Sermons on Make Sense:

Surprising The World Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 28, 2023

Understand that not all Christians are called to be evangelists in the traditional sense, but all are called to live lives that provoke questions about their faith. This can be done through acts of kindness, words of affirmation, and giving gifts.

Have you ever felt a bit freaked out when you hear the word 'evangelism'? Like, does it make you think of knocking on strangers' doors or trying to convince your friends at school to come to church? It can feel a bit like you're being asked to sell something, right? Well, let's take a chill pill ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6, 1 Peter 3:15-16

Topics: Spiritual Outreach, Questionable Ethics, Faith Lifestyle, Evangelical Practices

But That's Not How I Had It Planned

Contributed by David Taylor on May 5, 2003

Sometimes God’s plan for us is different than our plan. How we respond makes all of the difference.

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Conquering Our Mountains

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 17, 2022

In a spiritual sense, a mountain can represent any obstacle that stands in the way of victory. This message looks at how to overcome the obstacles and trials that are trying to pull us down into the valley of hardship and defeat below.

In the Christian walk we often refer to “entering the valley” and “having mountaintop experiences.” The valleys are the low points in our life, and those times in which we experience hardship and trials. King David said in Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:6-8, Joshua 14:9-12, Mark 11:22-24, Zechariah 4:6-7, Isaiah 40:3-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Crying Of The Wolf At Midnight

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 30, 2021

There is a crying in the night. A quiet lament of the soul. You can sense it at three in the morning, and the hour of the wolf is upon you. All the thoughts of life and the daily parade rumble through like a freight train.

There is a crying in the night. A quiet lament of the soul. You can sense it at three in the morning, and the hour of the wolf is upon you. All the thoughts of life and the daily parade rumble through like a freight train. Looking out the window, all is dark. But something compels you to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Denomination: Salvation Army

God Is Always Near Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 20, 2015

If you have ever felt like you are alone in this world, if you ever struggle to sense God’s presence, my prayer is that you will be encouraged by God’s Word.

Supernatural Stream of God’s Presence If i am honest, even as a Pentecostal Minister, who loves and serves Jesus with my whole heart, sometimes I can question whether or not God is near. It’s usually struggles or chaos that seem to hide His presence in my life. But just because i ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Blessing The Boondocks

Contributed by William Mouser on Feb 28, 2005

Focusing on the relative obscurity of Mary and Elizabeth in their historical contexts, this sermon encourages Christians who are "out in the boondocks" in any sense to take courage that God is pleased to do His work through them.

Second Sunday in Advent, Luke 1:26-45 Comparison shopping is a fairly standard technique for shoppers these days. The internet has made it really easy to do. Many websites have a standard format for describing the various features of a product, and you can select a number of different brands ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-45

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

He Can Overcome Our Hurts

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 3, 2001

Here was a man, for 38 years unable to walk, a burden to others, & probably with little sense of self-worth. Let's see how Jesus dealt with this man and his needs.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2018) TEXT: John 5:1-15; Matthew 11:28-30 A. When you look around at the people who attend church on Sunday, what do you see? Do you see remarkable people, dressed in fine clothes who have it all together? Or do you see hurting ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15, Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 15:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith Additives

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Nov 29, 2020

An additive is something that's added to something to make it better in some way. People usually don't eat a hamburger plain, they add a condiment to make it taste better. Today we'll look at some things that Peter says we need to add to our faith.

FAITH ADDITIVES 2nd Peter 1:4-11 An additive is something that's added to something to make it better in some way. Food additives. Some additives are not good for us. Things like artificial flavors or coloring (red dye #40), high fructose corn syrup and aspartame are not good additives. Some ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4-11, Acts 2:38-39, 2 Peter 3:13, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Galatians 6:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Loveliest Lynchee Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2001

The poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks, recently deceased African-American poet, illustrates how a commitment to justice begins with hope, turns to a sense of responsiblity, rises to act, but also acknowledges the depth of human sin.

The dateline was to be Little Rock, Arkansas, September 1957. The story was to be about the vicious hatred of a city whose people were resisting justice and terrifying school children. Little Rock, Arkansas, where Governor Orval Faubus had become the symbol of massive resistance, and where an ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-40

Denomination: Baptist

Faith, The Measure Of A Man

Contributed by Mark Roper on Jun 24, 2009

Faith is knowledge passing into conviction, and it is conviction passing into confidence. Nothing is more disastrous than to study faith, analyze faith, make noble resolves of faith, but never actually to walk in faith

Faith, the Measure of a Man Most words in our spiritual vocabulary are difficult to define. They denote something invisible and intangible to be understood in the Spirit. Words like love, peace, and faith are best defined in the Bible. The author of the Book of Hebrews defines faith in these ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1

Denomination: Church Of God

God's Dream Team

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 24, 2024

Building God's Dream Team: Remember that it’s teamwork that makes the dream work! WHICH PLAN ARE YOU ON? WHICH TEAM ARE YOU ON?

Opening illustration: Do you read other people’s letters? Most of the Bible are letters written to people, nations or a community. None of the letters are written directly to us, and we are just reading other people’s letters and applying that to our lives. Introduction: I pause to ask a question. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Shadow Puppets & The Puppet-Master

Contributed by Samuel Fulkerson on Oct 17, 2013

Allow God to orchestrate the affairs of your life and be blessed. God is not a puppet-master in the sense that pulls all your strings 24/7/365; Rather think of it as Him being the master harpist.

Quotes: "We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God." - St. Francis De Sales "Only God can fully satisfy the hungry heart of man." - Hugh Black “God doesn't owe us anything - yet in His ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

Christian Humility Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

God wants all believers to have a sense of dignity and security, but if they find it in power, possessions, or position, rather than in Christ, they have no greater security than the world has which passes away.

A young girl from a very wealthy family decided to write a story about poor people for her assignment in school. Her story began like this: "Once upon a time there was a poor family. The father was poor, the mother was poor, the children were poor, the butler was poor, the chauffeur was ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-11

Paul's 3 Calls To The Church.

Contributed by Terry Hensley on Jan 31, 2002

God has certain things for us to be doing, and He has given instructions for us to be able to be the kind of Christian He wants us to be. If we will hear what saith the Lord. God didn’t say that the road would be easy, but that we would make it through Hi

Paul’s 3 Calls to the Church Romans 12: 1-2. Every individual has been called by God to live a life that brings Honor and Glory to him. You do not have to understand what God wants to do with your life. If you will Surrender to his call, he will reveal it in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Pit Knows Everything

Contributed by James Westmoreland on Aug 27, 2005

One of the great challenges in life is to deal with opposition and the knowledge that not everyone likes us. There are other experiences that are very hard for us to deal with and one of them is when we experience a sense of abandonment. It is then that t

Have you ever had the feeling that things were not going your way? That it was going to be a "bad hair" day and not much else was going to go well either? Robert Orben(1) was quoted as saying, "Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me, but deep down I know that’s not true. Some of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-28

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ