Sermons on John Simmons:

He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Apr 17, 2021

what makes a ministry "successful?"

He Must Increase and I Must Decrease: An Exposition of john 3:22-36 Introduction Everyone wants to be popular. We also have a desire to have our egos stroked. We gauge our importance by how many followers we have on social media. We all want our posts to be liked. This is also important for those ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Wesleyan Quadrilateral In Theological Reflection

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 26, 2021

What is theological reflection, as a modern concept? Theological reflection is the process by which we come to understand reality as it truly is. The goal ultimately is to see God, the universe, the inspired word, and ourselves, as God sees it.

Introduction What is theological reflection, as a modern concept? Theological reflection is the process by which we come to understand reality as it truly is. The goal ultimately is to see God, the universe, the inspired word, and ourselves, as God sees it. This will naturally entail a limited ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16, Philippians 3:11, Hebrews 4:12-14, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Denomination: Salvation Army

Check And Checkmate

Contributed by David Roth on Oct 5, 2020

Jesus stumps the religious leaders who try to trap Him with questions about His authority. We need a Christ with authority from heaven, not earth. As Christians we battle against our flesh, which wants to follow the rules of the world were it is king instead of Christ.

J. J. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. (Ps. 19:14) “Check and Checkmate” You ever play chess? I’ve played it all of a handful of times. It’s on a board similar to a checkerboard, but it has all ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-27

Denomination: Lutheran

Get On God's Team Here Is My Time

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Nov 7, 2020

This sermon deals with the importance of giving our time to God. We never know how much time we have to serve God. We are either investing, wasting, or sharing our time.

Get On The Team It Takes Teamwork To Make The Dream Work Here’s My Time 11/8/2020 Psalm 90:1-12 Mark 3:13-19 We are in part 2 of our series “Get On The Team-It Takes Teamwork To Make The Dream Work. Last week Pastor Toby emphasized that if we are on God’s team, we are to offer our services ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-12, Mark 3:13-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Visitation Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 29, 2021

What has God done in your life; what has God done for you? That’s worth considering every day, both the big miracles and the tiny ones.

Visitation When we give our lives to our Lord Jesus Christ, everything changes, doesn’t it? Most of us, from childhood, are habituated to self-centered lives. Things are important to us if they do something for us, if we enjoy them, if they give us security, pleasure, excitement, money. People are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-56, Isaiah 12:2-6, 2 Samuel 6:14, Romans 12:9-16

Denomination: Catholic

A Conversation With A Cousin

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 15, 2022

In this passage of scripture we see something that is out of the ordinary in the life of John the Baptist.

Many times life becomes boring for some of us because day after day it is the same old stuff. But then some days we come to a place in life where things are not routine at all. We see such a situation in the Scripture passage we read a few minutes ago. John lived like we all do. He preached day ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Lumberjack God

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 7, 2019

John threatened the Pharisees and Sadducees that God would cut them down. We are all cut down to size from time to time, and we need it.

12.8.19 Matthew 3:10 Already the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. God has compared Himself to a dove, an eagle, a lion, a tower, a fortress, a counselor and a friend. Today God puts on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-17, Matthew 3:10

Denomination: Lutheran

The Prophets: People Get Ready Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Dec 16, 2019

Centuries before Jesus was born, Isaiah prophesied that Israel's warfare would be accomplished, and her iniquity pardoned. Who are we at war with? How is iniquity pardoned? And what does that have to do with Christmas?

Please open your Bibles to Isaiah 40. As we begin the season of Advent, we are going to look at some very familiar words from the Old Testament, particularly if you are a fan of Handel’s Messiah: “The voice of one crying: In the wilderness prepare the way of theLord. Make straight in the desert a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-5, Isaiah 9:1-6, Matthew 3:1-8, Galatians 4:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Invitation: Come And See Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jul 23, 2020

Are you following Jesus? That’s a question that we need to ask ourselves often. It is the key question of discipleship.

- Following Jesus - The Invitation: Come And See John 1:35-39 Introduction Are you following Jesus? That’s a question that we need to ask ourselves often. It is the key question of discipleship. We are going to explore the idea of following Jesus over the next few weeks. My hope is that ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forced To Do It

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Mar 12, 2024

Just because culture and society says it is good to do even though it breaks God's law, we should not do it!

Forced to do it Luke 3:7-17 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Luke 3:7 So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “aYou brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and ado not begin to say 1to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-17

Denomination: United Methodist

The Risk Of Not Being Quiet

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Mar 19, 2024

Christians need to speak up against woke culture. We need to be brave as John the Baptist

The Risk of Not Being Quiet Luke 3:18-20 Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz Luke 3:18 So with many other exhortations he preached the gospel to the people. 19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:18-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Soaking In Christ's "jesusness"

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 13, 2023

We are over our lifetime changed into His image. That’s what God wants for us, and that’s what we come together weekly to pray for.

Third Sunday in Advent 2023 (sermon 2) Many years ago I had a theology professor who told me that the secret to successfully teaching theology is found in this letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians: “Test everything.” And that’s actually good advice. First, if you are a manager–and all teachers ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-8, John 1:19-28, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, Isaiah 61:1-11

Denomination: Catholic

Restoring Parent-Offspring Relationships Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 19, 2023

Repent of any family sins we may have on our consciences.

Saturday before Christmas 2023 There is only one God, and He is not inside His own creation, of course. That’s not a spatial or temporal statement, because God transcends space and time; God is other than space and time. He exists, but it is unwise to call God the “Supreme Being” because that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:57-66

Denomination: Catholic

Was The Lord Pleased To Crush Jesus?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 16, 2024

God didn’t watch and enjoy the show; God gave everything so that we could participate in that “divine comedy” and experience for ourselves the happy ending.

Twenty Ninth Sunday in Course 2024 Each week our prayer group spends the better part of an hour reading and praying over the Scripture we hear on the next Sunday. That’s a great idea for a prayer group, particularly if there’s a trained leader present. We share what we have learned in class or ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, Hebrews 4:14-16, Psalm 33:4-5, Isaiah 53:10-11

Denomination: Catholic

Encounters With Faith (Luke 7)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 3, 2024

How do we react when encountered with faith? Let's look at Luke 7.

Are we sometimes amazed at the faith of those outside our church community? Whose faith healed a widow’s son? How great in God’s eyes is the least member of God’s kingdom? Can a sinner show more faith than many in our congregations? Let’s look at Luke 7. Centurion What was there about a Roman ...read more

Denomination: Baptist