Sermons on Paraphrase:

Against His Own Self-Interest Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 7, 2012

God loved us so much that He acted against His own best self-interest, by becoming human. In doing this, He exactly contradicted the secular world's view of leadership and government.

Epiphany 2012 Against His Own Self-Interest Spirit of the Liturgy One of the insights that Pope Benedict has shared with us over the past few years continually comes to mind when I read the Gospels. It is like a unifying theme of the Scriptures. God loves us so much that he does things for us ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Babel

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Apr 29, 2013

The sin of pride, self-glory, provoked the building of the tower, and the sin of distrust led these people away. God can take our confusion and replace it with clarity.

(The actual title of the sermon is: ""Wir steigen hinab und vewirren ihre Sprache") When you scanned the bulletin this morning you may have been a bit confused about my sermon title…"What in the world is this about?" And you’d have some idea of how the world felt at Babel. "Wir ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Congregational

The Discreet Messiah Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2013

Jesus served, he served gently, and he served people unlike himself. He calls us to do the same.

The Discreet Messiah (Isaiah 42:1-9) 1. At Vacation Bible School, the teacher stacked a bunch of apples on one end of a table with a sign saying, "Take only one apple please - God is watching." On the other end of the table was a pile of cookies which an overly-generous mom brought over. Her sign ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Walking In The Love Of God

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jul 3, 2011

For Peter to lead the early church his overwhelming drive must exemplify supreme love for his Lord.

Walking In the Love of God Text: John 21:15-17 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Preparation Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Nov 29, 2007

Part 2 of a 6 week series on sharing faith. This is the power of our evangelistic effort-prayer.

OUT OF THE SALTSHAKER AND INTO THE WORLD Part Two—The Preparation of Prayer Mark 4:3-8, 13-20, 26-29 Sunday, July 29, 2007 Pastor Brian Matherlee In preparation for a meeting in a large city, famed evangelist Billy Sunday wrote a letter to the mayor and asked for the name of individuals he knew ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:3-29

Denomination: Wesleyan

Giving That Gratifies Series

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Nov 29, 2007

God directed giving is fun!

OUT OF THE SALTSHAKER AND INTO THE WORLD Part Four—Giving that Gratifies 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Sunday, August 12, 2007 Pastor Brian Matherlee Key concept: God directed giving is fun! Introduction The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians to remind them about completing a promise to give that they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

Communion And Its Commitment

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 27, 2002

This sermon addresses how we are united by One and also how we are one for all.

COMMUNION AND ITS COMMITMENT Text: First Corinthians 10:16-17 "According to medieval legend, before King Arthur sent his knights on errantry to right wrongs and befriend the helpless, he would call them together at his round table, where each knight could see the face of the his king and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Fellowship - Commitment Series

Contributed by Don Jones on Apr 1, 2009

The believers were committed to 1. Grace 2. Personal Growth 3. Gathering, 4. Giving, and 5. Growing the Church

Fellowship - Commitment Acts 2:42-47 Introduction The past few Sundays we have been exploring fellowship in the New Testament. Fellowship is union with God through Jesus Christ. We have access to God Almighty and His desire is to love us as a perfect Father. Fellowship is Christ centered. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

Midrashim Leviticus On The Mount Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 30, 2009

Jesus took passages from Leviticus, taught them, and repackaged them so that His disciples can live out the principles behind them.

Midrashim Leviticus on the Mount (Leviticus 19:17-18 with Matthew 5:21-24; Leviticus 19:15-16 with Matthew 7:1-5; Deuteronomy 19:15 with Mathew 18:15-17) 1. We have an expression for conniving, called "fudging." Webster defines fudging as, "… to exceed the proper bounds or limits of something." ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:15-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Money Worries: When We’re Freaked Out At How Much Is Beyond Our Control Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 28, 2014

A look at the ravens and the lilies: we have to acknowledge that we dependent on God if we are going to conquer our money worries.

ONE REASON PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT MONEY: We like to be in control and with our money so much is beyond our control. - “Somebody’s got to be thinking about this stuff.” - We feel like worrying is doing something. - We like to be running things. We like to be in control. - This ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:22-31

Denomination: Baptist

Mark Chapter 2: Authority? Yes, And Power Too! Series

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Apr 25, 2009

Jesus’ amazing ministry continues

Mark Chapter 2 Authority? Yes, And Power Too! Pastor Eric J. Hanson April 26th, 2009 Review In two sermons about chapter one of Mark, the earliest of the Gospels, we looked into several things concerning the beginnings of Jesus’ public ministry. • John the Baptist as Jesus’ forerunner and the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Outward Religion Is Not Acceptable To God

Contributed by David Mcnally on Jan 25, 2014

God demands true faith, true repentance, true worship, not the outward show of 'religiosity'

2 Timothy 3: 1-9 Outward religion Christmas has long gone and 2014 is no longer the 'New' year. Paul wrote his 2nd 'Pastoral' Letter to Timothy around AD66/67. The church was fairly 'new' as it was only 30 years or so after Pentecost, but it was not so 'new' that it was 'Pristine' or ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Humble Or Be Humbled

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Oct 30, 2016

This sermon is an example of the thought that every sermon should begin with praising God and remembering his great deeds. This sermon also explores the right frame of mind that the Christian must have in order to approach God.

Be Humble or Be Humbled Luke 18: 9-14 How happy and honored I am to be here with you this morning. Brothers and Sisters we are all here today by the calling of Our Father. We have come to worship Him, the Great I Am. The only Worthy One who has graciously inclined His attention to us ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

O God Our Help In Ages Past Series

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Dec 29, 2014

This sermon follows the first verse of O God Our Help In ages Past

Isaac Watts 1674-1748 - Considered by many the best known of the 800 hymns written by Isaac Watts Isaac Watts is often called the "Father of English hymns" - Some of his hymns in our Hymn Book • O God Our Help • Joy To The World • Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed • When I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

What Are We Going To Do

Contributed by Craig Condon on Apr 23, 2015

We need to be more like the disciple Andrew, who, while he didn't write any of the books in the Bible, led people to Jesus - people like Simon Peter and the boy in the parable of the loaves and fish. Following Jesus is the source of our power to change.

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the traffic light turned yellow just in front of him. The man did the right thing stopping at the crosswalk even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Anglican