Sermons on Openly:

The Seven Churches: Smyrna PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2025

Jesus knows our suffering, calls us to courageous faithfulness amid trials, and promises eternal life to those who endure with Him.

Some of us walked in today with hearts that feel threadbare. Bills stack up. Doctors call back. Friends pull away. Tears fall in the dark, and worries pace the floor at 3 a.m. You wonder, Does Jesus see this? Does He know my name? Does He care about my pain? Smyrna asked the same questions. They ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Topics: Smyrna, Church, Persecution

Multi Ethnic Bereavement

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 30, 2017

I wrote this for a counseling class. It contains three parts: 1) Bereavement in religion 2) Bereavement in ethnic groups 3) Applications for pastoral and clinical counselors.

To be used of the Lord to help those grieving is both satisfying and humbling. My personal prayer is that more mourners will be drawn to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the only thing that can bring true and lasting comfort. Jesus said, “Blessed are those that mourn, for they ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Matthew 5:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Would You Name Your Dog Judas Series

Contributed by Kevin Landis on Sep 20, 2007

Disciple Judas

In 1982 the heavy metal rock band Judas Priest went to the top of the music charts with their hit song “You Got Another Thing Coming.” This was the band’s only top 100 chart song they ever produced, today they are just another name of the past. Interesting their name is Judas Priest, looking at ...read more

Scripture: John 6:70

Denomination: Baptist

What Yokefellows Share-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 21, 2011

The Holy Spirit confirmed Elizabeth & Mary as yokefellows(partners) in God’s service. But what do yokefellows in God’s service share? Yokefellows in God’s service share...

WHAT YOKEFELLOWs SHARE—II—Luke 1:39-56 Attention: Old man Woodruff loved golf, but his age was making it increasingly difficult for him to play. He complained to the clubhouse man about his eyesight. "I can't play with my glasses on because they keep falling off," he said. "And I'm ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-56

Denomination: Baptist

Saving Faith

Contributed by Charles Spurgeon on Jul 16, 2009

A classic sermon by Charles Spurgeon, delivered March 15, 1874.

Saving Faith ------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Sermon (No. 1162-3) Delivered on Lord’s Day Morning, March 15, 1874, by C. H. SPURGEON, At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:50, Ephesians 2:8-10

Denomination: *other

What Good Is It For A Man To Gain The Whole World? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 11, 2012

Jesus calls disciples to assess what is truly valuable, boldly seizing that aspect of life.

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” [1] He who dies with the most toys wins. At least, that is the sentiment expressed in contemporary bumper sticker theology. It probably sums up the contemporary worldview that esteems winning at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:25

Denomination: Baptist

Take Your Time Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 7, 2014

To avoid appointing unqualified people to the eldership, the elders must take time to know these candidates.

“Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

Complacency Kills Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 28, 2017

It was only a momentary slip of the beasts’ feet, but it was enough to rock the Ark which was on the cart they were pulling. The priest driving the cart reached back to steady the Ark so it wouldn’t fall; but the moment he touched the Ark, he fell dead.

“David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

There Is No Sin In The Cemetery [*]

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 20, 2019

Baptism pictures the transformation that has taken place in the life of the child of God. How can we, then, continue to live as thought we were dead? To live as the world lives is to attempt to dig up the corpse we buried!

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Challenges To/For Public Worship-4 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Nov 17, 2015

4 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-IV—John 2:12-25 Attention: The Church can be tempted toward many directions regarding the manner & message of its Public Worship. There are real Challenges to bringing about Public Worship!...There are dynamics which, if we deny, will keep our church & the ...read more

Scripture: John 2:12-24

Denomination: Baptist

Esau: Daddy's Fair-Haired Boy. Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 2, 2016

What can we learn of our own character and of God's grace when we study Esau selling his birthright?

“These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus And The Woman At The Well

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Jul 20, 2018

The Samaritan woman encounters Jesus at the well. Jesus reveals her past and she meets the Messiah.

Jesus and the woman at the well John 4: 1-42 The story of the nameless Samaritan woman at the well, recorded only in the Gospel of John, is a revealing one, full of many truths and powerful lessons for us today. This story follows on the heels of the account of Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42, John 7:37-39

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Dangerous Discipleship

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 26, 2018

To be a follower of Christ is almost certain to be costly. Many turn from following Christ because they fear what it may cost. They are willing to be religious, but hesitate to embrace discipleship. We are called to embrace dangerous discipleship.

“When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So, the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and ...read more

Scripture: John 12:9-11

Denomination: Baptist

What Of Those Who Have Never Heard The Gospel?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 30, 2016

A response to the question, "What of those who have never heard the Gospel?" God is just and God is gathering to Himself and for His glory a great harvest of souls.

“You have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

You Gonna Eat That? Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Nov 17, 2017

A study of the book of Acts 10: 1 - 48

Acts 10: 1 - 48 You gonna eat that? 10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel