Sermons on Letters Of Commendation:

Smyrna: Riches Within Poverty

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 12, 2020

The second church Jesus instructed John to pen a letter was the church in Smyrna. It was situated within a city of great wealth and affluence, and yet many believers lived in poverty. They were not rich by the world's standards, but they were rich in grace.

Smyrna: Riches within Poverty Revelation 2: 8-11 Today we come to Smyrna, the second church within the series of letters John was instructed to write in the Revelation. It is interesting to note, that of the seven churches, only two received all praise and encouragement from the Lord, with no ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Voluntary Slavery Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

Paul was happy to be a slave to his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. The first thing he says in this letter to identify himself is that he is a servant of Jesus Christ. The word for servant is doulos, which is the word for slaves all through the New Testament.

In the early days of Israel if a man got into debt and could not repay he was not sent to prison, but was allowed to become the slave of his creditor. But it was not to be a permanent situation. When the 7th year came he would be liberated and be free to be his own master again, and begin to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Evidence Of Spiritual Strength Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Sep 14, 2021

Paul is wrapping up his encouragement letter to the Philippians by acknowledging their genuine concern for him, and by reminding them that circumstances have no power of his perspective--he knows that Christ in us is greater than any difficulty this world can produce.

I. Intro: GODZILLA MEAT! A. Want to be as strong as Godzilla?  Eat Godzilla Meat!  “Godzilla Meat—actually 3.5 ounces of corned beef from Tokyo toy maker Takara Company—is packaged with pictures of the stomping, fire-breathing, irradiated dinosaur made famous by movies that started ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-13

Timothy (Paul's Disciple) Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 3, 2022

This young man was so closely associated with the Apostle Paul that they shared his thoughts and work. However, we must assume the more profound knowledge of him conveyed by the Acts and Epistles and by the letters of counsel addressed by St. Paul to him personally.

Timothy Acts 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman… ________________________________________ This young man was so closely associated with the Apostle Paul that they shared his thoughts and work. He is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1

Denomination: Baptist

How To Stand Firm

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 24, 2021

Paul's key charge to Timothy in his letter is to stand firm for the gospel. In chapters 1 and 2 he's focused on why we should stand firm. In chapter 3, he gives attention to the how.

[SLIDE] I’d like to start today’s talk by showing you a picture. There is a crowd, going one way, and there is a man going the opposite way. The crowd aren’t giving him a hard time; it’s all quite peaceful. In the Christian life, we sometimes have to go against the majority. Quite often, in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What To Look For In A Leader Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Apr 30, 2023

Message 13 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

This past week Dr. Charles Stanley passed away. There is no denying that he had a tremendous influence in American Christianity over the past few decades, and ultimately, that’s what leadership is—influence. Dr. Stanley became well-known for teaching through a series of 30 Life Principles built on ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Love’s In Need Of Love”

Contributed by Kenneth R. Jenkins on Mar 8, 2022

Strangely enough, this four-letter word carries a lot of weight in every situation through many generations. What love may mean to you may not mean the same as I see it but everybody wants to know what love is.

Our subject from the Scripture that was in your hearing, is a question I would like to ask. A question we all should ask ourselves when it comes to the subject we will speak on and try through God’s word find a conclusion. I would like to speak to you through the Holy Spirit’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

How Do You Boil A Frog? Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 1, 2021

How do you boil a society? How do you boil a whole nation? Paul knew the recipe or formula two thousand years ago and he spelled it out very clearly in his letter to the Christian community in Rome.

We live in an amazing time, don’t we? We have laptop computers that are literally thousands of times more powerful than the room-sized computers we used to put a man on the moon – actually, 12 men have walked on the surface of the moon … so far. The computer which landed Apollo 11 on the Moon ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-25, Genesis 6:5, Ezekiel 10:4, Ezekiel 10:18, Ezekiel 11:23, 1 John 5:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Church Matters Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jun 13, 2022

In this introductory sermon to a series on 1 Timothy, we explore the relationship between Paul and Timothy and the reason that Paul wrote him this letter. Paul wanted to remind him of the way people should conduct themselves in God's household.

Introduction: A. How many of you like to watch home improvement shows on television, like Fixer Upper, Property Brothers, or Home Town? 1. We like to watch those shows in our household. 2. It’s amazing to see the home renovation those folks are able do with $100,000! Right? 3. But you know, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 1 Timothy 3:14-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God’s Purpose In Our Pain Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 11, 2023

Message 1 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

One of our pastors shared a story with me Thursday about a bittersweet moment that he experienced on Wednesday as he attended the funeral visitation of the mother-in-law of one of our former staff members. I wasn’t able to travel to the visitation myself but I have genuinely been praying for his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pushing Through The Pain Of Relationships Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 11, 2023

Message 2 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

I want to start off this morning by directing your minds to an encouraging place. I want you to think about the worst smell you have ever smelled. That’s an exciting thought, isn’t it? For me, I don’t even have to think about it. Growing up, I was a dockhand at a marina on Lake Michigan and we had ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Better Way To Live, Part 1 Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 11, 2023

Message 3 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

Most of you know that I grew up as a pastor’s kid (for some of you, that explains everything). And my dad became an expert over the years at helping wounded churches become healthy…today we call that revitalization. And during the time that I lived at home, he pastored three different churches…and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:7-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Better Way To Live, Part 2 Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 11, 2023

Message 4 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

How many of you have been following what’s happening down at Asbury University in KY? If you haven’t heard, last Wednesday (February 8) there was a normal chapel service that took place just like any other week. Normal music, normal prayer, normal message. I watched the sermon that was preached and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Choices That Change Us Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 16, 2023

Message 8 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

The Brule River, which is on the border between Michigan and Wisconsin, flows for roughly 44 miles with clear, sparkling water. It is inhabited by an abundant population of speckled, rainbow, and brown trout. At one point the Iron River, muddy and thick with sediment of ore and clay, merges with ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God’s Promise To Prodigals Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 25, 2023

Message 9 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

Finish this sentence for me: “This is going to hurt me… (more than its going to hurt you).” That is a lie that parents have been telling since the beginning of time. I grew up in the age of corporal punishment (i.e. paddling at home and at school). And while I’ll admit to having doled out a few ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:2-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational