Sermons on Locked Down:

Swallowed Up

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 11, 2013

Any time you run from God, you never go “up"; you always go “down.” God sometimes allows us to face frightening circumstances so that we will learn to trust and obey Him. It’s always best to obey the Lord right away - then we won’t be “swallowed up.”

Opening illustration: Being shocked by electricity can be very dangerous. Just ask professional golf legend Lee Trevino. He was struck by lightning while sitting under a tree during a tournament several years ago. He said, “It bolted my arms and legs out stiff, jerked me off the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Days Late

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 29, 2021

When Christ delays answering our pleas, how shall we respond? God is merciful, even when it appears that Heaven in silent.

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

How To Enjoy God Through His Creation - Psalm 8:1-2 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 8, 2025

This sermon explains how to use not only the most amazing things in the creation to increase your delight in God, but also the disappointing things—even disappointing people to increase your joy in God by seeing how your disappointment in them draws lines that point to God’s majesty.

Psalm 8: For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. 1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-2

Escaping Your Prison Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 2, 2020

As Christians we're supposed to live a different life than those around us. But how can we do that when we're surrounded with so many temptations to do things we know we shouldn't do?

Back in the 14th century, in the region we now call Belgium, there was a duke by the name of Raynald III. Raynald had a nickname – Crassus. Crassus means fat, and he was fat because he really liked to eat. He liked to EAT … a lot! In the course of time, he had a violent quarrel with his younger ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Memento Mori

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 6, 2021

We prepare to live by preparing for death.

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Reign At His Coming Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Nov 2, 2017

To establish that when the Lord returns, that shall be the end. And there will be “no rapture, no seven years of tribulation, and no 1000 year reign” upon the earth, at the second coming of Christ.

INTRODUCTION Outline. Reign (1000 years) at His Coming Remarks. 1. In our lesson series today we are going to be discussing a theme: “the reign (1000 years) at his coming.” We have addressed the first two theories in pre-millennialism already in this lesson series: “the rapture and 7 years of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Teacher's Pet Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 19, 2018

I want to be Jesus' teacher's pet. I want to be His favorite pupil. This passage gives us the key to pleasing Jesus and becoming more like Him in my life. (Spoiler alert - it has to do with how I treat people I don't like)

OPEN: A great scholar was once asked about a young man who was in his class. The person said, "So and so tells me that he was one of your students." The scholar just smiled sadly and said, "Well, he may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students.” What was that scholar saying? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-45

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Examining The Heart Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 12, 2022

With Examining the Heart, the law brings 1) Inward Conviction (Romans 2:17-20), 2) Outward Failure (Romans 2:21-24) and requires a matching of the 3) Inward to the Outward (Romans 2:25-29).

Romans 2:17–29. 17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:17-29

Denomination: Other

Time For Fear - Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

The timing of all the seasons of life, positive and negative and beautifully orchestrated by God, and he has planted a desire in the human heart to see that beauty and the meaning of it all. And yet, we can’t see it. Why did God make it that way?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; 3 a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; a ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

More Than Cheerleaders Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 27, 2015

This is the gift that greases the gears of the church. Without this gift a congregation becomes lifeless and empty. What is this gift, and why is it so important to God's church family.

OPEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnVuqfXohxc I’ve been waiting months to use that clip. It’s clever. It’s cute. And whether you realize it or not – it is deeply theological. Think about it… what did it show? It showed lot of animals that don’t ordinarily ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Message In 1peter – Number 7 – Shepherding The Flock Of God – Message For Pastors, Ministers, Elders, Shepherds – 1peter 5:1-3 - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 19, 2023

Where has church leadership failed? How should all pastors (shepherds) behave towards the flock of God? We look at Peter’s requirements for this high position. Remember the words “accountability to the Chief Shepherd”.

MESSAGE IN 1PETER – NUMBER 7 – SHEPHERDING THE FLOCK OF GOD – MESSAGE FOR PASTORS, MINISTERS, ELDERS, SHEPHERDS – 1Peter 5:1-3 - PART 1 [A]. SHEPHERD THE FLOCK OF GOD What grazier (rancher) would ever entrust his animals on agistment (feeding livestock at a designated location) to a farm ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-3, John 21:15-17, John 10:14-15, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 1:9, 1 Peter 4:17, Ephesians 4:11-12, Isaiah 40:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Risk, Investment, And Getting Old - Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 31, 2025

One of the biggest obstacles to enjoyment of life is the troubles connected with old age. This message will show you how to enjoy life even amidst the ravages of aging.

11:1 Send your bread on the surface of the waters, for after many days you may find it. 2 Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don't know what disaster may happen on earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or the ...read more

The Tyranny Of The Experts

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 3, 2021

A study of the danger posed when experts assume control over a society, over a community, or over a church. The message is a call to participatory Christianity.

“Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-36

Denomination: Baptist

Godly Submission Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 23, 2021

1) The Command (1 Peter 2:13a), 2) Motive (1 Peter 2:13b), 3) Extent (1 Peter 2:13c-14), 4) Reason (1 Peter 2:15), 5) Attitude (1 Peter 2:16), and 6) The Application of Submission (1 Peter 2:17).

1 Peter 2:13-17 [13] Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, [14] or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good [15] For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Denomination: Other

Finding The Faith Of Our Heroes - Part 9: Never Give Up On God! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 21, 2023

Never give up on God because... 1. He can break giant barriers down (vs. 30). 2. He can turn sinners into saints (vs. 31). 3. He can turn us into godly heroes (vs. 32-35a). 4. He gives us strength when we suffer (vs. 35b-38). 5. He promises us a perfect ending (vs. 39-40).

Finding the Faith of Our Heroes Part 9: Never Give Up on God! Hebrews 11:30-40; Joshua 2:1-13; Joshua 5:13-15; Joshua 6:1-5 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared October 21, 2023) BACKGROUND: *We have been going through Hebrews 11 to study the faith of our Old Testament heroes. And through them all, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:30-40, Joshua 2:1-13, Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua 6:1-5

Denomination: Baptist