t become bored with Jesus. I mean, after all, there’s only so much we can know about Him; only so much praise, it seems, we can offer Him. And it’s tempting sometimes to create other messages, other goals, another focus besides this two thousand year old ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Sufficiency Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 10, 2014

1)Doctrinal Perceptiveness through the Word (2 Peter 3:15b–17), 2) Spiritual Progress in the Word (2 Peter 3:18a), and 3) Continual Praise in the Word (2 Peter 3:18b)

We’ve all just gone through a traumatic event: time change. We can look forward to enjoying light for longer in the day and the prospect of spring. For all of us, this time change is difficult for we lost an hour of sleep. Those who examine the effects of sleep note the increased accidents on ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:15-18

Denomination: Other

Faith, Hope & Love Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 7, 2014

In Colossians 1:1-8, the Apostle Paul’s shows how the gospel is 1) Received by Faith (Colossians 1:1–4a), 2) Rests in Hope(Colossians 1:5-8), and 3) Results in Love (Colossians 1:4b).

Whenever we travel, problems inevitably arise. Situations regarding our own travel we tend to be able to handle. The difficult ones are the ones that happen back home. Perhaps our kids got into a jam, there is a difficulty at work or a friend got into a crisis situation. As much as we want to help, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8

Denomination: Other

Fellowshipping With The Father And The Son - Part 1

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Jul 16, 2020

In this epistle, John sets the record straight about who Jesus is and how one might have fellowship with Him.

Background First John was written by the Apostle John. Though his name is nowhere to be found written in this letter. It has been traditionally ascribed to John the Apostle. From the beginning of the letter he places himself among the eyewitnesses of the Lord Jesus (1:1-2) Early Christian ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Fellowshipping With The Father And The Son - Part 5

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Jul 20, 2020

John tells us how we can know whether or not we are in fellowship with God.

In the passage of Scripture we will look at today John tells us how we can know whether or not we are in fellowship with God. (1 John 1:5 NKJV) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Heard - (present tense) - ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Fellowshipping With The Father And The Son - Part 6

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Jul 20, 2020

When people say they have no sin they are claiming sinless perfection and moral relativism. We are living in a culture that says it has no sin.

Review The Gnostics were the false teachers who believed matter to be evil, the spirit good, and salvation to come by secret knowledge (gnosis) granted to those who were part of their clique. John is teaching all of this to combat a heresy circulated by the Gnostics called ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Study Of The Letter Of First John – Introduction And Pure Joy – Getting A Hold Of God Series

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Aug 13, 2020

Jesus' disciples had come to experience fellowship with God and John was excited about it and wanted to proclaim it to others so that they would experience this fellowship too.

1. Introduction to the letter Authorship Five people in the Bible are mentioned by the name of John: John the Baptist; John the Apostle; John in the family of a high priest; the father of Apostle John and the Hebrew name for the evangelist, Mark. Though most believe the same person wrote the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

1 John Overview

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Jan 14, 2022

An introduction and overview of the most common concepts of 1 John.

1st John Introduction and Overview I. The Penman – Apostle John – The Beloved A. Writings: 1. Gospel of John (Saint John) 2. 1st John 3. 2nd John 4. 3rd John 5. Revelations -- Written around 95 AD B. John – from Hebrew Johanan – Yahweh has been gracious C. History: 1. Son ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Agnostic Nazarenes - Mark 6:1-6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Oct 19, 2023

In his hometown, the people didn’t believe Jesus because he was a local handyman. Such an irrational conclusion is due to living by feeling instead of fact. Agnosticism is an effort to justify ignorance.

Mark 6:1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him and such miraculous ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6, Matthew 13:54-58, Luke 4:16-30

Know If Your Drifting - If So - Return To Your First Love! Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 13, 2011

The church is being called on by the Holy Spirit to return to its first love! That first love is the Lord Jesus and it requires a change of direction on our part as Christians need to return to Him. Put Him in 1st place in their busy lives.

Series: What is the Spirit saying to the church today? The expression, "what the Spirit says to the churches" occurs in each of the seven letters to the particular churches in the book of Revelation. In these letters, Christ reminds these churches that he sees what is going on in their churches. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blameless Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 6, 2014

1) Our Past is already taken care of (1 Corinthians 1:3-4, 6), 2) Our Present is provided for (1 Corinthians 1:5, 7a), and 3) Our Future is assured (1 Corinthians 1:7b-9).

There's a certain degree of optimism at the start of a new school year. There are no late homework assignments or projects. There are no low results from tests, no absences and no detentions from bad behavior. In essence, there is a flawless report and a blameless record. The challenge naturally is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Denomination: Other

Gospel Of Life

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 26, 2019

In Colossians 1:1-8, the Apostle Paul’s shows how the Gospel of Life is 1) Received by Faith (Colossians 1:1–4a), 2) Rests in Hope(Colossians 1:5-8), and 3) Results in Love (Colossians 1:4b).

Colossians 1:1–8 [1:1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, [2] To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. [3] We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, [4] ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8

Denomination: Other

Experience God Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 28, 2012

Genesis presents a picture of warning showing the threats to a harmonious experience of fellowship with God. In Genesis 3:1-9 we see: 1)The Tempter (Genesis 3:1a), 2) The Target (Genesis 3:1b-3), 3) The Tactic (Genesis 3:4-5), and 4) The Tragedy (Genesis

Prime Minister Stephen Harper met this week with representatives of Canada’s first nations communities. In an effort to repair generations of conflict and mistrust, they met in Ottawa to improve communications and come to agreements on some crucial issues. The Chiefs warned that a failure to do so, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-9

Denomination: Other

Yuck: The Lukewarm Church Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 7, 2018

Christ delivers a message to those who are Christian in name only. Being neither zealous for good works nor orthodox in their doctrine, they are lukewarm and sickening to Christ.

George Barna makes a living through surveys. What makes him unique is that his surveys are on exclusively Christian topics. Although he does poll populations at large, he also does polling on those who profess to be Christian. For millennia, there have been standard benchmarks of orthodoxy. Yet, as ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Other

Practising Discipleship Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 1, 2017

Christians are commanded to make disciples. The process of discipleship includes: going; baptising; teaching. The responsibility devolves upon each follower of the Christ.

“It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist