Sermons on Hearts Focus:

Starting Over When You Don't Feel Like It

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Mar 29, 2001

Powerful biblical principles for starting over in life from the story of Ruth.

Don’t you love a good comeback? Don’t you love it when the underdog wins? It does our hearts good to see someone get back up after they’ve been knocked down by the tragedies of life. That’s the story of the book of Ruth. The story begins with Ruth as a young woman. Her life seems to hold a ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22, Ruth 1:6-22

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving At Year End PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 27, 2023

This sermon encourages finding blessings in trials, practicing gratitude amidst grief, and promoting thanksgiving during tribulations, drawing us closer to God in our struggles.

Greetings, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Welcome to this blessed gathering where we come together, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the divine communion of God's Word. We are here to seek His wisdom, to be comforted by His love, and to be transformed by His grace. Today, ...read more

Topics: Gratitude, Heart

Mastering My Mouth: Part I Series

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Jul 24, 2007

First part of this message focus’ on words that wound (from Proverbs) and the need for a changed heart.

We are continuing in our series through the book of Proverbs to seek God’s wisdom for everyday living. When I began going through Proverbs and categorizing different proverbs into various topics. The one topic which kept coming up again and again was the tongue or the mouth. There are more ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:18

Denomination: Methodist

Seeking The Things Of Christ: Look Up! PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 12, 2023

To encourage believers to focus their hearts and minds on spiritual matters, rather than earthly distractions.

Good morning, church. Today, we're going to focus on a message that's as relevant today as it was when it was first written to early Christians in Colossae. It's about setting our hearts on things above, tuning out the clamor of the world, and focusing on the thoughts of Jesus. In the words of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-2

Topics: Affections, Things Above

Stale Religion Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 30, 2013

If you want to keep your relationship with Christ fresh and vital, don't focus on tradition and clean hands; instead, focus on scripture and a clean heart.

Alan Kraft, in his book, Good News for Those Trying Harder, shares a story about a time when his wife borrowed his car and heard a CD he had loaded in the sound system. The song touched her. When she asked him about it, he was able to recite the lyrics, but had never thought much about their ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Clean Hands Or Clean Heart? Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Jun 10, 2012

In this passage, Jesus is dealing with very religious people who allowed their traditions replace the authority of God’s Word. Jesus is not impressed with religious ritual or tradition, rather He is concerned with the condition of our hearts.

The Gospel of Mark #18 – “Clean Hands or Clean Heart?” Mark 7:1-23 Intro – 1. ILL – A man was watching the news one night when it was reported that a car was going the wrong direction on the freeway. The man knew his wife was on that freeway and became very concerned ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Wisdom From Sunday School: Be Careful, Little Eyes PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 10, 2024

This sermon explores how to guard our hearts, purify our speech, and direct our gaze towards God, as guided by the wisdom in Proverbs.

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters, to this blessed gathering where we seek to draw from the wellspring of wisdom that is God's Word. We come together, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the grand narrative of faith, eager to learn, to grow, and to be transformed. Our focus today ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Topics: Guard, Heart

Rejection Of The Cross PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 26, 2024

This sermon explores the contrasting responses to suffering in Luke 23:39-42, emphasizing the importance of faith, humility, and perseverance on the path to salvation.

Welcome, dear friends, to this gathering of hearts and minds. We come together today, not just as individuals, but as a collective body of believers, united in our pursuit of understanding, wisdom, and spiritual nourishment. We are all sojourners on this path of faith, each step we take bringing us ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-42

Topics: Hardness, Heart

Rejection Of The Cross PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 26, 2024

This sermon explores the contrasting responses to suffering in Luke 23:39-42, emphasizing the importance of faith, humility, and perseverance on the path to salvation.

Welcome, dear friends, to this gathering of hearts and minds. We come together today, not just as individuals, but as a collective body of believers, united in our pursuit of understanding, wisdom, and spiritual nourishment. We are all sojourners on this path of faith, each step we take bringing us ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-42

Topics: Hardness, Heart

"Defiled Religion, Defiled Hearts"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Aug 25, 2008

God is concerned with true worship from the heart, not outward observances.

“The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Orthodox

The Over-Exposed Heart - A Man After God's Own Heart Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 21, 2005

The temptation to look where we shouldn’t look is hard for most men. What had Bathsheba done wrong? What had David done wrong? And how do we deal with ourselves and others who do those wrong things?

OPEN: The true story is told of a banquet where a famous religious leader found himself seated next to an extremely beautiful woman who was wearing a gown with a perilously low neckline. Instead of becoming angry or embarrassed or pretending to be unaware of her exposure he offered her an apple. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Heart To Honor Authority - A Man After God's Own Heart Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 20, 2005

It’s easy to submit to someone in authority when we agree with them. But what if those in authority over us aren’t "good" men? What if they make immoral decisions? What if they are mean, spiteful, and dangerous?

OPEN: The first words that a child says always seem so cute. Brad’s baby daughter’s first word was “Wow!” Other children learn to say “mommy” or “daddy.” But there is a word that children learn to say that’s not quite so cute. Do you know what it is? That’s right: “No!” As they grow older we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thanksgiving – Your Heart Condition

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Feb 26, 2006

THANKSGIVING – Your Heart Condition Thanksgiving is much more than a holiday celebration; it is more heart condition! It is more than a celebration of food; it is the celebration of faith!

THANKSGIVING – Your Heart Condition • Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! [5] Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

“being” In Relation To The Lord

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Sep 28, 2014

Sometimes we can be guilty of putting too much emphasis on DOING things for the Lord. This sermon talks about 4 practical things believers should BE that will facilitate spiritual development.

“Being” in Relation to the Lord Chuck Sligh September 28, 2014 (A PowerPoint presentation is available for this sermon upon request by emailing me at chucksligh@hotmail.com.) TEXT: 2 Chronicles 25:1-2 – “Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 25:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Home Reveals Where The Heart Is Series

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Nov 7, 2006

The key to our relationships in the home is focusing on how we can give to others rather than on what we can get from others.

During the rehearsal for her wedding, a nervous bride was having a difficult time remembering all the details. Her kind pastor took her aside at the end of the rehearsal and said, “When you enter the church tomorrow, you will be walking down the same aisle you’ve walked down many times before. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:18-21

Denomination: Baptist