Sermons on Hold Back:

Don't Look Back

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 5, 2025

Life leaves us with memories—some warm us, and some wound us. If we spend our time looking back, we risk missing the new thing God is doing right in us.

Intro: Danger of Looking Back Memories light the corners of our minds, but they can also weigh heavy on our hearts. They can warm us — or they can wound us. The truth is, some people are walking around half-dead because their past has become a prison. The question for us today is this: Are we ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14, Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Giving Back To God: A Personal Reflection SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 12, 2023

What can I give back to the Lord for all the good things He has done for me? This question forms the basis of our sermon, encouraging a personal and thoughtful reflection on our relationship with God.

Today, we will explore a deeply personal and practical question: "What can I give to the Lord for all His blessings towards me?" This question arises from a heart filled with gratitude and a desire to respond to God's goodness. Let us delve into the content of Psalm 116 to find answers. First, we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-19

Topics: Gratitude, Obedience

Finding Your Way Back To God SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 12, 2023

Prodigals, those who rebel and step away from God's blessings, still exist today. They indulge in reckless living, ruining their lives. But when they reach total desperation and are willing to repent, God runs to meet them and welcome them home.

In this sermon, we will explore the parable of the Prodigal Son, which actually reveals the character and nature of our loving Heavenly Father. Jesus used this story to teach us about God's unconditional love and His willingness to embrace those who have strayed away from Him. It is important to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24

Topics: Prodigal Son, Repentance, God's Love

Finding Your Way Back Home SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 9, 2023

Sometimes, the most detrimental thing God can do is to grant us our desires. The prodigal son's journey to a 'far country' symbolizes a place that first exists in our hearts. This journey and his eventual return home teaches us about the dangers of desire and the power of forgiveness.

Today, we will explore the parable of the Prodigal Sons, which is the third story in a series of parables told by Jesus. This parable, along with the stories of a lost coin and a missing sheep, teaches us important lessons about God's love and forgiveness. Let us dive into the story and uncover its ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Topics: Prodigal Son, Forgiveness

Getting Past Defeats: My Soul Looks Back Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 16, 2007

Montgomery Hills Baptist Church: To live large means dealing with the pain inflicted on us. Some of it comes from our arrogance, some from scapegoating. But God is able to work through that pain toward the accomplishment of His purposes.

There is at my house a photograph I treasure. In that picture I am about three years old, and my father is holding me in his arms. My father is wearing the cap of a Shell Oil service station attendant. Nothing especially remarkable about that, except for what I hear in my memory whenever I see ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-20

Denomination: Baptist

Leaving A Positive Legacy Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Nov 30, 2003

First message in Matthew - about not letting your heritage hold you back and leaving a positive heritage behind you!

Leaving a Positive Legacy Matthew 1:1-17 November 30, 2003 Introduction I have a question for you, and you need to be real honest here, okay? How many of you skip the genealogies when you read the Bible? It¡¦s okay, I¡¦m not going to embarrass you in front of everybody! You know, I tend to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Wesleyan

Big Enough To Forgive Series

Contributed by Doug Johnston on Jan 2, 2002

David discovered that sometimes personal offenses are best forgiven, not paid back by holding grudges, getting angry, or giving paybacks.

When David met Shemei the first time (2 Samuel 16:5-8), Shemei: +Kicked him when he was down. +Threw rocks at him, +Yelled at him, +Said God was judging the King, +Probably reminded David who Shemei’s dad was The second time they met (2 Samuel 19:22-23), 1. David kept his focus on God clear 2. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Being Defined By God's Grace Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Oct 11, 2012

The world tries to label you. Those labels will hold you back. Let yourself be defined by God's grace. It is liberated.

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • How do you define yourself? • Do you define yourself by your vocation (I am a teacher)? By your accomplishments (I am in the Hall of fame)? By a title (I am A CEO)? • How do you define yourself? • What kinds of labels do we use on one ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Love Declares War

Contributed by Casey Jones on Feb 22, 2018

God's love is so powerful that it can break through the barriers that hold us back from growing closer to Him.

1) Reading the Song of Solomon a) We don’t normally talk about Song of Solomon at church. i) It’s sort of the black sheep of the Bible. It can be embarrassing to read, you know. ii) You see, this seems to be a beautiful love poem written from a man to a woman (1) From Solomon to his wife iii) It’s ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 4:7-10, Song of Songs 2:10-13, Revelation 19:7-9

Denomination: Church Of God

Why Do We Worship Together?

Contributed by Darrin Fish on May 7, 2014

Coming together to worship reminds us that God is at work And that God will ultimately bring peace and security to us and to His world,

Why Do We Worship Together? Psalms 122:1-122:9 Today every one of us got out of bed and got ready and came to this church • We did this with the intention of spending our morning singing hymns and songs, • We came to pray together, to listen to God’s word, • And we also ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1-9

Denomination: Christian Church

Our First Love

Contributed by Michael Cansler on Nov 22, 2025

Have we lost our first love?

Our First Love. Isaiah 29: 13-14 We need to understand who Isiah is delivering this message to Nation of Israel has been delivered from bondage of Egyptians 12 tribes of Israel that came from 12 sons of Jacob The 12 tribes split b/c of not agreeing on things and became Northern and Southern ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 29:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

Don’t Settle For Good And Miss God!

Contributed by Robert Webb on Jun 2, 2018

Are you slipping and sliding around in the same old mud? We must hold nothing back, and never hold something so close to our heart that keeps us away from the promises of God

Following God requires a life of obedience. Being obedient does not just happen all at once. Our life journey is a process and we are all in different places in our journey. If you are like I am I get frustrated with the process at times when there are delays. Have you ever been stalled in traffic, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Revisit Your Ministry

Contributed by J. Edward Brown Iii on Dec 28, 2013

Look back to the beginning at what God has actually called you to do.

Introduction; Ephesians 4:1-3 reads, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation by which you are called, 2. With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; 3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:28

Denomination: Baptist

Be About God’s Business

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Apr 10, 2018

A MESSAGE FOR FATHER'S DAY

BE ABOUT GOD’S BUSINESS LUKE 2:40-52 A THING THAT USUALLY EXCITES ANY FATHER, IS WHEN A SON COMES UP AND TELLS HIM THAT HE WANTS TO LEARN THE FAMILY BUSINESS. IT MAKES A FATHER PROUD TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS TO INCLUDE “AND SON”. TWICE IN THE SCRIPTURES WRITERS RECORD THE WORDS ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:40-52

Denomination: Baptist

Moving Forward--Letting Go Of The Past

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jun 10, 2013

This sermon deals with our need to let go of past things in our lives in order to move forward in God. Lot suffered because he would not let go.

Moving Forward--Letting Go Of The Past. Calvary 6/9/2013 Genesis 19:1-26 Luke 9:57-62 Is there anybody here who has held on to something that had a special meaning to you and nobody else quite understood why you just would not throw it away? I had a blue and gold football jerseys, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-27, Luke 9:26-27, Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed