Sermons on Paraphrase:

Practice Makes Perfect (2018)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 30, 2021

Are we children of God? Or do we just claim the name with charades and dismiss the character? Isn’t that what today’s text is all about? On a daily basis, we are called to live up to the name because the way we live is supposed to illustrate who Jesus is!

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Text: I John 3:1- 7 The story is told of Alexander the Great confronting a coward: "Alexander the Great had a soldier in his army who also bore the name Alexander. But this man was a coward. Alexander the Great called him before him and said to him, "You ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-7

Denomination: United Methodist

The Other Sheep

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 22, 2021

Jesus our Good Shepherd reminds us that we have other sheep that are not yet part of the fold. It has been said that these Greeks were some of those “other sheep.”

THE OTHER SHEEP Text: John 12:20 - 33 “Someone (Ernest A. Fitzgerald) tells the story about Lou Gehrig who one day during his famed baseball career came to bat. He swung at two balls and missed. The third ball passed and the umpire called him out. Gehrig threw down the bat in ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-33

Denomination: United Methodist

Awaiting The Eternal Kingdom

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 16, 2019

The hope we anticipate at Advent should energize us even in the midst of sinful humanity.

Awaiting the Eternal Kingdom Isaiah 2:1-5 The Book of Isaiah contains many rapturous songs of joy and hope. Its promises have sustained His people for thousands of years. We have this morning’s passage. We also have the Emmanuel prophecy which prophesied the virgin birth of Jesus, whose name ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Isaac, Son Of Abraham

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 8, 2021

Isaac seems to have lived in the shadows of his father (Abraham) and his sons (Esau and Jacob). He is mentioned less than either of these, but he stayed faithful to the God of his father, Abraham. So can we!

Introduction: Isaac does not have as much coverage in the Bible as his father, Abraham, or his sons, Esau and Jacob. He still lived for the True and the Living God, serving Him much as Abraham had done and Jacob would do later on. Isaac outlived both father and son, finally dying at the age of 180. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Ambush

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 3, 2021

Satan often seeks to strike from a hidden position. Whether hidden and concealed or hidden in plain sight Satan seeks to ambush us. We can only be victorious through Jesus Christ.

AMBUSH (2016) Text: Luke 4:1 – 13 As a student pastor, I had my first confirmands for a confirmation class. We were having a session, imitating how some of the very first Christians lived with the threat of persecution, one of the leaders jumped in the door and said with a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: United Methodist

Go Thy Way: The Commission For Ananias Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 29, 2020

You know someone is coming, perhaps to arrest you for being a Christian. Then you hear the Lord telling you to minister to that person. This happened to Ananias of Damascus when he ministered to Saul of Tarsus.

Introduction: suppose you heard someone was coming to arrest you, or even worse. You also know this person is a recognized hater of your faith, and wants little if anything to do with you. With that in mind, now suppose a word comes from God Himself that this known persecutor has become a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:10-16

Denomination: Baptist

Revenge Is Sweet—or Maybe Not Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 16, 2020

Samson may have thought revenge was sweet, after he took his own revenge on the Philistines, but revenge surely seemed to leave a bitter aftertaste.

Introduction: Between chapters 14 and 15, a period of time has gone by. Samson, at the end of chapter 14, was furious with his bride after she used her tears to basically ruin their week-long wedding feast. Several of the wedding guests—whom Samson didn’t seem to invite in the first place—placed a ...read more

Scripture: Judges 15:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Vii: It Will Be Worth It All When We See Jesus Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when our Christian faith has been tested and we pass the test by renewing our faith in God and rejoicing in His redemption, mature Christians think positive: "It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!"

TRIUMPH OVER TRIALS: “IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL WHEN WE SEE JESUS” Please place your left hand on the Bible, raise your right hand, and answer this question: Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God? ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Sheep Among Wolves.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on May 1, 2022

Always remember, Only in Jesus’ world do meek and lowly sheep prevail over wolves. P.H

Sheep Among Wolves. Matthew 10:16-17AMP Back in 1985, a celebration took place at a municipal pool in New Orleans. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans City pool. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-17, Matthew 16:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

An Outline Of Acts 12:1-17

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 17, 2022

Acts 12:1-17 has the story how Peter was condemned to death, but an angel saw to it that he was made free! Peter then found a group of believers, explained the situation, and then left the area.

An outline of Acts 12:1-17 1 Peter was a marked man Text, Acts 12:1-5, KJV: 1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Wicked Generation

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Oct 15, 2022

John the Baptizer wasted no time in telling Herod that it was wrong for him to have his brother Phillip’s wife saying that it was not lawful. John went to prison for being the prophet God called him to be and not the puppet that Herod wanted him to be.

THE WICKED GENERATION Text: Matthew 11:1 – 19, 25- 30 N. T. Wright once said that “… wicked people don’t like a message of judgment because they think the message is aimed at them, (and rightly so) while good people don’t like a message of mercy because they think (wrongly) that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-19, Matthew 11:25-30

Denomination: United Methodist

You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down (Summer Of 2002)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Oct 15, 2022

Joseph took this obstacle (being sold into slavery by his brothers) and turned it into an opportunity. He had every reason to be bitter and resentful. His attitude made all the difference.

YOU CANNOT KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN Text: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 "Ida Eisenhower, mother of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was asked in an interview if she was proud of her son. She answered, "Yes, I am very proud. Which son?" (Robert H. Spain. How To Stay alive As Long ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4, Genesis 37:12-28

Denomination: United Methodist

The Unlikely (Advent 2009)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Oct 23, 2022

Micah prophesied to people in a time and place that seemed doomed to failure. How many times have we known people who have had a pessimistic view about the promise of the future?

THE UNLIKELY Text: Micah 5:2 - 5 Years ago I was at a little league baseball game. The underdog was behind by eight points by the very last inning of the game. You would have thought that it was safe to go home as if the game was already over. In fact, some did go home. But, the best was ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2-5

Denomination: United Methodist

Who Shall Dwell With The Consuming Fire?

Contributed by Dove Inspirations on Nov 10, 2022

It is possible to be a modern day Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego

Who shall dwell with The Consuming Fire? Daniel 3; Isaiah 33:14-17 Most of us know of the incident of the fiery furnace that occurred in the lifetime of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego. Amazing story of courageous men who faced certain death by fire, but would not bow down to the demands to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 33:14-19

Right Scales Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Oct 20, 2023

Right scales refer to the honest, integrity and humility. These are the blessings on the right people. God’s children always have blessings of God. God is delighted in right people.

Theme: Right Scales Text: Proverbs: 11:1-11   Greetings: The Lord is good and his love endures forever. Illustration: In Europe in the 14th century, unemployed soldiers often became small armies of bandits and robbed and burned and killed, and raped towns and villages all over Europe. These ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:1-11

Denomination: Methodist