Sermons on Permissive Will:

Understanding The Story

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Oct 13, 2020

2020 has been a year of an unusual number of hurricanes, many have hit the USA. When a storm hits, lives are changed. We like to believe we will 'get over it' or 'get on with it', but storms have an impact, whether it is a weather type of storm OR a personal storm.

Candidly, every time there is an event like this, many want to characterize it in unbiblical ways. After Katrina, I recall the extreme views made public. On the one hand, some were getting on TV speaking of how God could have nothing to do with events like this, at the same time, others came ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Unity: The Countdown To Pentecost - 13 Of 14 Series

Contributed by Russell Metcalfe on Jan 28, 2021

We have been pointing toward Pentecost! We want to know what it means to be awakened by God's Spirit!

May 24, 1998 John 17:20-26 THERE WAS A BIG HOLE IN THE SKY. A loud silence! Jesus was gone! They stood there with their faces turned up and their mouths open. Two shining beings brought them confirmation of what somehow they already knew: they knew this was a forever kind of change. Things were ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Nazarene

With Jesus On The Mountain - 1 Of 7 Series

Contributed by Russell Metcalfe on Feb 1, 2021

"This is my Son ...listen to him!" The heart of faith is Jesus. That is the message this mountaintop experience.

February 18, 1996 AM Matthew 17:1-9 The Transfiguration "This is my Son ...listen to him!" Mountains as Points of Reference One Sunday afternoon, a long time ago, instead of taking the usual Nazarene nap, I took my four sons on a hike up Mount Beacon above the majestic Hudson River in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Denomination: Nazarene

With Jesus At The Well Of Sychar - 3 Of 7 Series

Contributed by Russell Metcalfe on Feb 1, 2021

Jesus spoke some of the most profound words that have ever been spoken on the subject of true worship, of worship as God intends it shall be— the kind of worship, Jesus said, that the heavenly Father goes looking for.

March 10, 1996 - Lent 3 John 4:5-42 If ever anyone lived on a dead end street this was the person. And by dead end I don't mean a nice cul de sac where the kids can play and the traffic can turn around. I mean dead end like going nowhere, like abandon all hope. I don't know how, but she ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Denomination: Nazarene

When Your Theology Bumps Into The Facts Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 16, 2021

A lengthy story about a man born blind provides a clear picture of what happens when your theology bumps into inconvenient facts. Will you reach for God or cling to your predetermined ideas?

SEEING THE LIGHT: The man was blind but saw by believing and obeying Jesus. - John 9:1-7. a. We’ll get more into the confusion in a moment, but the disciples echo the prevailing theology of the time and presume that someone must have sinned for him to be blind. - vv. 1-2. - It was a theology ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Baptist

The Life Of Paul Part I Series

Contributed by Dan Carroll on Aug 26, 2016

This sermon gives the history of Saul of Tarsus, the Pharisee and his hate for Christians; then explains Saul's conversion to Jesus.

INTRODUCTION • Paul broke the mold. • He was wild…crazy, zealous, lost, brilliant, passionate and super focused. • If he was alive today he would be considered a terrorist for killing people for his cause. • Yet he had more to do with the growth of Christianity than ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Failed Glory Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 8, 2016

When we settle for sinful or the status quo, we lose the glory of God.

1. We desire God's presence and glory. Only HE can fill the emptiness in our hearts -- Ecclesiastes 3.11 2. The church is a place to reveal the glory of God 3. It is a "House of Commons" not differences a. Common Salvation -- Jude 3 b. Common Problems -- Romans 3.23 c. Common Fate -- Romans ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:12-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Propitiation And You Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

Jesus satisfied God’s wrath on our behalf, and through faith in Him we can have a righteous legal status before God.

Propitiation and You (Romans 3:21-31) 1. A few years ago, I was trying to replace a windshield wiper on my mini-van. Somehow I let go of the wiper stem, and it hit the windshield hard. I had cracked the windshield. A $10 wiper turned into a $200 replacement windshield bill. 2. When we damage ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Forged For Commitment Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 15, 2019

If a person's service to the Lord is a covenant with God, shouldn't it be a priority over everything else?

As Christians, we are called to live a very distinctive way. Being a Christian is a calling to the hard work of shaping the metal of our lives (our character) into a form that expresses God’s masterpiece within all of us. The whole letter focuses on Christian virtue and character and how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Repentance Of A Con Man

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 28, 2019

Can a con man change? Is it possible for a rich man with ill gotten gains to enter heaven? Let’s look at Luke 19:1-10 and one such man’s repentance.

Can a con man change? Is it possible for a rich man with ill gotten gains to enter heaven? Let’s look at Luke 19:1-10 and one such man’s repentance. Wealth Luke 19:1-4 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Great Personal Offenses

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 7, 2017

In every church in Christendom, we will eventually be confronted with some great personal offenses.

Prelude, Purpose, Plan In every church in Christendom, we will eventually be confronted with some great personal offenses. How can we better deal with major conflict? Is conflict resolution always possible or even realistic? What can we do when our grievances are ignored? Why is conflict a part of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

Denomination: Baptist

False Friends And Loving Enemies

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 10, 2016

Who is the Good Samaritan?

Intro After World War Two the Allies helped former enemies Germany and Japan rebuild. The hatred did not last forever. Thanks in large part to Allied aid, former enemies became close friends and two of the world’s strongest economies were given life. Purpose Let’s look at how even ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Baptist

Failure Of Human Leadership Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 19, 2019

Can human political systems save us? We elect national leaders, and are quickly disappointed. Let’s learn that only God’s government can truly bless humanity. Let’s contrast human governments and Christ’s government in Luke 23:33-43.

Can human political systems save us? We elect national leaders, and are quickly disappointed. Let’s learn that only God’s government can truly bless humanity. Let’s contrast human governments and Christ’s government in Luke 23:33-43. Forgive Them Luke 23:33-34 And when they had come to the place ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-43

Denomination: Baptist

Watching And Praying

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 24, 2019

When will Jesus return? Let’s learn that we do not know when Christ will return but that he will come back and we must keep watch. Let’s discuss this in Matthew 24:36-44.

When will Jesus return? Let’s learn that we do not know when Christ will return but that he will come back and we must keep watch. Let’s discuss this in Matthew 24:36-44. End of an Era Matthew 24:36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiveness Must Have A Face

Contributed by Rev Ken Shedenhelm on Sep 22, 2013

There's nothing more important to a Christian than forgiveness. It is the basis of our salvation, and we can't love one another as He loved us without forgiving one another. Therefore, we need to understand what forgiveness is and what it is not.

"When I was a kid, I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way... so I stole a bicycle... and asked him to forgive me." Well, there are 100s of jokes about forgiveness- the one I read is by Emo Phillips- and there are legions of people who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed