Sermons on Inner Thoughts:

The Lord Has Done Great Things For Us

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Nov 19, 2018

The Psalmist proclaims they looked back on their Captivity and they did not cry or complain they thought about how many times in the past God had brought them through. Based upon a Memory they moved from Prayer to Praise

TITLE: THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US SCRIPTURE: PSALM 126 This Psalm, at first glance, appears perfect for this Sunday Morning message before Thanksgiving. What better holiday than the feast of pumpkin and sweet potato pie to read of shouts of joy and mouths full of laughter? What a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Night Before Christmas

Contributed by Michael Luke on May 29, 2016

Jesus’ birth is not just supernatural, it’s educational. Along with educational, it’s also transformational. What Jesus thought before he was born influenced the way he lived.

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the famous poem by Clement Clark Moore that begins this way: ’Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:5-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sowing And Reaping Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 24, 2020

It is true - we do reap what we sow, whether it be in training for a marathon, planting corn or beans, strengthening our marriages, disciplining our children, taking thoughts captive, or simply being kind to people.

Dance Lessons: Sowing and Reaping Galatians 6:6-10 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 06-28-2020 Run, Forrest, Run I stood at the starting line of the 2014 Christie Clinic Marathon in Champaign shaking like a leaf. Yes it was a bit chilly but that’s not why my nerves were ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:6-10

Denomination: Baptist

Third Sunday In Ordinary Time - 2025

Contributed by Michael Nesmith on Jan 25, 2025

This morning, I thought we might make a visit to the doctor, the Great Physician himself and in doing so I want us all to think about how we are when He ask, “How are you”?

Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you this morning and how are you? “Good morning – how are you?”. This is a very common greeting and more often than not the answer is, “fine and you”? We will often respond this way even if the answer is not even close to being true. For example, once ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, Nehemiah 8:2-10, Luke 4:14-21

Denomination: Catholic

Change Your Perspective From Gloomy To Glorious!

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Apr 15, 2025

Changing your perspective can help you stop automatic negative attitudes, speech, thoughts and navigate situations with a more balanced outlook. The Jewish people needed a different perspective, so God sends Haggai.

Sermon – Change Your Perspective From Gloomy to Glorious! Scripture Lesson – Haggai 2:1-9 “On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:1-9, Ezra 3:10-13, Ephesians 5:26-27, Ecclesiastes 7:10, Hebrews 12:25-29, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

A Dysfunctional Family Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

The beautiful story of Joseph has attracted a lot of attention through the years. Andrew Lloyd Weber thought so highly of the story that he developed the story of Joseph into a Broadway musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

If you think you’re job is hard, think about this… Just like an NFL quarterback, NASA will schedule the launch of a rocket in an open window. A launch window is determined for each rocket and the window has several factors. Imagine the complications in attempting to place a land rover on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:2-13, Genesis 37:22-36, Genesis 22:17-18, Genesis 45:7-8, Hebrews 11:22, Romans 8:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Candidate For An Extreme Makeover

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on May 17, 2022

In his misguided thinking, Saul thought that he was fighting for God. We need an extreme makeover when our actions are fighting against God and innocent people, yet we think we are fighting for God.

Sermon: A Candidate For An Extreme Makeover Scripture Lesson: Acts 9:1-19 “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19, Hosea 4:6

Denomination: Methodist

God’s Got This!

Contributed by Howard Gwartney on Aug 5, 2021

I saw a post on Facebook that I thought would make a great title for a sermon. A friend was requesting prayer for a family member and someone wrote, “I’m praying with you. God’s got this!”

I saw a post on Facebook that I thought would make a great title for a sermon. A friend was requesting prayer for a family member and someone wrote, “I’m praying with you. God’s got this!” 1. THE FORCEFUL DOWNPOUR Matthew 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36

Denomination: Baptist

Reasons For Judgment

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Apr 15, 2020

The people of Edom may have thought, "we have done nothing wrong"; however, they had. God uses Obadiah to give them the reasons they would be judged harshly for the wrongs they had done.

In our lesson tonight Obadiah gives the reasons why Edom would be judged so severely by God. 10 Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, This is a very clear statement of why Edom is being judged by God. Someone may try to argue that Edom did not do violence against Israel. They were ...read more

Scripture: Obadiah 1:10-16

Denomination: Baptist

Not Ashamed Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jun 23, 2023

The Apostle Paul penned these words that are considered the central thought of Christianity. At one time he dedicated his life to stamping out Christianity. On his way to Damascus the power of God changed his life forever.

When I was a teenager, I was first an agnostic and then I became an atheist. Of all places I was in a church when I made the transition to an atheist. It was my conclusion that the worship around me was not real and all of life could be explained by natural science. I even felt sorry for people ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

There’s Always More

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 15, 2023

Even when we feel drained physically and financially, we still need to offer what resources we do have - and in so doing, find that we can do more than we thought.

I have a lot of fellow feeling for the disciples in today’s story. I expect all of us who have put so much time and effort into VBS do, too. It’s done! We can put our feet up and have something to eat, talk about how everything went, see how well we did, maybe get a stroke or two for the old ego. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Better Priest Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 11, 2022

God appointed Jesus to be our high priest in the order of Melchizedek. How is Jesus the better priest and how should that motivate us as we serve? Consider these thoughts from our Family Minister Scott Jewell

Christmas is quickly approaching. We’ve been looking at the book of Hebrews to recognize that Jesus is better. The gifts of the wise men remind us that Jesus is the better Prophet, Priest, King, and Sacrifice. Today, I’m going to focus on what it means for Jesus to be our better Priest. Read ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fruit Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Lucy Paynter on Oct 21, 2023

In Galatians 5:22–23, Paul shifts to happier thoughts, saying, “But the fruit of the Spirit is …” In what follows, he gives nine characteristics of the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of a born-again believer.

Unlike the word works (of the flesh), fruit is singular, indicating that the nine characteristics are part of a unified whole and are not separable. In other words, a believer doesn’t have some and not others, though their relative strength may vary. Love, by which Paul means the love of God ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Presented At The Temple

Contributed by Chris Appleby on May 8, 2007

Tf what’s happened with his birth we also need God’s word to enlighten us, to fill out for us these events with the rich understanding of God’s plan for the world.

One of the good things about Christmas is catching up with people you haven’t seen for a while, maybe even since last year. Well, this year I’ve had lots of conversations with people who want to know what’s happening about the merger with St Michael’s. They all want to know how things are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-40

Denomination: Anglican

The Garden, The Cup, The Cross

Contributed by Steven Spence on Feb 16, 2010

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as seen from the tree in the middle of the garden.

THE GARDEN THE CUP THE CROSS by Steven F Spence February 14, 2010 Love Him, Love Him Love Him, love Him, all ye little children: God is Love, God is Love; Love Him, love Him, all ye little children: God is Love. THE FOUR LOVES: CS LEWIS 1. AFFECTION: STORGE THE GREEK LEXICON DEFINES ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Nazarene