Sermons on Make Believe:

Wrestling With God Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Mar 23, 2018

In the darkness, which we all feel at times, Jacob wrestles with God. He asks for assurances of blessing (which he already had), but instead, he gets God! Jesus also wrestles in the garden, giving up control, and God raises him from the dead.

WRESTLING WITH GOD—Genesis 32 (Children’s Message: afraid of the dark?) Are you afraid of the dark—or the darkness? Maybe the darkness is in the hospital, or a war zone, or you found yourself jobless or on the edge of bankruptcy. Maybe the darkness was anguish over children, or marital ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Did Jesus Die?

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Mar 24, 2018

Jesus died a very brutal death and Christian know that by his death we have life. But at the time what were the charges that the Jews had to warrant death and why did they pass Jesus over to the Romans to do their dirty work?

Why did Jesus Die? The ministry of Jesus lasted just over 3 years and we have the gospels that relate and record that ministry. A wealth of material to guide our Christian living, to offer us hope and to give us a strong faith. And yet out of all the gospels that last week of Jesus predominates, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:19-27, Mark 11:9-18, 1 Kings 1:32-40, Mark 12:1-12, Isaiah 5:1-7  (view more)  (view less)

Good Friday: Did Jesus Write A Will Bequeathing An Inheritance On Us?

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Apr 6, 2018

Jesus knew that he was going to suffer and die. Dying men generally write a will to bequeath their wealth and property to their loved ones. Did Jesus write a will?

The Wonder of Christs Love as shown through Jesus’ written will before His death How do we know that someone loves us? If we want to be nice and proper we might say it is by the actions that the other person does, what he/she speaks, the care that he/she shows etc. But if we are brutally honest we ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26, Hebrews 9:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Good Shepherd Is Not A Hireling

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Apr 22, 2018

The Pastor/Shepherd feeds and protects his flock.

Weekend Message/Devotion April 22, 2018 John 10:11-18 A Shepherd Is Not A Hireling Today’s gospel reading brings us right back to the reference to Jesus as The Good Shepherd. I’ll bet everyone remembers the last message about the Good Shepherd. We shared that message November 27, 1917, how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4, Ephesians 4:11-12, Ezekiel 34:20-24, Ezekiel 34:11-16, John 10:11-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

His Real Presence

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 10, 2020

On Holy Thursday Jesus institutes his sacred meal and commands us to love one another

April 9, 2020 – Maundy Thursday Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35 His Real Presence Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Tonight is Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. Normally, we ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-35

Denomination: Lutheran

(Section 2) A Pastor Laying Down His Life For Others-Winston Mclurg Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Jul 12, 2018

A pastor is the backbone of the church. He needs to live to the highest esteem as an example. He can be there when you are born or when your life ends.

LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE- Pastor Winston McClurg INTRODUCTION John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. It is love to the highest degree. M.H. Amplified Version John 15:13 No one has greater love--no one has shown stronger affection--than to lay ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Why Should I Do It?

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jul 19, 2018

Why should we humble ourselves to do menial and low level jobs for others? Because Jesus humbled himself to wash the disciles feet.

Why Should I Do It? 7/15/2018 John 13:12-17 Acts 1:1-11 Have you ever been in a situation in which somebody asked you to do something that you really didn’t want to do it, and you even thought it was unfair for them to ask you to do it. You may have said verbally or inside your head, ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"Ephpheta, Be Thou Opened”

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 30, 2018

We need to get very, very serious about promoting priestly vocations

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Extraordinary Form “Ephpheta, be thou opened,” Jesus said, after groaning, “and immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment to his speech was loosed, and he spoke clearly.” Come to any baptism–as we’ll have here on Saturday the eighteenth, and you’ll hear ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-10, Mark 7:31-37

Denomination: Catholic

Daniel Part Ii - Passing The Tests Series

Contributed by Dan Carroll on Jul 31, 2018

In crisis Daniel runs to God in prayer. For Daniel God alone is in control.

INTRODUCTION • In the life of Daniel you see several things we all need to be life giving: o Convictions that steer his journey, o Integrity that lives out his convictions, o Courage that causes him to pass the tests he faces, o Prayer that is a lifeline to his Father’s heart, o Prophecy that ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ The King

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 11, 2018

Today on Christ the King we recall that the essential character of kingship means personal allegiance to one person. To say Christ is King implies that we are subjects.

33B There’s a famous remark from a Modernist priest named Alfred Loisy: “Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom, and what arrived was the Church.” Maybe his remark was a little like those T-shirts that say something like, “My parents went to the Grand Canyon and all I got was this lousy ...read more

Scripture: John 18:33-37

Denomination: Catholic

Stones In Heaps Of Rubbish

Contributed by Luther Sexton on May 18, 2018

Preparation for church revival

STONES IN HEAPS OF RUBBISH Theme Scriptures: Nehemiah 4:1- 2 1 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-2

Denomination: Pentecostal

Good Things Happen On The Sabbath

Contributed by Mari Larson on Jun 3, 2018

While we can agree with Jesus that "the sabbath is made for humankind and not humankind for the sabbath," we are wrong to disregard it.

In 1986, the good people of Bismarck, North Dakota, thought it was time to overturn or at least soften the blue laws which closed businesses on Sundays. Amid great controversy, Dayton’s Department Store, Target, and many stores and restaurants were to open at noon. Dayton’s and Target were both ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15

Denomination: Lutheran

His Own Love. (Hi)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Jun 15, 2018

God showed His love on the cross, His love cost Him everything He had in this life.....His life!

Romans 5:6-For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7-For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8-But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Gods Protection, Plan & Promise Are Yours

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 20, 2018

God has a plan to protect us so that his promises for us will come true. Listen carefully Saints, not the plans you have or desires you have for yourself, no quite the contrary. Here we are talking about God’s plan for your life as His servants.

Gods Protection, Plan & Promise are Yours Matthew 2:13-22 Psalm 139 We are a full week into 2018 and the Christmas story is fresh in our minds. Many of you may have taken down your decorations and have stored away the cards and the gift wrap for another year. What remains is the message of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-22, Acts 12:6-7, 2 Timothy 2:20-21, Proverbs 3:5-6, James 4:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Victory In Jesus Part 1: Gethsemane Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 8, 2019

Over the years I have paid little attention to Gethsemane other than it was where Jesus prayed before his arrest. However, Gethsemane is where the spiritual victory was won. If it had not been for what happened in Gethsemane, there might not have been a crucifixion or a resurrection.

1. Survey: 85% of Americans say they pray – some a lot, some little. In fact, 20% of self-proclaimed atheists and agnostics claim to pray. There is a source of strength in prayer. We want to take a look at the key place of prayer for Jesus, Gethsemane. 2. An Overview to Gethsemane a. Jesus and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ