Sermons on Look Outward:

Don't Look Back

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 5, 2025

Life leaves us with memories—some warm us, and some wound us. If we spend our time looking back, we risk missing the new thing God is doing right in us.

Intro: Danger of Looking Back Memories light the corners of our minds, but they can also weigh heavy on our hearts. They can warm us — or they can wound us. The truth is, some people are walking around half-dead because their past has become a prison. The question for us today is this: Are we ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14, Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

When The Cure Looks Like The Curse

Contributed by Patty Groot on Sep 16, 2025

This sermon calls us to lift our eyes from our wounds to Christ...just as the Israelites looked at the bronze serpent, trusting God to transform our places of pain into sources of healing and redemption.

Have you ever had to look at the very thing that hurt you in order to be healed? That sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? We tend to run from pain, not toward it. We avoid the memories that wounded us, the people who betrayed us, the experiences that left us scarred. But what if God invites us, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-15, Psalm 121:1-2

Don't Look Back

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 13, 2025

A divided heart can’t follow Jesus forward; revival begins when we release the past and choose full surrender to the future God offers.

There are some sentences in Scripture that land like a thunderclap though they contain only three or four words. “Jesus wept.” “Be still.” “Follow Me.” And then there is this one, spoken by Jesus Himself, with no explanation attached: “Remember Lot’s wife.” That’s it. No commentary. No ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:32, Genesis 19:17, Philippians 3:13, Hebrews 12:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

What Are You Looking Forward Too? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Encourage believers to let go of past mistakes and fears about the future, and instead focus on pursuing the heavenly prize with confidence in God's unchanging faithfulness and hope.

Good morning, church family! You know, I've been thinking a lot about the future lately - I think we all have. In these uncertain times, it can be easy to get caught up in the worry and fear of what's to come. But as Christians, we have a Hope that is steadfast and unchanging, a Promise that we can ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Topics: God's Faithfulness

Seeking The Things Of Christ: Look Up! PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 12, 2023

To encourage believers to focus their hearts and minds on spiritual matters, rather than earthly distractions.

Good morning, church. Today, we're going to focus on a message that's as relevant today as it was when it was first written to early Christians in Colossae. It's about setting our hearts on things above, tuning out the clamor of the world, and focusing on the thoughts of Jesus. In the words of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-2

Topics: Affections, Things Above

Who Do You Look Like? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 13, 2023

Explores our divine origin and purpose, emphasizing that we are created in God's image and called to reflect His likeness in our lives.

Beloved friends, as we gather here today in the house of the Lord, I am reminded of the words of John Calvin who once said, "We are not to reflect on the wickedness of men but to look to the image of God in them, an image which, covering and obliterating their faults, an image which, by its beauty ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27

Topics: Image, Likeness

The Almighty Snap Shot

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Mar 2, 2011

Share how we can live our lives best as possible for Jesus Christ and stop being so concerned about our appearances

We always say that it is the inside that counts and not what is on the outside. But do we really believe this? 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Denomination: Other

Words Of Life

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 13, 2021

Jesus spoke words that are still spirit and life. How can mere words be spirit and life? What does that mean? Let’s discuss why Jesus’ words are described as spirit and life in John 6:56-69.

Prelude Jesus spoke words that are still spirit and life. Purpose: How can mere words be spirit and life? What does that mean? Plan: Let’s discuss why Jesus’ words are described as spirit and life in John 6:56-69. Eat My Flesh John 6:56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, ...read more

Scripture: John 6:56-69

Denomination: Baptist

What Does A Deeper Life Look Like Series

Contributed by Dan Cale on Oct 24, 2006

This is the first in a series of sermons looking at developing a deeper walk with Christ. It addresses the issue of shallow Christianity and what a deeper life really looks like.

Going Deeper Pt 1 Of all the things that I became convinced of during my time away perhaps the most important is that God is calling me and us to a deeper walk with Him. We live in a time that is marked with shallow Christianity. The world around us screams at us that it’s true. The Church of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Denomination: *other

Overcome By Paying Attention To Your Heart Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Oct 22, 2021

The iconic statement is our consideration this morning: “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Pay Attention To Your Heart 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Introduction A few years ago Forbes Magazine published an article by Ty Kiisel about how appearances impact our work lives. In the studies he looked at he noted that people who are tall are generally paid more. More, those who are blonde, who work ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Does Holy Living Look Like? Series

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Mar 7, 2022

This the last message of this series. what does holiness look like in everyday living? All Scripture references are in the NASB.

What does Holy Living look like? Perhaps this message should have been the first message in the series rather than the last. We must remember, we have been called to holiness: 1 Peter 1:15–16 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Back To The Basics - Baptism Series

Contributed by Rick Boyne on May 29, 2012

Baptism is the first outward demonstration of the salvation that has happened on the inside.

Back to the Basics - Baptism May 20, 2012 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: Baptism is the first outward demonstration of the salvation that has happened on the inside. Focus Passage: Romans 6:1-7 Introduction: The story is told about the baptism of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

"Defiled Religion, Defiled Hearts"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Aug 25, 2008

God is concerned with true worship from the heart, not outward observances.

“The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Orthodox

From Physical Rebuilding To Spiritual Renewal Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Jul 19, 2008

Changing not jsut the outward but having our spiritual lives renewed

From Physical Rebuilding to Spiritual Renewal Intellectual Response – Nehemiah 8:1-8 Know your Need Know the Word Emotional Response – Nehemiah 8:9-12 Volitional Response – Nehemiah 8:13 -18 Slide 1 Introduction This week, I finally got to wear this blue striped shirt that I bought about 5 ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep It Clean

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Aug 29, 2024

Jesus desire us to stay clean on the inside not just the outward.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Just Keep It Clean Last week just read it today just keep it clean, or is Jesus trying to get our attention. This people honors me with their lips but their hearts are far from me;7 in vain do they worship me,? teaching human precepts as doctrines.’8 “You abandon the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Methodist