Sermons on Paused:

God's Story Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 8, 2007

Stephen’s martyrdom as a Thanksgiving sermon

God’s Story: Experiencing Biblical Community Acts 6:8-7:60 Intro: A 4 year old boy was asked to return thanks before Thanksgiving dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation. He began his prayer, thanking the Lord for all his friends, naming them one by one. Then he thanked the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Back To The Basics: Baptism And Holy Communion Series

Contributed by Brian William on Oct 25, 2007

Sixth in the "Back to the Basics" series, exploring the foundational beliefs of Christians. This sermon addresses the question, "What do Christians believe about the baptism and holy communion?"

Last week, while flipping through the channels on tv, I came across the movie Gladiator with Russell Crowe, just as it was getting started. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll remember that it is set in ancient Rome at about the same time as Jesus lived. The main character, Maximus, played by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:12-25

Denomination: Methodist

Little Seed - Big Tree Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 19, 2007

Why did the farmer in this parable plant the mustard seed? Jesus doesn’t stress the harvest from this tree... only the fact that birds come and settle in its branches. Why?

OPEN: There’s a story about a student from MIT who spent an entire summer going to the Harvard football field every day wearing a black and white striped shirt walking up and down the field for ten or fifteen minutes throwing birdseed and blowing a whistle. Then he would walk off the field. At ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Home Baked Christmas Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Dec 6, 2004

1st of 4 at Christmas. The basic outline and some illustrations were adapted from a message by Melvin Newland entitled "Home Baked Happiness"

Home Baked Christmas Depression at Christmas is a real problem for a lot of people. Depression at Christmas - survey results by Christine Webber and Dr David Delvin. The NetDoctor survey on Depression at Christmas shows quite clearly what many of us have long suspected - that Christmas is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Miracle On 42nd St - Christmas At The Movies Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 6, 2004

The miracle in the movie: "Miracle on 34th St" depended upon letters from the US Post Office. But the miracle on "42nd" St depended upon a different paper trail.

(Suggest playing a clip from Miracle On 34th St. – Where the Post office delivers mail for Santa Claus to the Court Room proving Kris Kringle to be Santa Claus) OPEN: Is there a Santa Claus? Nearly a century ago or more, there was a newspaper article written to a little girl named Virginia. Do you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seeing God's Glory Series

Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004

Seeing God’s Glory is scary, but when we see it, it prompts us to action

Luke 2:1-20 – Seeing God’s Glory – turning fear into peace C.S. Lewis’ celebrated children’s book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, tells of the adventures of four children in the magical kingdom of Narnia. The story is fun, but it’s also an allegory of Christ and salvation, with Christ ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Thanks In The Mourning

Contributed by Philip Grose on Nov 24, 2004

We all struggle with the sin in our lives. Some days we wonder how we will ever measure up to the standards that God has commanded in his holy word. Paul came to the conclusion that it is only through Christ Jesus our Lord that we can hold on and propse

“Giving Thanks in the mourning” The residents of Lane County, on the Oregon coast, woke up one morning to a devastating find. A forty-five foot, eight ton pacific grey whale had died and washed up on the beach near the town of Florence. It had been a while since such a large whale had washed up ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-25

Denomination: Methodist

A Big Breath

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 24, 2005

A sermon for the First Sunday after Christmas A sermon about Simeon and Anna

First Sunday after Christmas Luke 2:22-40 "A Big Breath"  22 And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40

Denomination: Lutheran

Scattering The Seed Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 13, 2008

Farming in the days of Jesus wasn’t like today. But the church that Jesus began, and the way Jesus set it up haven’t changed over the ages.

OPEN: A man walked into a flower shop and asked for some potted red geraniums. "I’m sorry," said the clerk in flower shop, "we are completely sold out of all of our potted geraniums. But I’d be more than happy to give you a deal on something else. Could you use African violets instead?" Replied the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dare To Take A Stand! Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jul 17, 2008

As Christians, we need to take a stand for God. It’s not always easy. During GOOD TIMES – When things are going right - We get complacent. During BAD TIMES – When everything seems to be going wrong – We get discouraged … blame God … look to ourselves for

Opening illustration: In her famous book and film, “The Hiding Place” Corrie ten Boom tells the story of a Dutch Christian family, her family, who had a heart for the Jewish people. Her grandfather Wilhelm started a weekly prayer group in 1844 in the city of Haarlem, near Amsterdam for the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Overwhelming Or Overcoming? It Depends

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 23, 2008

Autobiographical account of memories of race relations. Christ gives us the power to overcome backgrounds that might overwhelm us.

If you find yourself facing a monstrous evil, there are really only two choices: either to run or to fight. Either to run or to fight. Now most of us will try a third choice; we will try to ignore the problem. But that won’t work. That won’t work. Massive, monstrous evil demands a response: ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Prayer

Contributed by David Cramer on Sep 11, 2009

The power of prayer

George Mueller was known for his powerful prayer. In the course of his ministry to the orphans of England, he never asked for financial assistance from men - only God... and he constantly received what was needed to the penny. Once while on his way to speak in Quebec for a engagement. On the deck ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christian Love Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 11, 2012

Love puts all the spiritual gifts into proper perspective.

Introduction Thirty-two years ago I sat on the grounds of a college in Denton, Texas reading a New Testament. Although I was raised in church, I felt like I was reading the Bible for the first time. The highlight was when I came across 1 Corinthians 13. I have the chapter number circled, and it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Give Ear To My Words, O Lord Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 28, 2012

How to plead with God to hear your prayers. 1- Ask early 2- Hate evil 3- Seek mercy 4- Live righteously 5- Find refuge

INTRO.- ILL.- One Sunday in a Midwest city a little boy was "acting up" during the morning worship. His parents did their best to maintain some sense of order in the pew but were losing the battle. Finally the father picked the little boy up and walked sternly up the aisle on his way out. Just ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:1-12, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 5:1-5, Hebrews 4:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hold The Rope

Contributed by Tim Patrick on May 30, 2009

In this sermon you will learn to uphold other believers as they serve Jesus Christ.

(In introducing this sermon give everyone a piece of rope.) State: a rope is such a common ordinary item. Yet, a rope can fulfill a worthy task. Today we are going to look at a passage where a rope played a significant role in an act of service. The text is found in Acts 9:25. “Then the disciples ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:23-25

Denomination: Baptist