Sermons on Hierarchy:

Imitating Christ Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jul 16, 2007

Seeing selfish ambition, vain conceit, discord, from persecution, Paul called on the church to “conduct themselves in a manner worthy” of their calling and not "of" the world. Just as Christ sacrificed Himself for the sake of others, we also are to offer

INTRODUCTION A. LIFE TODAY IS NOT WHAT CHRIST INTENDED 1. We live in a “dog eat dog” world. 2. “SELF” rules We may view ourselves as did the Pharisee depicted by Jesus who prayed, “God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Serving Like Jesus

Contributed by Earie Madius on Oct 12, 2011

What the Bible says about humility

My wife is a lover of McDonald’s curly fries. One day, we were at the drive-thru when I saw a big McDonald billboard with the tagline “I’m lovin’ it.” Sometime later, I googled and found out that years before McDonald Restaurants used the tagline “You ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Creativity--The Opposite Of Liturgy Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 21, 2011

Our profession of faith in Christ is guided not only by Scripture, but by the Fathers of the Church, the historic creeds, and our liturgical tradition.

Monday of the 5th Week of Easter Spirit of the Liturgy Mistaken identity. It’s an embarrassment, and occasionally a lethal inconvenience. Consider poor Jude here. No wonder he appears to have preferred the name “Thaddeus,” and became patron saint of hopeless causes. Even the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:5-18

Denomination: Catholic

Holy People Of God Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 27, 2012

The call to be the New Israel is a call to holiness and mission.

Monday of 30th Week in Course Lumen Gentium The Fathers of the Council looked at the Church from every direction, and gave us teaching on all the names of the Church. It seems to me that their favorite name for the Church is “People of God.” It, more than any other, shows the ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

"Speaking Truth To Power" Series

Contributed by Denis O'callaghan Ph.d. ,th.d., D.d., D. Phil. on Sep 21, 2012

“All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely..."

“Speaking truth to power” Saint of God, We are taking our time reexamining the historical Jesus in the light of His life and sayings. What did He really mean? And what should we make of the fact that millions around the world have died for this man who called Himself “the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:4-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Useless Or Useful? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 8, 2014

Mercy is the greatest of the virtues in the external manifestation.

Thursday of the 32nd Week in Course Joy of the Gospel St. Paul had a dilemma. One of his converts in Asia, Philemon, lived in Colossae. Philemon’s slave, Onesimus, had escaped and probably stolen property in the process. Escaped slaves were dealt with according to their owner’s whim ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:7-20

Denomination: Catholic

The Dialogue Of Ecumenism Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 12, 2016

Our prayer is that all Christians be One.

Thursday of Fifth Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel The providential juxtaposition of St. Patrick’s Day with the readings of this Lenten feria should lead us to make a comparison between the call of St. Patrick and the call of the Hebrew patriarchs. Patrick was called by God to return ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:3-9

Denomination: Catholic

That They All Be One Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 31, 2017

Our witness must be positive–we hold fast to what we know is true, and treat those who don’t share those views with charity and patience.

Thursday of fifth week in Lent 2017 Joy of the Gospel Today we look at the person and commitment of Abraham, whom the Liturgy calls “our father in faith.” Genesis records the fundamental promise that the Jews–and Christians–hold dear. And it’s not the land of Canaan, or Palestine, over which ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:3-9

Denomination: Catholic

Amos--- God,s Able Prophet

Contributed by Dr.w.samuel Legon on Aug 4, 2009

Able body men to take a stand.

AMOS--- GOD,S ABLE PROPHET No doubt Amos lived in a day similar to ours Lawlessness, worldliness, wickedness and ungodliness. A day of rape, riots, robbery and rottenness shooting and unrighteousness. How ever God’s prophet Amos was ready . Amos 7: 10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Celebrate Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 3, 2015

David becomes king over all Israel. He brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with song making Jerusalem a place of worship.

“Celebrate” 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 6:1-5 INTRODUCTION Today is a day of Celebration. Our scripture reading for today celebrates David’s anointing as king of Israel and his bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Historically this is Reformation Sunday—a day when we ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Christmas In Isaiah

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 7, 2017

The virgin shall conceive ... and call his name - With Us the God.

CHRISTMAS IN ISAIAH. 1. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23. “Behold the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, ‘with us the God’.” There are those in the church today - in its hierarchy, and teaching in its seminaries - who want us to think that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 11:1-2, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 7:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Scripture Or Tradition

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Dec 8, 2022

Which is more important: Scripture or tradition?

Scripture or Tradition Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Mark 7:1-13 1 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 pure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist

Inclusion Is What We Need, Not Power Hungry People

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Aug 11, 2021

Jesus rebuked His disciples because they wanted to keep the power of healing for themselves. This is happening in church today even though Jesus said it is wrong!

I think that it is sad that when I read this narrative, it made me think about the control the church has held over people for almost 2000 years. The church used only one verse, thus out of context, to control people. Catholics could not own a Bible until 1964 CE. The idea that a person has to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-41

Denomination: United Methodist

El Elyon Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 30, 2020

When you find yourself at a cross-road in your life … when you are faced with a decision and don’t know whether to go left or right or straight ahead … fear not, my brothers and sisters, because El Elyon is watching over you.

We are surrounded by the most amazing technology, aren’t we? Imagine trying to explain to someone just 30 years ago what a “cell” phone is … or explain the “internet.” Technology is changing so quickly that it’s nearly impossible to keep up with it. Now the rage is 5G … I couldn’t tell you the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 14:17-20, Isaiah 14:12-15, Daniel 4:30-34, Genesis 13:9-11

Denomination: United Methodist

The Credible Christian Household Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Dec 17, 2002

The Credible Christian household depends on those within it being submitted to one another, offering hospitality to others and using their tongues only to build up.

I want us to spend some time today thinking about what a Christian household might look like. Mind you I don’t mean just any Christian household. Of course I mean a credible Christian household. Well, what is it that might characterise a credible Christian household? Is there something about a ...read more

Denomination: Anglican