Sermons on Holding Back:

Purposing Series

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Jan 5, 2015

Let me give you a life principle Commitments are not made in the heat of battle but before the battle begins. The decision not to defile yourself sexually is not made in the back seat of a car in the heat of passion… they are made before.

Purposing Daniel 1:18 605 BC – Babylon is new world superpower—King Nebuchadnezzar – Comes to Jerusalem, capital of Israel and defeats it but… Let’s it alone – except taxes and takes a few select young men of royal blood Puts them through intense deprograming ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:18

Denomination: Baptist

Miracle On 34th Street Series

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Jan 5, 2015

In this movie, the real Santa came to town, but, he was rejected. Drop back in time, 2000 years. Jesus Christ came to his own, but he was rejected. The Miracle happens every time someone believes.

Miracle on 34th Street Today our Advent sermon is the first in the series of sermons that come from great Christmas movies. There are many great Christmas movies... A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, White Christmas, Ernest Saves Christmas, And my personal favorites: Home Alone and Home ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-9

Denomination: Baptist

Be A Barnabas - A Light Of Encouragement

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 10, 2015

Encouragement means coming alongside and inputting courage. Where courage has faded away, encouragement is the putting back or refilling of courage. The leaders of the early church gave one man, Barnabas, the nickname "Son of encouragement".

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are three Scripture readings prior to the Message. The appointed Scriptures for this day are: 1 Samuel 1:4-20; Hebrews 10:11-25, and Mark 13:1-8 A married couple .....was asleep in bed on a stormy night ......when they were awakened by a loud ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-10, Hebrews 10:11-25

Denomination: Anglican

The Day Of His Coming! Series

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Nov 19, 2015

In this passage God will give His people a final admonition to come back to Him before 400 years of silence. He is using the second coming of Christ as their motivation. Problem: People fail to prepare for the return of Christ.

Introduction: God is admonishing the nation of Israel to come back to Him. Do you think God is admonishing America… the church… families… individuals? How presumptuous it would be of us to ignore His plea to prepare for His earthly return. The Main Point: Because Christ is the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Snakes On A Plain

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Mar 19, 2009

This is a monologue sermon from the persepective of an eyewitness to the plague of snakes from Numbers 21:4-9. You will need someone to read the last verses of the sermon from the back of the church after you walk off.

Good Morning, I love meeting new people! I am glad to meet you. My name is Abraham, which, lately, I can’t help feel is more ironic that I ever realized it was. You see Abraham is the Father of all nations; he is person I was taught about by my Rabbi ever since I can remember. And the one word ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Games People Play With God

Contributed by John Gaston on May 27, 2020

One-third of church goers have quit watching online services and experts predict they will never come back to church! They are falling away. They are playing games with God and we must alert them to the terrible consequences.

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY WITH GOD Isaiah 1:13-17 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. An avid fan of the Washington Redskins took his dog to a friend’s house for an afternoon of watching their favorite team. The friend was surprised to see the dog, but felt like the dog might be more exciting to watch than the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:13-17, Psalm 51:6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Eulogy For Tamika Scott Funeral Homegoing

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Dec 20, 2021

This is a eulogy for my cousin who grew up in the church, drifted away and came back to the Lord in the final two years of her life. She died unexpectedly at age 45. Family meant a lot to her

Tamika Scott Psalms 12/16/2021 139:13-16 John 14:1-6 The people of the United States of America were getting ready to celebrate their 200th birthday as a nation with only 34 days to go in the year 1976. But for Eugene and Yvonne ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-16, John 14:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Unity Of The Spirit

Contributed by Larry Grant on Feb 18, 2024

Paul teaches that there is no divorcing Christian doctrine from Christian duty! He is saying, “You know the truth, now walk in it!” The bottom line is this: Where there is genuine faith, there will be genuine works to back it up!

Ephesians 4:4-8 “The Unity of the Spirit” February 18, 2024 These verses teach us that unity is not just a possibility; it is a divine requirement if we are to be everything God wants us to be as a church. Paul begins this passage with the use of the word “therefore,” and this word draws our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ: A Refresher Course In Evidence

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jan 10, 2023

The Scriptures tell of the event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as being an undeniable historical fact with eyewitness and secondary evidence to back it that would be admissible in any objective court of law. This is no case of wishful thinking, but the conclusion of a promise kept.

If we were to present the case for the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a court of law, we would have to first refute the notion or belief that this was nothing more than "faith" on the part of the apostles and all who have followed Him throughout history. I have pointed out in a recent ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:5-10, Luke 24:13-31, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Deuteronomy 17:6, 1 Timothy 5:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Mr. Irrelevant Series

Contributed by Steven Ferber on Dec 22, 2022

If anyone was considered irrelevant, it would have been Jesus, born to poor parents, in a back-water town, in a land under the thumb of a brutal regime. But Jesus, "Mr. Irrelevant", was actually Mr. Indespensable.

What do you call the last player chosen in the annual draft of the National Football League? I know what some of you are thinking, “Pastor, I just don’t care!” That’s awesome! You obviously have a life! For many of the rest of us, who live and die by the sword of our favorite team’s record, two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

No Resurrection? How Does That Make Sense?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 17, 2024

It’s not clear what the back-story is for this claim, but it leads to one of Paul’s best little classes in logic. Perhaps there was a Sadducee-trained Jewish Christian in Corinth. They didn’t believe in any resurrection.

Friday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Course 2024 From the beginning of the Church way back in the first century Christians have been proclaiming and celebrating the physical Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. That was a real historical event that occurred three days after He was murdered ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 17:1, Psalm 17:6-8, Psalm 17:15, Luke 8:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Prepare A Way For The Lord

Contributed by Angelos Y. Pomevo on Dec 8, 2024

Long ago, at many times and in many ways God speaks to us through His written words, urging us to repent of our sins and get ready for the coming back of His son Jesus Christ.

Opening … Long ago, at many times and in many ways God speaks to us through His written words, urging us to repent of our sins and get ready for the coming back of His son Jesus Christ. Today I bring my sermon title: " Prepare a way for the Lord" From three scriptures reading: Isaiah ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-14

Ten Arguments For The Historical Jesus

Contributed by John Gaston on May 28, 2025

Gary Habermas in his book, The Historical Jesus, gives at least 10 evidences. As part of my Apologetics series, I have abbreviated and rewritten them to fit front & back on one piece of paper.

TEN ARGUMENTS FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS 1. MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT SOURCES. The existence of multiple independent sources – the four Gospels, Paul’s letters, and other early Christian writings – that attest to the historical existence of Jesus. There wasn’t just one witness to Jesus, but a large number ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, Philippians 2:6-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

This Mother's Worst Dilemma

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 9, 2025

She went in disguise to find out if her son would live after he became ill. The disguise didn't work, and she came back with a dilemma no mother ever wants to face.

Introduction: She was the queen, but not even she could overcome her son’s illness. When she sought a message from a prophet of the LORD, she received news that shook her to her core. (Full disclosure: Sermon Central has previously accepted a message based on this text, called “The Message This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 14:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

God Does Write Straight With Crooked Lines

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 16, 2025

We know, every one of us, how many times we have told God “Thy will be done” with our fingers crossed behind our backs. No, repentance must be our daily habit.

Friday of the Twentieth Week in course 2025 (Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary) The Book of Ruth is both unique and important for both Jews and Christians. Ruth was an outsider, a Moabite woman married to the son of the widow Naomi, a native of Bethlehem. When Naomi’s two sons ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40, Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Catholic