Sermons on Make A Difference:

Making The Most Of The Good And The Bad - Rom 8:28,29

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 15, 2002

Making the Most of the Good and the Bad - Rom. 8:28,29

Making the Most of the Good & the Bad – Rom. 8:28 Illustration: DETOURS The year was 1920. The scene was the examining board for selecting missionaries. Standing before the board was a young man named Oswald Smith. One dream dominated his heart. He wanted to be a missionary. Over and over again, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:28-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul Of Arabia Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Oct 13, 2011

Our zeal and God's timing are often very different things. God knows when, where and how to make us ready for and get us started in our ministry so that we can experience our full potential.

Somewhat funny series of commercials that ask the same familiar question: ‘Do you wanna get away’. People find themselves in awkward or embarrassing situations and need to exit them as quickly as possible. Saul, soon to be Paul, was in just such a moment in his own life. One of the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:16-24

My Neighbor

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 18, 2018

Have you ever thought of what difference a word of compassion, encouragement, or affirmation can make in someone else's life? This sermon calls us to recognize others' needs and to show our love for them in the appropriate love language.

[Sermon preached on 26 August 2018, 14th Sunday after Pentecost / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] Somehow, widows have been on my mind this past week. Last Tuesday, I was contacted by a woman whose husband had just died. She asked me to arrange the funeral. That same day, I read the Bible readings for ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:8-18, Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Lutheran

Consider It All Joy? You Must Be Joking!

Contributed by Mark Roper on Nov 20, 2007

God uses many different kinds of trials in our lives in order to mold, awaken, and mature us, i.e., to make us lovely, Christ like people

Consider It All Joy? You Must Be Joking! James 1:2-1:4 Introduction: God uses many different kinds of trials in our lives in order to mold, awaken, and mature us, i.e., to make us lovely, Christ like people Preposition: Many times we balk at the very thought of suffering it. It’s ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Denomination: Church Of God

Are You Ready For The Bridegroom?

Contributed by Allan Quak on Jul 7, 2010

In the parable of the 10 virgins 5 make it to the banquet while 5 miss out. The difference was in the preparation - a lack of oil. Are we spiritually prepared or do we lack the oil?

Message Are You Ready? Let’s play a game – it is called “I Wonder”. I wonder if the student who got an “F” on their maths test would have studied more the night before if they had known that this was going to be their grade? I wonder if the alcoholic would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Stewardship Of The Tower Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 10, 2010

Whose tower is it that is being built? Who’s war is being waged? The answer to these questions can make all the difference in how we view our relationship with Christ.

OPEN: A man had heart bypass surgery. As he was recovering, his doctor prescribed an exercise program and it was emphasized that the patient had to do this program "religiously." A few days later, the man returned to his doctor, and the doctor asked if he have been exercising. The patient ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:27-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sunday's Here! Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 21, 2016

While Friday was the day of crucifixion, Sunday is the key piece to the story. Jesus' resurrection occurs on the first day of the week and makes all the difference. If there was no resurrection, none of this would matter.

1. Sunday’s Comin’ -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn94B3GHcjY 2. Sunday is here! It is the Son’s Day! 3. Justin Martyr’s (ca 130-165 AD) Description of early NT worship – “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer Of Examen & Prayer Walking

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on May 16, 2022

God wants to hear from us and He wants us to listen closely to Him. Try some of these methods and see what a difference it makes in your prayer life.

So far on Wednesday nights we have looked in detail at preparing ourselves to pray. We have looked at Breath Prayer, Contemplative prayer, Disciplined or Centering Prayer. Tonight, I want to take just a few moments and talk about the Prayer of Examen and then just a little bit about Prayer ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1, 1 Corinthians 2:10

Denomination: Baptist

The Trademark Of The Covenant Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 29, 2019

Circumcision was the "trade mark" of the Old Covenant. But what difference could that make to us? We're no longer commanded to be circumcised as they were back then.

Back in the 1990s, Reader’s Digest told the story of a soldier who was serving as a guard through the night. Early in the morning, he reported to his commanding officer who demanded, “Did you sleep well while on duty?” “What made you think that I fell asleep?” asked the surprised soldier. “Look ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Final Thoughts

Contributed by Horace Wimpey on Nov 8, 2014

In John's final thoughts and instructions as he closes this epistle, we see encouragement to pray for each other, admonishment for sin in our lives and a warning about the future.

Final Thoughts 1 John 5: 16-21 Intro: Don’t you just love this time of year. The air is brisk and there is a sense of cleanliness in the air this time of year. . Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. Tis the season to be jolly and happy. . There is another holiday that is ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

When God’s Ways Make No Sense: Be Patient And Pray

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Jun 23, 2019

THE HARDEST THING AT TIMES TO DO IS TO BE PATIENT AND PRAY AS WE WAIT FOR GOD TO MOVE ON OUR SITUATION.

WHEN GOD’S WAYS MAKE NO SENSE: BE PATIENT AND PRAY ISAIAH 55:1-12 WE ALL HAVE IN OUR MINDS A CERTAIN WAY OR PLAN THAT OUR LIVES SHOULD FOLLOW. THERE IS AN ACCEPTED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THAT OUR LIVES SHOULD TAKE, MUCH LIKE WHAT SOLOMON STATES IN ECCLESIASTES 3 WHERE HE SAYS: ECCLESIASTES3:1: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

"Joe Millionaire" (Does Money Really Make Us Happy?) Series

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on Jan 19, 2004

I talk about the right place of money in our lives.

Introduction: What would you do for a million dollars? Watch this video and listen to how people in our community answered that question. (WATCH VIDEO) In their book, “The Day America Told the Truth” James Patterson and Peter Kim reported that for ten million dollars, 25% of the American ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Matthew 6:22-24

Denomination: Baptist

Because He Lives

Contributed by Frank Walker on Oct 9, 2001

The Ressurection of Christ has different meanings for different people.

BECAUSE HE LIVES (Matt. 28:1-10) I. SOME SHOULD BE AFRAID (v. 1-4) Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” A. Because The Power Of God Has Been Revealed (1 Cor. 15:12-28) 1. Many people have tried to prove that Jesus did not rise from the dead. If they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10, 1 Corinthians 15:12-28

Denomination: Baptist

"making The Smart Investment:" The Parable Of The Rich Fool

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Jul 16, 2023

We live in a society pulverized by wrong priorities, crushed by debt, and pinned down by materialism, thus blocking our vision causing us to miss the life God has so graciously given. Today’s parable looks at where we’re investing our future.

Parables to Live By “Making the Smart Investment:” The Parable of the Rich Fool Luke 12:13-21 Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Et2cYUA6wQ Parables to Live By “Making the Smart Investment” Luke 12:13-21 We live in a society that is pulverized under the weight of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Foursquare

Make Me A Telescope - Philippians 1:19-21a Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 29, 2021

How to fill your life with more meaning and greater joy

Philippians 1:17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19-21