Sermons on Neither Bond Nor Free:

Two "Weddings" And A "Funeral" Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 17, 2002

In the characters of III John, Gaius, Demetrius, and Diotrephes, we learn how to bond and we discover what kills relationships. Designed for "punctuation" by organ music between the sections.

We really need to connect. We are made for fellowship, and if we do not connect with one another, we will dry up and die. We need to connect with God; and we need to connect with one another. When I was the Baptist chaplain at Howard University, it seemed that my students only knew two ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Blessings In Disguise

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jan 18, 2023

Hand-in-hand with God’s blessing there is always testing to deepen our bonds of intimate love and trust. Those two forces work together for our good.

We see in this familiar passage two of the foundational stories of the Gospel: Christ’s blessing by God, followed very closely by his temptation. These are also the two universal realities of the spiritual life: both blessings and trials. After his baptism, Jesus saw the Spirit descending on ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Inalienable Rights Series

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Aug 14, 2007

The idea of Inalienable rights is rooted in Genesis and the fact that human beings are created in the image of God. Neither Secular Humanism or Islam recognize this. This message looks at this in an instructional way.

INALIENABLE RIGHTS Pastor Eric J. Hanson November 26th 2006 A message like this one can stand alone, but I strongly suggest that each one listening to Inalienable Rights also get a CD or tape of my message from two weeks prior to this one. Clash of Civilizations bring out some stark facts about ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Jesus Respected People's Freedom To Choose

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

God created everyone with a free will to choose between good and evil.

God created everyone with a free will to choose between good and evil. No where in the gospels is there any example of Jesus trying to force a person to go against their individual will. Jesus knew that a person convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. All Christians have the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living With Purpose Series

Contributed by Dennis Lawrence on Sep 10, 2004

Actually living with purpose will free us for God’s work.

Living with Purpose Purpose Driven Life #40 Montreal/Cornwall June 19, 2004 Today, we conclude our series of 40 messages on the theme of living with purpose. We have taken a great deal of time to consider the five biblical purposes God sets before us, and to think about ways these apply in ...read more

Scripture: John 13:17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgiveness And Love PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 6, 2025

God’s grace is a free gift we cannot earn or buy; it transforms our hearts from striving and bitterness to rest, faith, and love.

If you’ve ever tried to buy a birthday gift for someone who already has everything, you know the head-scratching feeling it brings. What do you give the person who lacks nothing? Now lift your eyes a little higher and imagine bringing your best to the God who has never needed a thing. We sometimes ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:20-23

Topics: Bitterness, Sin

Venus De Milo: Beautiful But Not Perfect

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 14, 2009

We are not perfect, nor are we beyond redemption. Wake up to correct the inadequacies; strengthen what is worth keeping; and remember the grace of God.

In the best of us there are deep flaws; but in the worst of us there is something worth redeeming. In the best of us there are deep, profound flaws. Every fine and saintly person I have known has been hard to get along with, had blinders on about some issue, or just hung on to some irritating ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Guilt And Grace Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Oct 16, 2008

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are able to experience lives that are free. We are free from guilt and shame--not because we never sin, but because we are forgiven.

Matthew 5:17-30 “Guilt and Grace” INTRODUCTION Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hide, by Robert Louis Stevenson was one of the most popular books of the nineteenth. If you haven’t read the book, you probably have seen the movie. Even if you haven’t seen the movie you know about the twisted and tormented ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Grace Transforms 1 Series

Contributed by Dan Cormie on May 30, 2011

Grace is not God allowing us to sin, nor is it His empowering us to perform a holy lifestyle. Grace is Christ's holiness imputed to us.

Dakota Community Church May 29, 2011 Grace Transforms 1 Ephesians 2:6-9 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Mennonite

Your Sins Will Find You Out!

Contributed by Gerry Pratt on Apr 24, 2002

We may hide from our fellow man, but we never can, nor will we hide from God.

I know that a lot of you will disagree with this statement, but I will make it anyway, “When we were little...sometimes we were bad”. A. When we were bad, we tried to hide. 1. Most of us weren’t too good at hiding our naughtiness, however. ILLUSTRATION: Me smoking cigarettes out in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 94:8-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Romans 1:8-15 Series

Contributed by George Mclaughlin Jr. on Oct 7, 2009

The gospel ought to be "delicious" to the child of God. None of us ever stops needing to hear it, nor share it with others!

Outline for CBF AM May 3, 2009 Romans 1:8-15 Intro. Review & learning of the the gospel ought to be like eating. - The gospel is for everyone! I. Those, already in the family of God need to hear it, know it and review it, for their own good! 8-11 -Besides salvation (16-17) what benefits ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:8-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Shame In Shechem Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 24, 2021

Don’t compromise in your commitment to the Lord nor with the godless culture that surrounds you, lest you be consumed by it.

There is an old Russian parable about a hunter who came to a clearing and encountered a bear. The hunter raised his rifle to shoot when the bear said, “Wait, what do you want?” The hunter replied, “A fur coat.” “That’s reasonable,” answered the bear. “I want a full stomach. Let’s sit down and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 33:18-20, Genesis 34:1-31, 1 John 2:15-17, Genesis 35:1

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Church's 4g Connection

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 21, 2013

Christians can enjoy a wonderful unity together with one another. Our bond is Christ. Blest be the tie that binds! And yet we are different from one another...and should be.

The Church's 4G Network Ephesians 4:1-8 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/4G.html I want to know how rich you are. Do you know why? Is it for tithing purposes? No. It's for your sake. I mean true riches. Add up everything you have that money can't buy and death can't take away, and that's how ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Give Me That Old Time Religion

Contributed by Ronnie Thrower on Apr 20, 2002

I know people say we have to change because of the times but I serve a savior who never changes and neither do His principles.

GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION Text James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” A person must keep himself unspotted from the world. Pure religion does not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:27, Jeremiah 6:16-17

Denomination: Baptist

"Get To Work"

Contributed by David Henderson on Dec 22, 2015

Before Jesus entered his heart the apostle Paul wasn’t doing God’s work, was he? Neither were we.

Theme: God’s grace Object: A pair of work gloves Scripture: About a month ago I had a lot of work to do in my yard. We had a very large tree that needed to be trimmed and so I decided to do it myself. So I got a pair of work gloves and some rope and a few other things and I went to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:27

Denomination: Baptist