Sermons on Make Believe:

On Being Ready

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Nov 10, 2020

At any given time, on any given day, God's kingdom is revealing itself to us. Are you alert and ready to respond?

November 8, 2020 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Matthew 25:1-13 On Being Ready Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:13) Caribou Coffee opened ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Indicts The World

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 15, 2020

Have we been walking right past Jesus without recognizing Him? Let’s find Jesus. Let’s look at the Judgment of the Nations in Matthew 25:31-46.

Prelude: Have we been walking right past Jesus without recognizing Him? Purpose: Let’s find Jesus. Plan: Let’s look at the Judgment of the Nations in Matthew 25:31-46. Story: Disaster Response A fellow pastor helped after a national disaster. Some crews repaired church buildings, packed up and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

Troubling times-Could This Be The End? Series

Contributed by Dr. Lewis W. Gregory on Nov 2, 2023

Are we nearing the END? Wars and conflicts are breaking out everywhere. The war in Ukrane is ongoing. The attack on Israel by Hamas has erupted into a war in Israel. The US is having more protests and mass shootings. And then there are all the natural calamities worldwide.

WHAT DID JESUS SAY about troubling times? JESUS SAID, 6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:6-7, Matthew 24:11-14, Jeremiah 14:8, Matthew 24:46

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Revealed In Creation: Knowing God's Power And Nature Romans 1:20 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 22, 2024

Romans 1:20 illuminates the majesty and glory of God displayed in the natural world, inviting us to recognise His existence and character through His creation.

Revealed in Creation: Knowing God's Power and Nature Romans 1:20 Introduction: Today, we delve into the profound truth of God's revelation through creation as declared in Romans 1:20. This verse illuminates the majesty and glory of God displayed in the natural world, inviting us to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1-2, Job 12:7-10, Psalm 104:24, Acts 14:17, Psalm 14:1, John 3:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Government Of The Promised Son, Part 2 (Isaiah 11:1-9)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jun 6, 2024

Isaiah presents a series of prophecies that pertain to the person and role of God's Messiah. In Chapter 11:1-9, he describes the character of the future kingdom where the creation will live at peace.

"THERE shall come forth a Root from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of its roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-9, 2 Chronicles 26:22-23, 2 Kings 15:1-38, 2 Kings 18:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On Anchovy Toast

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 6, 2024

During the Victorian and Edwardian eras in the United Kingdom, the delicacy and brine of anchovy toast was considered a popular appetizer, often favored by the rich or noble.

Iris Murdoch, an Irish-British novelist and philosopher once remarked: “For lunch, I may say, I ate and greatly enjoyed the following: anchovy paste on hot buttered toast, then baked beans and kidney beans with chopped celery, tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil. (Really good olive oil is ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:12, Ezekiel 29:4, Ezekiel 47:10, Luke 5:4-7

Throw The First Stone

Contributed by Samuel M on Oct 17, 2024

Jesus had every right and authority to throw the first stone, but he never chose to throw the first throne. It was a decision he chose to take – never to throw the stone or the first stone. Love was the decision he chose to take.

But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” John 8:6-7 When the woman was caught in the act of adultery ...read more

Scripture: John 8:6-7

Lord’s Prayer 11: Forgiveness Of Sins Series

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Oct 30, 2024

Jesus died and suffered on the cross for us, to forgive us our sins and this is something we must never, ever take for granted. When we pray for forgiveness for the things we have done wrong to our neighbour or sinned in the sight of God our Father we must never forget the cost.

Lord’s Prayer 11: Forgiveness of Sins All his life, an old man had been a sceptic, especially about religion. Now he was dying and his friends asked him if he would like them to send for the parish priest to minister the last rites. 'No,' he said, 'God will forgive me - that's ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:5, Acts 2:38, Matthew 6:13

Backseat Driver

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Feb 3, 2024

Letting God lead is easy when things are going the way we think they should. When God takes us down paths we don't like, we want to take the wheel of the proverbial car of life.

Backseat Driver Both our daughters have recently started a driver's education course. I can remember the very first time I was behind the wheel of a car. My dad decided to let me drive. He regretted it immediately. As he sat in the passenger seat directing me, I put my foot on the gas and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28, Proverbs 3:3-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Just Throw It!

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Feb 3, 2024

2nd Corinthians 11 and the Parable of the Sower both Show us God as the Strength in our Weakness.

As we look at our lessons today, and I want to look briefly at both, comparing them together, (Glory to God) I’ll begin by sharing an old story some of you may know about a man named Phi-Dipp-adeez. I’d actually be impressed if you knew his name, but you probably know the name Marathon and Nike, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:19-31, Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Anglican

Isaiah's Commission Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Apr 28, 2023

For 60 years Isaiah was a bold and courageous voice for God, but it all started, one day, in the Portico of the Temple.....

April 29, 2023 Times were good in Judah. Uzziah sat on the throne and the nation prospered. Judah – as a territory – was at its largest during his reign because he was so successful: • He was victorious against the Philistines and the Arabians and received tribute from the Ammonites. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 118:6

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

How Should Fathers Raise Their Children Rightly?

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Jun 15, 2023

Raising children today is more complicated, not only because they live in an era of modern technology or a digital era in which everything is computerized, but because we compete with the world of entertainment, public schools, and even governments who have and propagate values different from ours.

Raising children today is more complicated, not only because they live in an era of modern technology or a digital era in which everything is computerized, but because we compete with the world of entertainment, public schools, and even governments who have and propagate values different from ours. ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:5, Proverbs 22:6, Titus 2:7-8, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, 1 Chronicles 29:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Agape - God's Greatest Gift Of All, Love

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Jun 16, 2023

God's gift of Love is the most valuable and precious gift of all and our world would be such a wonderful place if we all expressed and practiced the merits of that love in our daily lives.

Agape LOVE Today’s collect for the 2nd Sunday after Trinity is all about true LOVE and emphasises its true value: Pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of Love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted dead before You. True Life is all about Love as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-7, Romans 5:8, John 3:16

This Thing Is From Me

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jun 25, 2023

Today our lesson begins with a divided kingdom; I want to preach about the Reign of two Kings, the Return of the Warrior and the Religion of the depraved.

1 Kings 12:22-31 (NKJV) “This Thing is From Me” June 25, 2023 God’s sovereignty is defined by his omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. He is all-knowing, ever-present and all-powerful. Nothing that happens within our world is hidden from God's view or outside of God's provision for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 12:22-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Restoration Of Israel – Jeremiah – Part 10 – Chapter 33:15 – The Incredible Names For Jerusalem In The Bible Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 7, 2025

The message this time is more a study, not a delivered message. It is a bit technical but most interesting. Do you know how many biblical names for Jerusalem there are? This might surprise you. Enjoy what God thinks of His Holy City!

THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL – JEREMIAH – PART 10 – Chapter 33:15 – THE INCREDIBLE NAMES FOR JERUSALEM IN THE BIBLE After the lovely study of The Branch in scripture we continue with our consideration of the passages in Jeremiah relating to the future restoration of redeemed Israel that begins ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:16, Genesis 14:18, Genesis 22:2, 2 Samuel 6:12, Matthew 5:35, Isaiah 48:2, Isaiah 52:1, Matthew 4:5, Psalm 46:4, Psalm 48:1, Psalm 48:8, Isaiah 1:26, Zechariah 8:3, Isaiah 60:14, Lamentations 2:15, Jeremiah 23:6, Jeremiah 3:17, Ezekiel 48:35, Isaiah 29:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational