Sermons on Influence:

Finishing Pretty Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 15, 2018

It doesn't matter whether we finish first in this race, but it does matter that we "finish pretty." Do you know what that means and what it takes to "look good" when we cross the finish line?

OPEN: I read the true story about a group of friends that wanted to take part in one of those big 26 mile marathons. They ran together for over a year preparing for the meet. They were not trying to be big competitors in the race, they enjoyed running together and - for them – this was going to be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Think Straight Be Straight Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 14, 2004

The church of Jesus Christ must make sure they are thinking straight and being straight in their lives.

1 Peter 1:1 – Think Straight Be Straight Thesis: The church of Jesus Christ must make sure they are thinking straight and being straight in their lives. Video Illustration: Movie Pay It Forward. Clip is from the beginning of the movie were a reporter becomes the recipient of a random act of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:11-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Meanest Member In Our Church

Contributed by Adrian Rogers on Oct 11, 2011

The tongue is the meanest member in our church. The tongue is a fire and a world of iniquity.

Introduction Would you take your Bibles please now, and turn to James chapter 3 as we continue our journey with James. He has left us bruised and bleeding, but blessed. And, I want to read the first 12 verses of chapter 3. James chapter 3: “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Let's Do This! James 2

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 29, 2013

James tells us that if we want to pursue perfection in Jesus then we have to not show favoritism to others, we must have faith with action and by all means guard our tongues.

Series: Let’s Do This! Summary of Let’s Do this pt 1! What did we learn last week? 1. We need to be like James and do this by being men and women of prayer. a. We need to have nicknames like “Old Camel Knees”. b. We need to understand what prayer will do for us: i. Prayer ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Every Word Matters! Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 21, 2025

James tells us that if we want to pursue perfection in Jesus then we need to control our tongues and make sure the words that come off it are fruitful Godly words. The warning he throws at us is the uncontrolled tongue leads to the whole body being set on fire by hell’s flames.

Wild Thing – Every Word Matters – James 3:1-12 Opening Video Illustration: Kids talking about what they hear their parents say to them! Thesis: James tells us that if we want to pursue perfection in Jesus then we need to control our tongues and make sure the words that come off it are fruitful ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 18:21, James 1:26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Hunger And Thirst For Justice.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Nov 30, 2001

Year A. Second Sunday in Advent December 9th, 2001 Title: “Hunger and thirst for justice.”

Year A. Second Sunday in Advent December 9th, 2001 Title: “Hunger and thirst for justice.” Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 (Reader) Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. C. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 72:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Words Of Distinction - "Rather" ... Or "The Rule Of Your Rather"

Contributed by Ray Scott on Jan 5, 2004

Sometimes we would RATHER not do what’s best for us ... or we would RATHER do the wrong thing. In this study of the word "rather", we see that we need God to "Rule our Rather" to walk in His will and way.

¡§The Rule Of Your Rather¡¨ INTRODUCTION: We continue in our study of ¡§Words of Distinction¡¨. We have studied, and made application, to the words ¡§daily¡¨ and ¡§adoption¡¨. Today, we look at the word ¡§rather¡¨. There are some things that we would ¡§rather¡¨ do than others ¡K AMEN? o I ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Narnia: Always Winter But Never Christmas Series

Contributed by Bruce Rhodes on Dec 23, 2005

This is a story about Christmas, the Cross and Resurrection power. It is a story about good overcoming evil and the triumphant reign of god restoring all things to their proper place.

Advent Series – Narnia Message #1 Always Winter but Never Christmas Introduction: The Chronicles of Narnia will hit the big screen on Friday, December 9, and I can’t wait to see it. This series of books written by C. S. Lewis is an allegorical presentation of the story of Jesus. We have read ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1

Denomination: Methodist

Possessing The Promise Series

Contributed by Alan Peary on Dec 28, 2005

This is the third in a series of 8 messages centered around the importance of changing the climate in which we live, work or play.

CHANGING THE CLIMATE Possessing the Promise I believe that the greatest challenge facing the 21st Century Christian is the amount of knowledge that is so readily available. And because of that knowledge, we can very easily get drawn in to a ‘Seven Steps to………’ mentality. That all we need to do is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Parents Can Bless Their Children

Contributed by Martin Kim on Oct 5, 2004

If parents will do three things, God will bless their children and prosper them.

Blessing the Children Happy Sabbath! I would like to start with a short word of prayer this morning. One evening mother was busy fixing supper. Her little boy came up to her and gave her a piece of paper. She dries her hands on her apron and reads. For cutting the grass: $5.00 For ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 112:1-2

Denomination: Adventist

Unbelieving Believers

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 18, 2004

We need to make three commitments: 1. Reading the Word of God. 2. Believing the Word of God. 3. Applying the Word of God.

On July 28, 1982, Keith Green, a Christian songwriter, was killed at the age of 28 in a small plane crash. Two of his children were with him and also died in the crash. Keith Green was from a Jewish background, but grew up reading the New Testament. He walked with Christ for seven years, and ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Be Persistent

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Oct 15, 2010

God never gets tired of hearing our prayers regardless of how many times we pray for the same thing.

Text: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). Have you ever felt like giving up because you thought something was too difficult for you to learn or do? Maybe the therapy you were going through caused you pain and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Christian Church

Resurrected Lifestyle

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 9, 2009

Nehemiah shows us that to be a leader, you must really become a servant leader. He gives us some keen insight and lessons of what it means to be a servant leader today.

Resurrected Lifestyle Nehemiah 5:14-19 Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s became a familiar sight to millions in his company’s television commercials. Dave also appeared in a lot of in store training films. In those, as in many of the more familiar commercials, he would dress as his workers. One ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:14-19

Denomination: Methodist

Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 17, 2009

We damage ourselves as well as the others when we write off whole peoples through racism. When we see them as persons, with human faces, we discover that to write them off is to damage ourselves. Fellowship in Christ leads us to value difference.

A widow, shortly after her husband’s death, was going through his papers. She found a couple of old certificates, yellowed with age and crumbling into dust. They had been made out to her husband more than fifty years ago, and seemed to be some kind of promissory notes. Some sort of company had ...read more

Scripture: Esther 7:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Uncommonly Average Series

Contributed by Quint Pitts on Oct 17, 2009

A look at Priscilla and Aquilla. They weren’t especially gifted, rather average people, but they lived an uncommon life.

UNCOMMONLY AVERAGE The Cure For The Common Life—Part 1 Bud Villers was a good man. Bud was my neighbor. I grew up beside him until he died when I was in college. Bud helped my dad put a roof on our house, he assisted my dad when they poured concrete sidewalks and porches. My dad helped him put ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-26

Denomination: *other