Sermons on Pay It Forward:

Bitter Fights And Sweet Turn Outs…. Series

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jan 28, 2013

Today is the final lesson from the life of Jacob. Forgiveness has become a lost art. Now everything is about revenge, getting even, making someone pay. As we meditate the life of Jacob, I think that we will find the awesome power of forgiveness in today’s

Bitter fights and sweet turn outs…. Life of Jacob –part 4 Genesis 33: 10 “ And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favour in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Retaliation Versus Going The Extra Mile

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 26, 2015

When people wrong us, insult us or take our property, we want to see them pay for what they did to us. The question we all need to ask ourselves today is, “Are we willing to go the extra mile for Jesus?”

One winter day a man went shopping at the local neighborhood mall. When he returned to his car he noticed a rather foul odor coming from under the hood and so he checked the engine. In the compartment he discovered a dead cat rather mutilated from being caught in the fan belt. The poor cat had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

The Value Of Hard Work

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Nov 13, 2016

Serving the Lord is a lifelong mission, although the nature of the work may change. God only holds us responsible for what we can do. Yet, if we pay attention, he will provide an opportunity to serve him every day in some way. (Great for Labor Day)

The Value of Hard Work 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Today we will focus on the cure for idleness, and here are my favorite thoughts on the subject: “Yesterday I did nothing and today I'm finishing what I did yesterday.” “If I won the award for laziness, I would send somebody to pick ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Week That Changed The World: The Day Jesus Conquered His Critics Series

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jul 3, 2021

In His final week of public ministry, Jesus confronted a series of challenging questions His enemies attempted to use as traps. One question dealt with the issue of paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus' surprising answer would settle the issues of loyalty and obligation to both God and Caesar.

Jesus had spent the first days of His final week shaking up the status quo concerning the worship of the LORD, the reverence due to the House of God, and to recall its purpose. He exposed the moneymaking schemes of the religious leaders, rebuked their practices, and drove out the merchants who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Least Of These

Contributed by John Gaston on Dec 7, 2022

Modern Christians are going to be horrified when they stand in Judgment. Attending church, praising the Lord, living faithfully, and paying tithes aren't even on the radar of what Jesus is expecting of us. We're supposed to be serving 'the least of these!'

THE LEAST OF THESE Matt. 25:31-40 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: THE SPHINX’S RIDDLE 1. There’s an ancient Greek story about a Sphinx that troubled the city of Thebes. He would ask passers-by a riddle. If they got the answer wrong, he would devour them. 2. The riddle was: “What walks on four legs in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-40

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How Could One Solitary Life Have So Much Impact - Christmas Eve

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Dec 24, 2023

Church members and friends can support St. John's By-the-Sea by visiting our website https://www.stjohnsbythesea.com/donate, where a donation can be made by PayPal or credit card, if you prefer that to mailing your donations to the church.

Good Evening, and welcome again to St. John’s Church. And, as you can tell, I love our Christmas Eve Service. The first one at St. John’s was in 1892, 130 years ago. This is only my 5th Christmas here, and I absolutely love how this service paints a picture. It really has a feel to it. As we close ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Come To The Living Stone

Contributed by Bruce Lee on May 28, 2025

A brick and a block were walking down a road when a piece of concrete jumped up and made a funny face, screamed and ran off. The brick asked the block, “what’s up with him?” The block replied, don’t pay him no mind, he is a “cycle path.”

Come to the Living Stone “2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. The Living Stone and a Chosen People 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Building A New Nation In Christ Series

Contributed by William Baeta on Apr 1, 2025

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)

The theme for today’s sermon is building a new nation in Christ. This theme highlights the importance of the Lenten season and recounts the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For by this offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14) ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14, John 12:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

#4 Understanding Loove: Kindness

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 5, 2016

In this series we are pondering LOVE? What is real love? Love must be kind. Do we care more for others than for self? KINDNESS IS LOVE IN ACTION.

#4 UNDERSTANDING LOVE: KINDNESS... LOVE IN ACTION! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; --- 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT) Love is patient and kind. --- 1 Corinthians 13:4 (MSG) Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In Losing Everything, You've Gained Christ's Righteousness

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Mar 21, 2010

Our own doings can not make us right before God. For only Christ's righteousness, which is yours by faith alone, stands in God's courtroom. A. All other gains are garbage. B. Your faith knows the power of Christ's resurrection. C. You strain forward

Text: Philippians 3:8-14 Theme: In Losing Everything, You've Gained Christ's Righteousness A. All other gains are garbage B. Your faith knows the power of Christ's resurrection C. You strain forward toward your resurrection sharing in Christ's suffering Season: Lent 5c Date: March 21, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8-14

Denomination: Lutheran

The Construction Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Aug 5, 2011

Today we finish our series on building our spiritual house and my hope is that next week we can celebrate our journey through this church year and go forward with a new commitment to living as true disciples of Jesus. Today we talk about the hardest part,

Today we finish our series on building our spiritual house and my hope is that next week we can celebrate our journey through this church year and go forward with a new commitment to living as true disciples of Jesus. Today we talk about the hardest part, the actual work and perseverance of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:26-30

God's Half Acre

Contributed by James Rich on Oct 18, 2001

The theme I want to leave with us today is simple. The plot may be small, the job insignificant, but I believe there is someone here today who are ready to rise to the task ahead and forge forward and by your efforts start an earthquake. It is God’s ha

1 Samuel 14:1Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. 2And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:1-15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lesson 5: Don't Remain A Baby Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 11, 2010

One of the most dangerous places to find yourself as a Christian is thinking you are more mature than you really are. This was one of the main reasons the Corinthian church had so many problems and may be a reason you are not moving forward in your walk.

I have a granddaughter, little Maya. She is our first grandchild and, of course, she is the cutest baby on planet earth. Up until now Maya has only known her mama's milk as her food. She is just starting to eat puréed foods like bananas and the like. We saw the cutest video of her and she actually ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

"Stay Here”: A Journey Of Commitment And Observation

Contributed by Doug Koehler on Feb 20, 2009

For the congregation that has not seen much forward progress or for those simply seeking direction, the final chapter of Elisha and Elijah’s time together truly guides us. We can STAY HERE and the world guide us or JOURNEY ON WITH JESUS and discover oppor

2 Kings 2:10 Transfiguration Sunday “STAY HERE”: A Journey of commitment and faithful living There is one thing that will bring tears to my eyes as much as anything else and that is when one person does his best to protect another against being hurt spiritually or inwardly in some way. Basically ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

"Are We There Yet?" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on May 25, 2011

This message describes some of the amazing things we have to look forward to in heaven. God is preparing an amazing place for us. Look at this beautiful world He prepared in only 7 days and then imagine what He has been preparing for us for tho

“Are we there Yet?” John 14:1-4 After serving for many years in Africa, a missionary couple was returning to the United States to retire. They had no pension; their health was failing ... they were very discouraged. They happened to be on the same ship coming home as the then ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-4

Denomination: Baptist