Sermons on John Shelby Spong:

"Fourth Sign" Feeding The 5,000 Series

Contributed by Dr. Rich Denning on Apr 21, 2017

This is part of a series on the Gospel of John.

INTRODUCTION: This is the fourth sign pointing to the deity of Jesus. This miracle is included in all four Gospels (See Mt.14:13-21; Mk. 6:30-44; Lk. 9:10-17). It held strong appeal, especially for those who had learned of Israel’s experience in the wilderness when God “rained down manna upon them ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Fifth Sign" Jesus Walking On The Water Series

Contributed by Dr. Rich Denning on Apr 26, 2017

This is part of a series on the Gospel of John.

INTRODUCTION: After feeding the 5,000 Jesus withdrew by Himself because He perceived the crowd would force Him to be king. He did not give any specific instructions to His disciples. However, they went to down to the sea and began a nighttime voyage across the sea to Capernaum. The disciples of ...read more

Scripture: John 6:15-21

Denomination: Pentecostal

Joy To The World, The Lord Has Come Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 2, 2017

In the account of Christ’s advent in John 1:19-37, we see a 1) Joyful Preparation (John 1:19-28), a 2) Joyful Arrival (John 1:29-34) and a resulting 3) Joyful Response (John 1:35-37).

If you're the type of person who counts down the days until your local radio station starts playing nonstop Christmas music, you might want to brace yourself for some bad news. Apparently listening to Christmas music on loop could have some negative effects on your mental health, according to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:19-37

Denomination: Other

Advent Spiritual Joy, Even Ecstasy: Gaudete Sunday

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 12, 2017

St. Augustine used a famous expression--the "joy of truth," gaudium de veritate. 

Advent 3B A professor was asked by one of his students, “What is the meaning of life?" The usual laughter followed, but the professor said "I will answer your question." Taking his wallet out of his hip pocket, he fished around in a leather wallet and brought out a very small round mirror, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-8

Denomination: Catholic

"Sixth Sign" Healing Of A Man Born Blind Series

Contributed by Dr. Rich Denning on May 3, 2017

This is a part of a series on the Gospel of John.

INTRODUCTION: This man had never seen a sunrise, sunset, a flower, or anything. He grew up in a world of darkness. This man’s blindness was not punishment for his sin or his parent’s sin. However, it is true that he would not be blind if it were not for the Fall of man and curse of sin. This ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Pentecostal

Adding And Subtracting

Contributed by Glenn Abel on Mar 21, 2017

A sermon on John the Baptist that focuses on John's humility and acceptance of his work as the one who prepared the way for the coming of Jesus. John's life is summed up in the words "He must increase and I must decrease."

Adding and Subtracting John 3:22–30 (ESV) “He must increase, but I must decrease” The third chapter of John is best known for Nicodemus and John 3:16 But this chapter also records an incident that is very important to the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus I. The ...read more

Scripture: John 3:20-30

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus As The Wakening Of God Series

Contributed by Dr. Michael Eaton on Aug 3, 2017

This is Chapter 6 of John On the Run: A Survey of the Bible New Testament Book of John. Pick up a copy of this book at https://www.amazon.com/John-Run-Survey-Bible-Testament-ebook/dp/B01MXR29PB/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 .

Introduction I went to Abilene, Texas in view to a call for the Holiday Hills Baptist Church. The term “In View to a Call” is what a church without a pastor ask the minister to do to try to discern whether God is calling him to pastor their church. I had a chance to meet with the deacons and ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-44

Denomination: Baptist

A Tribute To The Forerunner.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 4, 2026

This is a part of the testimony of Jesus about John the Baptist.

A TRIBUTE TO THE FORERUNNER. Matthew 11:11-15. MATTHEW 11:11. John the Baptist had been faithful in his ministry, and always pointed away from himself to the One who should come. There is none greater than John the Baptist, says Jesus. MATTHEW 11:12. John was not one for wavering, but rather ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:11-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Children At Play.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 4, 2026

Any excuse will do.

THE CHILDREN AT PLAY. Matthew 11:16-19. MATTHEW 11:16-17. The children were out in the market place, wanting to play in the streets. ‘Let’s play weddings,’ suggested the girls: but the boys would not. ‘Let’s play funerals,’ countered the boys: but the girls would not. MATTHEW 11:18. A preacher ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Encouraging Others To Succeed

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 17, 2022

This message looks at an account of how encouragement was extended to a young man who had made a mistake, and reveals that encouragement is greatly beneficial in our endeavors at expanding the Lord’s kingdom.

In a world where people are often quick to judge and criticize, we’re all in need of some encouragement, wouldn’t you agree? I am going to be preaching about encouragement this morning. So, what is encouragement? Well, it’s defined as “the act of giving courage, or confidence of success.”(1) I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From First John (1 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

1 John is called one of the “General Epistles,” because it was not sent to a specific church. Rather, it was sent to churches in general.

The three books of John are referred to as “letters, however, the first was not written in the form of a letter. For example, it has no salutation nor conclusion. In fact, it has all the characteristics of a sermon in which a pastor is revealing his love for God’s people. To have a good ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (2 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In the first sermon it was mentioned that in order to understand the books of 1, 2, and 3 John, we first needed to understand some things about the place John wrote from, Ephesus.

Because this is essential, I would like to refresh your memory before we get into the heart of this sermon. We dealt with these FOUR things about the Ephesian Christians: (1) THEIR HERITAGE. They were second and third generation Christians. Their parents and grandparents had been in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (4 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In 1 John, chapter one, John had the audacity to tell some of those who claimed to be saved that they were liars.

Evidently John never took a course in “HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE”. If he had taken it, he would have had a hard time passing the course. We know this because we see he called those people liars five times. He used “liar(s)” in: • 1 John 1:10. • 1 John 2:4. • 1 John 2:22. • 1 John ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (5 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In a previous sermon we dealt with what John had to say about how we can KNOW that WE KNOW THE LORD.

We discovered that anyone can say that they know the Lord...anyone! All one has to say is, “I know the Lord.” John used the word, “saith,” numerous times. He referred to it in: • 1 John 2:4. He said, “HE THAT SAITH, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Enemy Wants You On A Silver Platter

Contributed by Sean Dees on Feb 7, 2020

Church that lie the enemy is telling you that you just need to live and deal with that issue is nothing more than a lie from hell.

I. World of trouble. A. It is no secret that we are living in a “World of trouble”, just step outside and look around, open a magazine or newspaper, turn on the TV or radio or just stand in line at Wal-Mart and it want take long to see and hear bad news. We are surrounded by hurt and hurting ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:21-28