Sermons on Paradox:

The Call To Holiness

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Mar 26, 2019

The call to holiness is one which we all share. But none of us are called because we are good enough. In fact, by our own efforts none of us could ever be good enough. And yet each of us is called to a purpose greater than any of us could imagine.

A Strange Encounter Imagine for a moment a young woman waking early, just before dawn to begin her daily chores. Still groggy with sleep though the morning is cold and quiet, she feeds the animals, and gathers water for the day’s washing. As she fills her bucket at the well, she imagines the life ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Denomination: Nazarene

God Of All Comfort

Contributed by David Mende on Jul 17, 2018

When you are afflicted, receive God’s comfort through the Spirit. And then comfort others who are also afflicted. I would be delighted if you could rate this sermon and give brief feedback.

INTRODUCTION (SECURE ATTENTION) & BACKGROUND OF THE PASSAGE: PRAY before starting the sermon. ILLUSTRATION: {On July 10, 2018, there was a report in the Economic Times website with the headline: ‘89 percent of India's population suffering from stress.’ That’s about 9 out of 10 Indians! The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Isaiah 40:1, Psalm 119:76, Isaiah 66:13, Micah 7:19, Psalm 145:9, Matthew 11:28, John 14:16, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Surrendered To The Savior Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 3, 2018

Jesus offered a convicting mandate - take up your cross and follow me! In that culture the cross was not westernized like it is in our culture as a fashion statement. It meant death.

Surrendered to the Savior Mark 8: 34-38 For the past few weeks we have discussed some intense conversation between Jesus and the disciples. He had questioned them regarding His deity and their acceptance of Him as the Christ. While others had a skewed perception of Christ, Peter boldly, and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Baptist

Happy, Happy, Happy & Humble Series

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Dec 5, 2013

The Beatitudes give us the keys to living a "happy, happy, happy" life. The first beatitude deals with humility.

Happy, Happy, Happy: Happy & Humble Matthew 5:1-3 Ask 100 people what they want out of life, and seventy-five of the 100 will say, “I just want to be happy.¨ Ask that same 100 people what it means to be happy, and ninety will say something about people, places or things. The answers ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-3

Denomination: Methodist

The Sinner's Prayer Or The Prayer Of The (Self) Righteous? Luke 18:9-14 Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Mar 1, 2014

It is in our weakness God's strength shines through. Only in humility we see our prayers answered.

The Prayer of the Sinner or the Prayer of the (self)-Righteous Video: I’m Perfect (sermoncentral.com) A logician saves the life of a space alien. The alien is very grateful and, since she has knowledge of the whole universe, offers the following reward: she offers to answer any question the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: *other

Caught In The Very Act! --Call The Tabloids!

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 9, 2013

Now what does Jesus write in the dust that causes all of the woman's accusers to leave?

Caught in the Very Act! --Call the Tabloids! John 7:53-8:11 Introduction This passage does not appear in many modern translations of the Bible, or it appears in the footnote which states that most ancient copies of the Scripture we have discovered does not contain it, or contains it with ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

True Beauty Protects Vs False Beauty That Destroys

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jun 14, 2019

Beauty and wisdom draw us to Christ. False beauty, the kind that breaks covenants and leads astray, draws us to destruction and death. This is a combination of two Devotional meditations on Proverbs 2:9-15 & 16-18

Proverbs 2 9. then you will understand right and justice and equity and everything good. 10. when wisdom comes into your heart, and knowledge into your soul, it’s delightful (beautiful); 11. good plans will keep you; understanding will guard you, 12. to keep you from the evil person who ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 2:9-18

Denomination: *other

Genuine Expressions Of Love

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 14, 2020

Let’s apply these principles in 2 Corinthians 6:3-13 of expressing love in a practical way to our love for others (adapted from Bob Russell's book, Take Comfort, the chapter on genuine expressions of love)

HoHum: No point in going to see the person dying, will not even know I am there. Hold their hand- “they probably will not know it is me”- is that really the point?- just to have someone there- they’ll know we are Christians by our love- behold how they love one another WBTU: We normally think of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Easter Sunday - Matthew 28

Contributed by Matt Stone on Apr 6, 2020

At Easter, God transforms fear to peace, disciples to brothers, worship to mission and grief to joy.

The Natural History Museum in London used to have an earthquake simulator. You’d stand in the middle of a pretend Japanese supermarket and the floor would move, literally, under your feet. You’d get jolted back and forth. It always felt a little bit tame – I suspect they didn’t want anyone to hurt ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Cain & Abel: The Mystery Of The Two Offerings

Contributed by Thilini Perera on Jan 4, 2021

WHY DIDN’T THE LORD LOOK AT CAIN’S OFFERING WITH FAVOUR? WHAT WAS SO SPECIAL ABOUT ABEL’S OFFERING? WHAT IS “THE WAY OF CAIN” MENTIONED IN JUDE 1:11? HOW IS ALL THESE TIED TO ENDTIMES?

This wouldn’t be a puzzle at all if Cain appeared before the Lord empty handed or if he didn’t show up at all. But the twist is that, in the course of time Cain also brought an offering to the Lord just like Abel. He believes in God, he even recognize the need for man to approach God. Cain was not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23, Jude 1:11, Hebrews 11:4, 1 John 3:12, 1 Samuel 15:22  (view more)  (view less)

The Perfect Promise

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 6, 2021

Jesus promised forgiveness in general to all who had a part in His crucifixion, but to the dying thief next to Him He made a very personal and precise promise that can be claimed by all who will, like this thief, turn to Jesus in faith.

Jonathan Swift made the well known statement, "Promises and pie crust are made to be broken." This attitude has prevailed through much of history, and the result has been that many have been rich in promises, but poor in performance. Many centuries ago Ovid suggested that men ought to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:43

The Kindness Of God Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Oct 28, 2019

Ephesians 2:4-7

JUST BE KIND - The Kindness of God October 27, 2019 Ephesians 2:4-7 (p. 814) Introduction: Chapter 8 in Phillip Yancey’s book “Vanishing Grace” begins like this… A monologue has been floating around in cyberspace, sometimes credited to George Carlin, sometimes to a Columbine ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

1 The Good Samaritan, Part 1 Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 17, 2020

Doing is essential for our salvation. Doing means keeping God’s law. But we can’t be justified by doing!

N.B. This talk is in two parts. This is the first. The second talk is uploaded as '3 The Good Samaritan, Part 2'. Also, I can email you the slides I used - simon@roseberypark.org INTRODUCTION [Slide 1] This is my first talk as minister of Rosebery Park Baptist Church – or as minister of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-29

Denomination: Baptist

Greatest Story Ever Told's Opening Act Tweaked To Advance Assorted Agendas

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Jan 29, 2020

Greatest Story Ever Told's Opening Act Tweaked To Advance Assorted Agendas

In the frantic effort to co-opt all of culture to advance the cause of comprehensive revolution, not even the symbols of the sacred and solemn are immune from being hijacked for the purposes of advancing the agenda. In fact, it is often the only time that otherwise intended for destruction will be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Cultural Impact Of Worldview & Apologetics

Contributed by Frederick Meekins on Jan 29, 2020

The Cultural Impact Of Worldview & Apologetics

Here at the beginning of the twenty-first century, Apologetics as an evangelistic endeavor and intellectual theological outreach finds itself in something of a paradox. When the West thought of itself in terms of resting on broadly Judeo-Christian assumptions, the discipline was not as desperately ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22, Acts 17:22-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible