Sermons on Not Too Far:

Palm Sunday - Almost!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 19, 2001

Pilate is not the only one who has played the game of "almost." Most of us have played that game, too.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK Revised: 2015) ILL. On the southern border of the empire of Cyrus, there lived a great chieftain named Cagular who tore to shreds & completely defeated the various detachments of Cyrus’ army sent to subdue him. Finally the emperor, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:13-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christmas Doldrums

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Dec 18, 2019

John the Baptist lost his certainty of who Jesus was. We can suffer from the "doldrums," too.

December 15, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Christmas Doldrums Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” The John the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Lutheran

The University Of Hard Knocks

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 26, 2007

Paul sat at the feet of Gamaliel and other great teachers of that day. But he learned far more from the UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS, for there he sat under God’s great teaching.

THE UNIVERSITY OF HARD KNOCKS 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 INTRO: There are many great universities in our land. Everyone knows about Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. In England there is Oxford University. But I want to tell you about another school. It has had more students and more graduates than any ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Denomination: Baptist

A Contagious Message Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Dec 15, 2007

“A Contagious Message” has been told in many different places and many different ways for many different years. Some have understood it while others have changed it or rejected it because of the cost being too high, or the gift too good to be true. Any

“A Contagious Message” has been told in many different places and many different ways for many different years. Some have understood it while others have changed it or rejected it because of the cost being too high, or the gift too good to be true. Any way you look at it, the story of the gospel ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

The King Has Come - Palm Sunday

Contributed by Tim Melton on Mar 15, 2021

The Jews longed for freedom from the Romans. They desired too little. They were too easily satisfied. They wanted freedom in the present from sinful men when the King had come who would forgive their sin and grant them eternity. The true King had come.

Have you ever been in a situation where you really needed some help? A situation just got out of hand. It was too difficult, too painful, you were trapped and there was nothing you could do about it. You really needed someone who could come into your situation and make things right. That had often ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40

Fun Is Fundamental Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

If Christianity is not fun it is not pleasing to God nor man. We too often think fun and play is a secular side of life. It is good for a break until we get back to the important and serious stuff of life. This concept is too bad for it leads Christians to not take fun seriously.

Geography students after traveling around the world by books were asked to list what they considered the seven wonders of the world. It was a hard decision but such things as Egypts Great Pyramids, The Taj Mahal, The Grand Canyon, and The Great Wall of China, were getting a lot of votes. The ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 8:1-19

Loving All The Way Until It Hurts Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 14, 2025

Remember that the letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus Himself was made perfect through suffering. If we, too, want to share in His glory, we must also be prepared to suffer, perhaps a lot. And loving can involve suffering too, can't it?

Fifth Sunday of Easter 2025 Pope St. John Paul II looked at Our Lord Jesus as the fulfillment of what we might call “human potential.” He was and is the man that Adam was created to become. Lamentably, Adam and Eve tried the Satanic shortcut, attempting to become divine by disobeying a direct ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:21-27, Psalm 145:8-13, Revelation 21:1-5, John 13:31-33, John 13:34-35, Hebrews 2:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

It's Fun Being A Christian - Enjoy!

Contributed by Dr. C. David White on Mar 25, 2002

Satan wants us to believe that serving God is too hard. The truth is that only a life with God’s favor is worth living.

THE GREAT LIE 1 Jn. 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Gifted (Part Five) Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jun 13, 2018

In looking at the lit of spiritual gifts in Romans 12:6-8, we've looked at prophecy, service, teaching, encouraging and giving so far. Today we will learn about the gift of leading.

GIFTED (part five) The seven gifts listed in Rom. 12:6-8 are: Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, Leading, Mercy. Last week we looked at Encouragement and Giving. The OT word for encouragement means to strengthen. To encourage is to inspire, to lift someone’s spirits, to instill ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Coulda Hada Pear: Rules, Rules, Rules Series

Contributed by G W Bill Elliott Jr on May 4, 2020

Rules, Guidelines, Boundaries… they all help convey limitations… something of a “you can go to this point (here) , but not that far (there)” premise. When God plunked Man into the Garden, there is only one rule…

Common thought today; ° Rules are meant to be broken ° Boundaries are meant to be challenged ° Guidelines are merely suggestions, recommendations, and preferred expectations Almost no one likes rules. Almost no one wants to be ‘governed’, controlled, directed, and worse… ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-37, Genesis 1:16, John 15:10, Genesis 2:15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The People Who Made Christmas

Contributed by Guy Caley on Dec 26, 2002

Examines the attitudes and actions of each of the figures in the nativity set. If we follow in their footsteps we can be a part of the Christmas story too.

1. Each of us have Christmas traditions. One of the most important ones for our family is putting out the nativity set. This is our family set here. Last year I brought this set and talked about the people who missed their opportunity to be a part of the story--the innkeeper, the people of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8, Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In The End God Wins

Contributed by Alvan Lewis on Oct 16, 2018

An overview of the Book of Revelation that underlines the fact that God will triumph in the end. If our life in linked to God's then we too shall win.

Some years ago, on a two-hour flight from Winnipeg to Calgary I ended up seated next to a young woman in her late twenties. As we made our way over the seemingly endless grain fields I asked the inevitable question: So, what do you do for a living? I'm a palm reader; a fortuneteller was her ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Post Pentecostal Trials And Their Benefits!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Jun 2, 2025

To bring out the benefits which accrued to the Early Church on account of persecution. The truths thereof are very much appilcable to us too!!!

Post Pentecostal Trials and their benefits!!! Let's get it straight...being at the receiving end of persecution is indeed painful. But have we considered that our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom permits it for our benefits. In this Message, Yours Truly is inspired to share ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Acts 8:1, Acts 11:19-21, Romans 5:4, James 1:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

The God Who Builds Ruins Again Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Aug 8, 2025

No ruin is too broken for God to rebuild. Whether it is a life, a ministry, a dream, or a city, He has the power to restore and make it new again.

THE GOD WHO BUILDS RUINS AGAIN By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Amos 9:11 (KJV) – "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." Supporting Texts: Isaiah ...read more

Scripture: Amos 9:11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Overcoming Sin

Contributed by Mark Roper on Nov 20, 2007

Sin is nothing to play with. It has the strength to defeat you if you get too close to it with excessive confidence in your own strength.

Sin John 8:34 Sin is more than wrong doing; it is wrong being, Sin is nothing to play with. It has the strength to defeat you if you get too close to it with excessive confidence in your own strength. A well-to-do man advertised for a chauffeur. Three applicants came. His first question ...read more

Scripture: John 8:34

Denomination: Church Of God