Sermons on Outward Focus:

Good Manners Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 22, 2011

We've been brought up to say, "Thank You," when someone gives us something. With all of God's blessings our lives are one BIG "Thank you."

Luke 17:11-19 "Good Manners" INTRODUCTION Every Christmas season I enjoy watching the movie "Santa Clause," with Tim Allen. For me, the movie is filled with gems about life and faith. One such gem occurs early in the movie. Scott Calvin finds himself at Santa's workshop after his first ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Lutheran

Baptism Message (Adult)

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Oct 8, 2008

Baptism is an outward act, with visible elements, that is key to the inward attitude and acceptance into God’s kingdom.

Baptism Before performing a baptism, the pastor approached the young father and said solemnly, "Baptism is a serious step. Are you prepared for it?" "I think so," the man replied. "My wife has made appetizers and we have a caterer coming to provide plenty of cookies and cakes for all of our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:12-16, Acts 22:12

Denomination: Lutheran

Discover Purity Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Nov 6, 2011

Jesus told us that outward behaviour wasn't the only thing but it is still an important thing

Things were beginning to escalate. Up to this point Jesus had been criticized locally for some of his teaching but now they were bringing out the big guns. The news of Jesus and his preaching was spreading throughout Palestine; remember last week I mentioned that the news had reached Herod in his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-9

Denomination: Wesleyan

The God That Sees The Heart Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on May 2, 2025

God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

THE GOD THAT SEES THE HEART By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 1 Samuel 16:7 Supporting Texts: Jeremiah 17:10, Proverbs 21:2, Psalm 139:1-4, Hebrews 4:13, Acts 1:24 INTRODUCTION: God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. In a world where ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Water Baptism PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Jan 23, 2024

Explores the significance of baptism as an outward expression of inward faith and its transformative power in the lives of believers.

Good morning, beloved family in Christ. It's a joy to gather with you today, in the house of our Lord, to reflect on a topic that is as refreshing as a cool drink of water on a hot summer's day. Today, we're going to talk about baptism - that beautiful, sacred act that marks our initiation into the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:8

Topics: Water Baptism, Need

Don’t Let The Troubles Of Life Cause You To Lose Your Focus

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Feb 4, 2003

This message encourages the believer to stay afloat during the most turbulent storms by keeping a Heavenly focus.

The text;Colossians 3:1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead (died), and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Priority One – Making Love Of God The #1 Focus Of Your Home Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 16, 2011

Our homes deserve our attention to making sure that our love for God is priority one. This message is to set the groundwork for a series on the family.

Matthew 22:35-40 Have you done your homework? Aren’t you parents glad that summer’s here and you can quit asking it? We expert parents know that you’re supposed to say that so that later you’re not saying, “What went wrong on this report card!?” Schoolwork is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:35-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dispel Your Doubts And Focus Your Faith - God Is Able To Do The Impossible Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 25, 2017

God is able to perform miracles today. Whatever our circumstances, situations or problems are today, we can trust our Heavenly Father to care, to bless, to move, to act, to deliver and to heal today. Dispel your doubts and focus your faith on God.

In many ways today is no different from any other day and perhaps that is where the problem is... Our Sundays can feel so routine - our expectation is the same - being church together is something we can do on autopilot. We know God is the same yesterday, today and forever - but we specifically ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:26, Ephesians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Mark 5:36

Denomination: Pentecostal

Defending The Faith Sermon Iii: Focus On Grace And Truth Evidenceed In The Word Incarnate Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 6, 2020

In times of crisis when our Christian Faith is attacked by unbelievers and scoffers, mature Christians stand firm and stay focused on grace and truth evidenced in the Word that was in the beginning and became flesh.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE - FOCUS ON GRACE AND TRUTH EVIDENCED IN “THE WORD” INCARNATE John Arthur, my three-year-old great-grandson, calls me Paw-Paw. We call him Art. When Art comes to our house, he plays with toys Mee-Maw keeps in a bottom dresser drawer so he can get to the toys ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14-18, John 18:36-38

From The Street Where You Live To The Faraway Towns

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 8, 2021

Jesus' ministry pulls him in two directions: very close to the person in need and outwards to encounter all people. Our first instinct is to keep Jesus solely for ourselves. But as his divine grace lifts us up, he calls us outward into our lives of purpose

February 7, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Mark 1:29-39 From the Street Where You Live to the Faraway Towns Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. When I go for a walk along a neighborhood street, I like to look at the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

Denomination: Lutheran

Inside Out Christianity

Contributed by Dwight Davis on May 17, 2024

So often, we Christians--like everyone else get caught up on the outward appearance of our physical bodies, our homes, our cars and our families. Even more dangerous than focusing on the "appearance" of these things, we quite often focus on the appearance of our Christianity.

Have you ever met someone for the first time, and you were immediately struck by how nice-looking that person was? But after spending some time with them, all of a sudden, they didn’t look that good anymore? Not that their makeup got smeared or their toupee blew off; but once you talked to them and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28, Matthew 15:8-20, Jeremiah 17:9, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 51:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

A Call To Be Different

Contributed by Glenn Newton on Nov 18, 2003

A message on Holiness, and how the Holy life is different from the lives of the unbeliever. Holiness is defined as Christlikeness, not on outward appearance.

The Call to be Different Pastor Glenn Newton November 16, 2003 “Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:6-10, Hebrews 12:14

Denomination: Nazarene

Sacred Community Series

Contributed by Allen James on Nov 6, 2009

God desires to create sacred communities who are wholly devoted to Him.

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: ARRIVING TO FIND THINGS MUCH WORSE THAN EXPECTED INTRODUCTION: As Ezra returns from Babylon to Jerusalem he discovers the people have a serious SIN PROBLEM. Rather than becoming a SACRED COMMUNITY they had become a COMFORTABLE COMMUNITY who had wandered from the words of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 7:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Search For Hope

Contributed by Michael Blankenship on Jan 22, 2001

The inward, outward, heavnward search causes us to draw closer to the abondant love of our Lord and Savior.

First Baptist Church 545 South Main street Jellico, Tennessee. 37762. Pastor: Michael Blankenship Sunday Morning January 14, 2001 It seems as if today more than ever before in history we are less satisfied with the lives, which we live. We have more than our parents and grandparents ever dreamed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Man Lost And A Bad Man Saved

Contributed by Richard Dayringer, Thd on Aug 21, 2006

The attitude of a person’s heart or soul, not his or her outward actions determines one’s destiny.

A GOOD MAN LOST & A BAD MAN SAVED SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS IS SELF-DECEPTION (TWO PRAYERS) 33 LU. 18:9-14 (Prayer) PROP: The attitude of a person’s heart or soul, not his or her actions determines one’s destiny. INTRO: 1. Notice the make-up of the crowd to whom Jesus spoke. V. 9 makes clear the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist