Sermons on If Only:

A Father's Fears Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

The son is only a promise, but already Manoah is filled with anxiety. He is overcome by his inadequacy to be a father. In verse 8 he cries out in prayer, "O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."

According to the Guiness Book of Records the last Emperor of Morocco, Moulay Ismail, who lived 100 years from 1627 to 1727 was reported to have fathered 548 sons and 340 daughters for a grand total of 888. He would, no doubt, say amen to the brief poem of Wilhelm Busch, "Becoming a father is ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:1-13

What’s Next

Contributed by Dennis Lee on May 30, 2021

As we look forward to celebrating Memorial Day, let’s not only remember those who have died to protect our freedom, but also let’s remember Jesus Christ who gave His life to give us lasting freedom from sin and death. Today’s Message looks at what’s next.

What’s Next Joshua 4 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBmHanCICQU Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering and giving honor to those who died while serving in our country’s armed forces. It all began after the Civil War as the graves ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-24, Isaiah 49:15-16, Psalm 17:11

Denomination: Foursquare

Being Renewed (Graduation Sunday) Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Jun 5, 2021

We think home is a place of renewal. We think we can go home and rest. And we can, but only if our focus is right. Home won’t renew us, won’t build us up, unless the focus of our home is on the One who raises us into a new kingdom, a new reality.

Main: If you’re looking for snapshots of well-adjusted and happy parent-child relationships from the ancient world, the Bible probably shouldn’t be on your short list of sources. Consider even Jesus’ family, for example. The New Testament preserves evidence suggesting that Jesus’ relationship with ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:21

Denomination: United Methodist

Eliminate Doubt Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 26, 2021

James knew humanity only too well. Immediately after James invites us to charge boldly into our new lives, he points us to the tool for sustained endurance: Wisdom. Without God’s wisdom, we can quickly sprint into a concrete wall and spend months or years banging our heads against it.

Tom Lowe 1/18/2021 I. There are certain realities of life common to all believers – 1:2-1:18. A. Trials and testing will come and can be overcome -- 1:2-8. 5. Eliminate doubt -- 1:6-8. Lesson: James 1:6-8 - Eliminate Doubt Text: James 1:6-8 (KJV) 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

A Place Called Heaven

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Feb 10, 2013

Some people ask me, 'Are you one of those narrow-minded Baptists who think only Baptists are going to Heaven?' And I say, 'Dear friend, I'm more narrow minded than that. I don't think all the Baptists are going to make it.' Author: Mike Huckabee

John 14:1-6 Verse 2-In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. A Prepared Place-A bride and groom many times prepare place for themselves to live! Jesus is the groom and we are His bride! Jesus prepared a place for ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Signs For The Masses

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jun 15, 2015

God makes the impossible in our lives possible when we act on His word and trust Him for what only He can do. As the old hymn says, “It is no secret what God can do. What He’s done for others, he’ll do for you”.

The Gospel reading which we just heard from John 6:1-21 is full of rich imagery. Although the story of the feeding of the 5,000 appears in all four Gospels, John’s version has a slightly different meaning. In fact, John includes only seven of Jesus’ miracles in his Gospel, and in each ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-21

Denomination: Anglican

Spiritual Discipline For The Race Of Life

Contributed by Craig Condon on Sep 1, 2015

We must learn to lay everything aside and renew our fellowship and communion with God. We must “keep our eyes on the prize.” We must keep our eyes fixed on Christ. We must pace ourselves when we run the race of life. Only then can we survive and win.

Have you ever struggled with your faith? Have you ever felt like giving up? If so, the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews has a word for you---don’t! Don’t give up. The road of faith has been compared to a race. The race is not a sprint. It is a marathon. At the end of the race, we ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

Ask, Seek, Knock

Contributed by Dr. David Wesner on May 19, 2015

What if this verse read, “if you don’t ask you will get only what you can get on your own, if you don’t seek God you will never really find him and if you don’t knock the important doors will ever be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. What if this verse read, “if you don’t ask you will get only what you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:8

Denomination: Charismatic

Christian Atheist: Money Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 10, 2015

Do we really trust in God? Do we really trust in our money? Do we say we believe in God and yet live as though He doesn’t exist? Do we say we trust in God and in His security and yet live as though we trust only in money?

This sermon is based off of a few ideas in Craig Groeschel’s book “The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Exist.” Zondervan, 2010. ISBN: 9780310332220 CHRISTIAN ATHEIST: MONEY 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 INTRODUCTION… “In God We ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thank God For The Broken Road

Contributed by Darrin Fish on May 7, 2014

A mistake is only a mistake if we don’t learn from it. We need to start allowing stumbling blocks to become stepping stones.• We should never fall backwards We should instead fall forward. We grow in our wisdom when we allow mistakes to become lessons.

Thank you God for the Broken Road Psalms 73:1-73:28 Last week as we were worshipping • a man entered a Baptist church in Maryville Il • And shot the senior pastor in mid-sermon and then stabbing two churchgoers. • The pastor had stood on an elevated platform delivering his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-28

Denomination: Christian Church

When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 2, 2011

Pastor Lee Strobel commissioned a national survey and asked people what question they’d ask if they could only ask God one thing. The Number One response was: “Why is there suffering in the world?” Why does God allow the righteous to suffer? I mean, I’m

WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE INTRODUCTION: Pastor Lee Strobel commissioned a national survey and asked people what question they’d ask if they could only ask God one thing. The Number One response was: “Why is there suffering in the world?” Why does God allow the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

First Century Style Rip Van Winkles Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Aug 20, 2017

Rip Van Winkle is the story of a man who woke up after a 20-year nap, only to find that the world had radically changed! Acts 19:1-7 tell the story of 12 1st century Rip Van Winkles who discovered that God’s entire way of dealing with mankind had changed.

First Century Style Rip Van Winkles Series: Acts Chuck Sligh August 20, 2017 Adapted from a longer sermon by Stephen Davey. TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 19:1-5 INTRODUCTION Illus. – In 1820, a lawyer named Washington Irving published his first short story. It became so popular that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Life Of Paul Part Viii - No Regrets Series

Contributed by Dan Carroll on Nov 28, 2016

Paul had settled eternal issues. For him death wasn’t the end, but a new beginning. A change of address only. He lived life. He had one goal in life. He wrote about it. II Thessalonians 1:12, “…the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified...”

INTRODUCTION • Nobody in Scripture talked as much about their death as Paul, except maybe Jesus. • Paul lived his life on the edge and so he knew he was always in danger, but covered by the Father. • What a way to live life to the fullest. • Not in fear, but in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:13-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Heavenly Harbor Master

Contributed by Gary Christensen on Mar 13, 2016

Jesus wants to be The Harbor Master in our lives. He knows how to safely guide us into port. He knows the low spots, and only he knows how to get us there, safely. To do so, we must "give up our seat" as captain of our vessel. He must sit in the chair.

Jesus desires to rule in our lives, not to just sit and watch us live our lives, but to be actively involved in our moment- by-moment decision making. To be our Leader and Guide,.. to empower us, to guide us through troubled waters. On TV recently, I saw a documentary about a "Harbor Master" ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Why She Gave Series

Contributed by Scott Sutton on Oct 31, 2022

Christmas is less than 2 months away, in fact it’s only 56 days from today! I don't believe anyone would argue the fact that Christmas is the season of giving. Maybe you remember this book. It is one of the most popular fiction books ever written on the subject of giving at Christmastime.

It is called; "A Christmas Carol” written by Charles Dickens. The publishing of his book was hugely popular; its first printing of 6,000 copies sold out in less than three days, and that was back in 1843 on December 19th just 6 days before Christmas; that was without computers, television, not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Baptist