Sermons on Outwardness:

Overcome By Paying Attention To Your Heart Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Oct 22, 2021

The iconic statement is our consideration this morning: “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Pay Attention To Your Heart 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Introduction A few years ago Forbes Magazine published an article by Ty Kiisel about how appearances impact our work lives. In the studies he looked at he noted that people who are tall are generally paid more. More, those who are blonde, who work ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God See's Different

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 15, 2024

In 1 Samuel 16, the Bible tells us, 'People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' This simple line is so powerful. It reminds us that what truly matters is not how we look on the outside but what's in our hearts.

Today, I want us to think about the world around us. It's very different from the world we read about in the Bible. In our time, influenced by media and the internet, there's a big focus on looking good and staying healthy. Social media, TV, and other media often set high standards for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Character Of Faith Series

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Sep 5, 2011

What is it that you really deserve today? Is it mercy we deserve because we've shown mercy to others. Or are we judges with evil thoughts who discriminate against others. Are we ones who judge by the outward appearances...or do we reflect the glory..the

THE CHARACTER OF FAITH JAMES 2:1 13 A Chinese man and a Jewish man were eating lunch together. Suddenly, without warning the Jew gets up, walks over to the Chinese fellow and smashes him in the mouth, sending him sprawling. The Chinese man picks himself up, rubs his jaw and asks, "What in the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

The Flow Of Mercy Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on May 28, 2008

God’s favor rests on those who live in the flow of His mercy. I. The Downward Flow of Mercy: Mercy Offered. II. The Inward Flow of Mercy: Mercy Received. III. The Outward Flow of Mercy: Mercy Extended. IV. The Reciprocal Flow of Mercy: Mercy Rewarded.

Living in the Father’s Favor: The Flow of Mercy Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. I. The Downward Flow of Mercy: Mercy Offered. II. The Inward Flow of Mercy: Mercy Received. III. The Outward Flow of Mercy: Mercy Extended. IV. The Reciprocal Flow of Mercy: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Truth Or Tradition? Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 30, 2007

Guess who’s come for a visit? It’s the big whigs from denominational headquarters. Isn’t it sad that Jesus had more problems w/ the religious than the lost? They made it all an outward matter and not an inward experience. Link inc. to text, audio, and Ppt

Truth or Tradition? Matthew 15:1-20 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TruthOrTradition.html Guess who popped in for a visit? It’s the scribes and Pharisees … the big whigs from denominational headquarters in Jerusalem. They are likely part of the Sanhedrin, the heavy hitters if you will. They have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

What Kind Of Savior Was Jesus Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Jun 26, 2015

ONE IMPORTANT TRUTH FOR US TO REALIZE AD EMBRACE IS THAT WHO WE ARE IS BASED ON WHAT WE ARE. IN OTHER WORDS THE OUTWARD US IS BASED O THE INWARD US. JESUS ALLUDED TO THIS WHEN HE TAUGHT THE DANGER AND REALITY OF SIN BEING IN OUR THOUGHTS, NOT IN OUR ACTIONS.

WHAT KIND OF SAVIOR WAS JESUS PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 INTRODUCTION: ONE IMPORTANT TRUTH FOR US TO REALIZE AD EMBRACE IS THAT WHO WE ARE IS BASED ON WHAT WE ARE. IN OTHER WORDS THE OUTWARD US IS BASED O THE INWARD US. JESUS ALLUDED TO THIS WHEN HE TAUGHT THE DANGER AND REALITY OF SIN BEING IN OUR ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Perfect Heart

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 25, 2014

Perfection does not mean a sinless, flawless heart. Man judges by outward appearances, by what he sees. But God judges the heart; the unseen motives. David was said to have had a perfect heart toward God "all the days of his life," yet he failed the Lord.

11-18-04 A Perfect Heart It is possible to walk before the Lord with a perfect heart! God said to Abraham, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect" (Genesis 17:1). God also said to the children of Israel, "Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 18:13). David ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

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

Mind Control 1 Series

Contributed by Clyde White on Jan 19, 2006

WOW!! These people, with whom Christ would not associate, sure look like “good” people to me. I’ve never “prophesied in Christ’s name”. I’ve never “cast out demons in Christ’s name”. Based on outward results, those folks seem to be pretty nice people

A few days ago, I was talking to a person at the "Y" and he was telling me about a demonstration of magic on one of the TV channels during the New Year’s celebrations. You know how it goes, everyone has a better story than the one just before. In the course of time, another fellow told of a web ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-24

Acquired Thru Faith-5(:2a)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 12, 2024

5 of 10. The apostle Peter informs those who are faithful in Christ, that they are amply supplied for godly living. God’s people are amply supplied for godly living thru their faith. But, ?What does Christian faith acquire for God’s people? A provision of God, acquired thru faith in Jesus, is...

ACQUIRED Thru FAITH-V—2Peter 1:2a(:1-4) Attention: The FAITH of God’s people taps into the vast resources that are only available to them by God’s hand. Personal SAVING faith, that is centered in Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord, gains/acquires everything that is essential for living ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2, 2 Peter 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Playing God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 15, 2023

There are 1000s of different churches with their various views on baptism. Can they all be right? Probably not, but why aren't they all "right"?

There was an antique collector passing through a small village when he saw an old man chopping wood with an ancient ax. “That’s a mighty old ax you have there,” he remarked. “Yep,” said the villager, “it once belonged to George Washington.” “George Washington??? Not really!" gasped the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Breaking Free Of Inferiority

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Sep 8, 2007

This sermon seeks to help believers break free from attitudes and feelings of inferiority by dealing with the defects and differences in our lives.

Most people suffer from some form of inferiority. Even the attitude of superiority is an evidence of feeling inferior deep down and in some area of selfhood. Inferiority comes by comparing those things in our lives which are unchangeable to those features in other people. If we compare our ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Mountain Tops And Plains

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 4, 2019

Our mountain-top experiences strengthen and shape our lives on the plain

March 3, 2019 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 9:28-36 Mountain Tops and Plains Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Today is the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany. This week we’ll enter Lent with Ash Wednesday. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Lutheran

Totally Immersed Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 21, 2011

"If you have the Word without the Spirit, you’ll dry up. If you have the Spirit without the Word, you’ll blow up. If you have both the Word and the Spirit, you’ll grow up." (Derek Prince)

Opening illustration: Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:17-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Counting Change Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on May 31, 2008

Newton’s First Law of Motion states: Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it. Do the forces of sin around you compel you to change?

Turn with me to Ezra 9. EZRA 9:3-5 After putting it off for a long time, a man finally went to the doctor. After the examination and all of the tests and blood work, the doctor just shook his head. He told the man, “You are in terrible shape. In order to pull out of this, you’re going to have ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 9:3-5

Denomination: Baptist