Sermons on Higher Criticism:

New Year Resolution - The Believer’s Way

Contributed by Lucky Ekentason on Feb 13, 2013

God expects us to come up higher in every area of our lives. He told the children of Israel to take a long and lasting look at the Egyptians (who oppressed them), because they were about to embark on a journey of no return to the past bondage.

TOPIC: NEW YEAR RESOLUTION – THE BELIEVER’S WAY TEXT: Joshua 24:13-15; Haggai 1:5-7 Resolution is the act or process of resolving: as - the act of determining - the act of answering: solving - “making a resolution to mend my ways” Resolution can also be in a form ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:5-7

Denomination: Holiness

A Slave Auction

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on May 23, 2013

“We want to do more, but we do less. We want to reach higher, but we fall lower. We want to be better, but we turn out worse. We are a slave to sin. Freedom only found in Christ”

Video - (History Channel clip on American Slave Auction) “We want to do more, but we do less. We want to reach higher, but we fall lower. We want to be better, but we turn out worse.” We cry out – v. 24 “O wretched man am I…” 1. A Slave To Sin - A slave to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-25

Denomination: Baptist

I'm Glad I'm Not There

Contributed by Imelda Mesa on Oct 3, 2022

We don’t have all the answers to life’s hard questions, but God has. His ways are higher. His thoughts are greater. He fights our battles even those ones that we don’t know about.

It's Labor Day in NSW tomorrow. That gives some people time to take their families on a long drive out of the city. It's perfect timing because it's also school holidays here in NSW until 07 Oct. We've done a few long drives during school holidays when our children were little. I ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-15, Romans 8:38-39, 1 Chronicles 4:10

Denomination: Foursquare

The Salt And Light Shaker

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Feb 15, 2017

We are entrusted with the light of God’s truth, that truth is our Savior Jesus Christ. It behoves us to reach ever higher to come together in ever larger numbers so that the light of our individual candles becomes a beacon that penetrates the darkness

The Salt and Light Shaker Matthew 5:13-16 Earlier this week our Adult Bible Study group took a look at how Jesus made reference to salt and light as He cautioned us about our need to stay salty and to uphold the light that illuminates our candles as His followers. We examined in depth how these ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Fruit Of Love

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Love is the highest virtue man is capable of giving or receiving. You cannot give God or man any higher gift than the gift of love. The highest goal of life is to be like Christ. The only way to approach this goal is to be a person filled with love.

Howard Thurman in Disciplines Of The Spirit, tells of one of the most unusual jobs. A large General Hospital hired a high school girl to be there mice petter. Her sole occupation was to take white mice out of their cages several times a day and pet them. They had learned that when mice are made ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Focus On Your Future Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 4, 2023

We need to trust God and let Him guide us. We need to focus on the future He has for us instead of dwelling on the past. God has a good plan for our lives, and His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

Today, we're talking about your future. Now, I know we all have plans, dreams, and goals, but here's the thing: God's got plans for us too, and they're way better than anything we could come up with. Think about it like this: Imagine you're trying to put together a 1000-piece puzzle without the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 16:9

Topics: Future Focus, Divine Plans, Faith, Trust

Fighting Your Bullies Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 28, 2025

Fight the bullies in your life with God’s ability, with God’s authority, and within God’s assignment.

In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey tells the story of a bully who demanded his lunch money every day when he was a child. Because Handey was smaller than the bully, he simply gave the bully his money. “Then I decided to fight back,” Handey says. “I started taking karate lessons, but the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18, Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Answering Life's Most Important Question Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 8, 2023

This sermon marks a critical point in the ministry of Jesus. It is time for Jesus' disciples to know that He is the Messiah and to know what kind of Messiah He will be. They are shocked to discover there is a cross in store for Jesus and for all of Jesus' followers.

Introduction: A. One day, two men with the same qualifications interviewed for the same job and both did equally well in the interview. 1. The hiring manager decided to have them both take an exam with 10 questions to help him make a decision about who to hire. 2. As it turned out, both men only ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God In Conversions And Conflicts Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 11, 2004

Look for God’s hand in all of life. We rejoice in his presence when souls are won to Christ. We can also rejoice in his presence when things look critical.

Acts 16 describes the conversions of Lydia and an unnamed Philippian Jailer. Some commentators also believe that the girl with the spirit of divination whom Paul exercised was converted. That may be possible, but we have no information to confirm or deny it. What the Holy Spirit did inspire to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:10-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pontius Pilate And The Passion

Contributed by William Yates on Mar 15, 2004

Since the Passion has been released, critics have claimed that Mel Gibson presented too nice of a Pilate. So who was the real Pontius Pilate? This is what we examine in the text of this sermon.

As you know, since the movie the Passion has come out there has been a storm of controversy. One of the points of controversy about the film is that Mel Gibson didn’t portray a Pontius Pilate that was malicious enough. So on pondering this, I decided to try to research who the real Pontius Pilate ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:1-16

Fire Of Glory, Fire Of Drought

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 8, 2003

We have experienced the warm glow of God’s blessings, but the fire of judgment is also at hand, for worship becomes ritual, there is a critical spirit, and pessimism spreads. Diligence and integrity bring vitality in worship.

In all the annals of human history, there is one item which has held out more hope and yet offered more terror than any other. Wherever human beings gathered, in the infancy of our race, there this one item, this one element, both attracted them and repelled them; it drew them close and yet it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Church The Way It Ought To Be

Contributed by Tony Miano on Dec 8, 2000

From the moment this church came to be, the people were fired up. They were exhibiting the critical characteristics of a healthy church. They were doing church the way Christ intended it to be done. The church was alive.

Church The Way It Ought To Be Acts 2:42-47 Preached By Pastor Tony Miano Pico Canyon Community Church October 22, 2000 Grand Opening Service Introduction: This truly is a day for celebration. Those of us who make up the Pico Canyon team has been looking forward to this day for two years. The ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: *other

Judgment Is Revealed Series

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Oct 1, 2007

This sermon seeks to encourage an honest look at oneself in light of the judgment you pass on others; for when you criticize negative traits in others you are revealing the things which you dislike in yourself.

In his introduction to this passage, Greg Herrick relates someone has once joked that the definition of a jury is: “twelve people chosen to decide who has the best lawyer.” And with the current state of law suits in America, it’s no wonder that people are skeptical about truth and justice in our ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Right Relationships, Right People Series

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Dec 15, 2008

Having the right relationships with the right people is critical to our spiritual growth. Barnabas stood by Saul when no one else did, Peter put out those who did not have faith.

Right People, Right Relationships December 14, 2008 How having the right relationships with the right people is critical in our spiritual growth. What do you want for Christmas? More than anything, we should want more of God in our lives. More faith, more Jesus, More Holy Spirit, more love and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:26-40

Denomination: Pentecostal

Triumph And Tragedy Series

Contributed by Jon Rohr on Mar 18, 2008

Where do I fit in to the Triumph and tragedy of Passion week? Am I celebrating the presence of Jesus or critical of Him? Am I overwhelmed by Him, or contemptuous of those who follow Him?

Sermon: Triumph and Tragedy or Where Do I Fit? Series: Easter Season 2008 Text: John 12:1-11 March 16, 2008 AM John 12:1-11 (NIV) Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 "Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-11

Denomination: Baptist