Sermons on God Is Up To Something:

Shape Up Or Ship Out Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Samuel, Pt. 3

SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT (1 SAMUEL 3) As I was sitting in my van in a parking lot a month after my 42nd birthday, a strand of hair dropped onto my shirt before my very eyes. Instinctively I picked up the hair to see its color, length and texture. Negative questions immediately arose: Is it gray? Am I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When The Brook Dries Up

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 19, 2022

When in Drought, don’t Doubt.

In the previous chapter, we learn that Ahab is now the king of Israel. Unfortunately, he was worse than all the other kings before him. Each king prior to Ahab became worse than the one before. Ahab married Jezebel who led him into worshiping Baal. People that worshiped Baal thought that Baal made ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 22, 2021

This expository message from Mark 8:31-38 is about Jesus' call to discipleship - to take up our cross and follow him.

Title: Take up Your Cross Text: Mark 8:31-38 Subject; How does Jesus define discipleship? Complement; Jesus says it means that you too take up your cross. Big idea: “True disciples don’t just wear a cross around their necks - they put it on their shoulders.” Introduction – we are moving toward ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38, Galatians 2:20, Acts 20:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 10, 2001

What does it mean to "take up" or "bear a cross? What does it mean when someone says, "I want to take up my cross and follow Jesus"?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK This morning I want us to look at a passage of Scripture found in Mark 8:34-35. "Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples & said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself & take up ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Will For Your Life Summed Up In Four Words

Contributed by Lester Potts on Nov 19, 2025

“Let there be light!” These four words sum up God’s will for your life.

Sermon Title: Let There Be Light: God’s Will for you in Four Words Scripture Text: Genesis 1:1, John 8:12, John 1:1-5, Romans 1:20, Colossians 1:15, Ephesians 3:16-19 Introduction Today we’re going to sum up the entire Bible in just four words. Four words that carry the weight of all God has ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, John 8:12, John 1:1-5, Romans 1:20, Colossians 1:15, Ephesians 3:16-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Cover It Up Series

Contributed by Mark Elkins on Jul 7, 2010

Confessing our sin.

Bandaids on the Bathroom Mirror The drunk husband snuck up the stairs quietly. He looked in the bathroom mirror and bandaged the bumps and bruises he’d received in a fight earlier that night. He then proceeded to climb into bed, smiling at the thought that he’d pulled one over on his ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 24, 2021

As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Let’s look at Jesus’ countercultural instructions in Mark 8:31-38.

Prelude As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Purpose Let’s see the value of taking up our cross and denying ourselves. Plan Let’s look at Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Baptist

Upside Down Is Right Side Up, Pt. 2 Series

Contributed by James Lee on Dec 4, 2015

I would like to thank Pastor Jerry Shirley for sharing this series on Acts. It has been a blessing as well as a great help. I have used these for our church, as I spend my days caring for my dying father.

Upside Down is Right Side Up, pt. 2 Acts 17:1-6 Last week we saw the first thing necessary for turning our world right-side up. We must be as willing as Paul to live a life that demonstrates our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, both in our dedication to gathering for worship and how we live outside ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Rise Up And Choose Christ

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Mar 4, 2007

This is a sermon we preached on our 18th anniversary at the church. It challenges us to Rise Up And Choose Christ. It’s our theme. Watch the video or listen to the audio version at www.glenvillenewlife.com.

Rise Up And Choose Christ 3/4/2007 Isaiah 40:27-31 Acts 14:8-20 Today is the celebration of starting our 18th year in ministry together. We praise God for God’s working in and through the life of this church to make a difference for Jesus Christ. How many of you can say that Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:8-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He Stood Up For Me

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Jan 27, 2014

Our word “MARTYR” is a transliteration of the Greek word for “WITNESS.” By their lives and by their deaths, the martyrs have borne witness for “JESUS CHRIST, THE FAITHFUL WITNESS.”

TITLE: HE STOOD UP FOR ME SCRIPTURE: ACTS 7:54-60 Can I talk to you this morning from the subject – He Stood Up For Me. Stephen was the President of the Jerusalem Board of Deacons. He was a leader in the church. He seems to have been an eloquent and fiery proclaimer and defender of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:54-60

Denomination: Baptist

Joseph--He Got Up

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Oct 17, 2009

THis sermon deals with Joseph’s willingness to rise up and forgive those who caused him pain and sorrow in life.

Joseph, He Got Up Genesis 37:12-36 Matthew 18:21-35 Genesis 44-46 October 20, 2009 How many of you have asked that question, “Lord how many times should I forgive? How many times should I put up with this? How many times is enough” One person that dealt with this question was ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Can't Cover Your Sin Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 8, 2009

Deciding to 1)Cover up 2) Give up or 3)Stand up in the midst of difficulties.

A firestorm has been brewing as of late over revelations of lavish and questionable spending at eHealth Ontario, a provincial agency tasked with creating electronic health files. A freedom of information request revealed the agency spent $5-million in untendered contracts in only four months, from ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:6-18

Denomination: Other

Open Up, Let Me In

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Dec 9, 2018

A study in the book of 1 Chronicles 11: 1 – 47

1 Chronicles 11: 1 – 47 Open up, let me in 11 Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:1

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

God-Fighter Or God-Obeyer?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 29, 2008

Though Israel disobeyed and broke the covenant with God, God did not give up, and formed a new people in a New Covenant that fulfilled the Old in the crucified Christ

Monday of First Week in Advent 2008 Sacramentum Caritatis The words of Jesus today stand alongside those of Isaiah: two prophets saying the same thing. In these latter days, the true Israel of God is the people who understand how to obey the authoritative word. In Jesus’s case, it was a pagan ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-11

Denomination: Catholic

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 12, 2025

Jesus wasn’t offering comfort or bling, but blood — a cross that kills self and births love, the heartbeat of true discipleship.

Prologue — The Little Athens of Palestine They had followed Him north — away from the dust and clamor of Galilee, away from the familiar crowds pressing for healing — into a region strange and foreign. The road climbed toward the foothills of Mount Hermon, where the air cooled and new sounds ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-34, Matthew 16:24-26, Luke 9:23-26, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 3:7-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist