Sermons on outside the box:

Does Tradition Hinder Us?

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Nov 13, 2007

This world changes daily, and so do our churches. But people resist change, opting for tradition instead. We forget that Jesus was all about change. This message explores the "why" of change. Audio & text will be placed at - www.sermonlist.com

It was just a few years ago when you would go to a restaurant and if there was a waiting list, you would be called by name when they had an empty table. Have you been to Outback recently? They give you a pager and when it is you turn, they page you. When they dial your pager, an electronic ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: *other

"The Danger Of Routine”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Sep 27, 2001

Year C. Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost October 7th, 2001 Heavenly Father, thank you, for the elaborate ceremonies marking life passages that make great reminders not only of the “way it was” but also the “way it should be.” Amen. Title: “The danger

Year C. Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost October 7th, 2001 Heavenly Father, thank you, for the elaborate ceremonies marking life passages that make great reminders not only of the “way it was” but also the “way it should be.” Amen. Title: “The danger of routine” 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Writing in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

A Countercultural Mission Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

This sermon looks at four elements to a counter culture mission

A Countercultural Mission Acts 9:1-22 In Dayton, Ohio, attorney Derrick Farmer gave a motivational talk to at-risk teens. Derrick is 48 years old, and has been an attorney since 1999. Now, what was unusual about this event was that it was picketed by 30 Dayton police officers. Why? When Derrick was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-22

Denomination: Methodist

"But I Don't Want To Fight!" Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on Jun 20, 2006

Second in a series on Spiritual Warfare. This message explores the hesitancy of people to get involved in spiritual battle.

Last week we began our series, “Operation Enduring Freedom.” A look at how to grab hold of a lasting, enduring freedom. And we started our series by looking at the importance of keeping our focus in the right place in the midst of the battles. I asked you to start memorizing, and engraining in ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 2:24-31

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Defining Moment

Contributed by Greg Carr on Feb 10, 2011

As a Christian we have many defining moments. We will look at some Biblical examples of defining moments in this message.

Let’s pray. Father, Open my eyes so I can see Your truth. Open my ears so I can hear Your voice. Open my mind so I can understand Your Word. And open my heart so I may receive all that You want me to receive. AMEN Let’s talk about defining moments. What is a defining moment? A ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Under Authority

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 29, 2022

What we perhaps don’t realize is that Christians are also under authority, civilians enlisted in the same cause, fighting evil and promoting the good.

I was watching an old Humphrey Bogart movie the other night, called Action in the North Atlantic. It was about the merchant marine in WWII, not about the navy. I was particularly interested because my brother Jeremy up in Alaska was in the merchant marine. And then I got even more interested, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Going Down The Rabbit Hole Of Perceived Reality: What Is The Truth Beyond Tyranny And Consumerism?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

It began with a question... Why am I here? What is the truth behind this blue green ball flying through space? It felt like something new began when I started that question.

It began with a question... Why am I here? What is the truth behind this blue green ball flying through space? It felt like something new began when I started that question. I broke free from the 9 to 5 life, from the television, the bars, the social media, and all of that, and came into a larger ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 Peter 3:15

Denomination: Salvation Army

Preparing For People

Contributed by Mark Elkins on Apr 26, 2003

Are you ready to receive 3000 people today? 1000?500? 5? 1? What do we need to do to prepare to receive those that God has placed just outside our doors?

Tell the person next to you, “It’s no coincidence… that you are here.” “God brought you here!” We need to understand that the only reason people talk about God, or come to church, is because God draws them. That is why we need to be prepared. Bob called his wife from work in the middle of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-39

Denomination: Baptist

Church - Vision Or Memories?

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Nov 1, 2006

To keep impacting those outside the church for Jesus, we must keep the vision we were given, and not replace that vision with the memories of yesterday. Nor can we replace our calling with our comfort.

I know that many of us are planning on helping out at the Leukemia Benefit right after church for 3-year old Christian Bentley, so I am going to offer a shorter message this morning so we can get up there on time. There are some who might not understand why we cut our sermons a little short for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-18

Denomination: *other

Listening To Unchristian America

Contributed by Jay Robison on Nov 1, 2007

Christianity has an image problem. What can we learn from how those outside the church see the church today. I use Jesus criticism of religious leaders to cause us to think.

I have used sermoncentral along with other resources in this message. James White’s Critical Times email was a starting point. I also referred to Kinnaman’s book. LISTENING TO UnCHRISTIAN AMERICA October 28, 2007 Jay Davis Robison MATTHEW 15:1-12 The Church in America HAS AN IMAGE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Shacking With The Church Series

Contributed by Frank Edwards on Jan 26, 2010

There are millions of people today who live together, enjoy each other's company but do not share a relationship of mutual trust and commitment. On the outside they look happy, but on the inside they are unwilling or unable to make a full commitment.

SHACKING WITH THE CHURCH- There are millions of people today who live together, enjoy each other's company but do not share a relationship of mutual trust and commitment. On the outside they look happy, but on the inside they are unwilling or unable to make a full commitment. One of the unique ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Importance Of Christian Unity Series

Contributed by Rich Anderson on Feb 16, 2011

All true believers have God’s glory within, no matter what they may look like on the outside. Christian unity is not based on the external, but the internal. The very Spirit of God within us.

How important is unity in our individual lives? How important is unity in our church? Jesus had a lot to say about the importance of unity. If Christians cannot be unified, then we are not approaching one another in love. And we cannot be a good witness for Christ if we are bickering with one ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-24

Denomination: Christian Church

Intimacy With God Series

Contributed by David Zetterberg on Feb 6, 2012

We as Christians are at our best when we are personally growing in our intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders. (Special thanks to North Point Community Church for the 3 Vital Relationships concept.)

Three Vital Relationships: Intimacy with God This morning I want to start a short series on a subject I have covered a half-dozen times over the past 10-12 years: Three Vital Relationships. I have covered it so often because I believe it is crucial that we fully understand how important these ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Community With Insiders Series

Contributed by David Zetterberg on Feb 6, 2012

We as Christians are at our best when we are personally growing in our intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders. (Special thanks to North Point Community Church for the 3 Vital Relationships concept.)

Community w/Insiders We are in week two of our vital relationships series. In week one we talked about our relationship with God. We talked about the importance of time—nothing can replace time with God—any truly healthy relationship that we have, is that way because of the time we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Herod, Dead Babies, And Hope Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 23, 2017

There was a time in the seventies of the last century when Catholics seemed to stand alone among the Christian churches in their condemnation of abortion. Now they often stand with us outside the abortion mills and pro-choice lectures, praying.

Feast of the Holy Innocents 2017 Reformation/Revolution I don’t think it is possible to read or hear the account of the flight into Egypt and the intentional murder of an unknown number of children by Herod dispassionately. St. Matthew, writing at least forty years after these events, is probably ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Catholic