Sermons on Kingdom Without Pretense:

What Is Church?

Contributed by Greg Nance on May 3, 2011

This may be one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Christian faith. A look into the word of God in Matthew brings to light the amazing calling that Jesus intends for us.

What is Church? Listen to Matthew 16:13-28. Pay attention to how Jesus describes "Church," his path, and our relationship with Him. Matthew 16:18 gives us the first mention of the English word “church” in the New Testament. In all of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John this word “church” only occurs ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Revelation 18-22

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 20, 2022

Revelation reveals a righteous king and kingdom to come. But first, will this world’s Babylonian system end?

Revelation reveals a righteous king and kingdom to come. But first, will this world’s Babylonian system end? “He cried with a mighty voice, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great…” (Revelation 18:2a WEB) Are kings and merchants alike corrupt? “Babylon's evil and immoral wine has made ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Generosity

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 24, 2022

This sermon is about the false narratives that surround the idea of "generosity" or "giving" and the things that hinder Christians from having a generous spirit.

I want to start off by saying giving in the Christian life is not so much an external action. Something that we do out of guilt or obligation, but really what we do in response to the love of God and the generosity of God. A generosity that we try to imitate as we seek to be more like Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 1:16, Deuteronomy 8:18, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Denomination: Christian Church

Water To Wine Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jul 13, 2022

This sermon focuses on Jesus' miracle of turning water to wine at the wedding at Cana, and two applications gleaned from it for believers today.

If you have your Bibles and you want to follow along, we are going to be looking at the second chapter of John starting at verse one. While you are looking that up, I will ask a quick question. How many of you tend to watch some of those shows like Dateline or 60 Minutes? Mostly the older ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian Church

Spirit Poured Out (Pentecost Sunday) Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on May 22, 2021

Pentecost worship is about joy, and the invitation is to let the Spirit be poured out on “you” is plural. It was because they were gathered together that this happened. This is a Devine hug of welcome and Joy.

Sermon “What does this mean?” This is a story of the Spirit poured out—like water from a pitcher or from a hose. Yeah, from a hose, with a thumb pressed against the opening so it shoots across the yard and soaks the giggling, screeching children who are running with glee from the icy spray but ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: United Methodist

The Sower's Hope

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jul 13, 2020

Here's the question we must answer: are we called to sow the Kingdom Seeds in despair? Or do we sow them in hope?

July 12, 2020 Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Erickson Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Isaiah 55:10-13 The Sower’s Hope Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Huge crowds came to see Jesus. People from all over came to see the famous rabbi ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Isaiah 55:10-13

Denomination: Lutheran

When What God Asks Seems To Be Too Much Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 22, 2024

This passage challenges the self-centered "gospel of self-fulfillment" that is too often proclaimed today. What does it mean that God wants us to focus on the "gospel of kingdom fulfillment"?

A HARSH STORY: God gives Ezekiel a task that overwhelms him. - Ezekiel 3:14-15. - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-18. - This is a tough story and it’s going to lead us in this sermon to some difficult points. - We’ve been talking for the first two sermons in this series about the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

They Spread The Gospel Of Christ

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 26, 2024

He, and all those other witnesses, would see Jesus Christ in glory, and share an eternity of joy with Him.

Solemnity of Peter and Paul 2024 So today we celebrate as a Church the two founders of the Church of Rome, Peter and Paul. The Scriptures, then, concern these two men, whose work to spread a local phenomenon called “The Way” all the way around the Mediterranean world. In the end, both of these men ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19, 2 Timothy 4:6-18, Acts 12:1-11, Isaiah 22:15-25

Denomination: Catholic

The Commissioning Of The Apostles Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jan 13, 2024

Acts 1:6-8 shows us that the mission that Jesus gave his apostles began with his commissioning of them.

Introduction Luke wrote two books. The first book is called The Gospel According to Luke. His second book is usually called The Acts of the Apostles. The two books together are part one and part two of the same story of Jesus. Luke said in Acts 1:1, “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:6-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Everyone Who Belongs: A Life That Matters, Reign Of Christ, Year B Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Nov 21, 2021

Reign of Christ Sunday is a marker for the end of the liturgical year. It is a way of saying we wrap up a year’s worth of worship by claiming again whose we are in the Kingdom.

Reign of Christ Sunday is a marker for the end of the liturgical year. It is a way of saying we wrap up a year’s worth of worship by claiming again whose we are. This is the last Sunday of the Christian Calendar year and the most important. On this Sunday we reiterate our mission – to make ...read more

Scripture: John 18:33-37

Denomination: United Methodist

Repent

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Mar 20, 2021

This sermon is about the various meanings of the word - Repent with primary emphasis on the idea of a "changed life" i.e, reorienting your story to God's story.

Last week we began a new series called What Shall We Do? Responding to What God has Already Done for Us. Really that question is a very biblical question because it comes out of the Bible. It is the question that the crowd collectively asked Peter after he gave the sermon of his life on the day ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38, Mark 1:14-15, 2 Corinthians 7:10

Denomination: Christian Church

That Mighty Little Mustard Seed

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 3, 2018

out of something small can come great things

Mark 4:30-32 Have you ever seen a mustard seed? I have one in my hand, but unless you are very, very close to me, you will not be able to see it. This little seed is one of the most mysterious seeds in nature. It is hard to believe that from this tiny little seed, a plant that grows . . . and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-32

Denomination: Episcopal

Our New Identity Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jun 9, 2017

Ephesians 2:19-22 gives us a portrait of our new identity in Christ.

Scripture Today I am concluding a series of sermons on Ephesians 2 that I am calling, “God’s Plan of Reconciliation.” Ephesians 2 has two main sections. The first is verses 1-10, and the second is verses 11-22. Each section addresses our past, our present, and our future. Regarding our past, the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Co-Ministry With John And Leaves For Galilee Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 1, 2017

John’s disciples are jealous of Jesus and His disciples. -AND- Jesus goes to Galilee. This is the area where He grew up, because Nazareth is there. Also, Capernaum is by the Sea of Galilee, and He has made that city His home base.

Harmony of the Gospels (Two Lessons) Judea Co-Ministry with John John 3:22-30 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenen near to Salem, because there was much water there: and they ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-30, Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:14, Luke 4:14, John 4:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

From Tension To Certainty - Short

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Mar 20, 2018

The tension Jesus must felt as He approached His passion must of been tremendous but He knew it was His Fathers will. A will of Love.

From Tension to Certainty - short John 12:27-34 IT was Jesus’ claim that when He was lifted up. He would draw everyone to Him. There are some who take this to refer to the Ascension and who think that it means, that when Jesus was exalted in His risen power. He would draw everyone to Him. But ...read more

Scripture: John 12:21-34