Sermons on Obvious:

Toeing The Poverty Line Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 23, 2006

Poverty of spirit - humility before God - is essential to authentic faith.

Toeing the Poverty Line Over the past few weeks we’ve seen picture after picture of devastation and loss, desperation and helplessness. Responses have ranged across the spectrum from courage and compassion and generosity to greed, exploitation, and headline-grabbing. But one thing it has ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Fasting

Contributed by Tony Grant on Nov 14, 2005

the point of life and living is to be a blessing to someone else. As Christians, we are called to imitate Christ, and the way we do that is by acting for the betterment of humankind, one person at a time, one instant at a time, one opportunity at a time.

Fasting Isaiah 58: 6-8 2319 words 02/27/05 6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:6-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Pride Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Nov 14, 2005

Teh 4th message in a sermon series on the seven deadly sins.

Virus: Hidden Infections of the Spiritual Life Pride – Lk. 18:9-14 Review: We’re halfway in a series on the (7) deadly sins entitled Virus. The obvious question is why (7) and why deadly? The list was created by theologians in the Middle Ages. They studied the Bible for attitudes and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Citizenship Day

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 17, 2005

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes: “But our citizenship is in heaven." This sermon explores that idea.

When I was in college, one of my friends, who immigrated to this country from South Korea with his family when he was 14, became a citizen of the U.S. First he lived in this country for some time, learning the language and gaining familiarity with its customs. Then he went through a period of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:3-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Parable Of The Talents

Contributed by William Mouser on Nov 28, 2005

The parable of the talents reminds Christians that their stewardship of God’s provisions will be judged when Jesus returns to the earth.

Psalm 90 Zephaniah 1:7,12-18 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 Matthew 25:14-15,19-29 The Parable of the Talents Today is the next to the last Sunday in the liturgical calendar for the season we call Trinity. This season begins on Whitsunday or Trinity Sunday, and runs through Advent, which is two Sunday ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-29

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Thanking Your Way To A Strong Family Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 28, 2005

According to one researcher, one of the characteristics of a strong family is "appreciation" or thankfulness for others in my family. Why do we find this so hard to do, and how do we train ourselves to be appreciative?

OPEN: Back in the 70’s, a woman wrote an article I found interesting. She said that her cousin had invited them to “Come for a thanksgiving dinner on Saturday, March 20th.” She wrote: “She was not celebrating an early Thanksgiving. She was saying that all was well with her husband, who had ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17, Colossians 3:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Rollercoaster Of Life

Contributed by David Sorn on Dec 1, 2005

When we suffer through trials, we should look for ways we can learn from them and trust that God is in control no matter what the outcome is.

INTRODUCTION One of my biggest worries during my senior year of college was getting a job. It was now time for me to enter the “real-world.” Well actually, I wasn’t going to enter the “real-world.” I was going to Seminary. But nonetheless, I still needed a job to provide for myself and my ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

All I Need Is A Miracle (Revised)

Contributed by Michael Hollinger on Dec 7, 2005

What does a miracle tell us? That we are children of God!

A mother had taken her young toddler son to Acapulco. She and her son were having a great time playing on the beach, kicking around the sand, and just have a fun time exploring. The little boy was just poking around when we saw a quarter. As toddlers are wont to do, he went to the shiny object, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

You Ought To Be Congratulated

Contributed by Allan Quak on Dec 13, 2005

Many of us know about the separation of the sheep and the goats, but what is the reason for the separation? Since it cannot be only our treatment of the down and out there must be another reason.

Matthew 25:31-46. “You ought to be congratulated” Scripture Readings:- James 1:19-27 Matthew 25:31-46 (text) Congregation in the Lord, The basic teaching of this passage is obvious … Jesus summarizes it in verse 46. “Then they (the goats) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Baptist

Embracing Grief And Loss Series

Contributed by Dave Bootsma on Dec 15, 2005

Some see grief as something to get over with as quick as possible, but God wants to deepen us through it.

Grief is typically treated as something to be "gotten over with" as soon as possible, or certain things are not seen as worthy of grief. If others were not impacted the same way as you then you have the problem. There doesn’t seem to be any room for people responding differently when it comes to ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lord, I Want To See Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Sep 18, 2005

We have to (1) "see" with our heart and have faith in God, and (2) ask with all our heart, because without prayer nothing will be accomplished.

Hardships and sufferings are a real fact in life. We see one today in our passage – a blind man. In those times, blindness was far worse that it is today. The blind man was reduced to begging because there was no help or work for such people. You can imagine how difficult it must be for them, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Telegraph Or Telephone Connetion To God Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 25, 2005

What is your connection to God like - a telegraph or a telephone? Learn why the model of the Tabernacle is so crucial to understanding the heavenly presence of God

When Alexander Graham Bell first introduced his invention for sending speech over electric wires - it was dismissed. In fact, Bell had to lie to his financial backer by telling him that he was inventing a dual telegraph - a telegraph capable of sending and receiving Morse code at the same ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Love Means Obedience

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Oct 2, 2005

The greatest Command of loving God with everything you’ve got means that we’ve got to be willing to follow our freely chosen master to whom we give total and complete allegiance, attention, and adoration. When the command to love God this way was first gi

Love Means Obedience Matthew 22:34-40 Agatha Burgess is 87 years old and lives in the small mill town of Buffalo, South Carolina. She gets up every morning at five o’clock and begins cooking, and she has been doing this for over twenty years. She gets up and cooks for the local Meals on Wheels. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40, John 14:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Accepting Each Other

Contributed by Tony Grant on Oct 3, 2005

The problem is believers do not agree about many aspects of the faith; the solution is to accept each other and bear with each other.

Accepting Each Other Romans 14:1 (09/21/05) 2404 words 14:1 Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. According to a fable, one day Abraham was sitting by his tent door when he saw coming along the way a very old man. With true Bedouin ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Living God On The Outside Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 6, 2005

The Book of the Covenant is God’s Law applied to life. It shows us that in man’s sinful nature we try to exploit any system for our own gain. But if we would allow God’s life to live out from inside us, we would naturally love Him and love others - the h

Chapters 21 - 23 of Exodus are known as the Book of the Covenant. They are a series of laws that expand on the Ten Commandments. They are not an exhaustive list of behavior in any and all circumstances - but they gave the Israelites guidelines in how to treat each other and how to worship ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel