Sermons on Nearness To God:

Back To School-The Final Exam Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 10, 2023

Many schools, where I live, begin the academic year in August. Not very many students understand, though, that there is a final exam at the end of this year in spring. In the same way, we believers will have a final exam when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

(Based on a message preached August 6, 2023 at First Baptist Church, Chamois, MO; not an exact transcription). Introduction: Have you noticed that some things change? We have one student who’s going away to college next week, and school’s going to start before long. I’m sure you’re all excited, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

#2 Irritant: The Fly In Ointment

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 27, 2020

Dead flies in the ointment can be more that an annoyance, they can sting and spread infections. Small things matter in negative ways.

#2 Irritant: THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT. Thanks to Phil Walton for the fodder for this sermon. Thank you. This follows part #1. FLIES: Irritant, show me what ticks you off… This is part #2: IRRITANT: THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT. I have a fly swatter, some rubber flies, and a jar labeled as OINTMENT with ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:1, Isaiah 38:21, Psalm 133:2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Because Of An Empty Tomb

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Apr 5, 2021

Sadness, depression, hopelessness, helplessness, loneliness, fear, and anxiety are destroyed - Because of an empty tomb.

Because of an Empty Tomb By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. John 20:11-18 “But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:11-18, Matthew 28:6

Denomination: Apostolic

David's Victories Over The Ammonites: How To Walk In Wisdom Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jul 26, 2023

What does David do? He gathered his entire army, and marches out against them, time to end this once and for all.

Too many people in our world make dumb decisions and reap the consequences. The Bible calls this person a fool. But the Bible also talks about a person who lives differently. They "walk in wisdom." Let's discover how we can walk in wisdom. To do that, I think we’re going to be talking ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:26, 2 Samuel 10:1-10

Denomination: Salvation Army

Judging And Discernment Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on May 21, 2024

There is a right way and a wrong way to judge. This message looks at the right way

JUDGING AND DISCERNMENT MATTHEW 7:1–6 “DO NOT JUDGE, OR YOU TOO WILL BE JUDGED. 2FOR IN THE SAME WAY YOU JUDGE OTHERS, YOU WILL BE JUDGED, AND WITH THE MEASURE YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU. 3“WHY DO YOU LOOK AT THE SPECK OF SAWDUST IN YOUR BROTHER’S EYE AND PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE PLANK IN ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Joy To The World Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

The Father who fills emptiness with joy also calls life out of death — His heart transforms every sorrow into resurrection celebration.

(John 2 & John 11 — From Cana to Bethany) --- Introduction — A God Who Loves to Celebrate When you open the Gospel of John, you expect thunder. You expect the heavens to split, angels to announce, prophets to proclaim. But the first public act of Jesus isn’t in a temple, or on a mountain, or ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, Psalm 126:5, Revelation 21:5

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Quest For Power Vs. The Call Of Christ

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Jan 5, 2025

Epiphany is not just a moment of clarity; it’s a summons to transformation. Let’s walk through this text with open hearts, asking, What does the birth of Jesus teach us about power, greed, and the true call of leadership?

Sermon Title: The Quest for Power vs. The Call of Christ Text: Matthew 2:1-12 Church, it’s the first Sunday of a brand-new year, and God has a message for us: Pay attention. Paying attention to what’s right in front of us—what’s under our noses—can be a life-changing act. We just wrapped the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

The Old Testament Background For Jesus' Teachings About Discipleship (Discipleship Intro)

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 6, 2025

Understanding the relationship of rabbi to disciple – and what discipleship entailed – will help us to better understand Jesus’ teachings because they help us better understand the teacher (Jesus) and His most frequent audience (the disciples).

The Old Testament Background for Jesus' Teachings About Discipleship I Kings 19:19-21,Luke 9:57-62, Matthew 19:21, and Luke 5:27 Intro A lot of ignorance about discipleship primarily because interpreters isolate the New Testament teaching from its Old Testament context. Main Idea: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:19-21, Luke 9:57-62, Matthew 19:21, Luke 5:27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Unexpected Hero Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Apr 3, 2025

We are in dire need of integrity in our society, and it begins and ends with Jesus Christ and the foundation of Scripture.

Paul the Ringleader Text: Acts 24:1-9 Introduction 1. “Integrity, the choice between what is convenient and what is right” (Tony Dungy). 2. “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching” (C.S. Lewis). 3. “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

Nabal The Fool (1 Samuel 25)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 20, 2025

Which is better giving or getting? Let's examine 1 Samuel 25.

Is making rash decisions in anger foolish? Is giving more blessed than getting? Let’s look at 1 Samuel 25. Because they had given Nabal protection, did David ask him for food as a favor? Then Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him at his house in Ramah. And ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Paul Wanted To Send Timothy

Contributed by Barnabas Park on Apr 25, 2025

The Apostle Paul says that most people—even all except Timothy—are only concerned with their own affairs, not with the interests of Christ. The work of Christ is, in fact, to truly love and care for fellow believers.

Why Paul Wanted to Send Timothy Philippians 2:19–24 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

The First Person Jesus Raised From The Dead Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 5, 2025

A widow in the city of Nain had lost her only son to death. Then Jesus came by and performed a miracle!

The first person Jesus raised from the dead Introduction: Jesus had already performed a number of miracles such as the overwhelming load of fish for Peter’s boat (Luke 5) and the healing of a paralytic (Luke 5:17-26). The miracles weren’t limited to men, only, as He had healed Peter’s own ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

Divine Love As Leadership: Christ The King's Radical Model For Contemporary Times Series

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Nov 20, 2024

Christ's reign differs from all others; it represents an inverted hierarchy that places the weak before the strong and the last before the first.

Divine Love as Leadership: Christ the King's Radical Model for Contemporary Times Intro: Christ's reign differs from all others; it represents an inverted hierarchy that places the weak before the strong and the last before the first. Scripture: Daniel 7:13-14, Revelation 1:5-8, ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:13-14, Revelation 1:5-8, John 18:33-37

Denomination: Other

Rapid Advance Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Aug 6, 2024

Thessalonica was a wonderful testimony to a rapid advance approach to ministry. Paul mentions being there three sabbaths (Acts 17:2). There were many who were won to Christ and built up in faith in this short time before the team, Paul, Silas and Timothy moved on.

My wife and I took part in a nine-month ministry training program called Rapid Advance. The name of the training came from this chapter and from a summary of how the Gospel moved in the book of Acts. Paul did not spend his years of ministry planting a single church and trying to perfect it. He ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Reactions To Jesus' Revelations Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 25, 2024

Jesus had just revealed Himself as the Resurrection and the Life at the raising of Lazarus from the dead. We are going to look at four of the people’s reactions to this resurrection.

Jesus had just revealed Himself as the Resurrection and the Life at the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Tonight, we are going to look at four of the people’s reactions to this resurrection. READ 1-2. I thought about this scene and wondered how I would have felt dining with a man who had just ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-12

Denomination: Baptist