Sermons on Inner Thoughts:

Life Beyond The Ceremony

Contributed by Tom Buratovich on Oct 18, 2000

People sometimes tell me after officiating a wedding ceremony, "That was a very nice ceremony.

People sometimes tell me after officiating a wedding ceremony, "That was a very nice ceremony." Ceremonies (a formal act or set of acts performed as prescribed by ritual or custom) such as weddings are meant to be nice, but they are not intended to be an end in themselves. You and I know, and ...read more

Scripture: John 6:51-57

"God's Recipe For Happiness"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 29, 2002

A sermon on happiness based on J.B. Phillips’ translation of The New Testament.

MATTHEW 5:1-12 “God’s Recipe for Happiness” BY: Rev. Kenneth E. Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA When I was a real young kid I used to like to bake cookies...cause I really liked to eat cookies and my mom would very rarely buy the store-bought kind. So, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Surrounded By A Cloud Of Witnesses

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Nov 16, 2001

A sermon from Hebrews

Hebrews12:1-13, Hebrews 11:1,2 "Surrounded by a Great Cloud of Witnesses" The sermon this morning is based on a part our lesson from Hebrews, plus a few verses from chapter 11. I would like to share these verses with you: from chapter 11:"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13, Hebrews 11:1-2

Denomination: Lutheran

5 Ways To Frustrate Failure Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Oct 30, 2007

Paul, here in his letter to the Thessalonian Church gives us five ways to frustrate failure, to keep ourselves from being overwhelmed by it, and to give us a gauge by which we can judge our own spiritual success – ie: our success before God!

5 WAYS TO FRUSTRATE FAILURE 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6a INTRODUCTION: Failure is something we all want to avoid. No one likes to be known as a failure. No one likes to be associated with a failed anything. We all tend to look at people who have failed with a little cynicism. What’s wrong with them? ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Could It Be Me?

Contributed by James May on Mar 25, 2008

Could it be me? Could I be the one who betrays Jesus? No matter how long we serve the Lord, there’s always a chance that we could fail.

Could it be Me? Wednesday, March 19, 2008 On the night before Jesus’ crucifixion we find him in the upper room, with all of the disciples as they prepared for the last supper. John 13:21-30, "When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto ...read more

Scripture: John 13:21-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Transforming Power Of The Word Of God Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Dec 12, 2005

#8 in a series on Hebrews. This sermon gives four reasons that we should not disregard the word of God.

A Study of the Book of Hebrews Jesus is Better Sermon # 8 “The Transforming Power of the Word of God.” Hebrews 4:12-13 I was thirteen years old when I first became aware of being under the scalpel of God’s word. It was then that ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-13, Hebrews 12:4-13

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus: The Most High!

Contributed by Kelly Durant on Nov 28, 2015

People live with too much stress.Jesus offers a way to deal with it. Man's ways fail.

Jesus: The Most High! Kelly Durant John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 2. When I first started out evangelizing in the 1970’s, there were a lot of drugs, oriental ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Salvation Army

More Than A Suggestion Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Feb 28, 2011

Exposition of Psalms 33 regarding reasons for us to praise the Lord.

Text: Psalm 33:1-12, Title: More Than a Suggestion, Date/Place: NRBC, 2/28/11, AM 1. Opening illustration: The church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men…the gravest ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

It Ain't Me

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Feb 13, 2013

This is the most dramatic testimony of Paul’s struggle with sin. I like this text because of the transparency. Paul identifies sin that is always lurking around trying to take a hold of every beleiver.

TITLE: IT AIN’T ME SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 7:17 As much as I place focus and attention on proper English, I found it fitting this morning to stray somewhat. I could not find a better or stronger word to use than “AIN’T” to help support my thought as we labor in the Word for a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:17

Denomination: Baptist

Travel Advisory

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 18, 2023

John contemplates the conversation over the Last Supper so long ago, especially the meaning of Jesus' advice to carry a sword.

What on earth was Jesus talking about now? There they were in Jerusalem, the culmination of the three years of traveling and teaching with the Master. They were in the city that was the center of their universe. Jesus had confounded all his questioners and accusers. The people had hailed him as a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:35-38, Ephesians 6:14-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Masturbation, The Spiritual Battle Against The Flesh

Contributed by Robert Irvine on May 24, 2024

Some say that the Bible does not mention masturbation or self-gratification or “solo sex,” as it’s sometimes called. They say that it is silent on the subject and that the Bible does not state whether or not masturbation is a sin.

I was asked about masturbation and what I thought of it. He then offered up, “Why is masturbation classed as a sin?” “I’m on Christian sites where people are saying that it’s all wrong and that you shouldn’t being stuff like that but surely God wants us to love either with a partner or ourself.” ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 38:9-10, Matthew 5:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

Words Have Power/ Don’t Babel

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Jun 4, 2022

We all grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, enlarging our understanding of the church and the faith. And then maybe we can overcome Babel by speaking one in Christ on this Pentecost Sunday.

This text is offered as an alternative First Reading for the Day of Pentecost, with the instructions that if it is chosen, then Acts 2:1-21 gets used as the Second Reading. Certainly, there have been connections made between Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-21, with people understanding God’s gift of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: United Methodist

The Harsh Words Of Jesus

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 11, 2016

The world wants peace... remember the Coca Cola song? Jesus notes that his peace is different ant this text is about "judgment" in regards to his Messiah ship. There is evil in the world... our own selfish nature would desire that we build bigger barns.

In Jesus Holy Name August 14, 2016 Luke 12:49,51 “The Harsh Words of Jesus” People want peace and harmony. We want peace and harmony for our families, for our communities and for our world. Personal security and national security are big issues in our communities. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-52

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Word It's Alive

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jul 25, 2017

News articles may inform us. Novels may inspire us. Poetry may enrapture us. But only the living, active Word of God can transform us. It is Alive. Updated October 2021.

I was twenty-four years old ... when I first became aware ...... of what it meant ... to be under the scalpel ... of God's word. It was then ... that I heard and understood clearly ... that I was a sinner .... and as such .... had no right to eternity ... in heaven. I remember being cut ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Mark 14:47, Isaiah 55:11, Hebrews 4:12-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

The Sin Of Partiality - James 2:1-13 Series

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Sep 15, 2015

Why is showing preference to the rich a sin? And, is it really as much of a sin as murder or adultery?

Today we are back into the book of James, the half-brother of Jesus, who is writing to Jews who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus, the Messiah, for salvation. These Christian Jews are scattered among the nations but the message is for us as well. We are gentiles, redeemed by the blood of ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Nazarene