Sermons on Play:

Facing Giants Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 24, 2019

"Facing Giants" from the David and Goliath story in 1 Samuel 17. The point is that our "giants" aren't always what they seem to be and neither are we. With the help of God we are greater than we imagine and the giants are smaller.

1. We love the Underdog stories In February, 1980, the US Olympic Hockey team took the ice in Lake Placid, NY to face the toughest hockey team in the world – the USSR. Two weeks before in Olympic competition, the Russians beat the Americans, 12-2. That night, however, proved to be different. The US ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon On Cupidity

Contributed by William Meakin on Oct 4, 2021

Cupidity is defined as "Greed for money or possessions."

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, a German philosopher and philologist once remarked: “In spite of all the value which may belong to the true, the positive, and the unselfish, it might be possible that a higher and more fundamental value for life generally should be assigned to pretence, to the will to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Jeremiah 6:13

Sermon On Family Unity

Contributed by William Meakin on Jan 1, 2022

One of the many definitions of Family Unity has been stated as: “A primary social group consisting of parents and their offspring, the principle function of which is provision for its members.”

Barbara Pierce Bush, the first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993 as the wife of President George H. W. Bush once remarked: "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4, Psalm 133:1, Ephesians 3:14-15, 1 Peter 3:8

Sermon On Presence

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 31, 2022

Presence is defined as the state or fact of existing, occurring or being present. It may also refer to an existence that is present, but is not seen.

Tara Brach, an American psychologist and author once remarked: “In any moment, no matter how lost we feel, we can take refuge in presence and love. We need only pause, breathe, and open to the experience of aliveness within us. In that wakeful openness, we come home to the peace and freedom of our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10-12, John 14:17-20, Psalm 31:19-21, Hebrews 10:36

The Fickle Pickle

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Jul 10, 2023

A sermon for the season after Pentecost, Year A, Lectionary 10

July 9, 2023 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 The Fickle Pickle Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. In the children’s story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, little Goldilocks happens upon the bears’ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-30

Denomination: Lutheran

Sermon On Insincerity

Contributed by William Meakin on May 28, 2023

Insincerity is defined as the quality of not expressing genuine feelings.

Giannis Delimitsos a Greek philosopher and author once remarked: “Many ask: “Why are we so insincere, why are we so hypocrites?” Well, it is because this is how human nature works. If there was a time and a place where human beings were 100% of the time honest, who always said what they had in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1, 1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 3:13

Heading Home From Jerusalem Series

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Apr 19, 2024

The concept (Bright Sunday) is that Jesus was having fun showing up for the disciples, here as they headed home, he walked with them, and they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.

Today is Bright Sunday. Easter is a Holy Day, a day when everyone comes to church. Today is the day when the Christian believers come back to celebrate, because we are now in Easter Tide – the time between the Resurrection and when Jesus Ascended into heaven. After the Ascension, we have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Showing Proper Respect Series

Contributed by Lynn Holmes on Feb 24, 2011

A sermon on loving one another in a cynical, rude world.

[Lynn would like to acknowledge and thank two individuals: Years ago Pastor Rick Warren wrote a Sermon Series based upon 1 Corinthians 13, and John Ortberg wrote a book entitled: Everybody’s Normal Until You Get To Know Them. Lynn relied heavily upon these two resources for this series because ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:17

Denomination: Nazarene

Run, Samson, Run Series

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on May 23, 2016

Samson was man of supernatural strength given by God but was overwhelmed by the inward sexual desire through the enticement of Delilah. He should have run, but he did not. We can learn valuable lessons from his life.

We are now in chapter 16 of the Book of Judges. We have been studying the life of Samson. Last week, we looked at the highlights of Samson's life - the three W's - Samson's Wedding, Samson's Wager and Samson's Wrath. We have learned first of all that Samson insisted in marrying the woman in Timnah ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:1-20

Denomination: Nazarene

The Joy Of God's Great Adventure

Contributed by Chris Layton on Jun 9, 2001

Serving God is an adventure full of JOY

Title: The Joy of God’s Great Adventure Text: Psalms 51:7-15 ETS: Chose whether or not you will serve God ESS: Serving God is an adventure full of JOY OSS: I want my people to experience the JOY of serving God. Introduction: Today you must make choice on which you will serve and whose you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:7-15

Denomination: Baptist

Learning Character Among The Sheep

Contributed by Chad Ballard on Jan 31, 2002

Developing character during humbling times.

Learning Character Among the Sheep I Samuel 16:6-13; 17-19 I. Background from Chapter 15 A. Saul rejected as King by God for his disobedience. 1. God had instructed Saul to attack the Amalekites, and kill everything, taking no spoils. But Saul kept the “choicest” things to sacrifice to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:6-13, 1 Samuel 16:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With The Boss Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 13, 2004

This sermon deals with workplace relationships.

Workplace satisfaction is a big topic today. Surveys, articles, and studies are abundant on the topic of workplace satisfaction. Companies calculate the cost of employee dissatisfaction. Foundations for Excellence put out a paper a few years ago entitled “Employee Satisfaction: Why it is so ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:5-9

Denomination: Wesleyan

You Mean It? Really?

Contributed by Pat Cook on Aug 31, 2004

Simple message of the why’s of worship and the how’s of worship.

John 4:19-24 – You Mean it? Really? A man went to church with an angel as guide. The church was filled, but oddly, there was no sound. The organist played, but no music could be heard; the choir’s lips moved, but no song came forth. The pastor went through the motions of preaching, but the man ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Back To Basics

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 29, 2005

A message on the basics of the Christian life.

BACK TO BASICS 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 INTRO: After a losing football season, the coach of a well-known college team said his plans for the next year were to get back to basics. He was referring to blocking, tackling, timing, and execution, which are the ingredients necessary for a winning season. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

A Hole In The Roof

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Feb 16, 2006

There are two groups in every organization: the doers and the complainers. The story of the paralytic is a vivid example of both.

Mark 2: 1 – 12 - A Hole In The Roof Intro: Imagine you have a very close friend who has a desperate legal problem. They’ve been to lawyers, courts and all sorts of legal actions to no avail. You hear the President is coming to Nederland to visit another of your friends. The President could ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed