Sermons on Past Mistakes:

Christ’s Cross And Our Cross

Contributed by Rajkumar Pulla on Mar 22, 2011

The cross today is a vivid symbol of a great past victory that involved horrible pain and crucifixion. When we see our shiny crosses that symbolize this past event, we must also remind ourselves that it was really an “Old Rugged Cross”, as the song says,

He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:38-39) What happened at the college called Virginia Tech in the eastern United States, was simply terrible. It appears that a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:38-39

Denomination: Bible Church

Don't Look Back Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Apr 3, 2025

Life can sometimes feel like we are trapped in the past, weighed down by painful memories or regrets. We often find ourselves unable to move forward from past hurts. The Good News is that God offers us a new beginning in Christ.

In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens paints the picture of a woman, Miss Havisham, whose life was shattered on her wedding day. Left at the altar, jilted, humiliated, and heartbroken, Miss Havisham’s life stopped. The clocks in her house ceased ticking, the wedding cake became covered in cobwebs, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Be Focused On People, Not Property Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 30, 2021

It is important to note that the church is comprised of people. It is not a building. If we fail to remember this fact, we might make the mistake of directing our energies into preserving property instead of rescuing those who are perishing.

In Matthew 16:18, we read where Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” When Jesus stated that He would build His church “on this rock,” He was not referring to the location where they were standing, and He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

How Christ Gives Meaning To All Aspects Of History

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Jesus was used by God to accomplish precisely what He intended by sovereign foreknowledge, power and miraculous interventions. Only the Lord is able to make sense of chaos

How Christ Gives Meaning to All Aspects of History Illustration:If God did not bless, not one hair, not a solitary wisp of straw, would grow; but there would be an end of everything. At the same time God wants me to take this stance: I would have nothing whatever if I did not plow and sow. God ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There's A Black Sheep In The Family Tree Series

Contributed by Bud Ross on Jan 24, 2005

A study of 5 people in Jesus’ genealogy who had tainted reputations illustrates that none of us have to be chained to our past.

THERE’S A BLACK SHEEP IN THE FAMILY TREE I recently became interested in family genealogy. I found some ancestors who intrigue me, like the civil war veterans and the Baptist preacher who was shot in the back during the Civil War. (I don’t know if he wore the wrong color coat or if his sermons ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17, Matthew 1:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Running The Race

Contributed by Grant Adams on Dec 20, 2019

In our lifetime, we come and go from many places, meeting new people and each have an impact on us. We are called by God to run the race that is set before us. We have to be so careful, because we can have a huge impact on others and how they run their race.

My wife and I just returned from our home church in Abilene, TX, and while we were there, once again I was moved by what I saw. 1. Last night I was called to the hospital, while there I was reminded of several things: health and the briefness of life. 2. A visit to a county jail or state pen will ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Character #5 - Herod Series

Contributed by Darren Rogers on Dec 28, 2007

No character is in the Bible by mistake - there are many things we can learn from the life of Herod - often times we have people in the Bible to show us how not to behave...

Christmas Characters #5 – Herod - 16th December 2007 pm Matthew 2:1-18 When the guiding star had brought the wise men Judea, the wise men headed straight for Jerusalem, the most likely place for a king to be born. Their question startled the city, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” – ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is There War In The Mideast? Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Jan 19, 2009

God keeps His promises even though people make mistakes and God’s ultimate promise is grace, peace, godliness and eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Why is there war in the Mideast? Some say it’s because of the land; some say it’s religious. Just like anything else, the important question is always, “What does God say?” As we have been studying the Book of Genesis, we have been learning the origins of many things in our lives today. Why is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:1-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When The Godly Are Foolish Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 20, 2009

David makes a disastrous mistake toward the end of his life that has grave consequences. A number of lessons can be learned from this about accountability and humility in the face of temptation.

Introduction: A. Let’s start with a knock knock joke. 1. “Knock Knock” “Who’s there?” 2. “Census!” “Census who?” 3. “Census summer time kids don’t have to go to school!” Good news for kids, bad news for parents. B. Maybe you have heard the old adage – we count people because people count. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Men Who Burned God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 14, 2011

Nadab and Abihu were destroyed by God because they offered an "authorized" fire before God. What had they done wrong and what can we learn from their mistake?

OPEN: Every year, someone hands out “Darwin Awards” which are bestowed to honor the least evolved among us. Previous news stories that have received their attention have been: · The chef at a hotel in Switzerland lost a finger in a meat cutting machine. Shortly afterward he submitted a ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 10:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Language Of Prayer

Contributed by Craige Lebreton on Feb 22, 2006

Thoughts on the Model prayer from the langauge of Aramaic

“The Language of Prayer” (Pastor Craige LeBreton) A few weeks ago…I had a discussion with my pastor… We were discussing prayer…we were talking about its necessity… And it’s power…we were talking about the misunderstanding… of those who pray…how they pray…and what…they pray for… and their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Denomination: Baptist

Starting New All Over Again

Contributed by Joe Harding on Jun 10, 2001

New beginnings are a gift from God, not based on our past actions, but upon His present Character.

STARTING NEW ALL OVER AGAIN EZEKIEL 36: 16-32 JUNE 9, 2001 INTRODUCTION: In his book Enjoying God, Lloyd Ogilvie writes: One of the most astounding achievements in ophthalmological surgery is the implanting of lens in a human eye. After a friend of mine had this surgery in both eyes, and the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:16-32

Denomination: Baptist

"Finding The Promised Land"

Contributed by David Washburn on Jan 7, 2002

The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, & Future not only enlighten Scrooge, but they prove helpfulf to the ISraelites and us as well

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which tells us of Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit, is a wonderful story. Scrooge is the tight-fisted, hard-nosed, “never give anyone a break,” work-aholic, whose chief goal in life is to make as much money as he can with little or no regard for anyone else. Bob ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:25-33

Denomination: Baptist

How To Come Back When You're Down

Contributed by Gary Macdonald on Nov 1, 2001

Everybody sins. But the Christian has a unique place to turn that will take him past his sin and on to forgiveness.

How To Come Back When You’re Down By Gary MacDonald Everybody sins. But the Christian has a unique place to turn that will take him past his sin and on to forgiveness. Read Scripture Passage: Psalm 51 The devil tempts you to sin by suggesting to you that, "You can get away with it." Then, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"The Spirits Of Christmas"

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 15, 2002

Like Scrooge, we too can reclaim Christmas, with the help of the “spirits” of Christmas Past, Present, and Future

“The Spirits of Christmas” “Bah, Humbug!” shouted Ebenezer Scrooge, using a mild Victorian form of profanity, meaning “nonsense” or “rubbish”. Charles Dickens depicted Scrooge as the epitome of all cynics hardened to the holiday spirit. Scrooge was stingy, selfish, and heartless. Later on Dr ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2

Denomination: Congregational