Sermons on Materialism:

What Is Happiness? Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 11, 2021

Both Jesus and Paul make it clear that it is more than a right to be happy, it is a duty. It is part of our commitment to Christ to overcome all that would make us unhappy.

Epictetus, the ancient philosopher said, "If a man is unhappy, this must be his own fault, for God made all men to be happy." A Christian writer, St. Bernard, said something similar. "Nothing can work me damage except myself; the harm that I sustain I carry about with me, and never ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

The Luminous Life

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

Jesus has a plan to penetrate this world's night of ignorance with the light of knowledge. The plan is very simple. It is to advertise. Every Christian is to be a living commercial for the Producer of the program of life.

William Sangster, the great British preacher, tells of one of the strangest taxes ever imposed. He asked his father one day why so many of the homes in London had blocked up windows. His father explained that back in 1695 every house that had more the 6 windows was taxed for the extra ones. Many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Asking For Your Inheritance

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Mar 16, 2021

Our greatest treasure, the inheritance that we seek, isn’t down here: not in the stuff, not in the people, not in the honours. But seek God. Desire Him. Long for the one inheritance that is incorruptible, that is undefiled, and that does not fade away.

They say that children should never talk about their inheritance. Sure, one day Mom and Dad might leave something to the kids. But until that day, children shouldn’t worry about what they’ll receive, or daydream about how to spend it. We know what happened to the Prodigal Son, when he started ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 27:1-11, 1 Peter 1:1-9, Joshua 17:3-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Face Of Christ Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

To behold the face of Christ, and to reflect the light of His face was the constant goal of the Apostle Paul. He was not a man of a thousand faces, but the man of one face-the face of Christ.

Dr. Rosenow, a man who devoted his life to medical research, was asked, what led him to this as his life's task, and he told this story. He grew up on an isolated farm in Northern Wisconsin, and as a boy he had an unforgettable experience when his brother became dangerously ill. The nearest ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

The Paradox Of Money Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Paul says the love of money is the root of all evil, and Mark Twain said, the lack of money is the root of all evil. The one does not eliminate the other, for Twain's remark compliments Paul's.

Someone said, life is an everlasting struggle to keep money coming in, and teeth, hair, and vital organs from coming out. Few have known this better than General Ulysses S. Grant. He led the armies of the North to victory in the Civil War, and was twice elected president of the United States. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Doing Good Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

Paul says there are two kinds of seeds we sow in life. There are the seeds of self-indulgence which please the sinful nature, and there are the seeds of doing good to others which please the Spirit.

In the spring of 1897, Thomas Hanna, a 25 year old Baptist pastor fell out of his carriage and landed on his head. When he woke up he was in a state of total amnesia. Dr. Boris Sidis and his assistant Dr. Goodhert had to teach him to talk, to eat, and to go to the bathroom as if he were a child. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Life Is Forever Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 25, 2021

Life is, because God is. Life is eternal, because God is eternal. Life is the foundation of all that is, for life was before all things.

From out of the files of the great Michelangelo comes the story of the young artist who labored long and tedious hours on the statue of an angel. When the time for its unvailing had finally come, the young artist hid himself in an inconspicuous spot and waited breathlessly for the response of the ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-44

The Paradox Of Money Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

It is hard to say anything about money, either negative or positive, that cannot be demonstrated to be a valid statement.

Someone said, life is an everlasting struggle to keep money coming in, and teeth, hair, and vital organs from coming out. Few have known this better than General Ulysses S. Grant. He led the armies of the North to victory in the Civil War, and was twice elected president of the United States. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

All Those Who Wander Are Not Lost: A Study In Nothingness

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 30, 2021

Much of my early life was lived by such reverberations. I don't want to bash it. It had it's appeals. No burdens, no responsibilities. Just drift about. Ironically enough I live in a similar way today at times. I'm in the arms of God. I have no idea what will happen today.

"When Monday comes I want nothing Come Tuesday morning I want the same The days and nights fly by Looking to embrace the nothing of the everyday...." -Yo La Tengo, "Everyday" from the album: And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. Much of my early life was lived by such ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2-9

Denomination: Salvation Army

Discouraging Comfort Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

The book of Job makes clear that one of life's greatest tragedies is that believers do not comfort and encourage one another, but rather are often discouraging. That is what we see Job's friends being to him.

Emilie Lorning in her novel, Swift Waters, tells the story of a young single pastor who fell in love with a beautiful young woman in his congregation. She learned to play the chimes in the tower of the church, and when she learned the pastor's favorite hymn, she would play it frequently. ...read more

Bridging The Gap Or Christ In The Workplace Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

My struggle to bridge the gap between Sunday and Monday changed my whole perspective on life and made me a skeptical Christian. I mean this in a good sense. I became skeptical of easy and pat answers that Christians spout off that do not fit the reality of people's everyday lives.

I haven't always worn a suit to work. A couple of days after I married Lavonne I got my first job in working my way through college. It was at the John Morrell Meat Packing Plant In Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After a summer of that we went off to Bethel and I got a number of jobs. I worked in ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:1-14

Why Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Nov 8, 2020

When we face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy? Really, James? Find out how how that's possible.

One of my favorite songs or mantras that I often repeated when I was a young man was: “Why me?” “Why does this always happen to me?” Every time there was a problem … any time something threw off my day or my plans … I would launch into an endless chorus of “Why Me?” One day I was singing the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Disciples Of Jesus Are Characterized By Love Series

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 23, 2020

If we are going to be effective disciples and disciple makers, then our lives and our relationships must be characterized by love. Jesus said that they will know we are His disciples because of our love.

A. Let me begin with a story from the Peanut’s cartoons - you know how much I enjoy the Peanuts! 1. It’s Christmas time and Lucy comes to Charlie Brown and says, “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown! At this time of year I think we should put aside all our differences and try to be kind.” 2. Charlie ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-35, Matthew 22:37-40, 1 John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Acts 2:42-47  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Evangelism - The Prime Directive

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Dec 10, 2020

Did you know that the church has been given a mission and a Prime Directive?

Back in the late 60’s, one television series I looked forward to watching, was Star Trek. In the Star Trek series Captain James Kirk led the voyages of the starship Enterprise, “Its five-year mission: To explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Silent Solitude

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jan 3, 2021

Job 3:26, "I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.” Do you share Job's sentiment? To say this past year has been stressful is an understatement. As we begin our new year, maybe it's time to incorporate some silent solitude into our daily regimen.

SILENT SOLITUDE Peace and quiet. How many times have you wished for that? How many times have you tried to get it but were unsuccessful? Maybe you share Job's sentiment. Job 3:26, "I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.” We can understand why Job would say this. ...read more

Scripture: Job 3:26, Mark 1:35-39, Mark 6:30-34, Mark 6:45-46, Proverbs 17:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ