Sermons on Lose Focus:

All Is Now Yours: Giving What We Do Not Have

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 8, 2001

In uncertain times, it remains true that giving away what we cannot possess anyway is the path to fulfillment; it must, however, be a gift that refreshes the fainting.

It seems that we do not have what we think we have. Sometimes what seems to be ours is not ours at all. Buildings as sturdy as the Pentagon and as imposing as the World Trade Center can be destroyed in a moment of awful terror. Lives promising and beautiful are snuffed out, and there is little ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 16:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Peace--I Need It

Contributed by Neal Gray on Dec 12, 2001

The whole world, it seems, is in turmoil. Well, let it be so; but, I need peace. Jesus is the only One who has ever brought peace to my life, and so He is the One whom I shall follow, adore, and worship.

"Peace--I Need It, I Want It, God Desires Me to Have It" Author: Dr. Neal Gray Passage: Luke 1:67-80, KJV Purpose: The whole world, it seems, is in turmoil. Well, let it be so; but, I need peace. Jesus is the only One who has ever brought peace to my life, and so He is the One whom I shall follow, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:67-80

Denomination: Holiness

The Greatest Thing Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Feb 7, 2005

Looking at the Greatest Thing we need as we build the church.

In case you haven’t heard we’re building a church. Actually we’ve been building a church for 10 years and now we are constructing a Church facility. And I really need to thank those who are working with me on that, Mike Kneebone, John Greenough, Heather Stubbert, Bruce Barteaux, Louise Caza and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Wesleyan

Honesty With God

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 5, 2005

A sermon encouraging honesty with God (Much taken from Prayers from the Gut: An Honest Prayer Journal for Teens by Steven James. I adapted this to cover older adults)

Evening Sermon for 12/4/2005 Honesty with God Introduction: A. I am thankful for is my relationship with God. What makes me thankful about my relationship with God is that I can be real and honest with God. B. If I was completely open and honest with people, it would be a disaster. C. I am ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Missing The Message Of Christ Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Apr 14, 2008

It is dangerous to come to church faithfully and not commit yourself to Christ.

Missing the Message of Christ Hebrews 6:4-5 Purpose: To warn against relying on an external Christianity. Aim: I want the listener to find assurance of salvation in a changed life. INTRODUCTION: What you think you see is not always what you get. Many years ago there was a terrible railroad ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:4-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Gift Of The Kingdom

Contributed by Chris Surber on Apr 2, 2009

A sermon for Palm Sunday. We don’t have to worry in this life because we have received the gift of the Kingdom of God!

The Gift of the Kingdom! Luke 12:22-34 Introduction A certain man and his wife were taking their turn at what the man called “baby duty” in the church nursery. The man explains that “She does the diaper changes, I hold the babies when they are clean. It’s my idea of a fair division of labor. But ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:22-34

Denomination: Christian Church

Five Mothers Of Jesus

Contributed by Greg Nance on May 12, 2012

Matthew's mothers help us celebrate Mother's Day with lessons that challenge us, but bring us to deeper faith.

Happy Mother’s day! Today’s lesson will be a brief overview of the mothers listed in Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew with a focus on the most prominent quality of each. What would you say is the defining characteristic or quality in your own mother? Of all the things that stand ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wake-Up Call

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 1, 2013

Every believer has three enemies - the world system, the flesh, and the Devil. If we don't wake-up, heed and act on Biblical warnings, we will not only be spent but also taken down. God's truth is the best protection against Satan's lies.

Opening illustration: As we moved to our new home in the Middle-East after the government transferred Maureena and me to a previous location in the mountains, we never expected the place to be hiding scorpions which would show up regularly in our bathrooms and poisonous snakes that would appear in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In And For The World

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 15, 2011

God calls us to follow the example He set in loving the world, not simply reproaching it; and it loving it with self-giving and the intent to redeem.

Initially preached at Central Baptist Church, Lexington, KY, June 9, 1968; subsequently, with minor variations, at Capton Baptist Church, Campton, KY, August 18, 1968; Reid Village Baptist Church, Mt. Sterling, KY, March 1, 1970; Campbellsville BSU Retreat, Sept. 1970; Berea BSU Missions Banquet, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

After Thanksgiving... Family

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 6, 2008

How do we mature in Christ as a church? What are some of the main elements involved and how can we put them to use for God’s glory?

My sermon last week on Thanksgiving received more responses from you than usual. Responses are very helpful to me. Preaching becomes a one way conversation between the minister and the church pretty easily. I prayerfully seek to bring a message from the word of God for the good of our family here ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Holding On

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jun 21, 2010

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is hold-on.

Title: Holding On Text: Psalm 42 and 43 Having just heard the text you know doubt caught the gist of the Psalmist’s state of mind. If he was not depressed, he was most certainly discouraged and despondent about the circumstances of his life and the effect the change in circumstances has ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Living The Abundant Life"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Aug 16, 2011

What we can do to realize the plan that God has for our lives.

“Living the Abundant Life” August 21, 2011 John 10:10 Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Denomination: Holiness

Handling Discouragements Series

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 24, 2010

Let’s look more closely at the entire passage & discover, first of all, the source of discouragement; secondly, the causes of discouragement; & finally, how to deal with discouragement when it comes our way.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (This is the fifth of a Leadership series featuring Nehemiah. Some ideas & illustrations in these messages were based on or benefited greatly from, to ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:10-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Finish Line - Running The Race Of Life Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Mar 3, 2010

We are to neither run wild without direction, like a man running with poor eyesight, nor are we to look back at a past we cannot change, instead we are to live our life forward.

When I was a high school kid, one of the sports I competed in was Track and Field. We had a great track team and usually won our track meets by a large margin. One of the great assets we had was in the 100 yard dash, we had the kid that was the fastest kid in the whole league. His name was Andy. As ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:22-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You

Contributed by Herman E. Wesley Iii on Sep 12, 2010

There is a comfort in knowing Jesus. A comfort zone that is indescribable and satisfying, fulfilling and complete. In this 13th chapter of Hebrews, the writer is dealing with our ethics, Christian ethics, and he focuses on sexual purity, satisfaction

Evangelist Herman E. Wesley III I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FOSAKE YOU Hebrews 13:5-6 INTRODUCTION As has already been stated by the many preachers who have mounted this pulpit before me, the Book of Hebrews could be titled, "The Preeminence of Jesus Christ," for indeed, Jesus Christ is superior ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6