Sermons on Left Margin:

The Hope Of A Healthy Child Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 18, 2022

Left to themselves, children tend to grow up wild and untamed. And instead of growing to the full potential, they often grow up wounded and broken adults. What can we do to give them a life filled with hope, peace and a future?

OPEN: In the 1700s, there was a poet named Samuel Coleridge was talking with a friend who’d come to visit one day. During the conversation they got around to the subject of children. The visitor said “I believe children should be given the freedom to make all their own decisions. Parents should not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Failure Not Final Sermon I: Failure Not Final With The Father Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Mar 11, 2020

Despite failures, sins, mistakes, errors of judgment - God can make something beautiful of our lives if we refocus our priorities and renew our trust in Him to help us make the most of the time we have left.

FAILURE IS NOT FINAL WITH THE FATHER An oft-referred-to phenomenon to make the point that “no one is perfect and all have failed enroute to their ultimate objective” is the major league baseball statistic relative to Babe Ruth’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6, Genesis 16:1-5, Genesis 17:18-19

Stop The Chariot

Contributed by Reggie Corfield on Apr 26, 2024

The harvest is ready but the laborers are few! We haven't much time left to bring the lost sheep into the Lord's fold. If we truly love him, we should be about the Father's business.

How many of you love St. Peter jokes? Here is one which I hope ties into our message for this morning. It goes like this: A man arrives at the gates of heaven. St. Peter asks, "Denomination?" The man says, "Methodist." St. Peter looks down his list, and says, "Go to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Anglican

The Power Activator - James 2:14-19 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 6, 2021

How can you have assurance of your salvation? And how can a deceived person avoid having false assurance? James makes the answers clear by giving a clear definition of the one aspect of the gospel that is all too often left vague: exactly what you have to do to be saved.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-19

Fitting Jesus Into Your Mold

Contributed by Douglas Bryan on Feb 17, 2003

Too many times peopele, including Christians, fill their lives with all of their wants and desires and then try to fit Jesus into the room that is left. God said to seek first His Kingdom. We should strive to conform to His mold for our lives.

FITTING JESUS INTO YOUR MOLD Luke 18:18-27 INTRODUCTION: A. In the skit that our young people just performed we see that Jesus wasn’t very cooperative with their ideas about Him or about how He should act 1. Jesus simply did not fit into the mold that they had created. 2. Do you ever have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Luke 18:18-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Did The Jews Kill Jesus? Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Apr 4, 2004

Watch "The Passion" and you’re left with lots of questions: Could Jesus have prevented his death? Who’s responsible for this? Why did it have to happen? This sermon examines the charges that the Jews killed Jesus. *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

#2: True or False: The Jews Killed Jesus? ¡°He was wounded for our transgressions...¡± ¡°I could ask my Father and he would give me. . .¡± ¡°Cancelled the handwriting. . .¡± Col. 2:15? <Before the sermon, pass out a small piece of paper (besides the handout) to everyone, and a 16d nail.> Could ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, Colossians 2:15

Denomination: Holiness

New Clothes/New Life

Contributed by Paul Larsen on Apr 5, 2004

An Easter Sunday Sermon that reminds us that just as Jesus left his graveclothes behind we can leave behind our graveclothes of fear, despair and sin. God gives us the robes of righteous and a new life that begins right now.

Easter Sunday - New Clothes - New Life Alleluia! Christ is risen! Happy Easter. It is wonderful to have you here today as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the new life he gives us. A pastor went to see a man who lived in the community but never attended church. He told him, "We ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-19

Denomination: Orthodox

When God And Our Expectations Don't Meet

Contributed by Eric Schall on Oct 23, 2006

This message is from 2 Samuel 6 where David tries to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The day ends in disaster and David is left feeling angry, afraid and withdraws from the Presence of God. In life God will not always meet our expectations of

Intro A lot of us are focused on the future right now. With everything happening in the middle east and the focus upon Israel, the rise of Islamic terrorists and their anticipation of the Muslim Messiah (the Maha-di) coming on the scene, the constant wars and rumors of more wars… It is creating a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Character Of An Effective Church Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Dec 6, 2007

There is much truth in the humorous adage that some people make things happen, others watch things happen, while still others are left wondering what happened. What is true of individuals is also true of churches. Some churches are dynamic, aggressively

The Character of an Effective Church Acts 13:1-13 Intro There is much truth in the humorous adage that some people make things happen, others watch things happen, while still others are left wondering what happened. What is true of individuals is also true of churches. Some churches are ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Demonstration Of Royal Service

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Apr 24, 2012

Jesus had so little time left for the disciples to learn that the way to glory is through service and not through position and authority. How could Jesus get the message across forcibly enough so that they would never forget the truth? This is what led

Three weeks in John 13. Just before tonight’s passage, as recorded in Luke 22 and Mk. 10, the disciples had been arguing over who would hold the leading positions in the government Jesus was about to set up. The discussion was heated. They were caught up in the ambition for position and ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Deeper Significance Of The Unique Bethlehem Shepherds

Contributed by Bryan Douglas on Dec 15, 2012

The Bethlehem shepherds left their lambs being born in the fields to attend the birth of The Lamb of God who is also the Good and Great Shepherd. But, they were also unique as they pastored the Temple flocks of lambs who would die at the same place, time

The Deeper Significance of the Unique Bethlehem Shepherds "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:8) Shepherds are correctly included in every Nativity scene and church Christmas pageant … usually ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good Head--Bad Heart Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on May 1, 2008

The local church at Ephesus had a rich history of strong Christian leadership from Paul, through Timothy to John. They had been very effective in keeping their doctrine pure. But, in their zeal to keep themselves doctrinally pure, they left their first l

It seems as if the news is filled every day with scandals. Government scandals, corporate scandals, all kinds of scandals. It seems that even our own WVU is involved in a scandal. And this one doesn’t have anything to do with the football team. It seems that the governor’s daughter was awarded ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Song Of Moses And The Song Of The Lamb

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on May 24, 2009

The question is: are you able to sing the Song of Moses? Bible history reveals that Jacob left the land of Canaan for Egypt to look for food. The children of Israel were in slavery in Egypt for many years. Why did God keep them there that long?

THE SONG OF MOSES AND THE SONG OF THE LAMB Dr. D. K. Olukoya Isaiah51:11says,“Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” Here the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 51:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Be Careful What You Ask For

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Mar 28, 2009

Lent 5: James and John ask Jesus for seats of privilege at his right and left. Ambition, power and glory are often pursued - but at a cost. Glory to Jesus is much different than what we see... Be careful what you ask for!

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Christmas Story. The character around whom the story revolves is nine year-old Ralphie. Now more than anything else in the world, Ralphie wanted a Red Ryder BB gun. But every time he mentioned it, he would be rebuffed. Ralphie asked his momma for the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-40

Denomination: Lutheran

When He Needed A Friend

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Apr 8, 2009

Maundy Thursday: Jesus was abandoned on the night of his arrest. And the next day, Jesus would even be forsaken by his Heavenly Father. But Jesus didn’t forget about us and left us the commandment to love each other and the holy supper.

During WWII, six Navy pilots left their aircraft carrier on a mission. Afterwards, they tried to return to their ship shortly after dark. But the captain had ordered ‘lights out’ on the ship. That means that the ship was in total darkness. And if you’ve never been out in the middle of the ocean ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Denomination: Lutheran