Sermons on Pick Up Your Mat:

Your Set Back May Be A Set Up

Contributed by Patricia Tuaweri on Feb 8, 2014

What we sometimes consider or call challenges may be God's way of moving us away from our present predicament to a higher place

TEXT : 1 Samuel 9:1-27 A set back according to dictionary.com is a problem, difficulty, mishap, challenge or misfortune. The truth is, everybody on earth is going through one form of challenge or the other. Our text is a continuation of the previous chapter. Which ended with its own challenges.The ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Christmas Is Not Your Birthday: Giving Up On Perfect:" Series

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Nov 30, 2011

A sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent.

Luke 1:26-38 “Christmas Is Not Your Birthday: Giving up on Perfect” (based on Mike Slaughter's book) How many of you have seen the movie Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase? The movie has become a holiday favorite. It’s a parody about the false expectations that we often ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: United Methodist

Take Up Your Cross And Follow Jesus Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on May 3, 2014

Jesus' teaching on discipleship in Luke 9:23-27 shows us what is involved in being a disciple of Jesus.

Scripture We have come to what one commentator called “a turning point in Luke’s Gospel.” In the first part of his Gospel, Luke demonstrated the identity of Jesus. Then Peter, on behalf of the twelve disciples, confessed Jesus as the Christ (9:18-20). From this point on now Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Take Up Your Cross And Follow Jesus

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 14, 2013

Self denial, self sacrifice, following wherever Jesus leads. The danger of ruining our eternal souls. Christ alone can save us.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS. Luke 9:18-26. Peter was in no doubt that Jesus is the anointed one of God. What he did not understand was that his Master is not like any earthly Lord. He is not the type of King who was expected by the crowds. Jesus did not come into the world to deliver ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Live With Your Mind Made Up

Contributed by Grant Adams on Apr 6, 2020

At times, I wish more of the decisions of life were like the decision we made at salvation. A one-time thing. But it seems every day we are called on to make decisions, we just made the day before.

1. Jesus was confronted with indecision His entire life. a. Not personally, but with and in His ministry b. He was continually giving people a choice c. John 6:60,61, 64-69 d. Matthew 10:32 2. Decisions were not strange to Paul a. Paul chose to serve Jesus b. He could have gloried in the flesh, but ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:15, Joel 3:14

Denomination: Baptist

Have You Made Your Mind Up ?

Contributed by Travis Leib on Apr 21, 2019

A rumor of a risen savior, and an empty tomb was not enough to convince.

Recently, the news has been captivated with the burning of the Notre Dame Cathedral. There are thousands that are grieving the loss of many artifacts and history telling items. The cathedral was a celebrated icon, for what it contained inside, which is now lost. The greatest medieval cathedral ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-29

Denomination: Holiness

A Great Spiritual Check-Up For Your Soul Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Aug 4, 2022

1. Are you listening to the Lord? (vs. 1-11, 14). 2. Are you aiming to please God? (vs. 12-14). 3. Are you learning from the Lord? (vs. 14-16). 4. Have you found the right help for your heart? (vs. 17-20).

A Great Spiritual Check-up for Your Soul The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 15:1-20 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared August 4, 2022) (Revised August 8, 2022 to say this was the 3rd year of Jesus' ministry) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to Matthew 15. In the previous chapter, Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

A Roll Up Your Sleeves Kind Of Love.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Feb 12, 2023

According to therapist, Dan Wile, “Marriage takes sacrifice, hard, work, and the ability to put up with disappointments and cope with frustration.”

A Roll Up Your Sleeves Kind Of Love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8aNLT A recent e-mail asked readers to reflect on the following questions: Name the five wealthiest people in the world. Name the last five Heinemann trophy winners. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. Name ten ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Pentecostal

Raise Your Hands And Pray Series

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on May 17, 2015

There is a strong relationship between prayer and God's power over the church and our nation. When we raise our hands in prayer to God, the enemy is defeated. When we lower our hands, we allow the enemy to win the battle. The people of God must pray.

RAISE YOUR HANDS UP AND PRAY Text: Exodus 17:8-16 (NIV) " 8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-16

Denomination: Nazarene

When God Shows Up

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jul 23, 2017

Jacob had an encounter with God that shook him to his core. This fugitive on the run discovered that his ancestors' God was his God, and that this God would be with him wherever he went. Great lessons for us to learn on our faith pilgrimage.

Genesis 28:10-19 When God Shows Up In today’s story, Jacob was in a strange place to meet God. You might expect to encounter God at a church retreat or a revival meeting, or in an inspiring church service. You might expect to find God when you are serving him with all your heart. But Jacob had ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-19, Psalm 139:7-10, John 1:51

Denomination: Baptist

"The Crippled Boy And The King"

Contributed by Jerry Depoy on Mar 8, 2003

Simple three point outline. Dropped, Picked up, and Restored. Main thought, "No one at the table can see your crippled feet!"

Text: 2 Samuel 9:1-12 Title: “The Cripple Boy and the King” Introduction: Read 2 Samuel 4:4 Mephibosheth was only five years of age when word came that his family’s throne was now in retreat. His Grandfather, King Saul, and his Father, Jonathan, had died on the battle field. A new ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-12, 2 Samuel 4:4

Denomination: Baptist

"Get Up!"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 31, 2011

A sermon about Jesus' authority.

Matthew 9:1-8 “Get Up!” By: Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN www.eastridgeumc.org Authority has gotten bad press in much of the world. In many of our minds it goes together with nasty ideas like “oppression” and “human ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Wrecked Roofs And Changed Lives

Contributed by John Harvey on Jun 18, 2007

The church needs to be willing to remove all barriers between the world and Jesus.

“Wrecked Roofs and Changed Lives” June 10, 2007 Me: Illness when I was a junior in high school. Scared, confused, frustrated. Ended up in St. Jude. Glad no one was too tired, or busy to care. We: What are the times in your life when you needed others to care and were glad they took the time to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Bottoms Up!

Contributed by Eric Vertein on Mar 9, 2005

When it comes to seeking greatness and dealing with suffering for the sake of our Lord, Jesus advises us: "Bottoms up!"

Matthew 20:17-28 4th Sunday in Lent – A March 6, 2005 #092 Matthew 20:17-28 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:17-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Is Your God Wobbly?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 29, 2017

Whomever, or whatever, we choose as our god will either prop us up, or need to be propped up.

1 SAMUEL 5:1-5 IS YOUR GOD WOBBLY? “When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist