Sermons on Laughter:

Does God Ever Withdraw His Favor?

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Mar 15, 2022

There is a belief in the church that when a Born-Again Christian sins or walks in disobedience, God withdraws His favor and blessings to punish them.

This belief is rooted in the Old Testament, where a relationship with God was conditionally based upon behavior. The Hebrew words translated as ‘favor’ are ‘ratson’ and ‘ratsah.’ The word ‘ratson’ is translated as favor, goodwill, acceptance, desire, pleasure. It most often represents God ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:7-11, Romans 5:3-4, Ephesians 2:4-7, Matthew 7:16-18, James 4:4, 1 Peter 5:6-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Cometh By…

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 24, 2022

Look especially at verse 6, we read, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Also, let us look at Romans 10:13-17 All churches that are Bible preaching churches, preach regularly on the doctrines of the Bible. Many of the doctrines of the Bible are both SIMPLE and COMPLEX. Faith is one of those doctrines. For example: • It is so simple a child can understand it • It is ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6

Denomination: Baptist

Who Can And Cannot Be Saved

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 25, 2022

The scripture says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

This verse of scripture sounds simple enough, but often even a familiar text needs some explanation. Something needing an explanation makes me think of the following little story: Illus: There was a criminal who was put in prison. The prison life had many new and different aspects. One of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

He Came To Me

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 30, 2022

There are days in our life that stand out above others and we will never forget those days as long as we live.

• We can remember the day we got married In all fairness, some of us men do forget our anniversary, which is not a good thing to do! Illus: One woman who knew her husband who could not remember what day they got married and as a result often forgot their anniversary, decided she would play a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

Fruit Of The Spirit # 2b

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 1, 2022

The Lord desires that His people take Him seriously, but that they not take themselves too seriously.

He wants them to wipe off their grim looks, put smiles on their faces, and let laughter flow from their lips. As we learned in the previous sermon: • The world can give us happiness because happiness comes from WITHOUT. • Only God can give us JOY because joy comes from WITHIN. When the lost world ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

He Came To Me

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 8, 2022

There are days in our life that stand out above others and we will never forget those days as long as we live.

• We can remember the day we got married In all fairness, some of us men do forget our anniversary, which is not a good thing to do! Illus: One woman who knew her husband who could not remember what day they got married and as a result often forgot their anniversary, decided she would play a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Gates Must Be Opened Series

Contributed by James Dina on Jan 11, 2022

If these gates remain shut, it will limit our service to God and hinder our destiny fulfilment; but when these gates are opened, we will have exponential church growth, improvement in our church finances and abundant blessings.

THE GATES MUST BE OPENED “When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him” (Acts 12:10) We shall ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:10, Mark 7:34-35, Isaiah 60:11, Revelation 2:25, Psalm 126:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Making Of A Monster Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 23, 2022

Our mind is a battleground. The battle to become more like Jesus takes place in our mind. There are mind monsters that we must confront. It is time to turn on the light!

I. Introduction I know some of you will think less of me after I admit to you that I can remember when I was a young boy that when I went to bed, I did not want to sleep with my hand hanging off the side of my bed! I know I am supposed to be tough and courageous, but I was afraid that something ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus Makes Bitter Better.

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jan 16, 2024

Only Jesus can take the bitter waters, the worst of life's circumstances that come to poison us and destroy us, and make us better.

As a couple exchanges their vows,( those vows include these words) for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, for better for worse. It could also be said: for better or bitter. Or bitter or sweet. Life just has some bitterness built into it. Everyone comes to bitter waters at some point in ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ash Moments

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Mar 23, 2023

What do you do with your sack cloth and ash moments - the times when the fires of life overwhelm you?

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3; Daniel 9:3 Theme: Ash Moments Proposition: 1. There is a Time and Place for Ashes 2. God can Take Our Ashes and Transform into Beauty INTRO: Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helen’s erupted. For nine ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Daniel 9:3

Denomination: Nazarene

Ecclesiastes Chapter Three Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jan 11, 2025

What if there was no God - what would life be like? It would be meaningless - Meaningless.... The book of Ecclesiastes looks at life from the view that there in no God. This is a verse by verse look into chapter three of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Three Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NASB) There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- Solomon's point in this section is that God has a plan for all people. Thus, he provides cycles of life, each with its work for us to do. Although ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Mother’s Heart Revealed Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Sep 17, 2021

Mother's Day: Sometimes we feel that mothers are perfect. This message reveals a near-perfect mother. From Naomi, we see a mother’s strength, her love for her children, and we learn some things about a mother’s personality.

As you already know, today is Mother’s Day. I would like to begin our message with a short story: A small boy invaded the lingerie section of a large department store and shyly presented his problem to a woman clerk. “I want to by a slip as a present for my mom,” he said, “but, I don’t know what ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Overcome By Obedience Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Sep 17, 2021

A truly amazing story in the OT is the promise that God made to Abram and Sarai that involved them having a son. Sarai unable to have children. The Promise was unexpected! As time went by, both of them passed the age of childbearing and there was a lot of mystery around God’s promise.

Overcome By Obedience Genesis 21:1-3; Genesis 22:1-14 Introduction A truly amazing story in the OT is the promise that God made to Abram and Sarai that involved them having a son. Sarai unable to have children. The Promise was unexpected! As time went by, both of them passed the age of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Moses Meets God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 11, 2021

God taught Moses that He demands reverence, promises His presence and reveals His essence to those who seek Him and obey Him.

J. B. Phillips in his book Your God Is Too Small tells of how he asked a group of young people to give a snap answer to the question, "Do you think God understands radar?" They all said no, and then they roared with laughter as they considered how foolish their answer was. It showed ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

The Pleasure Of Perfection Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

Psalm 84 begins with an expression of pleasure in God's dwelling place. "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty." There is a deep longing in this song to experience again the pleasure of being in this lovely environment where the presence of God could be felt.

Christians have always had mixed feelings about pleasure. They know God made us to enjoy many pleasures of life, and yet there are also the forbidden pleasures. These are often just extremes of what is acceptable. Sex is good, but immorality is bad. Food is good, but gluttony is bad. Abundance is ...read more