Sermons on Losing Focus:

Starting The New Year Right

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 6, 2002

In this new year, we need to focus on: 1. Personal development. 2. Building relationships. 3. A life of service.

One of the positive effects of the recent tragedy our country experienced is that people appear to be shifting their priorities. People are centering their lives more on home and family rather than jobs and careers. We are looking again at the value of relationships, and even our relationship ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:10-16, Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Methodist

The Gift Of Marriage Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

Paul is trying to help Christians to be moral people in a very immoral world, and to do that he has to focus on the sex drive.

The most famous twins in history were Chang and Eng, born in Siam in 1811. They toured Europe and America repeatedly. They became so well known that all twins whose bodies are physically connected have ever since been called Siamese twins. By their early thirty's they had traveled the world, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7

Love The Lord Your God: Parenting Beyond Your Capacity

Contributed by Andy Payne on Oct 30, 2010

The reality is there is no perfect family. There is no perfect parent, parenting style, or parenting trick. “... God is more interested in using broken people than He is creating a better picture.”

Love the Lord your God Family Camp 2010 Intro: Perfect parents Parenting Beyond your Capacity Book by Reggie Joiner & Carey Nieuwhof “God isn’t holding up a perfect picture; He’s writing a bigger story.” Images of what the ideal family is Flood of parenting books, ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4

Denomination: Baptist

Seasons Of Grieving: When Grief Turns To Joy Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 31, 2024

Grief and joy are emotions that surround transitions. Anytime a change is happening, we experience grief.

Grief and joy, two intense extremes. What is grief? “Author Edgar Jackson poignantly describes grief: Grief is teaching yourself to go to bed without saying good night to the one who had died. Grief is the helpless wishing that things were different when you know they are not and never will be ...read more

Scripture: John 16:5-7, John 16:1-3, John 16:28-33

Denomination: Salvation Army

Duty Vs. Devotion Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Jul 30, 2002

Is it possible to serve the Lord out of habit rather than out of love? An examination of Martha and Mary illustrate the cost of a loss of focus.

A Study of the Book of Luke Sermon # 27 Duty vs. Devotion Luke 10:38-42 What brought you here today? Was it a sense of duty, you feel a sense of obligation, a responsibility to the Lord for all that he has done for you. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

The Twelve Tribes Of Israel Part 2 Northern, Dan, Naphtali And Ash Series

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Nov 6, 2011

Detailed individial look at each of the twelve tribes of Israel. With focus on the unique name and mission as a tribe fullfilling God’s plan.

The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Part 2) Northern, Dan, Naphtali and Asher “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” (Genesis 49:1) Intro: Last Sunday we started a sermon series titled “The Twelve ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spirits Of Pentecost

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Sep 2, 2006

The Holy Spirit offers his influence but he does not guarantee his empowerment. If we are not prepared to exercise the proper spirit toward the Spirit we will lose the intended blessing and anointing of God.

¡§Scrooge¡¨ is a classic story that emphasis the ¡§what¡¨ against ¡§what if¡¨. It is the story of a wealthy, miserly businessman who does not know any joy in life nor wills for anyone else to taste the same. He use to have heart but it died some years before. The spirits of Christmas past, present ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Salvation Army

Survivor: When The Tribe Doesn't Get Along Series

Contributed by Mark Milioni on Jan 11, 2001

This series is going to focus on how to survive in the situations of life and to teach us how is a man named Joseph.

Big news this summer, Survivor. High TV ratings, people were really into the survivors on the island and who would make it. Big bets, rumors, and whole new series to look forward to. Why was this show such a success? It was different, it was new, but I think that people tried to imagine ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1

Denomination: Baptist

"The Hands Of Christ: Mighty, Yet Humble.” (Mk. 14:32-36; John 18:2-12) Series

Contributed by Don Schultz on Feb 2, 2002

We focus on the hands of Christ, the mystery of his divinity, yet humanity and humility as he suffers for us.

One of the most complicated pieces of machinery in the world is the human hand. Take a look at your hand for a moment. We take it for granted because it’s there every day, it usually does the things that we want it to do. Your hand is one of the most delicate, yet complex parts of your body. ...read more

Scripture: John 18:2-12, Mark 14:32-36

Denomination: Lutheran

Your Investment Portfolio

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Nov 3, 2001

This sermon looks at what our focus is when compiling our ’treasure’ - a heavenly investment, or a worldly investment.

Our Bible lesson reminds me of a folk song we use to sing in Girl Scouts when I was a teenager. Maybe you’ve heard it before - I was always surprised to discover that a lot of the folk songs we sang were popular tunes from my parent’s days. This folk song was called “One Tin Soldier.” It talked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Methodist

Hisstory - Contagious Christianity Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 26, 2004

The Cross is a central focus of Christ’s story. But why? Why did Jesus need to die on the cross?

VIDEO – Session 7 – “Putting It All Together” (up thru the phrase “There’s No Middle Ground”) OPEN: Richard Bandler tells one story about visiting a mental institution and dealing with a man who insisted he was Jesus Christ - not metaphorically, not in spirit, but in the flesh. One day Bandler ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Marriage Of Strength

Contributed by Guy Glass on Apr 21, 2005

This message was used as part of a service involving the renewal of wedding vows. The focus is on the reponsibilities of the husband and the wife in a marriage.

A MARRIAGE OF STRENGTH EPHESIANS 5:21-31 Several years ago, the Saturday Evening Post published an article entitled “The Seven Ages of the Married Cold.” It revealed the reaction of a husband to his wife’s colds during their first seven years of marriage. It went something like this: ü The first ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Domino Effect - Truths That Trigger Series

Contributed by Rob Willis on Mar 8, 2006

Focus on truths that trigger God’s working in our lives when we believe and obey them.

Focusing on Truth – a Study in Ephesians Lesson Seven: “The Domino Effect” Subtitle: Truths that Trigger God’s Work Ephesians 1:15-20 Note: As I preached this message, I used dominos in the following ways: 1) I had the ushers hand one to every adult and teen in the service. 2) I illustrated what I ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Palace: A Place Of Injustice Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 9, 2004

This morning our focus is on how Pilate kept trying to slam the door shut but was unable to do so.

A couple weeks ago I stopped at a gas station on my way to make a hospital visit. As usual my mind was focused on a number of things, and I wasn’t paying attention to the howling hurricane whipping through the flat lands of Illinois. As I got out of the car, the wind pulled the door out of my hand ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:11-31

Denomination: Baptist

Essentials Of The Church- Part 2 Series

Contributed by Dennis Lawrence on Jan 27, 2005

In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul is clear that we’re not to be over-awed by the world and the physical, but to focus on Christ.

Essential of the Church- 1 Cor. 2 Townships December 12, 2004 The Corinthian church was an unusual church, yet not so much different, in many ways, from a church of this century might be. It had grown up in an environment of deep questing for excellence. People sought to know, to understand, to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational