Sermons on pluggedin magazine: showing 31-45 of 7,530

The Melancholy Psalm

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 19, 2015

What can we learn from a psalm without a happy ending? (Material adapted from Shawn McMullen in an article in Lookout Magazine and from Peter Slofstra at: http://www.crcna.org/resources/church-resources/reading-sermons/dark-ending-bright-beginning)

HoHum: Gloom, despair, and agony on me; Deep, dark depression, excessive misery; If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all; Gloom, despair, and agony on me WBTU: Started studying on depression and went to Psalm 88. Psalm 88 has been called the most melancholy of all the psalms. One ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 88:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Joshua – A Portrait Of Obedience

Contributed by Paddick Van Zyl on Oct 21, 2020

If we had to give this sermon a title in the Forbes magazine it would probably go something like: ‘From Obscurity to Fame - How one man did it alone and became a success.’ But if we study the life of Joshua, we soon find that his secret to success was obedience to God’s instructions.

Joshua – A Portrait of Obedience Pastor Paddick Van Zyl 21-10-2020 Sermon Outline Scripture Reference: Book of Joshua Chapters 1 through 24. Key verse : Joshua 1:5-9 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:5-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Hope Of Easter

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 3, 2024

2 points. 1). The Resurrection. 2). The Life (Seedthought and story of Brandon from Larry Barber, Grief Counselor; Biblical exposition from Chuck Guth's article in Decision Magazine April 1999 entitled, "Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life) Used for a SonRise Service Easter 2024

HoHum: Larry Barber is a grief counselor in Texas and he tells the following story from a children’s grief group: As the circle of eager children and their family members prepared to enjoy the company of fellow mourners in fun activities, I asked the group to share any exciting news that was ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Significant Man Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 28, 2021

We think of Jesus being on trial before Pilate, when really it was Pilate who was being challenged by Jesus. What did Jesus say to Pilate that shook this governor and challenged his entire view of life?

Eight years ago (2013) Time magazine featured a study that proposed to name the 100 most significant people in history. This study's authors filtered through over 9000 names and came up with this list, and these are the TOP 10 of that list: 1 Jesus (it’s intriguing that Time magazine would ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Right To Remain Silent Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 9, 2024

Jesus was faced with numerous unfair and unjust accusations and trials... and yet He never responded to those. Why was He silent, and what can that mean to us?

OPEN: One day my dad was driving down the road a little over the speed limit. He was going about 65 in a 55 mph zone… and then he saw some lights flashing in his rearview mirror. Dad was resigned to the fact he’d have to pay a speeding ticket (after all, he was going 65) and when the policeman ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Josh And The Big Wall Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 15, 2021

Did the walls of Jericho actually fall? (hint: yes they did) And if they did, what can that tell us about God's power and of our faith in Him?

Children’s moment – a short clip from Veggie Tales “Josh And The Big Wall” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDpM_j1MZG8&t=11s PRAYER/SCRIPTURE OPEN: I love reading Bible Stories to my grandson. Well I don’t actually “read” them to him, I kind of make them up as I go along. And I find that the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sin That Crouched At The Door Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 19, 2023

Why would Cain kill Abel, and what can we learn from his failure?

Years ago when I was at Purdue I decided to read the Bible for myself. So, I bought myself a Bible Commentary, and a Bible Dictionary, and I made a deal with God: I told Him I’d read everything but the poetry, the prophecy, and the “who-begat-whos.” I set my Bible and study books out where I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Truth - A Bargain At Twice The Price Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 14, 2023

Proverbs 23 says we should "buy truth." But you'd think "truth" was highly valued enough in society that you wouldn't have to be told to pay for it. Why would God advise us buy it?

(I spent a couple years as a student at Purdue University, and this is one of the jokes I heard there) There were a couple of students - one from IU and one from Notre Dame - standing beside a flagpole discussing something. About that time, a student from Purdue walked over and asked “What ya ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Help From The Hills Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 4, 2023

There's an old saying "You get what you look for." What does Psalm 121 say God's people looked for, and what difference can that make in our lives as Christians?

OPEN: They are called the “Songs of Ascent”. There’s 14 of them from Psalms 120 thru 134. At least 3 times each year, the Israelites would make their way to City of David… to worship God - the feast of Passover; the feast Pentecost; and the Feast of the Tabernacles. And as they made their way to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Do You Listen To? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 17, 2019

Over the years I've learned that I've got to be careful who I trust and listen to. I've found that the experts can even be wrong? So if I can't even be sure of the experts... who can I listen to that I can always trust?

OPEN: (I put a copy of the covers of the “National Enquirer” and the “Globe” on screen side by side) How many of you ever seen these magazines at the supermarket? These are what are known as “tabloid magazines.” As you can tell from the headlines, these are not reliable news sources. In fact, they ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Could I Possibly Imitate God? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 9, 2020

Paul writes that we should imitate our Heavenly Father like children. How does a child imitate their parent, how can we "imitate God" and what difference can that make to our witness as Christians?

I have a 2-year-old grandson who lives with me right now - along with is mom and dad - and he loves being with me. We watch cartoons together/ play together, and we work together. We mow grass (we showed a picture of him pushing a toy mower) and we wash the dishes (we showed a picture of him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Made Them "babel" Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 18, 2019

Is this a true story? (Hint: yes) And why did God include it in the Bible?

OPEN: Several years ago, there was a tiny village in Scotland called “Lost.” It’s a quaint name for a quaint little village… but they had a problem. Lost kept losing their sign. A local official explained, "For many years now, the sign has continually been taken because all it says on it is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Can You Justify That? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 10, 2016

Justification sounds like a $20 word that nobody would use outside of Church. But surprisingly the words justify and justification are interwoven into our culture and are used in ways that tell us a lot about what God did when He justified us.

I’m going to show you a list of some common English sayings on the screen. Tell me you recognize them. A thorn in the side Eat, drink, and be merry Handwriting on the wall. The blind leading the blind. Like a lamb to the slaughter Do not throw your pearls before swine Can a leopard ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:6-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gift Of Silence

Contributed by Fr. Damien Evangelista on Apr 2, 2020

The world doesn't value silence, but making time to be silent is crucial for psychological and spiritual health.

Silence is essential for growth in the spiritual life. For instance, since God is omnipotent, we'd expect that he'd speak to Elijah through a strong driving wind or an earthquake as found in our first reading (1 Kg 18, 15-45). Instead, we find that Elijah comes out of hiding from the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:42

There Is Always A Bright Side But, Where Do I Look?

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jan 19, 2012

How did we get so depended on the internet? It was easy wasn't it? It seems more of a reality to depend on the things we see. What does the Bible say about that?

There is always a bright side but, where do I look? As I'm setting here waiting for Doctors to release Brenda from the hospital I was reading the Winston Salem Journal. There is a story on the front page about a few web sites in protest against government rules and regulations and one of the web ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Denomination: Baptist