Sermons on Paradoxes:

Freedom & Forgiveness Are Never Free!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Dec 20, 2000

"Freedom is never free." It sounds like a paradox when you say it, but it is true. "Freedom is never free." In the same way, forgiveness is never free.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2016) TEXT: Luke 7:36-50 As you know, Friday was Veteran's Day. Throughout this nation & around the world, wherever our nation's flag flies, some people, at least, paused to remember the price that has ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Marks Of A Healthy Church

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on May 20, 2024

Within the necessary unity of the church, there is also beneficial diversity. Such unified diversity seems like a paradox, but in reality, it is a thing of beauty. Healthy churches must strive to promote unity and diversity at the same time.

Marks of a Healthy Church Ephesians 4: 11-16 In the preceding verses of chapter four, Paul has spoken about the unity that is necessary within the body of Christ in order for the church to be effective in daily life and service unto the Lord. Within this necessary unity, there is also beneficial ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Today's Church

Contributed by Guy Glass on Jan 11, 2005

As prolific as the church was in the days of Paul, it suffers today. Either people do not come, or people come for the wrong reasons. The church is abundantly immersed in paradoxes. Whether verbalized, or thought, the operative question of the day is, “

Dealing with Today’s Church Hebrews 10:24-25;13:7,17 1 Timothy 4:13 Acts 2:42 INTRODUCTION: The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the importance of local assemblies – ie: local churches. The pattern of the Apostle Paul was to establish local churches in every community he went to. Yet, as ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Motivation To Succeed Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

Paul is so negative here that we know their must be another paradox involved, for he is a positive thinker. We can only conclude that somehow a negative approach is sometimes the most positive method of influence.

Successful people almost always attribute their success, in large measure, to the influence and inspiration of some other person. Henry Ford tells of how he was in a period of uncertainty about building his gas engine. He was discouraged about it, and was letting the idea go dead in him. It was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

Why To Suffer Is To Reign With Christ

Contributed by Antonio Manaytay on Jul 22, 2024

This sermon delves into a profound and often challenging aspect of our Christian journey: suffering. The idea that suffering is an integral part of reigning with Christ can seem paradoxical, yet it is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament.

Good morning, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, we delve into a profound and often challenging aspect of our Christian journey: suffering. The idea that suffering is an integral part of reigning with Christ can seem paradoxical, yet it is a recurring theme throughout the New ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Shipping Out Shame Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

The paradox is that the only way we can get back to Paul's position of not being ashamed of the Gospel is to add to our lives shame for all that is not the Gospel. We need to be embarrassed by all of the false gospels of our day.

It is on the highest interest level to hear of people's most embarrassing moments. Jane Wyman tells of hers. She was preparing for very important guests and she put a note on the guest towels that she had so carefully selected. The note read, "If you use these I will murder you." ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:14-17

Culture Shifts: Our Changing World

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Jan 7, 2002

This is the 1st of a sermon series exploring the changes that have taken place in our worldview in the last 40 - 50 years. This sermon explores the paradox of the human search for order, and the divine imposition of chaos at the tower of Babel. It then

Bibliography: Culture Shifts: A Bible Study of Postmodern Times, Lesson 2 For the next several weeks, we are going to be taking a look at the times we live in and the changes that have taken place in the way we think and act over the last 40 years. Tonight we will look at how our society and our ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

Thanksgiving For God’s Comfort Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jun 2, 2014

One of the many paradoxes of the Christian life is that the grace of God is most keenly experienced not in the best but in what seems to be the worst of times. However much the Christian longs for exaltation it is when he is humble he receives grace.

2 CORINTHIANS 1: 3-7 [GAINING PERSPECTIVE Series] THANKSGIVING FOR GOD’S COMFORT One of the many paradoxes of the Christian life is that the grace of God is most keenly experienced not in the best but in what seems to be the worst of times. However much the Christian longs for exaltation ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Colossians 2:7

Denomination: Baptist

Twenty-Second Sunday In Ordinary, Year C: Humility

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Aug 29, 2025

The crucified and resurrected body of Jesus thus represents the ultimate paradox’ and provides the necessity for disability. Jesus became so completely identified in his life and teaching with the lowest place, not only in the Eucharist by being disguised as the poor.

Imagine this situation, if you will: a husband comes home from work on a Friday afternoon, as he drives into the driveway, he sees that there is a rented tent in the back yard. Under the tent are tables and chairs for about forty people. A bandstand and dance floor are assembled in one corner of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-14

Denomination: Catholic

God's Wisdom Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 25, 2010

1) The Pre-eminence of God’s Wisdom 2) The Permanence of God’s Wisdom 3) The Power of God’s Wisdom 4) The Paradox of God’s Wisdom & 5) The Purpose of God’s Wisdom

1 Corinthians 1:18-31. [18] For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."[20] Where is the one who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Denomination: Other

Happiness Through Hunger Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 11, 2021

Men become desperate when they hunger and thirst, and all the energy of their being is concentrated on one goal-to satisfy their need. This sounds like misery, and it is, but it is in the spiritual realm another example of the paradoxical misery that leads to happiness.

A woman leaving church said to the pastor, "Thank you for that sermon, it was so helpful." The pastor said, "I hope it was not as helpful as the last one." "Why what do you mean," she asked. "Well," he said, "that last sermon lasted you three ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Pray Boldly!

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jul 28, 2025

"Your will be done on earth as in heaven." We may not say the exact words but many of our prayers could be summarized with the words, “please let my will be done.” What's the answer to this paradox of prayer?

“Your will be done on earth as in heaven.” In the prayer we affectionately call the Lord’s Prayer we refer to that phrase as the Third Petition. Remember that a petition is specific request. There are seven petitions in the Lord’s Prayer as we pray it. After addressing God as our Father in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:20-32

Denomination: Lutheran

My Grace Is Sufficient

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jul 22, 2003

A sermon for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 9 A sermon about the Grace of God

4th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 9 Mark. 6:1-13 "My Grace is Sufficient" 6:1 ¶ He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

A Blessing To Avoid Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

Forgiveness is one of the most precious of all blessings. Yet, as blessed as it is to be lifted, it is more blessed never to have fallen.

Doing your best could be the worst thing you could do. That sounds like a contradiction, but it can be explained so that it makes sense as a paradox. A paradox is a statement, which at first sight seems absurd, and contrary to common sense, but which can be explained so as to be well grounded and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Humility Creates (Completes) Joy

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Oct 9, 2007

Pentecost 19 (A) - Humility creates (completes) joy. Believers discover this truth in Jesus which then causes believers to display this truth to others.

HUMILITY CREATES JOY (Outline) October 7, 2007 - PENTECOST 19 - Philippians 2:1-5 INTRO: Today’s verses are an excellent example of divine teaching conflicting with worldly wisdom. The wisdom of God is foolishness in the eyes of the world. This is known as a paradox. A paradox is a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran