Sermons on Illusion: showing 1,231-1,245 of 2,385

The Reach

Contributed by Pat Cook on Dec 5, 2011

Continuing in a series about the purposes of our church. This is about outreach.

Matthew 9:9-13 – The Reach Today I want to tell you a story. It’s a good story, too. It has conflict and underhanded dealings. It has redemption and the promise of a bright future ahead. Plus, it’s true. Today’s story comes to you from Matthew 9:9-13. The same story is also ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Incarnation

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Dec 16, 2011

The Word creates the universe and all that is within it and centuries later he presents Himself in human form as a helpless little baby, all to woo us.

Incarnation Advent #3 Dec 11, 2011 Blackness. Deep, inky, heavy, darkness. The kind that presses in from all sides, crushing, chaotic and formless, and yet powerful. It is not eyes-shut blackness – it is eyes wide open blackness, pupils straining to dilate further, desperate for the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

A Mother's Loan

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 4, 2011

Hannah shows us that women today can turn their insecurities and their relationships over to God and can find fulfillment.

(First Baptist Church, Gaithersburg, MD, May 11, 1980; Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, May 9, 1982; Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC, May 12, 1985) One of God's great mercies is that He consistently takes our faltering insecurities and transforms them into something ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"The Transformation"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Oct 16, 2010

How God transforms us into His image and 4 things we need to do to change.

“The Transformation” October 17, 2010 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Denomination: Holiness

Fear, Death, Life

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 26, 2010

It may seem strange to embrace death. But John could do so as he learned of fellow believers being killed, because he had a vision of the risen Christ as lord of life and death and even as lord of all human history.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC July 27, 1986 The picture is indelibly etched on my memory, I'm sure because at the time the incident seemed so bizarre, so peculiar. The scene was an elementary school talent show; all of us had been groomed and polished and persuaded that we had ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-18

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is God When Life Goes Amok?

Contributed by Monty Newton on Nov 1, 2010

In the midst of trouble and fear, we rest in the fact that God is in his temple and the storyh is not yet complete.

Title: Where Is God When Life Goes Amok? Text: Habakkuk 1:1-4 and 2:1-4 Thesis: In the midst of trouble and fear, we rest in the fact the God is in his temple and the story is not yet complete. Introduction A cyclorama is a panoramic painting on the inside of a cylindrical platform, designed to ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pride And Humility Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 29, 2010

A message from James chapter 4 dealing with pride and humility

Pride and Humility James 4 CHCC: November 21, 2010 INTRODUCTION: At the center of this chapter, James quotes a Proverb: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 from Proverbs 3:34 God gives grace to the humble is because they submit to Him. In other words, the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Word To The Watchman

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jul 22, 2016

A watchman is only a watchman if he sounds the warning in time for people to move and deliver themselves.

I never set out just to be a person of controversy; it's never been my desire or my aim to be controversial. I have never believed the pulpit to be the place to hash out political differences. I take no pleasure in stirring the pot as it were. (I don't like drama) and I don't enjoy debate for ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:1-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

#2 The Strong Man Of Error

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 29, 2014

Can we always trust the GPS? There is great danger in sowing wild oats. My way? God's way? The harvest is coming.

#2 THE STRONG MAN OF ERROR... JESUS WILL DEFEAT THE STRONG MAN OF ERROR... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com TEXT; 2 Corinthians 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. I. LET US REASON TOGETHER AND WEIGH THE STRONG MAN OF ERROR... THE SPIRIT OF ERROR: IF ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Song Of Peace

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Dec 5, 2016

What on earth would astound angels? These are the creatures who stand before the glory of the Three-Person God in his throne room. What on earth would they find mysterious? Their “song of peace” clue us in.

Luke 2:13-14 A Song of Peace 12/4/16 D. Marion Clark Introduction What on earth would astound angels? These are the creatures who stand before the glory of the Three-Person God in his throne room. These are the creatures of another dimension who see into mysteries that we can but vaguely guess ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:13-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Selfishness Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jun 16, 2013

It is so easy to judge and condemn the perceived selfishness of others. But rarely do we turn that discerning eye and critical judgment toward ourselves leaving our personal selfishness virtually unchallenged.

Selfishness Philippians 2:3-4 If you look around, you see endless examples of selfishness. We often lament their existence: We lash out at the pork spending of politicians for their constituents. We despise the self-serving culture of corporate greed. We protest the selfish motives of many wars and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4

Denomination: Methodist

Easter: Hope

Contributed by David Kinnan on May 2, 2013

When we lose site of God’s promise, we lose site of God’s hope.

Have you ever lost hope? All three of those families just said hope seemed to be gone. That’s a big deal – that’s hard to speak out loud, but I have no doubt that nearly 100% of us have looked at a situation and wondered if there was any hope. KEY: Hope seems to go to invisible ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Wesleyan

With All Your Getting, Get Understanding Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Apr 27, 2014

Jesus wanted His disciples to understand His teachings so that they could be fruitful. He wants the same for us today.

Parables of Matthew (Part One) Text: Matthew 13: 44 – 52 Wow! It’s been a crazy week! You ever have those times when you’ve got so much running through your head that it kind of just gets jumbled up and then your brain just kind of shuts down? Writers block is not good for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-52

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Gospel In The Seven Sayings Of The Cross—pt. 8 (Rest, Peace, & Comfort) Series

Contributed by Bobby Mcdaniel on Nov 6, 2013

By placing His spirit into God's hands, Jesus demonstrated that we have promise of rest, peace, and comfort when our time on earth is done.

1. Introduction a. This morning we finish our series The Gospel in the Seven Sayings of the Cross by focusing on Christ’s seventh and final statement made from the cross. 2. A place of rest, peace, and comfort. a. Read Luke 23:46—Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:46

Born In Sin, Fact Or Fiction

Contributed by J. Edward Brown Iii on Dec 17, 2013

Blinded To Truth Study Series The above text would teach that men are born sinners if it were meant to be taken literally. But the language of this text is not literal, it is figurative. Both context and reality demand a figurative interpretation of this text.

Born In Sin? FACT OR FICTION? Teaching Series By Rev. J. Edward Brown III 2013 We Were Born In Sin, And Shaped In Iniquity What does this really mean? Introduction This doctrine is accepted as fact almost universally in our churches, the doctrine that all of humanity sinned in Adam ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-5

Denomination: Baptist