Sermons on Messy Relationships:

Unbind Us All

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 20, 2008

Funeral sermon for Richard Dean Lewis, a young man who had a great deal of potential, and whose death caused his family to rethink their relationships.

There is no binding so tight as the one we wind for ourselves. Others may strap you into a seat or use restraints on your hospital bed, but those are never so confining as the bindings with which we confine ourselves. For the bindings we use on ourselves are generally so snug that we cannot ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Baptist

Why Religion Stinks Series

Contributed by Stephen Collins on Jan 6, 2009

Part 3 of our "Being the Church" series, this one focusing on the need for an authentic, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how "religion" does not meet that need.

Stephen N. Collins Millville – 06/22/08 Being the Church Part 3: Why Religion Stinks Acts 4:1-22 Icebreaker: The kindergarten teacher asked the students in her class to bring something related to their families’ religions to class the next day. She asked for volunteers to show what they had ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Church Of God

Unrequited Love - Is God The Centre Of Your Affections? Series

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Feb 1, 2009

God created us for a relationship with Him in which he must come first, but our bias towards idolatry is the constant cause of all our ills.

1.2.09 UNREQUITED LOVE Jer 18:1-17 INTRO Do you remember the days of your first crush – when you fell head over heels in love with someone, but found out to your pain that the other person didn’t feel the same about you. Unrequited love – or love that is not reciprocated can take other forms. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Rid Of Bad Breath

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 27, 2008

Continuing to look at 7 areas to give God control (7UP to God) to follow Jesus holistically, we turn to the social area: our relationships.

7UP: Getting Rid of Bad Breath Philippians 4:2-3 October 26. 2008 A little girl received a watch and some perfume for her birthday. She was so proud of them because they made her feel so grown up. All throughout the day, she pestered everyone to look at her watch or ask them if they wanted to know ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-3

Denomination: Church Of God

The Origin Of Christ

Contributed by Ron Macarthur on Jul 20, 2007

This teaching shows us where Jesus came from and His relationship with God the Father. It will give some startling information to many. It is from the Gospel of John.

John will not begin his Gospel with a genealogy nor an account of Christ’s birth as was done on other Gospels. Instead he will immediately establish who Jesus is and exactly what His origin is. Let’s look to the first verses. JN 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

All In The Family

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 2, 2007

In our text, Paul speaks about three different family-type relationships: 1- Husbands and wives 2- Parents and children 3- Masters and servants

INTRO.- It’s all in the family. You remember that old TV show with Archie Bunker and Edith. All in the Family was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 1971 to April 1979. In September 1979, the show was retooled under the title, Archie Bunker’s Place. This version of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Comfort Of Certainties

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 19, 2008

In spite of the uncertainties of our modern world, the child of God can be absolutely confident in, and certain of their relationship with Jesus Christ. This message explores those certainties.

The Comfort Of Certainties Text: 2 Tim.1: 12b; 3: 10-15 Intro: It almost goes without saying that we live in a world that is unstable and uncertain. Almost everything is in a constant state of turmoil and change. I guess uncertainty is just simply a part of life, and always will be, as long as ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

No New Year Resolutions

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Jan 3, 2007

Instead of making New Year resolutions, focus on your relationship with Jesus, value the eternal above the temporal, and let God guide your life this year.

No New Year Resolutions. Rom. 12:1-5 INTRO.: New Year’s resolutions include ideas to make us look better and live longer, have more, and to get along better with others. However, they usually serve only to generate guilt when we fail to keep them. Let’s try not to make any resolutions this year. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Creation Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 2, 2007

By looking at creation—what God created and how He created it—we can see that He created in order to point us to a relationship with Him.

1. The order of God’s creation (and God said… and it was so) 2. The goodness of God’s creation (it was good, 1:31) 3. The crown of God’s creation (1:26-28) 4. The purpose of God’s creation (1:29-30) How many of you like mysteries? You know, the ones where you have to examine the clues to find ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:3-31

Denomination: Baptist

Living As A Slave When You Are A Son Or Daughter

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 21, 2007

Many well-meaning Christians today get involved in legalism in a desire to become better Christians. Legalism means "a relationship that is governed by rules or by law."

Text: Galatians 4:1-18 (NASB) Introduction: Many well-meaning Christians today get involved in legalism in a desire to become better Christians. Legalism means "a relationship that is governed by rules or by law." Their motives may be right, but their method is wrong. At Galatia, these ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

All In The Family – Husbands And Wives Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Sep 20, 2007

ALL IN THE FAMILY – Husbands and Wives - Surprise! Submission is for everybody! Husbands love your wives. Wives submit to your husbands. The mystery of the husband wife relationship.

• Ephesians 5:21-33 (NIV) [21] Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. [22] Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. [24] Now as the church submits to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Turning The Tables Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 20, 2007

Jesus’ story knocks us off balance. Position is nothing and relationship is everything. Possessions are not signs of God’s love but tools for God’s blessings

Luke 16:19-31 “Turning the Tables” INTRODUCTION Often times we go through life on auto-pilot. • We may spend most of a day in meetings with a person and not be able to describe what that person was wearing. • We driving down the highway. We reach a particular point in our journey and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Faith And Doubt

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Oct 20, 2007

Do faith and doubt ever occupy the same space? This sermon looks at the question of how faith grows, and the relationship between ’absolute’ faith and ’absolute’ doubt.

"Faith and Doubt" - Sermon for Suites by the Lake – October 20, 2007 Sermon for Retirement Suites by the Lake - October 20, 2007 [This sermon was for an inter-denominational service for a retirement community] Mark 9:17-27 An atheist stumbled off the edge of a cliff and as he fell he grabbed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:17-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How God's Love Is Made Perfect Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 11, 2007

God’s love is made perfect in us. And when we say “us”, we do not mean as a bunch of individuals, but rather in our relationships together.

How God’s Love Is Made Perfect: 1 John 4:7-12 The People of God: Studies in 1 John November 13, 2005 Intro: Have you ever felt perfectly loved? Like you were free to be completely yourself, without hiding or pretending, without fear, just totally able to be yourself and to discover yourself ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-12, 1 John 3:13-24

Denomination: Baptist

Barnabas Pt 2 Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 15, 2007

Barnabas chooses to take a risk, to investigate a person, and to put even the potential of a relationship of love ahead of every other consideration - even his own safety.

Barnabas pt 2: Stories of God’s People May 28, 2006 Intro: Last week I shared the first part of the story of Barnabas, one of the early Christians and leaders of the church. We talked about how he was a man of generosity – selling an entire field and giving the money to the work of the Kingdom ...read more

Denomination: Baptist