Sermons on paradoxes:

Selfless Holy Light In A Dark Age Of Self-Worship

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

We live in a world that is largely dominated by self interest. All around town, up and down, we see self interest at work. What can I get? What can I gain? We gotta make money.

We live in a world that is largely dominated by self interest. All around town, up and down, we see self interest at work. What can I get? What can I gain? We gotta make money. We gotta meet the right people, and get what we need from them. Often times it feels like our lives revolve around what we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:9-11, 2 Peter 3:10-11, 1 Peter 4:7-16

Denomination: Salvation Army

Good Works Of Faith Series

Contributed by Tim Zukas on Apr 25, 2006

Good Works as a response to a relationship for God

Ministerial transition can be difficult and emotional things. There was an elderly woman who was weeping as she said goodbye to the man who had been pastor of her church for several years. "My dear lady," consoled the departing pastor, "don’t get so upset. Surely the Search Committee will find a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gentle Strength Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Aug 13, 2018

Since when has there ever been a cause/effect relationship between being gentle and inheriting the earth? It has always been the brutal, the powerful, the violent who have ruled the earth in this age. But Jesus promises there will be a grand reversal!

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus Gentle Strength Matthew 5:5 & Selected Passages This morning I've chosen for our Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus series one of the Beatitudes in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:5: "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Now, I suspect some ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:24-25

Denomination: Bible Church

To Be Righteous, You Must Be A Sinner Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Sep 17, 2018

Jesus said the worst among us--the despised and most sinful--who are repentantly trust not on themselves or their goodness will get to heaven and those who trust in their own rightoeusness will not.

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus To Be Righteous, You Must Be a Sinner Luke 18:9-14 Well, I had another chance to share the Gospel this week. As a pastor, it's an occupational hazard! Actually, the opportunity came as a result of a benevolence call. It has become our policy at Risen King that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 3:18

Denomination: Bible Church

Loose Your Life To Save It

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Feb 9, 2014

We are not called to a superficial Christianity. We are called to be Christ's disciples. We are called to discipleship.

“Life is precarious, and life is precious. Don’t presume you will have it tomorrow, and don’t waste it today.” —John Piper Losers Keepers Mark 8:27-38 Peter’s Confession of Christ 27 Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

A Heart Wide Open Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 11, 2023

Message 7 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

On February 24, 1948, one of the most unusual operations in medical history took place at the Ohio State University Department of Surgery Research. A 30-year-old named Harry Besharra was arrested for armed robbery and during his intake it was observed that something was wrong with him physically. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Disciplines, Worship Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 30, 2022

Worshipping God, privately and publically, draws us closer to Him and strengthens our relationship with Him

This ladies and gentlemen is a picture of a paradoxical frog. It is native to the eastern parts of South America. And what makes it a paradox is the fact that while a full-grown specimen is about 7.5 cm in length, when it’s a tadpole it can reach up to 25 cm in length. It literally is four times ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Wesleyan

He Knew Series

Contributed by Dustin T Parker on Dec 26, 2006

God’s grace - same yesterday today tomorrow

He Knew Aug 13 Ex 24:3-11 † In the name of Jesus † Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Is it a paradox? Sacrifices “commanded” and 1 Samuel 15:22 Sacrifice a “term” of covenant THere seems to be an idea out there, that God’s grace is different in the Old ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 24:3-11

Denomination: Lutheran

I'll Stick By You

Contributed by Donovan Myers on Jun 15, 2007

You can tell who your friend is when you are in a pickle!

One of the great paradoxes of life is that - in order for new life to appear, then what formerly existed must be changed in some way or the other, or it must be completely destroyed. Jesus gave an example of this when he said that in order for a tree to grow, then the seed must first be buried and ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:16-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Preaching Of The King - Part 6 Series

Contributed by Paul George on Jan 14, 2004

This seventh Beatitude has to do more with conduct than with character.

Preaching of the King – Part 6 Matthew 5:9-10 This seventh Beatitude has to do more with conduct than with character. The first four may be grouped together as setting forth negative character of the heart of the godly. They are not self-sufficient, but consciously poor in spirit; they are not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9-10

Denomination: Holiness

Trusting In The Greatest Love

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Mar 15, 2021

Sermon for the 4th Sunday in Lent, Year B

March 14, 2021 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson John 3:14-21; Numbers 21:4-9 Trusting in the Greatest Love Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Today we hear one of the most cherished Bible verses of all time, John 3:16. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21, Numbers 21:4-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Why Must We Die? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on May 26, 2010

God decrees the death of his Son for the death his people deserve to die.

Scripture Introduction One way to get at the significance of the story of redemption is to observe the contrasts which God builds into Bible events. For example, as the hours wind down to the crucifixion, we see the bent of the human heart: face-to-face with an innocent man, men plot his death ...read more

Scripture: John 18:12-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

James And Paul On Works And Faith

Contributed by Greg Nance on Jun 30, 2012

James 2 and Romans 4 have some interesting contrasts. Faith without works is dead or faith apart from works is what saves... which is true?

Last week James told us that if we are careless with our language our religion is worthless. (Jas. 1:26) This week James tells us that if we believe without acting on it our faith is worthless. (Jas. 2:14,17,20,26). A worthless religion and a worthless faith make a worthless Christian and a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Believe It Or Not Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 5, 2021

Believe it or not, there was not a single Christian who even showed a sign of belief in the resurrection of Christ until they were compelled to believe by His very appearance.

An Irishman on holiday in New York went into a drug store and asked for a small tube of toothpaste. When the clerk handed him a tube he noticed it was marked large. "I'd rather have a small one," he said. "Listen bud," the clerk replied. "In this country ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:36-53

Pleasing To God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

It is impossible to please everyone, of course, and so Paul chose it as his master motive to please God.

Probably the most magnificent estate in the Western World is the California ranch of William Randolf Hearst. It is not a mere matter of film like the Ponderosa, but it is a matter of fact. It covers a quarter of a million acres of land, and stretches for 50 miles along the coast of the ocean. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:10