Sermons on Paraphrasing:

Disciplined Living Sermon Vi: Mature Believers Have Nothing To Fear Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jun 3, 2020

In times when anti-Christian sentiment runs high in our society, mature Christians are rightly disturbed by all the trouble caused by evil doers but nonetheless our strong faith in God our Deliverer sees us through every trial.

PLEASING THE FATHER BY FAITH IN HIM AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST “We aim to please” is an axiom we hear in advertising and sales, and as a response someone makes to us when we express our appreciation for products and services rendered. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1, Romans 8:28-39

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

Wrecking Ball (Fourth Sunday After Epiphany 2017).

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 14, 2020

Sometimes what we learn is like a “Wrecking ball” that crashes against walls in much the same way that our new insights made the old ones obsolete. ... The Beatitudes can be like a wrecking ball as to how they can help us to grow where we thought we had arrived.

WRECKING BALL Text: Matthew 5: 1 -12 Back in the 1800’s, the cleanliness factor involved in surgeries within the practice of medicine was far different than what is practiced today. Multitudes of people were dying shortly after their surgeries. There was one doctor who figured ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

Boundless Love (February 23, 2013).

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 14, 2020

God’s love knows no bounds. The audience in the synagogue was ok hearing about God’s love so long as it met with their expectations. When Jesus talked about how God’s love reaches out to even the Gentiles, people in the synagogue got upset.

BOUNDLESS LOVE Text: Luke 4:21 – 30 There is the story of a preacher whose preaching met with comments of affirmation praise when he spoke about certain sins, like gossip, drinking, lying, cheating, stealing. With the mention of each and every sin, there were people who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:21-30

Denomination: United Methodist

Show And Tell

Contributed by John Daniel Johnson on Feb 3, 2019

This morning we are going to examine how we should “Show and Tell” our faith. It is not about how much we know, but in how much we show.

Show & Tell Scripture Reference: James 2:14-20 Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on July 1, 2018 Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson Opening Illustration— When my oldest daughter was in Pre-K, she brought home a flyer from the school advising us of an upcoming event at her school. The ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-20

Denomination: Baptist

Crushing Kings

Contributed by Jason Jones on Feb 19, 2019

In this psalm we will see three aspects of Christ

A. Opening illustration: Spurgeon paraphrased a recent exchange between a sage, elderly pastor and minister in training. “Don’t you know, young man, that from every town and every village and every hamlet in England, wherever it may be, there is a road to London? So, from every text in Scripture ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In Christ Dwells The Fullness Of God, And You Are Complete In Him Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Dec 4, 2018

Christ embodies “all the fullness” that constitutes divinity and sovereign God―all the attributes of the Godhead.

10/14/18 Tom Lowe IVA2. IN CHRIST DWELLS THE FULLNESS OF GOD, AND YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM (COLOSSIANS 2:9-10) • “Special Notes” and “Scripture” follow associated verses. • NIV Bible is used throughout unless noted otherwise. Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV) (9) For in Him all the fullness of Deity ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Tabernacle Part 9 Table Of Shewbread Series

Contributed by Dr. Steve Newton on Oct 25, 2017

Beware of the fellowship that resorts to worldly means and amusements. The Living Word and written Word are the center of all fellowship for the priests of this dispensation. Learn the lessons from the Table of Shewbread.

THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD (Exodus 25:23-30; 37:10-16; Leviticus 24:5-9) The table of shewbread stood on the north side of the holy place A table always speaks of fellowship One day, on the plains of Mamre, Abraham invited three strangers into his home and gave them a meal at his table. Because ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 24:5-9, Exodus 37:10-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

Adversity Turns The Tide.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jun 29, 2021

We dream of zero gravity. We imagine what life would be without any problems, or issues or challenges....

Adversity Turns The Tide. Daniel 3:23-30NLT We dream of zero gravity. We imagine what life would be without any problems, or issues or challenges. Did you know that astronauts that spend any length of time in zero gravity experience serious medical complications? Without any resistance, they lose ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:23-30, 1 Peter 4:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

Prayer Mode. Opportunities.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jul 18, 2021

Living in prayer mode is the difference between seeing coincidences and providences. Prayer has a way of helping us recognize that what we might dismiss as human accidents are really divine appointments.

Prayer Mode. Opportunities. Jeremiah 46:17. Living in a prayer mode means your spiritual antenna is up and your radar is on. In fact the Aramaic word for prayer is slotha, means to set a trap. Prayer helps us catch the opportunities God throws our way. My trap is loaded, is yours? Living in ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 46:17, Psalm 55:17

Denomination: Pentecostal