Sermons on Poor Leadership:

Show Love, Not Favoritism (James 2:1-13) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 27, 2022

Favoritism is a tricky thing. But we need to copy God's example, in honoring the poor. Also, my first crack at unpacking "kingdom" in light of Scot McKnight's book Kingdom Conspiracy.

Let's start today by reading James 2:1-4: (1) My brothers, don't, with partiality, hold the faith of our glorious Lord, Jesus Christ. ["w/partiality" =focused] (2) For suppose someone should enter your assembly with a gold ring on his finger, with fine clothing. Now, also a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Do Not Fear; Only Believe

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 27, 2024

God made man and woman in His image, with the plan that they would act and become more and more good, more and more like Himself. That was the divine order.

Thirteenth Sunday in Course 2024 In his great Summa Theologiae, St Thomas Aquinas wrote “the order of the Divine government is wholly directed to good. . .no one acts intending evil.” (ST I Q 104 Art 1) Those words are an appropriate commentary on the words from the post-exile writing Book of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Exodus 16:18, Psalm 30:2-12

Denomination: Catholic

Paul's Resume

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 9, 2024

If they are rolling in the dough to their church or program do not go.

Paul's resume dispels the whole Prosperity Gospel. When these false apostles and prophets have a resume like Paul's I might want to hear what they have to say as that experience will prove they are wrong. Apostles and prophets that brag about their wealth and live the life of a rock ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:5-10, Matthew 7:21-23, Proverbs 19:17, 2 Corinthians 11:1-33

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding The Bible's Take On Money issues. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Feb 11, 2024

I want to talk to you about the power of money and the importance of breaking free from its control. Money is a tool, a medium of exchange, but when it becomes our primary focus, we lose sight of what truly matters.

When we allow money to control us, we open ourselves up to financial hardship, struggle, loss, frustration, and even demotion. When money starts to control us, problems arise. Many individuals engage in giving, spending, and seeking strange money, which typically represents a life of hardship, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:11, Matthew 6:21

Everything She Had: A Life That Matters Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Nov 6, 2021

The first attribute of a life that matters that we will examine in this series of sermons this month is generosity. Generosity, as reflected in our gospel text this week, is about how we hold the stuff of this life lightly, even as we hold people and Christ tightly.

A well-known hymn that captures this idea of generosity is “Take My Life, and Let It Be,” 399 in The United Methodist Hymnal. The middle verse often catches us singing with our fingers crossed: “Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.” In this text of the widow’s mite, we need to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: United Methodist

Good News For All

Contributed by John Newton on Feb 3, 2025

The Galatians wanted to put restrictions on the new Gentile converts in their church. But Paul put his foot down...

The little churches in Galatia were facing a serious issue—and they didn’t know what to do about it. It may seem surprising, but their problem revolved around the fact that they were growing. And the new people (there seemed to be more and more of them all the time!) just weren’t fitting in. It ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal

The Role Of A Church Member Series

Contributed by Josh Brown on Oct 9, 2021

The Church is made up of attendees, volunteers and leaders and each role is vital to the health of the church body. It is important to understand how each of these roles are called to serve within the church.

Introduction Welcome everyone! I hope your week has been well. It’s good to be with you on this fine morning. Today, we’re wrapping up a series where we are looking at the different roles within in the church. Next week, we’re going to kick off a new series on the After Life. We all have ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-10, Hebrews 4:14-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Giving To God Wholeheartedly

Contributed by Joel Santos on Sep 14, 2004

JESUS PUT HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL ON THE POOR WIDOW’S WHOLEHEARTED GIVING TO GOD

JESUS PUT HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL ON THE POOR WIDOW’S WHOLEHEARTED GIVING TO GOD I. THE POOR WIDOW SHOWS HER COMMITMENT TO GOD (V.42) A.She was not hindered to come to God by her present situation (v.42a) “And the poor widow came” a. Willingly b. Boldly B. She was not ashamed to give her few ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Sent His Love

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Dec 18, 2009

God delivered His love to mankind through a poor young virgin named Mary.

Text: “….God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9). There are some people who do not realize how important they are to Almighty God. They do not seem to understand that they are not here by accident, but that God the Father has a definite plan ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Christian Church

The Mark Of True Devotion

Contributed by Shawn Rose on Nov 7, 2010

By contrasting the scribes with a poor widow woman, Jesus teaches us about true devotion.

THE MARK OF TRUE DEVOTION Text: Mark 12:38 – 44 What does it mean to be truly devoted to God? Does it mean that you are there every time the church doors open? Does it mean that you are the first to volunteer when there is a job to be done? Does it mean that you faithfully put 10% of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Baptist

Communication Series

Contributed by Rick Thiessen on Feb 26, 2007

How poor communication makes families desperate and the principles of good communication from the Bible.

SE020407 DESPERATE HOUSEHOLDS 1. Communication Looking down Wisteria Lane, we find perfect homes in a quiet suburb. But the whole show is about finding out things are not always what they seem. - Susan, the divorcee and single mom who will go to extraordinary lengths for love, or - Lynette, the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Time To Get Serious About Mercy

Contributed by Theresa Ratliff on Mar 26, 2013

We are poor witnesses when we fail to model God's love, mercy, and grace.

In the book of John, Jesus often uses words and phrases that have more than one meaning to make a point. For example, when he discusses being “born again” with Nicodemus, he uses a word which means both “again” and “from above”. In today’s scripture lesson, ...read more

Scripture: John 8:2-11

Denomination: *other

The Parable Of The Rich Man And Lazarus. Series

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Sep 6, 2019

Do the rich go to hell and the poor to heaven? What determines our future status?

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16: 19-31 This parable of our Lord, found in Luke 16, grows out of the reaction of the Pharisees to his story of the dishonest steward. The point of that was that our Lord emphasized and underscored the link between money and spirituality. He indicated ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Letter To The Church In Smyrna

Contributed by Dr. Abraham Obadare on Sep 7, 2021

Jesus recognizes the Smyrna church as rich in faith, though they are poor in materials and face tribulations

Who is addressing the church? The First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life (2:8; Isa. 48:12). As the First, He made all things. As the Last, He will judge all things. Their Deeds/works: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11, John 16:33

Denomination: Pentecostal

To What End? Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Both the arrogant rich and the suffering poor get the same message: “today is not all there is.”

Almost every commentator and preacher I looked at while preparing this sermon splits this passage of James into two parts. The first part, v. 1-6, is a discussion of the danger of depending on wealth. The second part, v. 7-11, typically focus on patience. Well, I’m going to buck the trend. Because ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed