Sermons on John The Baptist Preaching:

Understanding God's Word, Part 1: The Message Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Aug 18, 2009

This is the first of four messages titled, "Understanding God"s Word." Today, we will see that in order to understand God’s Word, we must have the right message.

I have looked forward to this chapter ever since I started preaching in Ezra, two years ago. When we were in Ezra, we looked at what I consider to be my life-verse. Ezra 7:10 says, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Circumcision And Other Cutting Edge Issues Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jul 22, 2010

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcisio

Cicero's first rule of public speaking was, "render your audience benevolent". We preachers tend to follow that rule by opening our sermons with a joke. But what do you do when the passage you're preaching on includes a statement from St Paul such as the one we find in Galatians 5:12: "I wish that ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-12

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Remarriage Is Adultery Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 27, 2009

Jesus said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Every now and then you find yourself tacking a Bible passage that just doesn’t lend itself to starting your sermon with a joke. Today’s Gospel reading is one such passage. For divorce is no laughing matter, and of course I know that first-hand. Indeed, not only did I experience the divorce of my ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-16

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Life Is A Box Of Chocolates ... Not! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 29, 2009

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) Yes, I’m quoting God from the book of Job, chapter 38, second verse - a book that I’ve finally decided, reluctantly, needs to be looked at.

I say reluctantly because it’s a depressing book, and depressing not only because it deals with the series of depressing events that befall the story’s main character, but depressing too because the man’s search for an answer to his problems never gets a result that I find satisfying. I’m assuming ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

It’s Not The Messenger, It’s The Message

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 9, 2013

Paul was direct and focused on what he had to do; he was a messenger of Christ, not of himself or anyone else and he knew it.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Storms & Questions Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jul 5, 2009

That day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let’s cross to the other side." So they left the crowd and took him along in the boat just as he was. Other boats were with him. A violent windstorm came up, and the waves began breaking into the boat, so

I’m conscious this morning that we’ve had another baptism, which is wonderful, but I do get the feeling sometimes that when parents bring a child to baptism they are sort of quietly hoping that the experience might have a soothing effect on the child. After all, isn’t that part of what good ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Failure Of The Resurrection! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 10, 2010

There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the

I don't know how many of you were at this year's annual 'Smith Lecture', but it was a good night - highly stimulating and intellectually challenging - and afterwards Ange and I got into a discussion over dinner where she made the comment that the older she got the more impressed she was at how ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Just Do It! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 10, 2010

..."Will any one of you who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat an

I have not always been an Anglican! In my late teens - in the days following my rather dramatic conversion experience - I found myself gravitating naturally towards the more charismatic end of the church. Maybe it was because it was more youthful and energetic. Maybe it was because I felt at home ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Committed To Promoting The Gospel Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Sep 28, 2016

Even though Paul was in bonds, he rejoiced that the Gospel continued to be preached. He refused to allow his circumstances create despair. We too must seek every opportunity to share our faith, while rejoicing for others who are committed as well.

Committed to Promoting the Gospel Philippians 1: 12-18 As one reads the opening verses of this letter, it is not immediately evident that Paul was bound in prison. His joy and positive attitude conceal the difficulties he faced daily. Although he was not free to move about within society, Paul ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

Speak The Truth, And Speak It Boldly

Contributed by Craig Condon on Feb 9, 2017

If we want to be used by God, we have to purify our hearts. God uses all kinds of people., but only if they are clean on the inside. If we want to purify ourselves, we have to confess our sins, repent and accept Christ as our Saviour.

The reading from Paul’s second letter to Timothy is part of the final letter Paul wrote. He wrote this letter from his prison cell in Rome, and he knew that he was about to be put to death. Both of his letters to Timothy contain instructions for both ministers and Christians. Paul tells ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-26

Denomination: Anglican

An Illustration Of Worship Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Sep 29, 2019

Nehemiah called all the people to come together before the Lord for a time of celebration and dedication. This was also a time of worship, as the people called for Ezra to bring the Word of God and read it in their midst. Their worship was centered in the Word.

An Illustration of Worship Nehemiah 8: 1-6; 9:3 This was a very special time for the people of God. The Babylonian captivity was over and the Jews had returned to Jerusalem. God had blessed them abundantly as they rebuilt the city. To celebrate all that God had done, Nehemiah called all the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-6, Nehemiah 9:3

Denomination: Baptist

Martyr Stephen Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Nov 10, 2020

Stephen had tried to convince Sanhedrin about their graceless character and arrogant behavior. He cites examples from history as well as their ancestors' conduct towards prophets and godly but died as Martyr.

Acts 7:51-60 Revelation through Death of Deacon Stephen 7:51-53 Confrontational Preaching of Stephen 7:54, 57-58 Conditions of the Ungodly 7:55-56, 59-60 Confident of Stephen Acts 7: 51-53 Confrontational Preaching Stephen had tried to convince them about ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

Denomination: Methodist

"Seven Sins Of The Pulpit"

Contributed by Dr. William D. Poovey on Apr 23, 2015

Paul was determined to know and preach nothing except Christ and Him crucified . Today, it seems we preach everything but Christ and the cross, causing many to live as enemies of the cross..

Matthew 4:1-11 Mark 4:17-22 "Yes or No" You Decide. A few years ago Gloria and I were traveling on one of the freeways our on our way home from vacationing some place in the south, I can't remember exactly where we were coming from. All of a sudden, all I could see ahead of us were braking ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

Denomination: Foursquare

Simple Leadership: Elders Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 28, 2015

The New Testament pattern for church leadership is not personnel committees, democracy, influential families in the church, or hierarchies. It is simply a group of men known as elders who study and seek to follow God’s Word.

Simple Leadership: Elders ( I Timothy 5:17-25) 1. We usually think of authority issues when it comes to parents and teens. 2. One teen recently blogged, “Today, my mom screeched at me about my pillowcase being dirty and finished off one long rant with an irate "Who raised you to be such a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Abreviated Messages

Contributed by Craig Benner on Jan 11, 2015

Not all messages that a preacher preaches get finished. Many factors come into play that can interrupt the sermon. Some are from the enemy; yet sometimes it is God Himself that intrudes for a more lofty reason.

Abbreviated Messages Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Many kinds of messages: encouragement, challenge, exhortation, consolation, prophetic, etc. Most of them get preached to the last point. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:20

Denomination: Pentecostal