Sermons on Literal Reading:

Just What Does "taken Up" Mean For Jesus?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 20, 2022

When I was ten, that meant that Jesus went up into the clouds and literally sat at the right hand of the Father, on a throne in the clouds. But no more.

Ascension Day One commonality that men and women my age have in the U.S., no matter what religion we were raised in, is the story of Jesus. If I bet money, I’d lay odds that anyone age 65 or older in 2022 can at least give a general outline of the life of Christ, even if he or she didn’t think ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47:2-9, Ephesians 1:17-23, Luke 24:46-53, Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Soul For Sale

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 3, 2009

In America, you can metaphorically and literally sell your soul and be rewarded for it. One wonders how the purchaser intended to collect. We can’t literally sell our soul, but we can lose our soul to gain something else. We need to ponder Jesus’ question

Opening illustration: One would think that selling one’s soul, as Faust offered his to the devil in Goethe’s Dr. Faustus, is only a figment of literary fiction. Medieval as it seems, however, several cases of soul-selling have occurred. Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Touched By Jesus

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 12, 2012

Jesus restored the leper, literally one whom society had pushed away, driven away, piled into the dump and forgotten about.

Touched By Jesus June 3 2012 Mark 1:40-45 Intro: At first he tried to hide it. Perhaps no one would notice. Maybe it would go away. It could be nothing. But instead of shrinking, it grew. His skin started to get blotchy. It broke open, began to ooze puss. The fear that had been ever ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Fit To Be Tied? Part Iii

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 1, 2022

For those who enjoy reading love stories, the Song of Solomon is a wonderful book to read.

This book teaches us many things about marriage. One has to do with communication. This is a problem in many marriages these days. Some... (1) Do not talk enough. (2) Talk too much. Illus: One wife said, "What's the idea? You yawned seven times while I was talking to you. " He said, ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 1:1-16, Song of Songs 2:8-14

Denomination: Baptist

Repairing The Altar Of The Lord

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 17, 2022

As you read through the sacred Scriptures, time and time again you read of altars.

Why? These people in the Scriptures understood the significance of altars. For example, after the flood, when Noah came out of the ark, he had a lot of things he had to do, such as: • Build a house for his family to live in • Plant a garden so his family could have food to eat But the Bible ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:30

Denomination: Baptist

A Church That Heals - Pt 2

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 2, 2008

A church that creates a healing environment and literally sees healing taking place is a church that focuses on the Good News and the positive dimensions of life.

A Church that Heals - pt 2 Thesis: A church that creates a healing environment and literally sees healing taking place is a church that focuses on the Good News and the positive dimensions of life. Scripture Text: Philippians 2:1-5: 14, 15: 1If you have any encouragement from being united with ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Helpful Senses Of Scripture Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 27, 2012

We can see in the writing of the story of Cornelius and Jesus's words about the sheepfold very helpful examples of the literal and spiritual senses of Scripture.

Monday of 4th Week of Easter Verbum Domini The richness of today’s Scripture readings should suggest to us a couple of responses. First, we need several hours of study of the text and its meanings. Second, we should, in worshipful awe, spend a few more hours before the Blessed Sacrament ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18

Denomination: Catholic

God's Plan From The Beginning

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 24, 2024

When Jesus came and died on that cross in our place, it was not an after-thought. God planned it all ahead of time. Literally ahead of time.

Alba 3-24-2024 GOD'S PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING II Thessalonians 2:13-17 Anybody who remembers watching cable TV in the 2000s will likely recall a Verizon commercial campaign in which a man sporting thick-framed glasses repeatedly asks in unlikely locations, "Can you hear me now?". ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Call To Action – "Get Up! Pick Up Your Bed And Walk”

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 12, 2024

I always enjoy reading the gospels and I regularly recommend to new converts to read the gospels for two reasons:

(1) Some parts of the scriptures are difficult for a new convert to understand, so I recommend they start off their Christian life reading the gospels that a child can understand. (2) Also, I recommend to new converts to read the gospels because it has many things to teach old converts and new ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

Denomination: Baptist

How Can I Live The Bible? Series

Contributed by Hal Seed on Nov 9, 2012

You can’t master the Bible, but the Bible can master you. This sermon encourages people to join the Bible Reading Revolution and describes how to spend 10,000 hours with the Bible in your lifetime.

[This sermon is contributed by Hal Seed of New Song Church in Oceanside, California and of www.PastorMentor.com. Hal is the author of numerous books including The God Questions and The Bible Questions. If you are interested in The Bible Questions Church-wide Campaign, please visit and watch Hal’s ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:97-104

Denomination: Baptist

Happy New Year - A Year For Spiritual Growth

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 22, 2021

Some people think God’s grace should cause you to relax your morals. Instead, the Bible says we should increase our effort … we should turn up our intensity because of God’s grace.

In just a few weeks the calendar will turn to 2020 – can you believe that? Can you believe we are about to see 2020? Our nation will elect or reelect a president next year. 2019 has been a big year for the stock market and for technology. Already the news channels are telling us about famous people ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2-11

Denomination: Baptist

Born Again?

Contributed by Thomas Fortini on Jun 5, 2021

People are confused on what it means to be "born again." The understanding of it can literally determine whether one enters heaven or hell!

John 3 (NIV) 1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-16

Bible Interpretation

Contributed by Gregory Thomas on Jul 20, 2008

Reading The bible with clarity

Bible Interpretation John begins his gospel with a series of declarative statements about the deity of Christ. In contrast to the other gospels, John begins his gospel in eternity past. Matthew, who portrays Christ as the King, begins with a genealogy to prove His Davidic ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Like A Tree

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Mar 1, 2008

Who reads the Psalms?

Like A Tree – Psalm 1:1-3 Introduction: Psalm 1 is anonymous. It is one of the “orphan psalms.” The theme is God’s Word and how it is to be loved, pondered, and obeyed by His people. It shows us God’s Word as the great safeguard against the blandishments and philosophies of the unsaved man. This ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 1:1, Psalm 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Living In Baal's Backyard Series

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Oct 1, 2015

This message focused in on Elijah at Zarephath which was literally right under the nose of the Baal worshippers. God sustained the prophet in enemy territory.

ELIJAH—A MAN OF LIKE PASSIONS 03 Living In Baal’s Backyard TEXT: 1 Kings 17:8-16 1 Kings 17:8-16 KJV And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, [9] Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Denomination: Pentecostal