Sermons on Olive Tree:

Take This Cup From Me - Mark 14:32-36 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 12, 2024

One preacher said, “Prayer is not about getting God to do what you want. It’s about getting you to do what God wants.” But if that’s the case, why make requests? What is the real purpose of prayer?

Introduction: Unanswered Prayer Does prayer work? We all know the right answer: “Yes, of course it works. Prayer changes things!” But what about when you pray and nothing happens? Let me ask you this: Did Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane work? To answer the question of whether prayer ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-36, Matthew 26:36-39

Divine Vandalism - Mark 15:35-39 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 1, 2024

Is God our Savior? It depends on your definition of saving. If your concept of trouble and your idea of what it means to be saved from it don’t line up with God’s definitions, then you will find yourself very disappointed with God, and you might miss real salvation altogether.

Introduction Is God our Savior? It depends on your definition of saving. A lot of things depend on your definition of saving. Being rescued means you’re in trouble and God delivers you from that trouble. But if your concept of trouble and your idea of what it means to be saved from it don’t line ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:35-39, Matthew 27:47-54, Luke 23:44-47

Yours Is The Kingdom Of Heaven - Matthew 5:3b Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 3, 2024

This message explores what the kingdom of God is, and what it means that it belongs to you.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Christ And The Law - Matthew 5:17-18 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 20, 2024

Critics often accuse Christians of picking and choosing which parts of the Old Testament we consider binding today. Why do we appeal to the prohibition on homosexuality, and yet we don’t put an incorrigible child to death by stoning?

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-18

Serves Not The Lord Jesus Christ (Lesson 2) Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Aug 22, 2024

To herald Paul’s solemn plea and message to the church in Rome, to mark and turn away from those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine they had heard, learned, believed, and obeyed according to “The faith, once delivered to the saints.”

INTRODUCTION Outline. 2. Serves not the Lord Jesus Christ Introductory Remarks. 1. This is lesson two in this sermon series: “Paul’s Solemn Plea To Rome.” This was an urgent and solemn plea from the beloved apostle Paul to the saints at Rome. His message began with a sincere plea to the brethren ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:17-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The God Of All Grace Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 3, 2025

We are called to glory (unhindered experience of God's attributes), but the sufferings of Satan's attacks threaten to prevent our arrival in glory.

1 Peter 5:10-14 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10-14

Barabbas, An Undeserving Recipient Series

Contributed by Chris Cuthbertson on Mar 25, 2025

To give something good to someone who doesn’t deserve it seems irresponsible; it seems perhaps a little careless, maybe even—can I use this word?...reckless.

Barabbas, an Undeserving Recipient Matthew 27: 17 – 20 Series: A Day in the Life of… (Easter Series) To give something good to someone who doesn’t deserve it seems irresponsible; it seems perhaps a little careless, maybe even—can I use this word?...reckless. And I think most of us can ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:17-20, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Keep Wising Up - Ecclesiastes 10:12-20 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 29, 2025

This passage contains practical wisdom on controlling your tongue, making plans and finding direction in life, managing money, and controlling your thought life.

10:12 The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness. 14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:12-20

Deceitful Religion

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 6, 2025

Jacob's sons distorted the Faith; the Shechemites attempted to co-opt the religious practices of the Israelites to enrich themselves. Both groups attempted to use religion to obtain their own ends, resulting in death and destruction. Deceitful religion always leads to ruin and destruction.

“Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

When You Feel Worthless - Psalm 8:3-4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 17, 2025

You are what God says you are, not what you feel like you are. And the solution to feeling worthless is not feeling important; it’s feeling loved.

Psalm 8: For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. 1 O Yahweh our Adonai, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:3-4

There!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 9, 2025

The criteria for worship are established when the Lord God spoke to Moses , dictating what was necessary for worship to be accepted.

“These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Be Fruitful And Multiply

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 18, 2025

The Creator's command, "Be Fruitful and Multiply," is largely ignored by the people of God today. We have much to learn even with the second part of His command to subdue the earth.

“God blessed [the man and the woman]. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” [1] Undoubtedly, I am venturing into ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:28

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The Difference?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 1, 2025

God is sovereign. God is just, and He is merciful. Your view of God dictates how you treat mankind.

“The word of the LORD came to me: ‘What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?” As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 18:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Who Is God?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 8, 2025

Like many people in this day, Moses knew about God, but Moses didn't know God until he encountered God. Each of us who are twice born will have had an encounter with the Lord God. Until then, He is but a rumor.

“Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

It’s So Good To Be Forgiven! - Psalm 32:1,2,5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 29, 2025

What does God require of you after you have sinned? And what all does true confession involve?

Psalms 32:1-11 A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-5