Sermons on Leaving Religion:

The Bird Feeder Series

Contributed by Robert Tennant on Oct 30, 2000

In this response to the prophetic call of Haggai 1:3-8, the church is called to leave places of comfort and risk loving those in the world who desperately need to be reached.

The Birdfeeder (Haggai 1:3-8) Robert J. Tennant Greenbrier Baptist Church, October 15, 2000 There once was a man named Jeff. Did you catch that? I said, “There once was a man …”. What does it mean when someone says, “there once was a man”? It means I am telling, ah yes, a parable. This is a ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:3-8

Denomination: Baptist

From Follower To Disciple

Contributed by Mark Holdcroft on Aug 24, 2003

The disciples became followers of Jesus when John the Baptist pointed Him out, however they only became true disciples when they were willing to leave everything.

From a Follower to a Disciple In the early years of the first century the people of Israel were waiting for the Messiah to come. They were waiting for the person who the prophets had spoken of, to come and set the people free. A man then appeared in the wilderness. He started baptising people ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-51, Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Closing The Loose Ends Of Your Life

Contributed by Scott Sharpes on Aug 27, 2003

A message dealing with all the loose ends of life that tend to zap our energy, leaving nothing behind for revival. What can you do to change it?

Title: Closing the Loose Ends of Your Life: Preparation for Revival: 08/31/03 West Side A.M. Service Text: Matthew 8:18 and 19:16-22 Labor Day Purpose: A sermon of preparation for revival, as well as a message dealing the all the loose ends of life that tend to zap our energy, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22, Matthew 19:16-22

Denomination: Nazarene

Burying Sara

Contributed by Steve Lotze on Mar 27, 2007

Sometimes in our lives and in the life of a church there are things that God wants us to leave behind, and until we do we cannot embrace the powerful promise of the future.

Burying Sara Gen. 23 Though the passing of this year was not as spectacular as Y2K, it is none the less a very important threshold we have crossed. We’ve just crossed over into the new millennium! - (Explain: no year "0") Culture has changed From agricultural (radio) Industrial (TV) ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 23:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funeral Sermon For Pat

Contributed by Ronald Harbaugh on Nov 6, 2005

A funeral sermon for a member who nearly died in a car crash 6 months earlier, only to die in an accident later, leaving a wife and two small children.

Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, through your Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds to your Word, granting us a renewed and strengthened faith, that we might find comfort in your grace, and hope for the future. Enable us to trust in your gift of eternal life, accomplished for us through the ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-44

Denomination: Lutheran

Forty Days That Changed A Life 5.

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jun 25, 2005

The principle in this is that God is the God of a second chance. God had every right to leave Jonah in the belly of that fish. But isn’t it wonderful God is the God of a second chance?

Forty days that changed a life 5. Jonah 3:1-10 06/26/05 We are continuing our study of forty days that changed a life. This time, we want to look at forty days that changed an entire city. This story comes from the book of Jonah and in the life of Jonah. Again as the rest of the stories we have ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Place To Start

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Dec 7, 2002

Second Sunday in Advent: The evangelist Mark starts with John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness. He seems to leave out Christmas. But perhaps, for us, it is a ’good place to start.’

The Gospel Lesson today is one of the most interesting Advent / Christmas lessons in all of scripture. I say that because - did you notice that something seems to be missing? There is no mention of Christmas in this Gospel. Mark mentions neither the miraculous conception nor the birth of Jesus. And ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8, Mark 1:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

A Word Of Warning From The Amen

Contributed by Jack Warford on Oct 11, 2001

Jesus leaves the worst of the letters to the seven churches for last, because they received no commendation for doing what was right. They were a phony church, a church simply playing church.

Jesus leaves the worst of the letters to the seven churches for last, because they received no commendation for doing what was right. They were a phony church, a church simply playing church. It is important for Pastors to remember that this letter was written to us by the Apostle John and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abba, Father

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jun 18, 2001

Our God is no fair-weather Father. He’s not into this love-‘em-and-leave-‘em-stuff. WE can always count on Him to be in our corner.

Quote: “Insanity is an inherited disease. You get it from your kids.” Into: Nine things you will never hear dad say: 1. Well, how ’bout that? I’m lost! Looks like we’ll have to stop and ask for directions. 2. You know Pumpkin, now that you’re thirteen, you’ll be ready for unchaperoned car ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24, Romans 8:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Painting God's Masterpiece Part 4 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Jun 13, 2009

Part 2 on leaving the land of WERE. Message focuses on how God gave us insight into what we can be through Christ if we accept it.

Painting God’s Masterpiece Part 4 Living In The Land of WERE Part 2 Scriptures: Deut. 4:9; 14; Matt. 13:54-58; Eph. 1:3, 11-14; Rom. 6:14-18 Introduction: Last week in part 3 of my series “Painting God’s Masterpiece” I focused on living in the land of WERE (Where Every Remembrance ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Knowing Christ Is Our Greatest Gain

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Apr 17, 2009

Lent 5(C) - Knowing Christ is our greatest gain. It means we leave behind sinful pasts and we press on toward God’s goal.

KNOWING CHRIST IS OUR GREATEST GAIN (Outline) March 29, 2009 -- LENT 5 -- Philippians 3:7-14 INTRO: Our world makes many promises of “great gain”. Recently those grand promises of great gain have become great losses. Such are the empty promises of a sinful world. Not so with the God’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Mary’s Prayer – Handling With Grace The Upheaval Of Your Entire World Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 17, 2011

God’s call will effect change, challenge, and will leave us with a choice as to how we’ll respond to it. It certainly did in Mary's world!

Luke 1:38, 46-56 Intro: (audio of Roosevelt’s speech: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”) Last week we remembered the 7th of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-56

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon On The Mount (4) Series

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Feb 25, 2011

The Paradox to worry You have two choices in life 1. Build the kingdom, rest in Christ and leave the rest to God - or 2. Enjoy worrying Be my guest

Sermon on the Mount (4) The Paradox to Worry - Mt. 6:24-34 Story: A business manager went on holiday to an island in Greece. One day, while he was on the beach, he was called up on his mobile phone by his secretary, wanting some help. He gave her some instructions and told her to call him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34

Denomination: Anglican

"I Have Not Been Truthful" Part Ii Series

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 18, 2014

Preaching in the flesh might make people excited but there is no change in the people when they leave. It is only by the power of The Holy Spirit that the message of Salvation will cut to the marrow of the heart and soul.

The Ultimate Decision September 17, 2013 A number of weeks ago I spoke at a church and was told that everything was different when preached. I had people come up to me afterwards and say "You are changed". "Wow, God was in this room tonight". This past week we have reached over 100,000 new ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:16

Thy Will Be Done Series

Contributed by Neal Gracey on Jan 14, 2017

People sometimes leave their long term commitment with the church for the wrong reasons, or snap decisions that don’t make sense at all. I am going to d

Thy Will Be Done? I left the church I grew up in after 50 roller coaster years. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t because of the roller coaster that I left. I learned from that and gained experience and a wonderful knowledge of scripture and the importance of wisdom. It was because of the roller ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, 1 Corinthians 5:13-14

Denomination: Baptist