Sermons on Greedy Officials:

Six Informative Vineyards Of Scripture Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 19, 2022

From drunkenness in a vineyard, to murder by lust in a vineyard, and great failure in another vineyard; restitution in vineyards, and vineyards for the poor - these are considered in this message. Taking vineyards by greed, and abiding in the Vine in another vineyard - it is here.

SIX INFORMATIVE VINEYARDS OF SCRIPTURE VINEYARD NUMBER ONE:- THE VINEYARD OF HUMAN FAILURE {{Genesis 9:20-24 “Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard Gen 9:21 and he drank of the wine and became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent. Gen 9:22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:20-24, Genesis 9:1-17, Isaiah 5:1-7, 1 Kings 21:1-16, James 1:14-15, Exodus 22:5, Leviticus 19:9-10, Nehemiah 5:1-7, John 15:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Avoid The Worst Woes In Life - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jan 28, 2023

1. Don’t keep people from God’s Kingdom. Help them go in! (vs. 13). 2. Don’t be greedy. Be generous! (vs. 14). 3. Don’t make people worse. Make them better! (vs. 15). 4. Don’t treasure gold. Treasure the things of God. (vs. 16-22). 5. Don’t be satisfied with less. Strive for God’s best. (vs. 23-24).

How to Avoid the Worst Woes in Life - Part 1 The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 23:13-24 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared January 28, 2023) MESSAGE: *In this chapter you will hear the strongest words of condemnation Jesus ever spoke during His ministry here on earth. Eight times Jesus called these ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-24

Denomination: Baptist

Lessons From Jeremiah – Part 15 – Swifter Than Eagles The Land Will Be Scorched By Babylon Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 13, 2024

Judah rejected the true message because they want to believe the lie. All actions have a consequence and the time for accountability had arrived. The human heart embraces sin so firmly it will not release it and hastens on to its own destruction. Babylon was the scorching wind.

LESSONS FROM JEREMIAH – PART 15 – SWIFTER THAN EAGLES THE LAND WILL BE SCORCHED BY BABYLON PART 15 - Jeremiah 4:10- CHAPTER 4 [A]. GOD’S WILL ALLOWS ODD THINGS TO HAPPEN {{Jeremiah 4:10 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, SURELY YOU HAVE UTTERLY DECEIVED THIS PEOPLE and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, Jeremiah 6:13-14, Jeremiah 5:30-31, Jeremiah 14:14-16, Jeremiah 4:11-13, Jeremiah 4:10, Jeremiah 3:2, Jeremiah 4:14-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Are You Looking For? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 20, 2021

Jesus loved to ask questions (the Gospels list at least 135 of his questions). The most powerful question Jesus asked in this text was "Who are you looking for?" Who they were looking for tells us a lot about the people in this story.

About 10 years ago, there was a sight-seeing tour in Iceland that lost one of its sightseers. She was no where to be found. Panicked, they called in the police and the search began. Hours later (about 3 in the morning) they discovered that the woman they were searching for had been there all the ...read more

Scripture: John 18:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Error Of Balaam – Making Profit From The Work Of The Lord – Part 2 - Jude 1:10-11(B) Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 13, 2022

Was Balaam a great prophet? Wonderful things came from the mouth of Balaam when he blessed Israel and did not curse them. Jude makes reference to him with "the error of Balaam" but how do we see that error in churches? That is what we will consider this morning.

THE ERROR OF BALAAM – MAKING PROFIT FROM THE WORK OF THE LORD – PART 2 Jude 1:10-11(b) Jude is the book that we are seriously considering. We did Cain and Korah In Part 1 from last week. Then we were introduced to this compromising man, Balaam who was hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:10-11, Zephaniah 1:4-5, Matthew 6:24, Numbers 23:4, Numbers 22:1-41, Numbers 23:1-30, Numbers 23:19-20, 2 Peter 2:14-17, Revelation 2:14, Numbers 31:16, Deuteronomy 23:4-5, Numbers 25:1-5, Deuteronomy 23:5, Numbers 31:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Do I Need A Shepherd? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 21, 2020

Jesus said He was the good shepherd. But why do I need Him to do that? Why can't I get along just fine without Him?

OPEN: Several years ago in the country of Turkey, a flock of sheep made the news. It seems that the shepherds of the flock had been eating breakfast when their sheep began to wander off. Now, ordinarily this wouldn’t have been a problem, except the flock was just a stone’s throw away from a cliff. ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Problem With Sacraments Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 1, 2016

What does the word "sacrament" mean? Is it in the Bible? And what effect does this concept have on the church?

OPEN: When I was in my early 20s I worked in a mobile home factory. My job was to help install insulation in the sides and roofs of the trailers as they made their way down the track. One day, as I was blowing insulation onto the roof of one trailer (walking along the trusses), I stepped a little ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A "Come To Jesus" Moment Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 5, 2017

A grieving father comes to Jesus to ask him to heal his dying son, and yet Jesus rebukes him. Why? What possible reason could Jesus have to be so harsh with this man?

OPEN: An instructor was conducting a seminar for executives and focusing on the topic of decision making. So he started out telling the story of 5 frogs sitting on a log. “Four of the frogs decide to jump into the water. How many frogs are there left on the log?” The class almost unanimously ...read more

Scripture: John 4:43-54

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Leaders Or Servants Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 13, 2016

Do we trust God enough to honor and obey those in authority over us? It's easy to do that when they're good leaders... but what about when they're driven by selfishness and love of power?

OPEN: At a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, on Election Day, nurses went in to the room of a 72-yr-old woman to prepare her for open-heart surgery, only to find that the woman wasn’t there. Instead they found a note which read, “Gone to vote, back in 30 minutes.” An election ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:17-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Learning To Be Content (Full) Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jan 5, 2021

To establish, we must learn: to be content in all life’s situations; to genuinely commend others for their communications (financial support); and, to be contingent (dependent) upon God’s supplying all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. Learning to be Content 2. Learning to be Commending 3. Learning to be Contingent Remarks. 1. In this lesson, we will discuss the theme: "Learning to be Contented.” The apostle Paul now in prison, in the city of Rome: imprisoned for his work in Christ among the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7, Philippians 4:11-13, Philippians 4:19-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Satisfaction Sold Separately - Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 20, 2025

“Don’t get all worked up when people in charge abuse their power.” Good advice, but easier said than done. This passage teaches us how to do it—joyfully!

Ecclesiastes 5:8 If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them. 9 The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by ...read more

She Gave Her All Series

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

the widow gave all she had in faith

We just heard Jesus condemn the officials of the church for being pompous, strutting around like peacocks and preying on the poor and defenseless (Mark 12:38-44). In Jesus’ time, a woman who was widowed was the lowest form of humanity. The men owned everything (even any money and property a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Episcopal

Passing Through The Pieces Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on May 10, 2017

To establish Christ – that the promised seed passed through the pieces to confirm Jehovah's covenant agreement with Abram. This lesson dispels the notion that Christ's body was stolen, rather than raised, by pervading through the cerecloth left within the tomb.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. The Covenant (with Abram) of Promise 2. The Continuing (Unchangeable) Priesthood 3. The Cerecloth (Linen Wrap) Pervaded Introductory Remarks. 1. In this lesson, we will discuss the theme: “Passing through the pieces.” The hope of our salvation and the assurance of our faith ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:5-17, Hebrews 10:19-25, John 20:3-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

“ Strange Bedfellows”

Contributed by Abimbola Salu on May 15, 2024

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

“My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us,Let us lie in wait to shed blood;Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit; we shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:10-19, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

Right Church Leadership (1 Timothy 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 6, 2024

Do we have the right to reinterpret Paul's inspired qualifications for elders and deacons, adapting them to a sinful society? Let's find out in 1 Timothy 3.

Do we have any authority to ignore Paul’s inspired qualifications for elders and deacons? Do we have any authority for man-made requirements? Do we have any authority to ordain women as elders? Do we trust that God inspired Paul with instructions for all time, or do we bend them to suit the whims ...read more

Denomination: Baptist