Sermons on Paradox:

Emmanuel - God With Us!

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 14, 2003

Christmas message based on Matthew 1:21-23.

Emmanuel ¡V God with Us! Matthew 1:21-23 John 1:1-3, 10-14 December 14, 2003 Introduction This morning we continue our look at the Christmas story as related in Matthew. Last week we read from Matthew 1:18-25, which in those eight verses gives us a quick synopsis of the miracle of Jesus¡¦ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21-23

Denomination: Wesleyan

Better Than Expected

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Oct 18, 2003

We can trust Jesus to always give us what we need and often our needs far out weigh our expectations.

October 19, 2003 Morning Worship Text: John 2:1-11 Subject: The Miracles of Christ Title: Better Than Expected This is a good church. It is not a great church yet, that is going to come, but it is a good solid church. What does the Lord expect from us? To be faithful in attendance and in giving? ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Garden Of Eden (God Gives Us A Choice) Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 25, 2009

God provided us with perfection but we chose to go our own way.

“Garden of Eden” (God Gives Us a Choice) (Genesis 2:8 – 2:17) Many of you have beautiful gardens, I have seen some of them. And today we are going to talk about the most famous garden in history, one that we will never be able to recreate, but one that we may again see. Does Eden still exist? ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:8-17

Pleasing Ourselves - Godless Objective (Pogo)

Contributed by Leonard Davis on Jul 22, 2009

Discovering and applying what Jesus taught about self.

Pleasing Ourselves - Godless Objective (POGO) Some of you will remember the cartoon strip named Pogo. About a half century ago, back in the fifties, a favorite comic strip of many people was about an assortment of animals living in Florida’s Okefenokee Swamp. The cartoonist, Walt Kelly, referred ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:39

Denomination: Baptist

The Lamb Who Was Slain

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Apr 19, 2010

The scandal of Christ is embodied in Revelation 5. He is God, Equal to Him in every way and worshiped by all.

I remember a friend of mine suggesting that a waiting till after your death to give people you love something you want them to have is not the best way. If you wait till they get it from your will, in many cases, they must pay an inheritance tax on it. Besides, you don't get to express your esteem ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Denomination: Mennonite

It’s All About Image

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 24, 2009

We find our image in the servanthood of Jesus.

“It’s All About Image” John 12:23-26 Be honest. What others think about you is important to you, isn’t it? Most of us will admit that we spend an inordinate amount of our time on building and maintaining our image. That’s why we spend so much time and money on cleansers, make-up, combing and ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Deserted In The Desert Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 13, 2013

We become aware that our real strength (God) becomes apparent in our weakest times. The desert proves to be a friend to bring this about.

1. Know where you are There was once an absent-minded professor who became so absorbed in his work that he forgot the simplest details. One morning his wife said, "Now Henry, remember, we are moving today. Here, I’m putting this note in your pocket. Don’t forget." The day passed by and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Life-Giving Words

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 26, 2013

The passage alludes to God resting on the 7th Day the first day of man's existence on earth was experiencing God's rest ... When you see a sinful man apart from God, he is restless ... now Christ is inviting us for a more permanent rest in Him.

Opening illustration: On November 19, 1863, two well-known men gave speeches at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The featured speaker, Edward Everett, was a former congressman, governor, and president of Harvard University. Considered one of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Problem Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Scott Malone on Mar 1, 2005

The real problem with prayer is that it is so little used and yet has such great power

THE PROBLEM OF PRAYER James 4:1-10 Things looked bleak for the children of George Muller’s orphanage at Ashley Downs in England. It was time for breakfast, and there was no food In the dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs. Muller prayed, "Dear Father, we thank Thee ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Delay

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 4, 2011

We have our Christian beliefs, yes-but that isn’t the same as believing God. Believing God is a personal response that grows out of our Christian faith and is expressed by our increasing trust in Him while waiting on Him and His promises.

Opening illustration: In April 2010, clouds of ash spewed by a volcano in Iceland closed airports across the UK and Europe for 5 days. Nearly 100,000 flights were canceled and millions of passengers around the world found themselves in an enormous holding pattern on the ground. People missed ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crossroads Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

The cross. It always brings us to a crossroad. A crossroad is where you have to decide to go one way or the other. As difficult as it might have been, a choice has to be made and whatever commitment you make today determines your life tomorrow

Crossroads 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Two water towers have always served as landmarks for travelers heading for their homes near Wauconda, IL but especially at the holidays.
More than 40 years ago, John Kuester, then village police chief, suggested mounting lit large twin crosses on the towers to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Denomination: Methodist

The Fruit Of Faithfulness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 9, 2021

The highest compliment the New Testament can give to a Christian is that they are faithful. It will be the greatest reward to hear Jesus say in the day of judgement, "well done thou good and faithful servant."

Andrew Carnegie was the richest man in the world at the beginning of the 20th century. His life illustrated both the positive and negative sides of the fruit of faithfulness. You would think that faithfulness would always be positive, but the fact is, every virtue can be a vice if it is linked to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

. Happy New Year Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

Jesus knew the importance of being happy, and that is why He begins His greatest sermon with a list of ways to be perfectly happy on earth for those who would follow Him and be citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

Edwin Markham in his poem The Shoes Of Happiness tells the story of a king in Istanbul who was ill. He called his wise men together to find a cure. They studied the situation and announced that only one thing could cure him, and that was for him to wear the shoes of a perfectly happy man. Off ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

The Ultimate Christian Attainment: Union With God Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 19, 2024

We do not easily submit to all this burning up of dross within us. We do not want to be buried with Christ in his cross and alive with Christ in His resurrection. We naturally resist the death of self. Yet God helps us submit to the refiner's fire.

Many great saints I’ve known, even in the Salvation army, many are retiring now, and they say that when they retire, they are grateful that God did not show them the entire path all the ups and downs because they would not have been able to handle the thought of it. But step by step, along the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:7, John 6:63, 1 Peter 1:7

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Way Of The Messiah: Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross, And Follow Me Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jul 26, 2023

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Have you ever seen a star being born? Here we see a picture from the James Webb Space Telescope, of just such an event. From the STSI: “NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is celebrating the first anniversary of its start of science operations with this image of a star-forming region in the Rho ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:1-13

Denomination: Salvation Army