Sermons on Literal Meaning:

Matthew 5 - Part 2 - What Do You Mean Bankruptsy Is Ok? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 20, 2009

Who are the "poor in spirit"? Are they rich people with a poverty mentality? Are they poor people who are discouraged? Are they people who don’t have the strength of mind to make it in the world and Jesus wants to take them out?

Matthew 5 - Part 2 - So all of a sudden Bankruptsy is OK? When we lived in the Ukraine for a month, we witnessed incredible poverty. The beautifully ornate Churches over there have domes which are actually covered in gold leaf, but under them are the beggars. Such a contrast. I noticed at one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Exodus 22, 23 - What, You Mean God Is Interested In My Life? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 28, 2009

What these chapters say to me is that there is no part of my life that God is not interested in. He wants to guide my thinking and actions in terms of my relationships with others and with Him.

Exodus 22, 23 - God is interested in my life! My Mum suffered from corns on her foot. She was totally frustrated with this callused patch of hard, thickened skin and could not get relief. One day I invited her to Church and a woman spoke on healing. Invitations were given to come forward but my ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean That Jesus "takes Away The Sin Of The World"?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 18, 2020

A look into the idea from the Day of Atonement of the "scapegoat." Jesus doesn't just forgive our sin - He removes our sin, like a goat being taken away into the desert.

JOHN'S PROCLAMATION: Jesus takes away the sin of the world. - John 1:29. - This is an Easter truth that we love to proclaim – and rightfully so! - Jesus takes away the sin of the world. - Tell a story that emphasizes only the forgiveness part, not the removal part. - But what if we don’t ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29

Denomination: Baptist

God's Favor Does Not Mean A Straight Line Lesson 5 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 24, 2023

Hard times and trials do not mean loss of God’s favor. God’s favor means His presence, His guidance, His work through you, and your inner strength.

A. INTRODUCTION: WHAT GOD’S FAVOR IS NOT 1. Even in prison. “The Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor” (Genesis 39:21). 2. Joseph’s road down: a. Joseph’s favored status with his father. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children” (Genesis 37:3). Favoritism ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:21, Genesis 39:21

Denomination: Baptist

Them Bones, Them Bones, Them Old Bones And What They Mean To Us. Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 14, 2025

They had received their inheritance in the Promised Land, our eternal inheritance are we ready for it?

Them bones, them bones, them old bones and what they mean to us. Joshua 24:28-33. Last week I addressed promises that God had made to the people of Israel when they entered the promised land a land that they had been given some 400 years earlier in a covenant that God had made with Abram, who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:52, 2 Corinthians 5:1, John 3:16, John 11:25-26, John 14:1-4, Romans 6:23, Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 14:8, John 10:30, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9-10, Joshua 24:28-33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time- The Real Meaning Of "blessed Are The Poor In Spirit.”

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 22, 2022

The other, more important meaning, is that there will be a coming reversal of circumstances for those who are unfortunate, the marginalized, the abused, those who live in poverty, so these beatitudes are not just virtues to attain in this life.

Dear Abby, the popular advice column in the newspaper still published today with authorship changes, once received a letter that describes the "if only" attitude: "It was Spring, But it was Fall I wanted, the colorful leaves and the cool dry air. It was Fall, but it was Winter I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Catholic

What Does It Mean To Be A Man: Man-Boy Syndrome & A Life Of Greatness

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

What is manhood? What does it mean to be a man? Is it power? Is it strength? Is it having the biggest truck? Or the biggest house? Or the best kept lawn? Is it the family and white picket fence?

What is manhood? What does it mean to be a man? Is it power? Is it strength? Is it having the biggest truck? Or the biggest house? Or the best kept lawn? Is it the family and white picket fence? Is it finding true love in a wife? Is it raising children, and caring for grandchildren, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26, Job 4:17

Denomination: Salvation Army

What Christ’s Fulfillment Means For You - Matthew 5:17-18 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 27, 2024

How do you know what parts of the Old Testament law apply to you today? Why do we still obey the law prohibiting adultery but not the laws concerning stoning certain people to death?

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-18

What Does It Mean A Servant Does Not Know His Master’s Secrets?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Aug 10, 2025

The question asked is regarding servants not knowing the master’s secrets. So how do we obtain an understanding to the question given? By directing the verse.

What Does it Mean a Servant Does Not Know His Master’s Secrets? John 15:15 King James Version - Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. The Living ...read more

Scripture: John 15:15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean That God Has Given Us An "inheritance"?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 29, 2025

It's an odd phrase: we have been given an "inheritance" in Christ? What does that mean? It's not like God is going to die! The phrase doesn't actually point us toward death but toward the Exodus. What can we learn from that reference?

WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN? What does Paul mean when he speaks of us having an “inheritance” in the Lord? - Ephesians 1:14; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 3:24. - This is a phrase that has bothered me for a long time and I didn’t really have a great answer to it. There are a few places in his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

Narnia: Edmund's Joy Series

Contributed by Jeff Skinner on Dec 13, 2005

What is joy? True joy is based on God, but what exactly do we mean we say that?

Edmunds Joy (The Joy of the Lord is My Strength.) Philippians 1 And Nehemiah 8:10 The last couple of weeks we have been talking about the Movie Narnia. This weekend Friday and Saturday it had already grossed almost 68 million dollars. That is better than the first two LOTR movies did their first ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-6

Denomination: Holiness

Healing Church Pt 1 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 24, 2023

A church/ ministry that creates a healing environment and literally sees healing taking place is a church that focuses on the Good News of Jesus and on making right decision in life.

“The Healing Church 2023” Opening Remarks: Disclaimer on the screen – options for kids and teens to go to for this sensitive topic and message. Pastor Marlon and I attended the AACC Convention in Nashville Tn. last week and I was pressed by the Holy Spirit to talk about us being a healthy and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-5, Philippians 2:14-15, Philippians 4:8-9, Matthew 5:27-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Favour Series

Contributed by Derek Melanson on Dec 19, 2006

God’s favour means He uses the ordinary, involves adversity, requires obedience, gives us purpose, and provides hope.

Introduction We’ve all done someone a favour. And we’ve all asked for favours. We all have favourite foods, music, places to visit, etc. We talk about favourable weather and favourable circumstances. To use a negative example, some parents play favourites with their children. When we use these ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

It's Thanksgiving! Yada! Yada! Yada!

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Nov 18, 2007

Sitcoms made the term "yada" mean something boring, but the Hebrew term is the basis for a life of Thanksgiving that "in everything gives thanks."

It’s Thanksgiving! Yada! Yada! Yada! --I Thessalonians 5:16-18 In January and April of 1997 the hit sitcoms THE NANNY and SEINFELD coined a neologism, a new phrase that has come into popular use. That neologism is “Yada [“YAW-DAW’”], yada, yada!” Elaine Benes, the character in SEINFELD played ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Methodist

The New Birth Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Mar 16, 2009

A message that explores the meaning of the new birth in Christ

SERIES: “BE NEW” “THE NEW BIRTH” JOHN 3:1-21 Welcome. I haven’t seen a lot of you since last year. How are you doing? I pray that you prosper this year – physically, materially, and most of all, spiritually. Last year we had a theme – “Days of Discovery.” Most of our sermon series ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ