Sermons on Merit:

The Christian Religion According To Jesus Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Dec 22, 2025

Jesus helps us to see that His followers should be marked by humility, faith, and devotion.

What is a good Christian like? Is it someone who doesn’t as the saying goes “drink or smoke or cuss or chew or date/marry people who do”? Is it someone who faithfully attends church? Is it someone who waits until marriage to engage in sexual activity? Is it someone who is morally upright? Is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-30, Romans 7:21-24, Proverbs 22:6, Genesis 15:6, Colossians 3:5, Exodus 20:1-17, Luke 16:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

John The Baptist "repent, Jesus Is Here!" - Matthew 3 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 18, 2025

Just as John the Baptist prepared the way of the LORD, we too are called to do the same and give the warning to “Repent”, to change. It's an urgent call for repentance, now more than ever before.

2025.01.19. Sermon Notes. John the Baptist. Matthew 3 William Akehurst, HSWC BIG IDEA: Just as John the Baptist prepared the way of the LORD, we too are called to do the same and give the warning to “Repent”, to change. SCRIPTURES: Matthew 3:1-17, 2 Kings 1:7-8, Malachi 4:5, Luke 1:17, Isaiah ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-17, 2 Kings 1:7-8, Malachi 4:5, Luke 1:17, Isaiah 40:3, John 1:19-23, Matthew 11:10-14, Isaiah 53:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reaping What You Sow

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Sep 27, 2025

This sermon explores how every thought, word, and action sows seeds that lead to a spiritual harvest—whether of destruction through lust, fear, and pride, or of eternal life through repentance, obedience, and walking in the Spirit—urging believers to live purposefully, sowing for the glory of God.

Sowing Seeds, Reaping Consequences 2 Samuel 11-12; Numbers 29:7-12; Numbers 13-14; Galatians 6:8 Does it really matter how we live our lives? Each morning, we rise to meet a new day—each one filled with its own challenges, decisions, and divine opportunities. Like many of you, I begin ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 29:13-14, Galatians 6:8

Denomination: Baptist

Come Up Hither!

Contributed by Don Spooner on Jul 13, 2001

After being in the Spirit the apostle John was invited to "Come Up Hither" to the throne of God.

The apostle John had spent his life preaching the gospel and in his old age, about 62 years after the cruxificion, he had been banished to the isle of Patmos. He gives the reason for his imprisonment, "For the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ." Life was not easy in this Roman ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:1-2, Revelation 1:9-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Is God's Grace Cheap?

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Jul 22, 2001

The nature of God’s grace does not give us an excuse to sin.

In the preceding chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, Paul has shown that salvation is purely of grace (undeserved kindness). Because we are saved by grace we can know that our salvation is eternally secure. But there are many who do not believe in the doctrine of eternal security (maybe ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Contrasting Pharisaical Values And Christlike Love

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 20, 2001

Contrasting Pharisaical Values and Christlike Love - Matt. 9:11,12

Contrasting Pharisaical Behavior and Christ Like Love - Matthew 9:11,12 1. Pharisaical Values Were Rooted in Their Traditions and Rigidity versus Christ’s Values were rooted in Loving the Lord with all of one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind which motivated one to love one’s neighbor as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:11-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Secured To The Dock

Contributed by Brian Shelley on Sep 3, 2001

If, in your spiritual immaturity, you go back to your old religion, expect that God will keep you there.

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 Secured to the Dock Intro William Hazlitt, 19th century English essayist said, “When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest. If Hazlitt was right, this will be one of the most interesting sermons I will ever preach because it comes ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Not Overcomplicate The Gospel's Message – Rom. 10:5-13

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 28, 2001

How to Not Overcomplicate the Gospel’s Message – Rom. 10:5-13

How to Not Overcomplicate the Gospel’s Message – Rom. 10:5-13 Why do you suppose that so many well meaning Christians overcomplicate the gospel with extraneous ideas, traditions and requirements? Millions of people have the mistaken notion that to become a Christian is so difficult that it is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:5-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are Some Of The Problems Of Spiritual Pride – Rom. 11:20,21

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 31, 2001

What Are Some of the Problems of Spiritual Pride – Rom. 11:20,21

What Are Some of the Problems of Spiritual Pride – Rom. 11:20,21 Of the seven deadly sins in Proverbs, pride leads the list. Paul also knew something about the dangers of spiritual pride since he had seen how pride tends to degenerate into a license to sin. Coming from a Pharisaical background, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:20-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Jesus Approached The Proud And The Humble

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

It is pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began. - C. S. Lewis God pickles the proud and preserves the foolish.

How Jesus Approached the Proud and the Humble (Luke 7:36-50) The Lord Jesus was the Master of approaching people at the point of their need and their level of receptivity. He knew how to move from a person’s felt need to their perceived need to their human need as a gateway to their spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Our heavenly Father knows what is best even when He allows us to go through dark valleys of suffering.

Suffering - To experience adverse effects of something unpleasant. To feel pain, grief or discomfort. Illustration:Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They’re the only ones who can take it." Unknown. "Although the world is full of suffering, it is ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Is Your Center?

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Oct 18, 2000

When I told friends and acquaintances in Minnesota that I was moving to New Jersey, one of the commonest responses was, "How close will you be to Atlantic City?" This seemed to me to be an odd reaction, it certainly isn't something I'm particularly attuned to.

When I told friends and acquaintances in Minnesota that I was moving to New Jersey, one of the commonest responses was, "How close will you be to Atlantic City?" This seemed to me to be an odd reaction, it certainly isn't something I'm particularly attuned to. But now every time I turn the corner ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Do You React To Suffering

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

How Do You React to Suffering? - Rom. 8:18

How Do You React To Suffering? - Rom. 8:18 Illustration:Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful, with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my 75 ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Everyone Can Go To Heaven

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 10, 2002

Salvation

Introduction: According to the gospel of John (John 10:22.), our Lord had gone into Jerusalem for the eight-day Feast of Dedication. It was during this week that our Lord healed the blind man and was confronted by the Pharisees after he taught about the good shepherd who lays down his life for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-28

Denomination: Baptist

Stand Firm Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 15, 2002

The biblical story of the crossing of the Red Sea is so obvious the skeptics can’t believe it and we mustn’t overlook it.

OPENING: At the entrance to a one lane bridge in Sonoma Calif.: "When this sign is under water, this road is impassable." APPLICATION: Why does that seem so silly? Probably because it’s so obvious. If the water was up that far you couldn’t read sign anyway! The world’s can often be like that - ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:5-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ