Sermons on Pause:

Childlike Not Childish

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2011

Remember Jesus words to us: Unless you become as a child again, you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven! Our Lord does not mean there is anything wrong with maturing in growing up. There is a big difference between being child-like and childish.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day were: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2,8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15 and Mark 1:1-8. An elderly widow decided it was too much trouble to get all of her children and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:9-11, Philippians 2:14-15

Denomination: Anglican

Do You Have Those Post Christmas Blues?

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 5, 2016

The excitement of Christmas is over. Life has almost gotten back to normal. And many people suffer from the Post-Christmas blahs a kind of depression in fact here is a song for this season titled "The Post-Christmas Blues".

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scriptures readings prior to the Message. Today's assigned Scriptures are: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84; Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19 and Matthew 2:13-23. Christmas day 2015 ....is over! .... The tree may still be up, .... but it looks mighty ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:2-3, Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Anglican

Shalom. Bring Down The Walls

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jul 15, 2015

There are walls which divide gender men and women. There are walls of social status that divide the affluent and the poor. Walls are all around us. And for many these walls bring a sense of comfort, and protection. Updated July 2018.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scripture readings prior to the Message. Today's assigned readings are: 2 Samuel 7:1-14; Psalm 89:20-37, Ephesians 2:11-22, and Mark 60:30-34, 53-56. Robert Frost's famous work, ...The "Mending Wall": ...is a wonderful poem ... full of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Anglican

How Are You Conected? / Alternating Or Direct Current

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 28, 2015

There are two types of electrical current, Alternating Current and Direct Current. Most A/C believers are not in charge of their life..their feelings are. God is seeking disciplined disciples who allow the Direct Current of God to flow consistently. Updated January 2023.

For those that are not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scriptures that are read prior to the Message. The Scriptures that are assigned for today are Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 and John 2:13-22 The message today ......is based off the first sentence of our ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Galatians 5:25, Philippians 3:14, John 15:4-11, 2 Corinthians 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Spiritual Protection For The Battlefield

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 17, 2013

We are engaged in a spiritual war. A serious battle. For the Christian, faith is not spelled "F-A-I-T-H" it is spelled "R-I-S-K." If something is not a risk, then it really does not require faith.

For Those not Familiar with an Anglican Service there are 4 Scripture readings before the message is given. Today's Scriptures were Deuteronomy 26:1-11 ; Psalm 91:1,2,9-16 ; Romans 10:8-13 and Luke 4:1-13 One gentleman commented, ... "I wouldn't be tempted ... if temptation .... wasn't ... so ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-9, Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

Bondage / In Christ You Are Free Indeed

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 26, 2013

What binds you? What binds me? What prevents us from standing up straight in a spiritual sense? What is holding us back from being transformed into the image of Christ? What is holding us back from being able to enjoy life fully?

On the night of December 16th 1773 .... a small group of men banded together, ...... boarded three merchant ships in Boston Harbor ...... and dumped 342 chests of tea into the bay. This group of men, .... who called themselves the Sons of Liberty, ...... took this action .... because of the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:13-14, Luke 13:10-21

Denomination: Anglican

"living Well"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 8, 2022

A sermon for Consecration Sunday.

“Living Well” Matthew 6:19-34 Jesus had a unique way of teaching and using His surroundings to illustrate His points. He could enable those listening to be able to relate more and better understand His teachings. In this passage that we read today, we can see that it is springtime in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Denomination: United Methodist

Sheltering With Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 4, 2025

Isaiah said that "the Branch" (the Messiah) would be our shelter and refuge. What does that mean, and what difference could it make to how we live our lives?

The year was 1777. A British army of 13,000 men marched on Philadelphia, and the American Congress had fled the city. The Continental army fought valiantly to hold back their enemy, but they were outflanked and outfought and eventually the English took the city. But before the Philadelphia was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 4:2-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Agony To Alleluia: The Blessedness Of A Forgiven Soul Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Jan 7, 2026

Based on King David's testimony in Psalm 32, this sermon charts the spiritual journey from the crushing "agony" of unconfessed sin to the liberating "alleluia" of divine forgiveness found through honest confession.

Introduction: The Heaviest Burden My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what is the heaviest thing you have ever carried? Some of us might think of a physical load-moving furniture, carrying heavy equipment. Others might think of an emotional burden-the weight of grief, the strain of a difficult ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Are You A Philippian Church?

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Nov 10, 2007

The Apostle Paul had a special relationship with the church at Philippi. God had blessed them, they realized it and they showed it in their affection for Paul. Is your church a Philippian church? I preached this as a guest preacher for a Thanksgiving e

-Words are important, wouldn’t you agree? -There is a big difference between saying, “That’s looks terrific!” and “That looks interesting.” -The impact of “I love you” is very different than “I hate you.” -The name of one’s church says a lot as well. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a wonderful name ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-20

Denomination: Lutheran

The Making Of A Disciple Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 21, 2008

If we ever hope to make disciples who love and obey Jesus, then we must become disciples who love and obey Jesus.

The Making of a Disciple Acts 14:19-28 Intro: One of the last things Jesus told His followers is found in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:19-28

Denomination: Assembly Of God

From Death To Life Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 28, 2018

There's a repetitive theme in Scripture: heroes and heroines of the Bible seemingly all go through the process of being given a vision by God, followed by the death of that vision, and ultimately the rebirth of that vision. How did that pattern apply to Jesus and how does it apply to us?

OPEN: (We showed the image of a fallen tree (https://imgur.com/iP32qff) I saw this picture on the internet about a month ago and it took me a while to realize what I was looking at. Obviously the tree has been uprooted and it’s lying on the ground with its dead limbs extending along the ground. But ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:33-51

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Communion

Contributed by Adam James on Nov 15, 2016

A communion message reflecting on Jesus' command to share the cup and break the bread in remembrance of Him.

When we come around to a time of communion, our attention can’t help but be drawn to the two elements. We have the bread, and we have the grape juice. But these two symbols represent something bigger, and much more important that bread and juice. We are all familiar with the Last Supper ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:17-20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Do Not Live At The Shallow End Of The Pool / Transfigured Moments

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 22, 2017

This yearning within us is not really about life's circumstances. It is about us! This restlessness this desire for something more generally means we have been living life at the shallow end of the pool. Updated August 2023..

Each year ...we as Anglicans ... set aside a date to hear the glorious story... of the transfiguration. The Scriptures Speak to the transfigured nature of our Lord... in the books of Mathew, Mark, and Luke. Here God's Word (Pick one) ....... BIBLE "And he (Jesus) was transfigured before ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-9, Matthew 17:1-9, Luke 9:28-36, Mark 10:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 17:15-16, Matthew 5:13-16, 2 Corinthians 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

You Can Go To Hell Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 21, 2018

Jesus said He would build His church. What we read in Acts 4 is how He intended to do it. What do we read there that helps us understand our part in Christ's construction crew?

There’s the true story of a southern church that had been stressing the importance of witnessing to people. One particularly slow young man in the congregation took the idea to heart, but he wasn’t quite sure how to do it. Then, that Sunday, a skeptic visited the church one Sunday, and the boy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ