Sermons on Making Excuses:

How To (Mis)interpret The Bible

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 9, 2022

While this passage teaches about divorce, it also provides an interesting case study in how believer manipulate what the Bible says for their own benefit. We'll look at five aspects of that.

- Probably the most obvious way to preach this passage would be to preach a sermon about what the Bible says about divorce. That’s an important subject, but I’m interested in something else as I dig in. - This passage provides an interesting case study into how we interpret (or, more accurately, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Abandonment Issues Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

This story places the Israelites’ emotional development pretty squarely in the adolescent stage, because they behaved just like a bunch of teenagers left too long with the keys to the wine cellar.

How many of you have children? Did you have any idea, while you were painting the nursery and picking out your first set of onesies, how much of your life would get taken over? Children take a huge amount of time and attention. And of course it gets worse when they start to crawl and then to walk ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Uniting The Body

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 7, 2021

We need to stop the dividing of the Body for carnal reasons. You cannot believe that Jesus is pleased with our dissecting His Body for our selfish agendas.

For those who follow me, you know every morning I listen to the pastor of Times Square Church in NYC. The congregation of over 8K are from 100+ nationalities. That is deemed impossible by common consensus of church people who say we need seeker churches adapted to various subcultures and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:44-47, Romans 15:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

How Much Must We Do? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 30, 2016

It’s ironic that when dealing with these positive commandments, we don’t ever come to a point when we can say, “I have fulfilled them.”

Thursday before Epiphany 2017 Joy of the Gospel St. John teaches us today in both Epistle and Gospel: “By this we know love, that [Jesus] laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But if any one has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-21

Denomination: Catholic

Go And Tell!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on May 12, 2025

Do we really believe that most non-Christians are lost? Psalm 74:20 says “The dark places of the earth (where the love of God is not known) are full of the habitations of cruelty.” (selfishness, hatred, greed, strife, & violence.) Do they need a Savior, too? YES!

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Portions of this message were inspired by an excellent sermon contributed by Richard Burdette to Sermon Central) GO & TELL! Scripture: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:1-7, Psalm 74:20, Mark 8:38, Acts 4:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Come For All Things Are Now Ready Series

Contributed by Jimmy Chapman on Feb 18, 2010

I. THE LOVE WHICH IS SEEN (16-17) A. Intention which love shows B. Invitation which love sends II. THE LIES WHICH ARE SAID (18-20) A. The deception with their excuses 1. I cannot because of my PURCHASED LAND 2. I cannot come because o

“Come; for all things are now ready” Luke 14:16-24 I. THE LOVE WHICH IS SEEN (16-17) A. Intention which love shows B. Invitation which love sends II. THE LIES WHICH ARE SAID (18-20) A. The deception with their excuses 1. I cannot because of my PURCHASED LAND 2. I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:14-24

Denomination: Baptist

Rising Or Rejecting? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 21, 2009

The man at the pool of Bethsaida had lost his will to achieve, and blamed others. Jesus, however, gave Him his self-worth as well as his health. Do not blame prejudice or racism for failure; turn to Jesus and be healed and motivated.

The day dawned like any other day ... a little chillier, maybe, than you might have expected this time of year. But still, about as gray and bleak and unpromising as any other day. After all, every day was about like every other day. What reason did he have to expect anything different? For 38 ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Search For But Pickers

Contributed by Nathan Cooper on Feb 26, 2008

How many times do we use the word "but" in our everyday conversations? The children of Israel found many excuses not to trust God.

The Search For But-Pickers Numbers 13 & 14 Numbers 13:17-33 Have you ever met those people that no matter what the proposition or statement, the first word out of their mouth is “but”? I believe that we have a but-load of those people sitting in our churches today. Those without vision; those ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Reflections From The Pool Of Bethesda

Contributed by Victor Nazareth on Jul 8, 2002

A devotional message bringing reflections from the Pool of Bethesda. As we look at the healing of this paralysed man we see the need in our lives to get our eyes of our ’pools’ and put them on Jesus.

Introduction: Jesus heals a paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda. This man’s whole focus was on the pool and getting into it first after the angel stirred it. Even though Jesus was right there besides him, he is trying to solicit Jesus help to lower him into the pool. We are often like that: ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9, John 5:19

Denomination: Charismatic

Toxic Living

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 1, 2010

Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.

Opening illustration: Picher, Oklahoma, is no more. In mid-2009, this once-bustling town of 20,000 went out of business. In the first quarter of the 1900s, Picher was a boomtown because of its abundant lead and zinc. Workers extracted the ore, which was used to help arm the US during both World ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:7-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When To Fire Your Grandmother

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Sep 8, 2009

What a tough day! What if you HAD to fire granny? Take this advice...

When to Fire Your Grandmother I Kings 15:9-14 “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” Sam Ewing You can tell a lot about a person’s character by how they handle the hard choices. Today I want to focus ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 15:9-14

Denomination: Church Of God

Don't You Believe Me?

Contributed by David E. Watters on Aug 16, 2011

This scripture from John includes one of the most well-known conversations in the New Testament. It was the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. This moment recorded for us by John captures some very important insights into our Christian faith and

This morning, I would like to start out with a little saying that I read this last week. It goes like this...‘Some people change their ways when they see the light, others only when they feel the heat.’ (Repeat). Our scripture today from John includes one of the most well-known ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

An Introduction To The Journey Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Apr 10, 2013

Our purpose and calling, disciple making

FOLLOW ME: An Introduction to the Journey Matt 28: 18-20 (p698) April 7, 2013 INTRODUCTION: I’ve had to plan for a lot of trips in my life…some not as important as others, but lots none-the-less….Mission trips….Vacations….Revival, Seminars, Home ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

7 Weepings Of Joseph

Contributed by Kim Oliver on Jun 5, 2014

What makes Jesus weep

THE SEVEN WEEPINGS OF JOSEPH!!! WHAT MAKES JESUS WEEP TODAY?Acts 13:38-46 38: Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:(THE WORD REPENT MEANS METANOIR WHICH MEANS YOU USED TO BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD SAVE YOURSELF BY WORKS ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

A Frustrated Jesus- Sermon 2 Series

Contributed by Gregory Griffin on Jun 24, 2014

The Struggle continues as Jesus deals with His Disciples. God goes to the extreme implementing "Visual Aids", "Live Witnesses" and "Audio from Heaven"......but they still don't get it.

“Frustrated Jesus" Sermon 2 Mark 9 Summerfield Baptist Church / Gregg Griffin Sr. 6.22.14 A.M. Service I can recall while working that on the occasion that someone made a huge mistake, my boss would look at whoever the manager was over the employee who made the mistake and say, “It ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:1-32

Denomination: Baptist