Sermons on Hard Knocks:

Show Love, Not Favoritism (James 2:1-13) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 27, 2022

Favoritism is a tricky thing. But we need to copy God's example, in honoring the poor. Also, my first crack at unpacking "kingdom" in light of Scot McKnight's book Kingdom Conspiracy.

Let's start today by reading James 2:1-4: (1) My brothers, don't, with partiality, hold the faith of our glorious Lord, Jesus Christ. ["w/partiality" =focused] (2) For suppose someone should enter your assembly with a gold ring on his finger, with fine clothing. Now, also a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Psalm 15 – How Do I Obtain Top-Level Clearance To God?

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jun 15, 2022

Do I qualify, Lord, to come and worship You? To enter Your presence? I fall far too short of perfect, Lord. How could I ever attain such heights, Lord?

Psalm 15:1 (NLT) says, “Who may worship in Your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter Your presence on Your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.” Do I qualify, Lord, to come and worship You? To enter Your presence? According to this ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Generosity

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 24, 2022

This sermon is about the false narratives that surround the idea of "generosity" or "giving" and the things that hinder Christians from having a generous spirit.

I want to start off by saying giving in the Christian life is not so much an external action. Something that we do out of guilt or obligation, but really what we do in response to the love of God and the generosity of God. A generosity that we try to imitate as we seek to be more like Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 1:16, Deuteronomy 8:18, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Denomination: Christian Church

God Is Not A God Of Confusion

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 7, 2023

We must not imagine that the confusion roiling western culture is because of God. Having rejected the Lord, civilization is confused, and without hope of being set right without God's merciful intervention.

“God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” [1] We live in a world that is increasingly confused—confused about society, confused about the role of government, confused about the sexes, confused about God. And I could undoubtedly go on about the confusion that reigns in our world. Confusion ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:33

Denomination: Baptist

Healing Church - Words Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 1, 2023

Words our words carry the power to create a positive environment or a negative environment. Words create worlds – yes- the world’s around us are created by our words. What do your words sound like each day?

Series: “The Healing Church 2023” Sermon #2: Healing Church – Words Thesis: Words our words carry the power to create a positive environment or a negative environment. Words create worlds – yes- the world’s around us are created by our words. What do your words sound like each day? ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12, Philippians 2:1-5, Philippians 2:14-15, Philippians 4:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus' Heads-Up: The World Will Hate You (John 16:1-33) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 29, 2022

So don't be surprised, or discouraged. Prepare yourselves, testify anyway, and don't fall away. Also, how the Spirit partners with you, in testifying to the world.

Let's start this morning by rereading John 15:18-16:4. In these verses, Jesus describes our relationship to the world: (18) If the world, you, it hates, know that me, before you, it has hated. (19) If of/from the world, you were, the world would love its own. Now, because of/from the world ...read more

Scripture: John 16:1-33

The Relationship Between God’s Kingdom And Our Nation Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Mar 29, 2022

The Relationship Between God’s Kingdom and Our Nation Series: Cracks – Navigating Our Divided Times
 Brad Bailey – February 27, 2022

The Relationship Between God’s Kingdom and Our Nation Series: Cracks – Navigating Our Divided Times? Brad Bailey – February 27, 2022 Intro We’re continuing in our series focusing on navigating through our divided times. It’s about recognizing that when you see cracks emerge ... we should assess ...read more

Scripture: John 18:36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Palm Sunday: Lamb Of God Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 10, 2022

Jesus is “The Lamb of God” who has taken away the sins of the world. Jesus was your sacrifice so you can have a relationship with God the Father. You just have to embrace Jesus as “The Lamb of God.”

Spoken Words: Vernon – Immanuel Jeromie – Lamb of God Series Easter: Life of Jesus Sermon: Palm Sunday – “Lamb of God” Scripture: John 12 describes the historic event we celebrate today! Thesis: Jesus is “The Lamb of God” who has taken away the sins of the world. Jesus was your sacrifice so you ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-19, John 1:29, John 1:35-36, 1 Peter 1:19, Revelation 5:5-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Noah Saved From Wrath Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 24, 2022

Wrath comes because of four things: 1) Great Wickedness (Genesis 6:5), which results in: 2) Great Sorrow (Genesis 6:6), which brings: 3) Great Collateral Damage (Genesis 6:7) yet it also promises: 4) Great Redemption (Genesis 6:8).

Genesis 6:5-8. [5] The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually [6] And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. [7] So the LORD said, "I will blot ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:5-8

Denomination: Other

The Great Divide Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 29, 2022

1) The Dividing of Deeds (Romans 2:6), 2) The Deeds of the Unredeemed (Romans 2:8–9), and 3) The Deeds of the Redeemed (Romans 2:7, 10).

Romans 2:6-10. 6 He will render to each one according to his works 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:6-10

Denomination: Other

Conformity

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Aug 2, 2018

A study in the book of 1 Samuel 9: 1 – 27

1 Samuel 9: 1 – 27 Conformity 9 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

How Offense Leads To Anger, Bitterness And Unforgiveness

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Aug 13, 2018

How to stop being offended before it starts. How not to let anger turn into unforgiveness and bitterness of the soul

Have you ever known someone who had a spirit of anger? They are perpetually angry. Every time you talk to them, they are angry at someone or about something. They seem to thrive on their anger. They are easily offended and bitterness pours from their lips whenever they speak. Somewhere in their ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

Removing The Wall-3

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Aug 21, 2018

3 of 4. God enabled the children of Israel to conquer the walled city of Jericho. God removes the barriers to ministry/serving Him & seeks to ensure the success of ministry. But When/How can barriers be removed? Ministry barriers are removed when...

REMOVING The WALL-III—Joshua 6:1-16+:20 Removing Barriers Barriers To Progress: Attention: Frustrated Pastor: The new pastor decided to visit the children's Sunday school. The teacher introduced him & said, "Pastor, this morning we're studying Joshua." "That's wonderful," said the new pastor, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Simon And The Sinful Woman

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Aug 23, 2018

The uninvited guest at the dinner. Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman.

Jesus, Simon and the sinful woman. Writing between a.d. 64 to 68, Luke, “the beloved Physician” (Col. 4:14), traveling companion of Paul on his second and third missionary journeys (see ‘we’ passages: Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-16) and “fellow worker” with Paul (Phlm 24), spent time in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Affirmed In The Gospel Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 1, 2018

In Galatians 2:1–10 Paul was “Affirmed in the Gospel”, as shown through 1) His Coming (Galatians 2:1–2), 2) His Companion (Galatians 2:3–5), 3) His Commission (Galatians 2:6–8), and 4) His Commendation (Galatians 2:9–10) that he was of one truth and one spirit with the other twelve apostles.

The nature of work has radically changed. Moving away from a “job for life”, todays workers struggle with company reorganizations, changing customer demographics, labour laws, environmental regulations, trade pacts and on and on. All this comes on top of personal struggles. This week a congregation ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10

Denomination: Other