Sermons on Letters Of Commendation:

The Hope Laid Up For You Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Apr 26, 2022

In the times and cultures of the Colossian church, hope was a commodity hard to come by. In his letter to them, Paul instructs them where they can find the kind of hope no one can rob from them.

I. Introduction A. There is a story about how the caverns north of Yellowstone National Park were discovered. As the story goes, one of the original explorers was walking along the top of that mountain and fell through a hole, and he dropped down several hundred feet into this cavern and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 10:17

Walk Worthy Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Apr 26, 2022

In the times and cultures of the Colossian church, hope was a commodity hard to come by. In his letter to them, Paul instructs them where they can find the kind of hope no one can rob from them.

I. Intro A. This is another of Paul’s “prison epistles,” written from the barracks in Rome (as he did with his letter to the Philippians) and in the company of Timothy B. Points out Epaphras (not Epaphroditus, a messenger for the Philippians), likely founder and pastor C. He expressed ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14, Romans 11:33, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:14-17, 2 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 3:16-20, James 1:2-4, Matthew 5:12, Revelation 2:10, Romans 8:17, Psalm 103:12  (view more)  (view less)

Hope For A New Year Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Apr 26, 2022

In the times and cultures of the Colossian church, hope was a commodity hard to come by. In his letter to them, Paul instructs them where they can find the kind of hope no one can rob from them.

I. Intro A. There is a poignant scene in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, where Jesus is carrying His cross down the Via Dolorosa. Upon seeing Mary, His mother, Jesus says, “Look, mother, I am doing a new thing.” B. For us, every day is a new thing, but some days have more importance than ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20, Philippians 2:6, John 1:14, John 8:58, John 10:30, Romans 8:29, John 1:1-3, Romans 11:33-36, Revelation 22:13, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 2:19, John 5:28-29  (view more)  (view less)

You Are....in Jesus Christ

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Jul 21, 2018

As Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians, he tells us four things that we are in Jesus Christ. We are blessed, chosen, adopted, and sealed in Jesus Christ. The sermon also has suggestions for illustrations.

There are many times in life in which your standing affects what you say. For example, if someone who is better than you, at let’s say bowling, really beats you and then tells you that you are actually really good (although you had a lot of gutter balls), you can feel insulted. Or, when a single ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Sardis: Socially Active But Spiritually Dead

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 3, 2020

Sardis was the fifth church Jesus addressed in the Revelation. While the letter was shorter than the others, this one was the most severe. Apparently, Sardis has assimilated into the culture - with little difference known between the church and the world.

Sardis: Socially Active but Spiritually Dead Revelation 3: 1-6 As we continue to examine the churches to whom John sent letters, we come to the fifth – the church at Sardis. Of the seven, the message to Sardis was the most severe. They were content to rely on prior works and a reputation from the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Workers And Bosses

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Dec 1, 2019

Most of us are pretty good at knowing how to behave at church. But how does Christian faith apply in your workplace. The Apostle Paul gives some real wisdom for us in his letter to the Ephesians.

Imagine with me that we aren’t in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, but in the Greek city of Ephesus. And it’s not this morning. It’s the first century. And the routine of going to church is very different. There is no church building. We come to church in a house, the home of one of the few ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:5-9, James 1:7, John 8:36

Divisions And Wisdom Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 16, 2018

One of the principal objectives of this letter was to correct the problems which had arisen in the Corinthian church; the first one the apostle mentions is the divisions which existed there. He urges the members of that church to come together and . . . .

JULY 16, 2012 Commentary on First Corinthians By: Tom Lowe Lesson 2.1: Divisions and Wisdom Scripture 1 Corinthians 1.10-1.17 1 Cor 1.10-17 (KJV) 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

If --- No Sadder Words

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 10, 2016

If is one of the largest two letter words? No sadder words of pen or tongue than the words what might have been? God can take this mess and change people! Little effort? little fruit!

THE BIG 2 LETTER WORD: IF --- NO SADDER WORDS --- By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Do we really accept the OLD MAN IS DEAD --- THERE CAN BE A NEW MAN... FOCUSED WORSHIP CHANGES HEARTS, ATTITUDES, FAMILIES, CHURCHES AND OUR SOCIETY... 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Free At Last

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 13, 2018

The Magna Carta of spiritual emancipation, the Declaration of Independence from salvation by works, and the Manifesto of Gospel Liberty are only a few of the phrases we could use to describe the main theme of Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

Title: Free at Last Text: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1). Scripture Reading: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Take God's Name In Vain Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 21, 2021

God’s name is sacred. It’s not that His name is magical. It’s not that the three letters of His name to be used for incantations. It’s because His name represents His essence.

This Memorial Day we continue our series on the Ten Commandments. How are you progressing on memorizing the Ten Commandments? Two weeks ago we saw the “Who” of worship when we examined the first commandment – “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2). God has always been a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:7, Proverbs 18:10

Denomination: Baptist

Pray Relationally Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 19, 2024

In a single word (Father) from the Model Prayer, Jesus conveyed deep truths (From Red Letter Prayer Life by Bob Hostetler, chapter 5 with same title). Taught to a Sunday School class

HoHum: What have you asked (and received) from your father or mother that you would never ask from any other person? WBTU: I’m just Dad to them- no reason to put on airs with good old dad. Believe it or not, that is the sort of attitude Jesus urges on His followers. This is fundamental to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9, Ephesians 1:4, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5-6, Mark 14:32-36, John 5:19, Matthew 11:27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Is Well With My Soul Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 8, 2020

Among all the conquering heroes of Hebrews 11, God introduces us to those who suffered, struggled and died for their faith. Why would God tell us the stories of those who didn't "succeed"?

OPEN: I love a good action movie - the kind they used to make. Movies where good overcomes evil; the boy gets the girl; righteousness triumphs and the hero rides off into the sunset. Those are “feel good” movies because everything works out the way it should. One website talked about the movies ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-4, Hebrews 11:35-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Greatness Through Worship Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 30, 2024

Worship should be done in "Spirit and in Truth"... but what does that mean? How will I know when I've worshipped that way? And what difference would it make if didn't worship that way?

OPEN: A few years ago, Scott (our Family Minister) and I heard that a church building over by High School was for sale and Scott thought it would be a great place for a youth outreach program (Scott’s a genius at lining up grants for things like that). Obviously, we didn’t purchase it … but we did ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Through The Faith In Christ Jesus Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Mar 8, 2025

Discuss the theme: “Through the faith in Christ Jesus.” This lesson will review how the apostle Paul's Letters describe how the believers are justified by “the faith” in Christ Jesus. This lesson establishes that salvation is possible “through faith and obedience” to the gospel.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. Through the Faith In Christ Jesus Introductory Remarks. 1. This lesson is presented to assure all who seek Christ's salvation can receive it through faith and obedience to the gospel of the Son of God. Paul, the beloved apostle, has assured us of this fact in his Letter ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:24-26, Romans 6:17-18, Romans 10:16-18, Romans 3:22-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Does Jesus Desire Of You?

Contributed by Tony Abram on Dec 25, 2006

What Does Jesus Desire of You? 1. It is quite common to see young people wearing a bracelet, T-shirt, or other article of clothing with the letters "WWJD" a. WWJD stands for "What Would Jesus Do?" b. Many young people like wearing something desig

What Does Jesus Desire of You? INTRODUCTION 1. It is quite common to see young people wearing a bracelet, T-shirt, or other article of clothing with the letters "WWJD" a. WWJD stands for "What Would Jesus Do?" b. Many young people like wearing something designed to remind them to always ask ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20