Sermons on Oliver Discourse:

When Catastrophes Happen, Whom Do We Blame?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 6, 2025

When something really bad happens, we look for a scapegoat to take the blame. For lots of troubles, our response is to blame God, praying “why did you do this to us, Lord?”

Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time 2025 What has happened so that the prophet Joel tells the priests of the Jerusalem temple to weep and wail? Why is the house of God deprived of grain offering and wine offering? If we look not here in chapter 2 of the prophecy, but go back to ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:13-15, Joel 2:1-2, Psalm 9:2-3, Psalm 9:6, Psalm 9:16, Psalm 9:8-9, Luke 11:15-26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

A Mission From God Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Mar 29, 2022

Are your feet beautiful? They are when they carry us out into the world with the good news.

Let’s talk about shoes. Guess Those Shoes by showing images on the screen. We have unique tastes. Do people recognize us by our shoes? How about our faith? Using the pattern set by Jesus to describe being sent into our world with the good news. ? Two By Two Mark 6:7 NLT 7 And he called his twelve ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:6-13, John 17:18, Exodus 12:11, Isaiah 52:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Holding On To God's Plan And Persevering In Marriage Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jan 20, 2025

In this sermon, we will explore the biblical perspective on perseverance in marriage..

As Christians, we believe that marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God. In Genesis 2:24, it is written, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." However, we also know that marriage can be challenging, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:24, Psalm 128:1-4

"The Gospel Is God's Favorite "Joke,” To Tell Humankind.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Jul 6, 2002

July 14, 2002 -- EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST --Proper 10 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Color: Green Matthew 13: 1-23 Title: “The Gospel is God’s favorite “joke,” to tell humankind.”

July 14, 2002 -- EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST --Proper 10 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Color: Green Matthew 13: 1-23 Title: “The Gospel is God’s favorite “joke,” to tell humankind.” The Parable of the Sower 13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Romans 8:1

Denomination: Lutheran

The Case Of Reason Impartially Considered

Contributed by John Wesley on Apr 4, 2006

It is the true remark of an eminent man, who had made many observations on human nature, "If reason be against a man, a man will always be against reason." This has been confirmed by the experience of all ages. Very many have been the instances of it in

"Brethren, be not children in understanding: Howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." 1 Corinthians 14:20 1. It is the true remark of an eminent man, who had made many observations on human nature, "If reason be against a man, a man will always be against reason." This has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:20-21

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Spit Yet!

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Nov 7, 2000

We often let ’cultural Christianity’ override the truth of God’s grace in our relationships

There’s a story about a mother who handed her six-year-old son two candy balls, and told him to share with his four year old brother. She said, “He may spit it out, because they’re kind of sour tasting. But if he keeps sucking on it, there’s bubble gum in the middle”. The older boy ran ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:9-15

Denomination: Orthodox

The Christmas Covenant[2018]-5

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jan 10, 2019

5 of 6. God informed Jeremiah & Jeremiah the people, of the promise of a new covenant to supplant/fulfill/uphold/empower the ineffective covenant. God’s people have the promise of an effective covenant. The covenant people of God are promised...--OR--The Christmas Covenant is...

The CHRISTMAS COVENANT-V—Jeremiah 31:31-34 Attention: No Official Governmental Civility?—(A ‘supposedly’ true story which I haven't researched) Mark DeMoss, concerned about the increasingly harsh tone of public discourse, launched the Civility Project in January 2009. The Republican ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Fruit Of The Spirit Is...love Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Apr 11, 2011

When the Fruit of the Spirit is at work in the body, it is alluring to an unbelieving world.

Beginning this morning, we’ll embark on a new journey that will take us through the various aspects of the fruit of the Spirit over the next nine weeks. Each week, I’m going to open our time with a short story from a book titled Home Town Tales, which is authored by a Quaker minister ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

Mark's Gospel An Introduction Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jan 2, 2011

An introduction to the gospel of Mark. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Marks Gospel – An introduction Reading: Mark chapter 1 verse 1: Ill: • Sometimes newspaper editors state the obvious: • ‘If strike isn’t settled quickly it may last a while’. • ‘War dims hope for peace’ • ‘Cold wave linked to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1

Denomination: Brethren

The Significance Of A New Creation-19 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Sep 20, 2016

Part B--xvii-xix of point 14. Paul commended his apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church thru a list of practical realities. The Practical Realities of Ministry are seen in our Ministry Commendations...

‘The Significance Of A New Creation’--XIX—2Corinthians 5:9--6:10... 14. The PRACTICAL REALITIES Of MINISTRY-B—2Corinthians 6:3-10... Part B of point 14 in the series. Attention: No matter what we do for a living or how we worship together corporately, much more is required ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Do Your Own Thing! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 25, 2020

In these dark and foggy times, submit to God’s authority first in your home, then in the household of God, then in the community at large.

There is an old story about a captain on a ship, who looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south.” Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.” The captain ...read more

Scripture: Judges 17:1-13, Judges 18:1-31, Ephesians 2:14-16, 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Pentecost Sunday, Year B. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 16, 2021

MAY 19th, 2024.

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 104:24-35, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27, John 16:5-15. (A) CAN THESE BONES LIVE? Ezekiel 37:1-14. When confronted with insurmountable difficulties we often ask: “Can these bones live?” Yet the question originates with God, and is addressed to man. The ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 104:24-35, Acts 2:1-21, Romans 8:22-27, John 15:26-27, John 16:5-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sunday School: Catch The Vision! Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 27, 2004

Some experts believe that Sunday School is on the decline. They suggest that the SS hour has been added to the church service (2:00 hour services now common, often with 1:15 devoted to music) therefore SS is unnecessary.

Chances are, you don’t know Edward Kimball. He lived over a hundred years ago. He was a Sunday school teacher in Boston, where a young teenager became part of his class. The young man was a country boy. He didn’t know the ways of the city or of the church. But, he came to Kimball’s Sunday ...read more

Denomination: Other

Attack On America

Contributed by Larry Cockerham on Jul 1, 2002

Americans watched in disbelief on the morning of September 11th as two passenger jets slammed into the twin World Trade Center towers located in the lower section of Manhattan in New York City.

Americans watched in disbelief on the morning of September 11th as two passenger jets slammed into the twin World Trade Center towers located in the lower section of Manhattan in New York City. The first aircraft struck at 8:48 a.m., soon followed by the second at 9:06 a.m. These two incidents ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

"Don't Cry For Me Jerusalem”

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 10, 2002

A call to discipleship

“Don’t Cry For Me Jerusalem” Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Those who rejected and condemned Jesus showed that they preferred darkness to light. Those who cried for our Lord to be crucified revealed their inner darkness, their desperate need for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:26-31

Denomination: Congregational