Sermons on Obstacles To Growth:

9th Sunday After Pentecost. July 30th, 2023. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 17, 2023

Year A, Proper 12.

Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, Psalm 105:45, Psalm 128:1-6, 1 Kings 3:5-12, Psalm 119:129-136, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13:44-52 A). A LESSON IN PATIENCE. Genesis 29:15-28. Jacob had been on the run from his twin brother Esau. Jacob, being the younger twin, had duped his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, Psalm 105:45, Psalm 128:1-6, 1 Kings 3:5-12, Psalm 119:129-136, Romans 8:26-39, Matthew 13:31-33, Matthew 13:44-52  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is God's Presence A Desirable Thing? (Exodus 20:21-26) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Apr 14, 2022

Exodus puts two pictures of God, back to back. In #1, God is glorious, and "big," and scary. In #2, God also offers to come and be present in worship. Is this offer something we should want?

Christians often have negative attitudes about sacrifice in the OT. There's maybe four reasons for this: (1) We don't really understand sacrifice very well at all. It's foreign to us, and confusing. And I include myself in this. (2) We maybe know that the OT has a number of really ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:21-26

Christian Views Embracing Lgbtqia+ Series

Contributed by Dennis King on Mar 23, 2023

I think too few Christians are willing to embrace gays with open arms and hearts, as we should, but also, too many gays seethe and release their anger on anyone is not willing to endorse or affirm their dissenting lifestyles.

Christian Views Embracing LGBTQIA+ Allow me to start this brief essay off with the NIV Bible verse of Romans 2:1, You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:22, Romans 1:24-28, Leviticus 18:22, Acts 13:38-39

Denomination: Baptist

Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." This beatitude calls for an intense desire for righteousness. Are we actively and passionately seeking to be more and more like Jesus?

Intro Our text today is Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”i What do you long for in life? People are hunger machines. Bruce Springsteen sang in the 80s, “Everybody’s got a hungry heart.”ii Even the world recognizes the internal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Isaiah 57:15, Philippians 3:1-14, Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 6:33, 1 Timothy 2:2, 1 John 3:7, Luke 6:21, Titus 2:11-12, Psalm 42:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Peacemakers Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 24, 2023

"Blessed are the peacemakers." Our concept of peacemaking must be based on scriptural revelation. Biblical peacemaking is not appeasement. We know that from God's example of making peace. What is biblical peacemaking and how is it rewarded?

Intro We come today to the 7th Beatitude found in Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”i We are approaching the pinnacle of this list of attributes that bring blessing on a person’s life. Everybody wants to be blessed. But not everybody is willing to take ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, John 8:35-44, Romans 8:1-17, Jeremiah 6:14, Isaiah 57:20-21, James 4:1-3, Isaiah 30:1-21, Isaiah 52:7, Romans 5:1-5, 1 Peter 2:1-23, Ephesians 4:1-3, Numbers 6:21-26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

The Practice Of Fasting Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 26, 2023

This morning we are to talk about the practice of biblical fasting… Not fasting to lose weight or to detox your body – but fasting, going without food for a period of time for a specific spiritual purpose…

The Practice Of Fasting Matthew 6:16-18 Dismiss Grove KIDZ OKAY – I want to start our time this morning by reading just a few verses that Jesus (God the Son) spoke on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee 2000 years ago. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith Through The Journey Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 7, 2023

In Hebrews 10: 19-25, together, we are encouraged to 1) Draw Near in Faith (Hebrews 10:19-22), 2) Hold Fast in Hope (Hebrews 10:23) and 3) Encourage in Love (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Hebrews 10:19-25. [19]Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, [20]by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, [21]and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22]let us draw near ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Other

God's Wrath

Contributed by Dennis King on May 17, 2022

Have you ever thought about how many people have been killed by God? How many Old and New Testament characters did something so egregiously sinful that the Almighty deemed it necessary to straightaway cause or allow the penalty of death to be invoked?

Have you ever thought about how many people have been killed by God? How many Old and New Testament characters did something so egregiously sinful that the Almighty deemed it necessary to straightaway cause or allow the penalty of death to be invoked? Yahweh, our LORD, our God, was and still is the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 15:32-36, Deuteronomy 32:35

Denomination: Baptist

Pick Your Elders Carefully (Titus 1:1-15) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Oct 20, 2022

Great leaders can strengthen the church; bad leaders can really harm it. So some advice on things to look for, in picking great elders.

Today we start a new series on Titus. I'm going for the record here, in how little I say about the book before we jump in. Verse 1: (1) Paul, a slave of God. Now, an apostle of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the faith(fulness?) of God's chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth-- ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-15

One Faith One People Series

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Oct 5, 2015

The oneness we find in Christ Jesus obliterates the social constructs that we have developed to define who is in and who is out ... who is part and who is to be left out ... who is like us and who is different for He makes us one. Connection to "Woodlawn"

One year ago, racial tensions had stirred to the boiling point in Ferguson, MO. Riots had overtaken this St. Louis suburb in the wake of what was portrayed to be an execution of Michael Brown by a white police officer. As momentum built behind the movement it seemed to no longer matter what the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Challenges To/For Public Worship-2 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Oct 6, 2015

2 of 7. Jesus made it plain that the temple worship had become tainted with improprieties. Public Worship is to be free from impropriety. But What is consonant with public worship? A challenge to (harmonious)public worship is its...

CHALLENGES To/For PUBLIC WORSHIP-II—John 2:12-25 DYNAMICS Of PUBLIC WORSHIP Attention: Legend of ‘FB’s BBQ & Grill’— The local Southern Baptist Church(First Baptist) needed to pay off their long-standing indebtedness. The leadership, losing their patience, decided ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-25

Denomination: Baptist

Foundational Family Integrity

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jun 21, 2016

1 of 1. Paul unveiled the role of submission inherent to a Christ-honoring family. Christ-honoring families operating in mutual submission, discover their foundational family integrity. Foundational family integrity is found in...

FOUNDATIONAL FAMILY INTEGRITY—Ephesians 6:1-4... points 3-4 of MUTUAL SUBMISSION-IV—Ephesians 5:21—6:4 Attention: READ excerpts from—Focus on The Family’s—‘Celebrate Dad’s Unique Contributions This Father’s Day’ AND ‘How to Reignite ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Preach The Word Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 25, 2016

The message is a plea for adherence to the biblical message.

¡°I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Doctrines & Demons

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 2, 2015

1) The Predictability of Apostasy (1 Timothy 4:1), 2) The Purveyors of Apostasy (1 Timothy 4:2), 3) The Principles of Apostasy (1 Timothy 4:3a), and know: 4) The Response to Apostasy (1 Timothy 4:3b–5)

1 Timothy 4:1-5. [4:1] Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, [2] through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, [3] who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Other

“preparing Our Hearts For Prayer!” Series

Contributed by Gerry Cheney on Dec 29, 2015

In this message we look at how to prepare our hearts for prayer. We talked about the importance of grace and surrender is. We also looked at how necessary forgiveness is.

Introduction: There is a great article that illustrates the concept of grace written by Charles Stanley. “One of my more memorable seminary professors had a practical way of illustrating to his students the concept of grace. At the end of his evangelism course he would distribute the exam ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16

Denomination: Vineyard