Sermons on Out Of Context:

Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B: "When In Doubt, Cut It Out.”

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 15, 2024

It is not hyperbole to say that it is better to enter heaven maimed [one-armed, one-footed, and one-eyed] than to enter hell whole. That is literally true.

“When Jesus exaggerated” is a book title, and there are countless articles on how Jesus uses exaggeration and hyperbole for effect, like we hear this Sunday; to literally cut off your hand or foot or gouge-out your eyes because then you won’t sin with them.1 However, “it is not hyperbole to say ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-48

Denomination: Catholic

Pointing Out To Another What We Have Experienced From God's Hand To Share

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Apr 7, 2001

Year C Easter Sunday April 15, 2001 Psalm 118

Year C Easter Sunday April 15, 2001 Title: “Pointing out to another what we have experienced from God’s hand to share the joy of solution.” Psalm 118:1-29 This Song of Thanksgiving was sung in the context of a thank offering liturgy. We can easily divide the Psalm into two scenes: verses one to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:1-29

Denomination: Lutheran

Through Giving Thanks! Sermon 12 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 24, 2019

This message explores how God's love is expressed to us in the context of our troubles in the journey of life and how those experiences should birth a heart of thanks and praise.

Transition: Video Testimonies from SOKM - Giving thanks through testimony for God’s faithfulness! Series: Finding Joy in The Journey Sermon 12: Finding Joy in the journey through Giving Thanks! Thesis: This message explores how God's love is expressed to us in the context of our troubles ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Friend Of God - James 2:20-24 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 6, 2021

We are often told to trust God. But this passage makes trust seem more desirable by casting it in the context of friendship. This message defines friendship and explores what it means to have that with God.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical ...read more

Scripture: James 2:20-24

Ambassadors For Christ

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 29, 2024

This message views the biblical image of "ambassador for Christ" in the context of the Roman world. While sojourning on earth, we must represent our real homeland, the kingdom of heaven.

“George Shultz, when Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him . . . Shultz would test them. He would say, ‘You have to go over the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country.’ ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Seven Churches Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

The idea of 7 being symbolic of perfection and completion is almost universal, and, therefore, it is the easiest of all symbolic numbers to understand. It usually means all of the category being dwelt with in the context.

A math teacher asked one of her less enthusiastic students, "If I take 23 away from 30, what is the difference?" He responded, "That's what I say, what's the difference?" In other words, it made no difference to him. Not everybody enjoys math and working with numbers, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4

The Parable Of The Lost Sons Luke 15:11-32

Contributed by Damon S Adams on Mar 16, 2016

This message is a exposition of the Parable of the Prodigal. The message demonstrates how rich the parable is and how the Middle Eastern context adds to our understanding of the meaning and application of the three main characters of the parable.

The Parable of the Lost Sons Luke 15: 11-32 Introduction – Going to Cyprus for an extended stay of 3 months when I was 3yrs old back in 1963, I experienced village life that plunged me into a context that in some ways probably resembled something of the village setting of the parable of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Going Over There? PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

Explore the themes of trouble, hope, joy, and freedom in the context of Job's suffering, emphasizing that while anxiety and suffering are inevitable, we have the choice not to be imprisoned by them through faith in God.

Good morning, church family! There's a quote by Max Lucado, that I want to share with you this morning. He once said, "The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional." That, my friends, is where we find ourselves today in the book of Job, chapter 3, verses 17-20. Hear ...read more

Scripture: Job 3:17-20

Topics: Trouble, Don't Last Always

Don't Overthink Truth

Contributed by Don Campbell on Apr 20, 2023

Overthinking the truth can result in the paralysis of analysis or it can result in distorted truths that are torn from the context in which they were spoken and made to serve as handmaidens for many false doctrines.

DON’T OVERTHINK TRUTH “Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?” (Eccl 7:16) INTRODUCTION A. Solomon is not suggesting a lukewarm relationship with God nor a lackadaisical pursuit of knowledge or wisdom, but we can overthink the truth, resulting ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:23-34, Matthew 23:23-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Covenant Community Communicates Clearly Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 30, 2024

As James closes his letter to exiles, he concludes with instructions on three different topics - communication (oaths), prayer, and care. This sermon looks at the first of those in the context of a covenant community.

In the run up to the 1988 Presidential Election, Vice President George H.W. Bush famously said “Read my lips: no new taxes.” He was running on a platform of consistency. He sought to take the policies and success of the Reagan years into a new term. He, in essence, swore an oath, made a promise ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:25, Matthew 5:34-37, Matthew 23:16-22, Matthew 19:22, Zechariah 8:14-17, Psalm 32:3-4, 1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Nine Ways The Holy Spirit Helps Us Live Out His Forgiveness

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 17, 2004

The Holy Spirit helps us heal from past rejections, accusations and abuses through His grace. We all have experienced terrible adversity in our past experiences. Instead of dwelling on these past hurts the Holy Spirit has a way of using them to give us gr

Nine Ways the Holy Spirit Helps Us Live Out His Forgiveness Illustration:A woman confessed to me that she had lied about me. She then asked for my forgiveness. I told her she was forgiven. She took me at my word, and our relationship has been good ever since. But what if she had badgered me ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Survivor 2: How To Find A Tribe That Won't Vote You Out Series

Contributed by Geoff Baggett on Sep 21, 2002

This is the second message in my SURVIVOR series, focusing upon the way every church ought to be (09-22-2002).

Opening Illustration There was a church in a small town in Tennessee that had a most interesting name. The sign in front of it said “Left Foot Baptist Church.” There was a young man who passed by the building several times, and he always got a good chuckle from the name. Finally, one day when ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

Why Jesus Knew That Adversity Brings Out Either The Best Or The Worst In People

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

How to look positively at adversity

The Benefits of Adversity - Gen. 50:20 Illustration: Jesus said, In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) 1. Jesus knew that adversity is on the outside of a person, an individual’s attitude determines whether one chooses to become ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Spirituality The Main Course: Don't Leave God Out This Christmas Series

Contributed by Jeff Seaman on Sep 13, 2001

Part of the Christmas Wonder PowerPak.

Introduction: On July 29, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong climbed down an aluminum ladder and put his feet on the surface of the moon. In an address to the nation President Richard Nixon said, “The greatest event in human history occurred when man first put his foot on the moon.” I contend, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:42-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

"i Don't Get Anything Out Of Church." Series

Contributed by Jonathan Kruschel on Oct 7, 2019

People come to church with certain expectations. But are those the expectations that God wants us to come with, or are they are our own expectations? See how God's promises far exceed our expectations for church.

“I don’t get anything out of it.” You’ve probably heard it as a reason for someone no longer going to church and maybe you’ve actually had the thought yourself. You walked out of church and thought, “I just don’t feel like I got anything out of it.” People come to church with certain ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:14-17, Luke 18:15-17, Isaiah 55:8-11

Denomination: Lutheran