Sermons on Ideas And Reality:

Mountain Top Glory & The Descent Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 23, 2015

It’s not by chance that Jesus takes his inner circle up a mountain to witness a most significant moment in their apprenticeship. There they see a manifestation of the glory of God in Jesus.On returning they're reminded of the reality of life in this world

Mountains play a large part in the history of Israel. It was on a mountain that Abraham proved his faith in God in preparing to offer his son Isaac to God as a sacrifice. It was on a mountain top that God showed Abraham all the land of Canaan and promised him all he could see in every direction. It ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-29

Denomination: Anglican

What Are You Doing With The Lazarus At Your Gate?

Contributed by Nick S Panico on May 20, 2016

God puts people in our path that need love, acceptance, healing, and salvation. They are often packaged in problems. How and what do we do with the people problems in our lives. This sermon also deals with the reality of heaven, hell, and angels.

“What Are You Doing With The Lazarus At Your Gate?” Luke 16:19 through Luke 16:31 (NIV) 19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Focus On Jesus

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Dec 20, 2012

It seems each year many get farther and farther from the truth of the gospel of Christ. The big problem with that is …eternal life seems like a fairy tale to those that are content with living in the world. The reality of life on earth is all that matter

Focus on Jesus It seems each year many get farther and farther from the truth of the gospel of Christ. The big problem with that is …eternal life seems like a fairy tale to those that are content with living ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

Onlookers And The Onlooked Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 10, 2017

The abundance of religious art we see may remind us of the cross, but it can also dull us to the reality that the people involved were real people, not figments of creativity. Let’s take a look at some of those real people.

PURSUING THE MARK Philippians 3:4-14 The starter’s line for this passage is the Apostle Paul’s polemic against false teachers, whose confidence lies in the flesh (Philippians 3:2-4). “The flesh” here represents self-help religion, which stands contrary to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-47

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Church Under Pressure - Sardis Series

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Dec 7, 2017

Churches can refuse to face the reality of their spiritual condition before God. Styles and traditions can become so fixed that they continue and become empty of Holy Spirit power. Good works and a nice church format are not what God is seeking.

THE CONTENT CHURCH - SARDIS READING Rev 3:1-6 INTRODUCTION Churches can refuse to face the reality of their spiritual condition before God. Styles and traditions can become so fixed that they continue and become empty of Holy Spirit power. Good works and a nice church format are not what God ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Church Of God

How To Spot A Fake Faith Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 2, 2012

Christianity has become a surface religious distraction from the hardships and realities of life and is no longer a relevant belief system connecting us to our Creator and Savior. In the western world the fakes are much more visible than those who stil

I think we may finally be living in a day when the ‘Christianity’ that exists in the cultural marketplace is now more fake than real. What began with liberal departures from the essentials of our faith has now moved to a wide spread illiteracy of the very truths of Christianity. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:5-30

But They Could Not...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2018

Despite the repeated efforts of mankind to duplicate the work of the Lord, His work is unique and man is unable to do what He does. Eventually, those who imagine they can supplant God crash up against reality, and they are revealed to be frauds.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.”’ And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Enduring Temptation And Overcoming Sin

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on May 18, 2018

Temptation is the enticement of our natural, God-given desires to go beyond God-given bounds. We can blame our failure to resist temptation on others, Satan, or God Himself, but in reality, we are the ones who choose to indulge.

ENDURING TEMPTATION AND OVERCOMING SIN Study Text: James 1: 12 – 16 Introduction: - One of the greatest challenges of living the Christian life is dealing with temptations. This is especially true for new Christians: For it can be frustrating to know that your sins have been forgiven, only to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Some Visible Results Of Faith Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 7, 2022

When we step out by faith in God, led by the Spirit of God, grounded in the Word of God, we see visible answers to our faith. These answers act as verification for our faith in the unseen spiritual realities and encourage its growth.

HEBREWS 11:28-31 SOME VISIBLE RESULTS OF FAITH [Colossians 1:19; 2:9-10] We have been learning how to leave a legacy through faith lessons from God’s heroes. These men and women became more than they could have imagined because their faith attached them to God. God therefore built His enabling ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:28-31

Denomination: Baptist

What Must I Do To Inherit Eternal Life? Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Feb 28, 2020

This month we are going to look at a series of questions that are asked in the texts as we make our way to the cross. In each of these questions is an element of faith - and a reality-check about our individual faith that should cause us to question, think, and decide.

The “I” Test: What Must I Do To Inherit Eternal Life? Mark 10:17-27 Introduction This month we are going to look at a series of questions that are asked in the texts as we make our way to the cross. In each of these questions is an element of faith - and a reality-check about our individual faith ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Way Back Into Love

Contributed by Je Layugan on Feb 15, 2021

Relationship can be very complicated. Family members hate each other, siblings rival, friends unfriend each other, lovers quarrel. Christians are not exempted of these realities.  In any relationships, the key is to find your way back into love.

# LOVE IS A PRIORITY, NOT AN ACCESSORY 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1 If I speak (our words) in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers (when you operate in what God has given you), and understand all mysteries and all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Colossians 3:14, Genesis 29:20, John 21:15-17, 1 John 4:16, Hosea 3:1, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 13:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 24, 2021

As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Let’s look at Jesus’ countercultural instructions in Mark 8:31-38.

Prelude As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Purpose Let’s see the value of taking up our cross and denying ourselves. Plan Let’s look at Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Baptist

Back In The Fold Series

Contributed by Kevin Broyhill on Oct 2, 2024

Christians can find themselves drifting farther from the Lord. Psalm 23 gives us a vivid image of this reality. But here’s the good news: no matter how far we stray, our Shepherd is always there to restore us.

Back In The Fold! Psalm 23:3a Introduction: Illust: Two students working for the summer got a job with the Public Works Department. They were given the job of painting the center lines of a rural road. The supervisor told them that they were on probation and that they must stay above the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:3

Denomination: Baptist

Uncovering The Unseen Realm: Our Role As Believers Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on May 9, 2025

We accept the existence of things we cannot see, like gravity, wind, or radio waves. In the same way, there is a spiritual reality just as real, Yet most Christians say that Satan is just a metaphor of evil; the same with the demonic realm.

Uncovering the Unseen Realm: Our Role as Believers January 5, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship Ephesians 6:10-17 2 Kings 6:15-17 Introduction: The Reality Beyond the Veil Good morning, church. Today, we step into a realm that few talk about but all of us are affected by—the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:15-17

Denomination: Brethren

How Shall We Live With The Blues

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Apr 15, 2024

Psalm 4 confronts the reality of existential weariness and challenges within the church and leadership, urging a return to the Blues sensibility that acknowledges suffering and seeks faith, peace, and hope in God's promises amid life's storms.

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B How Shall We Live With The Blues Easter is such a joyous, colorful, and vibrant celebration! Now in Eastertide, this second Sunday after Easter this third Sunday of Eastertide, Christ is still risen! The Creation is still waking up! This Sunday provides us with ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist