Sermons on Look Upward:

The Relationship Of Believers To Religionsists Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Aug 28, 2024

We live in a world of religion and religionists. The world even looks at believers as religionists, but we aren’t.

So far in chapter 15 of the gospel of John we have talked about: • The relationship of Jesus to the people of the world. • The relationship of Jesus to believers. • The relationship of believers to believers. • The relationship of believers to the world. Tonight, we move into chapter 16 and look ...read more

Scripture: John 16:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Cross (Mark 15)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 8, 2024

What do we do about the events of the cross? Let's look at Mark 15.

How did Jesus answer false accusations? Why did they release an insurrectionist instead of Jesus? What time was the crucifixion? Who else was crucified with Jesus? Did people mock Jesus? Did Jesus quote a Psalm on the cross? After about 6 hours on the cross, when did Jesus die? What happened to the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Brought To Life; Brought Together

Contributed by David Taylor on Sep 10, 2024

Today we look at how the marriage union is designed to reflect/display the church’s union with Christ.

We are finishing up chapter five of Ephesians in our series, Brought to Life; Brought Together. We started this section by looking at God’s vision of marriage, to display Christ’s relationship with his church (5:31-32). Then we looked at Paul’s instruction to wives to respect and follow their ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:28-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Community Task (Exodus 36)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 15, 2024

Are there tasks in the church for the whole community, those who are willing? Let's look at Exodus 36.

Was building the tabernacle very much a community task, all who were willing? Is building a healthy local church also an undertaking involving the whole congregation, all who are willing? Let’s look at Exodus 36. How did Bezalel and Aholiab proceed to work with the freewill offerings of the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Inspecting The Tabernacle (Exodus 39)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 20, 2024

Do the various parts of the tabernacle and priesthood picture Jesus? Let's look at Exodus 39.

Had Israel built the tabernacle and priest’s clothing just as the Lord had commanded? What might the various components picture about Jesus? Could Moses’ final inspection be a type of judgment of our lives? Let’s look at Exodus 39. Is there significance to the people’s obedience, as the Lord ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 26, 2024

What does the sin offering foreshadow about Jesus? Let's look at Leviticus 4.

What kinds of sin do we all commit that are unintentional? Why is the sacrifice for a priest and the whole congregation’s sins greater than a community leader and an individual common person’s sins? Why are these last two offerings mandatory and not voluntary like the first three? Let’s begin with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Clean & Unclean (Leviticus 11)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 7, 2024

Do clean and unclean laws still apply to Christians? Let's look at Leviticus 11.

What was the purpose of clean and unclean laws, including edible and inedible foods? Was it purely ceremonial or were there possible health considerations? Are they still relevant to Christians? Let’s look at Leviticus 11. Which creatures could they eat and which were forbidden? Do cattle, sheep, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Seinsible Birth Laws (Leviticus 12)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 7, 2024

Were the laws around birth millenia ahead of their time? Let's look at Leviticus 12.

Were God’s laws millenia ahead of modern science? Various sources state that the blood clotting agents, vitamin K and prothrombin, are at optimum levels on the 8th day after birth. Circumcision provided health benefits for a future wife, drastically reducing incidences of cervical cancer. Let’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Improving Your Mental Health

Contributed by Ivy Drafor-Amenyah on Oct 10, 2024

This sermon looks at the need to appreciate the issues of mental health, and find ways of improving your mental health.

Peace of mind comes from focusing on what is good and lovely. We find a lot of strength in environments where we are loved and appreciated. But what if things are not so lovely around you? And what if you are carrying the burdens of broken people and do not have boundaries that allow you to relax ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:5, Acts 4:23-30, Isaiah 26:3, Ephesians 3:16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

An Offensive Message (John 6)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 28, 2025

What parts of Jesus' message offends us? Let's look at John 6.

Do we water down Jesus’ message because it offends us? Let’s look at John 6. With a large crowd following Jesus, did they have enough money to feed them all? After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, to Tiberias). A large crowd kept following him because they ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Rivers Of Living Water (John 7)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 29, 2025

Why do people either love or hate Jesus? Let's look at John 7.

What kind of teacher was Jesus, cautious and weak or bold and confronting? Let’s look at John 7. Did members of Jesus’ own family believe in Him? Do we have doubters in our families? After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, because he didn’t want to travel in Judea, since the Jewish leaders ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lazarus (John 11)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 2, 2025

What happened surrounding the miracle of Lazarus' resurrection? Let's look at John 11.

What happened to Lazarus? Why did Jesus weep? Why did religious leaders plot? Let’s look at John 11. Why did Jesus return to a village where He could be in danger? Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Honor, Criticize Or Kill (John 12)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 3, 2025

Do we honor, criticize or kill faith in Jesus? Let's look at John 12.

Do we honor Jesus with our best, or criticize those who do, and plot to kill Jesus in our churches by avoiding or watering down His Gospel? Let’s look at John 12. How did Lazarus’ grateful sister Mary honor Jesus with her best? What criticism did Judas Iscariot make? Six days before the Passover, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Makes Jesus Angry? Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Jun 4, 2025

Main thought: we will look at the things that brought Jesus to a righteous anger and another demonstration of his messiahship.

Background to passage, Matthew 21:12-17: The day following the triumphal entry. Passover. Last week of his life. Began to open the can on Sunday. Full on charge today against the establishment. He said early in his ministry that he was Lord of the Sabbath, take he says he is Lord of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17, Matthew 23:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Bearing Fruit (John 15)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 5, 2025

What does bearing fruit have to do with faith? Let's look at John 15.

Are we attached to Jesus or man-made church traditions? Do we have a living faith that obeys Jesus and produces fruit? Let’s look at John 15. If we are saved by faith alone, why are the unfruitful cast into the fire? If we remain in Christ will we be fruitful? “I am the true vine, and my Father ...read more

Denomination: Baptist