Sermons on Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice:

God's Illogical Demand Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 13, 2016

I thought God hated child sacrifice? What is God doing asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son?

OPEN: I read the true story of a woman who told of the time she was teaching the toddler-age Sunday school class. Part of the reason she taught there was that her daughter was in that class. During one lesson on creation she was trying to make the concept as understandable as possible, so she ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Are The Nine?

Contributed by Andrew Hoskins on Oct 11, 2025

We all receive God's love and grace, but what you do with it is your choice.

“Where Are the Nine?” Introduction – A Lesson in Gratitude Let me start with a little story. A farmer once found an injured eagle lying in one of his fields. Its wing was broken, and it could no longer fly. The farmer gently took it home, wrapped its wing, and nursed it back to health. For several ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19, Matthew 7:21-23

Denomination: Baptist

Go, Dip Again!

Contributed by Betty Johnson on Jun 28, 2012

Naaman learned the power of obedience and he learned it in very specific ways.

Go, Dip Again! Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14 In an address to the Wisconsin State Agriculture Society in 1859, Abraham Lincoln illustrated the profound effect change can have on us. He told of an Eastern monarch who gave his counselors an assignment to come up with a truth that would apply to all ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Denomination: Wesleyan

How God’s Working Enables Good Works Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jul 25, 2010

God graciously works obedience into the lives of his people.

Scripture Introduction Christians have disagreed and debated, since the earliest days of the church, God’s role versus the believer’s role in growth in godliness. Some Bible verses, considered by themselves, seem to support popular phrases like, “Let go and let God,” or “I can’t; God can.” Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Horribly Beautiful

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Nov 13, 2009

In Hebrews 10 we are reminded of the horror of sin and the need for sacrifice, but also of the beauty of being reconciled to God by the blood of Christ

Hebrews 10:11-25 What do you think of when you hear the word, “Sacrifice?” There are a lot of different ideas that come to mind. With Veteran’s Day this last week, sometimes we think of those who have served in the military. And that is a great definition of sacrifice, people have risked a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Finding Confidence Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Mar 27, 2019

If we obey the great commandment we have confidence before God.

Finding Confidence 1 John 3:19-24 Introduction 1. Illustration: "Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time" (Oswald Chambers). 2. Most of you know that Tina and I love to go on cruises, but what you may not know is that it took ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:19-24

Denomination: Methodist

When God Seem To Be Asking For Too Much From You

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 25, 2012

A look at the conditional obedience we often offer God, in comparison with Joseph's complete and costly obedience.

ASKING TOO MUCH? Often our willingness to obey God comes with a pre-set spending limit. Main illustration: An American Express card vs. a Walmart pre-loaded card. This is a Walmart pre-loaded card with $50 on it. If I give it to you, you can buy whatever you want. . . up to $50. This is an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Today Is The Day Of Salvation

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Sep 26, 2011

God patiently waits for you to come to Him; He calls you today!

Today Is the Day of Salvation September 25, 2011 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: God patiently waits for you to come to Him; He calls you today! Focus Passage: Hebrews 4:1-7 Supplemental Passage: for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Construction Zone Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Jul 30, 2014

Parenting, Obedience, Priorities

Road Trip #5 – Construction Zone Ephesians 6:1-4 (p. 816) August 10, 2014 Introduction: In this road trip we call life everything changes when we get passengers in the car with us. Life is radically different when we’re 18 and decide to take off for Florida and when ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Miracle Of Transformation Is Possible When Preparation Precedes The Blessing

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jul 1, 2021

The miracle of transformation begins when we are willing to offer Jesus obedience without reservation; service without limitation; and participation without intimidation. Jesus can take what we will do and do with it that we can’t do.

Jesus was on a mission to save the world, the greatest mission in the history of mankind. Yet, he took the time to attend a wedding and take part in the festivities. We may be tempted to think we should not take time out from our important work for social occasions. But maybe these social occasions ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

The Story- Chapter 7 Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Feb 28, 2014

Israel is at the crossroads again, they are in the same spot they stood just forty years earlier. Will they trust God this time? Are you ready to trust God? We pray you are!

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • Forty years prior to where we are today in the Story, the nation of Israel was on the cusp of going into the Promised Land. • SLIDE #2 • God was ready for them to enter, and God told them to send scouts into the land, they came back and 10 of the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Guardrails-We Need Them Part 1

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Feb 26, 2018

This sermon is about the need for guardrails in our lives to protect and direct us. It is an expansion of the sermon series from Andy Stanley's Guardrail series. It looks at Gehazi's failure to establish guardrails in his life and the price he paid,

Guardrails Protect & Direct Part 1 2 Kings 5:19-25 Ephesians 5:15-18 Have you ever gone to school and heard someone say, these new friends of mine are taking me to my role of heroin addiction. Have you ever gone to a housewarming party and heard someone say, “this house is going to lead ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

No Pleasure In Fools

Contributed by Charles Newman on Mar 16, 2009

Which is better, an uncommitted person or a half-committed person? I believe that the uncommitted is better because a half-committed person is infectious.

Which is better, an uncommitted person or a half-committed person? I believe that the uncommitted is better because a half-committed person is infectious. Let’s say that you have a team of twenty-five persons that have committed themselves to a cause. Initially, everyone is on board with the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:4-7

Denomination: Methodist

All That Glitters Is Not Gold Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jul 7, 2012

Mature Christians walk by faith and not by sight.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold Text: Genesis 13:1-18 Introduction 1. Illustration: A family from a remote area was making their first visit to a big city. They checked in to a grand hotel and stood in amazement at the impressive sight. Leaving the reception desk they came to the elevator ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

Final Commands Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 17, 2022

In this concluding section of Paul's letter to Timothy, Paul gives Timothy a series of final commands to guide Timothy through the turbulent waters of ministry that lay ahead of him.

Introduction: A. How many of you have ever done white-water rafting? 1. I want to use an illustration from white-water rafting as our launching point for today’s sermon, but before we get into the illustration, let’s start with a little humor. 2. White-water river guides get a lot of funny ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:11-16, 1 Timothy 6:20-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ