Sermons on Paradigm:

False Faith: Faith Amnesia Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 14, 2007

Faith is about trusting in a person. Faith is not about stuff. It is not about things happening or things not. It is not about things coming together. It is not about a happy feeling or a secure moment or even knowledge - it is about a person.

Richard Dawkins, the famous Oxford zoologist said, “Faith is the great copout, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, a lack of evidence.” Does Jesus prove Richard Dawkins right in our passage today? Jesus is asked ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living With A Difficult Boss Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jul 28, 2013

We are to live out the Gospel even with people who make it difficult.

Living With A Difficult Boss Text: 1 Peter 2:18-25 Introduction 1. Illustration: Rick Warren ("Purpose Driven") accurately observes: "We can measure our servant’s heart by how we respond when others treat us like servants. How do you react when you’re taken for granted, bossed around, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Denomination: Methodist

First Century Style Rip Van Winkles Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Aug 20, 2017

Rip Van Winkle is the story of a man who woke up after a 20-year nap, only to find that the world had radically changed! Acts 19:1-7 tell the story of 12 1st century Rip Van Winkles who discovered that God’s entire way of dealing with mankind had changed.

First Century Style Rip Van Winkles Series: Acts Chuck Sligh August 20, 2017 Adapted from a longer sermon by Stephen Davey. TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 19:1-5 INTRODUCTION Illus. – In 1820, a lawyer named Washington Irving published his first short story. It became so popular that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Creation (Genesis 1)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 2, 2024

Which creation theory is likely the most correct? Let's discuss this in Genesis 1.

Is it possible for an infinite God to create everything that exists within the space of a week? Is the creation account literal history, allegory, a polemic, mythical history, majestic prose or something else? In the Beginning Who made everything that is in the material universe? In the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Finding Your Ministry Niche

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jan 3, 2001

The Ministry Of Reconciliation

Are you wondering what your ministry is? Are you called to be a pastor....teacher… evangelist…forth-teller (prophet), or even an apostle? (Ephesians 4:11-12) If not, how are you going to effectively fulfill the Great Commission? Over the years, I have found that many believe ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12, 2 Corinthians 5:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Break The Spirit Of Failure

Contributed by Ralph Coleman on Nov 20, 2006

Over-coming christian failure

HOW TO BREAK THE SPIRIT OF FAILURE LUKE 5:5-7 In this walk of life, many times we come faced to face with the reality of failure. Failure is not something that you go out to seek — but by various conditions it finds it place in the life of man. Failure is not discriminatory – whether saint or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

Impacting Our City For Christ (Part I)--Get Involved With People

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Apr 9, 2008

This sermon examines the process of impacting a city for Jesus Christ.

Do you want to impact this city for Jesus Christ? That should be the dream of every believer. We find a wonderful example in John 4. The majority of this chapter is dedicated to Jesus involvement with one lady. However, the end result is found in verse 39, "Many of the Samaritans of that city ...read more

Scripture: John 4:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Our Great Command

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 5, 2008

We tend to view love as a warm fuzzy feeling reserved for a select few of our friends and family. However, God calls us to a life of holy love – a love founded on His love for us and built with decisive actions instead of feelings.

Introduction: When I was in school studying to become a pastor, a fellow student said, “Church work would be a lot easier if it weren’t for people.” Me (my dilemma or question) I laughed at my friend’s statement – church work is about people. Pastors work with people day in and day out. Here are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40

Denomination: Wesleyan

Being In Awe Of God Series

Contributed by Brad Henry on Dec 9, 2011

How to stop living in fear and worry in this world by trying not to get too comfortable here in this earth.

We had been given a gift to go the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC to go on a Rope Course and Zip Line. First of all you get into a harness which feels like you are a two year old that has just gotten into trouble for the 20th time. Now you are on a leash, a short leash. The rope course is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:29-31

One Messiah, Four Responses Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 19, 2012

People respond to Jesus today just as they did two thousand years ago. We can divide people into four camps.

One Messiah, Four Responses (Mark 14:1-11) 1. ABC is producing a new TV show, with a bad name, that is a direct attack upon evangelical Christians, presenting us as immoral hypocrites. 2. How has our country sunk so low? A better question is, “Why did this take so long?” The waning Christian ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Our Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 17, 2020

Why do evil people seem to prosper, while good people suffer? Is there any justice? Let’s realize that payday is coming, for good and evil. Let’s discuss carrying our cross in Matthew 16:21-28.

Why do evil people seem to prosper, while good people suffer? Is there any justice? Let’s realize that payday is coming, for good and evil. Let’s discuss carrying our cross in Matthew 16:21-28. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

Repenting The True State Of The Union--Or Disunion Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 15, 2020

Even as the speech was delivered, a critter that could only be seen with an electron microscope was beginning to multiply through both the communist and the free world.

Tuesday of the 20th Week in Course 2020 When we catalogue the favored cultures and cities of history, the city of Tyre, cultural mother of the great and bloody Carthaginian empire, has to be written near the top of the list. The word, “Tyre” literally means “rock,” because in the time of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:23-30, Deuteronomy 32:26-36, Ezekiel 28:1-10, Matthew 19:16-22

Denomination: Catholic

Be Fruitful And Multiply And Fill The Earth

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 2, 2024

What God doesn’t tell the man and woman is the definition of “fill the earth.” We can infer that He will let us know when the earth is full.

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Course 2024 What a timely set of readings are offered to the Church today, in the midst of a Western cultural breakdown, international wars, and an epically contentious national election in the U.S. Genesis had, in chapter one, recorded God’s first commandment, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:9-11, Mark 10:2-16, Psalm 128:1-6, Genesis 2:18-24, Genesis 1:26-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Running On Empty Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 16, 2003

Following Jesus will cause us to feel overwhemled because we will want to meet other people’s needs, but when we give Jesus what we have, God multiplies its effect far beyond our expectations.

I know what some of you are thinking today. Some of you are thinking, "Only 17 shopping days left before Christmas." Others of you are wondering just how you’re going to get that Christmas letter out in time. You’re thinking, "Perhaps it should be a New Year’s letter instead." Let’s face it: This ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:31-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of Ruth - A Heroine In Search Of A Home Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Aug 6, 2001

The major motif to watch for as you work your way through this story is a movement from emptiness, famine, and death to fullness, plenty, and life.

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: As you walk down the red carpet, a frenzied mob swarms around you, demanding your autograph. The reporters are snapping your picture, nearly blinding you. Every ten feet, a television crew stops you for an interview. Have you just become the hottest newest star? ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:6-22