Sermons on Outward Focus:

Growth Through Suffering

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 9, 2001

God often teaches us through suffering. Why? Because in good times, we have a tendency to forget God. But adversity helps focus us on what is most important.

You may be familiar with a story that’s been in the news recently [Bobby Knight allegedly choking one of his players]. My purpose this morning is not to take a position on whether or not he should be fired. What interests me is how some of the very people that this man supposedly abused are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Been There, Done That, Got The T-Shirt

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 9, 2001

This sermon was done while peeling off T-shirts, one by one. The focus is that the presence of the Lord in our lives, as an active participant, drives out cynicism and preserves our joy.

I wish I had bought stock in the T-shirt industry. Of the making of souvenir T-shirts there is no end. People are using T-shirts to send all sorts of messages. Some T-shirts advertise products. Some T-shirts identify the work places. Some focus on the club memberships. And then some T-shirts ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Hope For Healing Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on Aug 9, 2005

This is the launch sermon in a five part series on healing and miracles. The series will focus on the spiritual deliverance, physical healing, and relational restoration that God can miraculously do in our lives today.

(The Story of Nick from Joel Olsteen’s, Your Best Life Now, pages 72 & 73) Our thoughts are very powerful things. They can fill us with a spirit of victory, or defeat. A spirit of hope, or helplessness. A spirit of promise, or pain. They can cause us to quote with great confidence, “I can do ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:37-42

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Anatomy Of A Worshipper Series

Contributed by Stuart Blount on Aug 10, 2005

Our focus in these messages is to explore the exercise of worship. A book on my shelves is entitled …..’Worship is a verb’….and its title summarizes my aims. Worship is not a passive thing, it is an activity.

Our focus in these messages is to explore the exercise of worship. A book on my shelves is entitled …..’Worship is a verb’….and its title summarizes my aims. Worship is not a passive thing, it is an activity. I want to use David as a guide to illustrate this truth. David was not only a musician ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:18-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

Facing Your Giants: Take Goliath Down Series

Contributed by Max Lucado on Nov 1, 2006

These sermons served as the foundation for Max’s newest book, Facing Your Giants. Our Goliath is always stalking us. We need to focus on God, not on our giant problem.

“TAKE GOLIATH DOWN” 2 Samuel 21:15-22 These sermons served as the foundation for Max’s newest book, Facing Your Giants. THEME: Our Goliath is always stalking us. We need to focus on God, not on our giant problem. Introduction: He vies for the bedside position, hoping to be the first voice ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 21:15-22

Denomination: Christian Church

There Is No Other Besides Him

Contributed by Charles Scott on Nov 20, 2006

In this world that offers so many choices, it is difficult to focus on the one ultimate in life, our God, beside whom there is no other; loving God first is our life, our duty.

(Proper 26B) There is no other besides him Devotion to the only One Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Moses said to the people, “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Anglican

His Masterpiece

Contributed by Don Brockus on Oct 4, 2007

We are becoming a masterpiece in the hands of the Master Potter. I have translated Ephesians 2:10 and focus on Jeremiah’s potter pericope: Potter, Clay, Wheel, Water & Kiln.

His Masterpiece (Ephesians 2:8-10; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Genesis 2:6, 7; Isaiah 45:9, 64:8; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 11:1) Text: Ephesians 2:8-10 “By grace you are saved through the faith and this {is} not of yourselves {it is) God’s gift not of gar xariti este sesoswmenoi dia tas pisteos kai ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Shipwrecked But Not Destroyed

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Aug 22, 2008

successfully standing in a storm is the ability to realize that God has everything under control. (1)Keep your eyes on god (2) Refuse to blame God (3)Focus on the eternal.

Shipwrecked but not destroyed Acts 27:27-44 We listen to what happen to Paul and all of us at one time in our lives understand what he went through. Some may be sitting here right now , and they are saying to themselves- pastor, you don’t get it, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:27-44

Denomination: Nazarene

Amid The Flood

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 26, 2008

Dramatic monologue as if Martin Luther were the preacher, telling his own story. Time period is the Wartburg stay; focus is on hope and trust in a changing world, "amid the flood" of change.

[Backstage] Walled up here in this fortress, kept practically as a prisoner, prevented from teaching, prohibited from preaching, what good am I? What can I accomplish in such a place? I was not born for idleness, nor for solitude. I was born for action. I was destined by Him who holds in His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Unity In Diversity

Contributed by Ryan Akers on Jun 22, 2009

The church is made of completely different people and if we don’t embrace our diversity we will not survive. We must focus on living worthy of the Gospel instead of living for ourselves.

Unity in Diversity Pastor Ryan Akers Good morning Sand Lake! Happy Father’s Day! I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here this morning to have the opportunity to share God’s Word with you. It’s been a really fun weekend getting to meet and know a bunch of you and then this morning trying to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Wesleyan

Standin' In The Need Of Grace

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 20, 2005

It’s easy for us to focus on ourselves and our alleged abilities. It’s far better to realize that we are constantly in need of the sustaining presence of God’s grace.

Passage: Judges 6:25-32 Intro: There is an old spiritual that we all know. Very simple. 1. “It’s me, it’s me oh Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer” 2. this is not a song celebrating selfishness, but the recognition of need 3. its amazing how easily pride worms into our hearts, how we begin ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:25-32

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Christian A&p 101: Carrying Out The Will & Directives Of The Head Series

Contributed by Johann Neethling on Oct 5, 2005

Sermon 4 in a series of 4 sermons reflecting on Paul’s favorite description of the Church as the Body of Christ. In this message we focus on the body’s responsibility to carry out the will of the Head.

CHRISTIAN A & P 101: CARRYING OUT THE WILL & DIRECTIVES OF THE HEAD Colossians 1:15-20 1. Over the past three Sundays we have been examining the Apostle Paul’s favorite description of the Church as the Body of Christ and have reflected thus far on three lessons we learn from our human anatomy and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

Denomination: United Methodist

The Economics Of War

Contributed by Ron Hietsch on Oct 10, 2005

We are at war against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. To win a war it is necessary for all to sacrifice and focus effort and resources on winning the war.

Text 2 Corinthians 8: 1-5 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Part 2 - Dividing To Every Man Series

Contributed by Rev. Bruce A. Shields on Apr 8, 2005

Part 2 of our Spiritual Gifts Series will focus on every Christian having a Spiritual Gifts from God, and that gift was determined and given by God to fit the needs of the body of Christ.

Spiritual Gifts Series Part 2 – “Dividing to Every Man” Rev. Bruce A. Shields – First Baptist Church Tawas City Michigan www.TawasBaptist.org I would like to welcome you to the First Baptist Church of Tawas City, we are very glad you are here today. If you are visiting, please fill out a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:11

Denomination: Bible Church

Maintain Your Priorities Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on May 26, 2005

Our priorities are defined by where we focus our eyes and our hearts and by what he hold on to as most dear. Christ-followers should set their priorities on the eternal and not the temporary.

(adapted from Southeast Christian Church’s series: “Living a Life of Integrity”) SERIES: “WORDS OF WISDOM FOR KINGDOM LIVING” TEXT: MATTHEW 6:19-24 TITLE: “MAINTAIN YOUR PRIORITIES” INTRODUCTION: A. A husband and wife were attending a county fair where, for twenty dollars a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ