Sermons on Poor Offerings:

How Did Jesus Select His First Disciples?

Contributed by Doug Morrell on Apr 12, 2005

How you can select disciples for the long haul, who produce into the fourth generation, and will preserve the gospel without alteration or addition.

Today, many people think discipleship is only for the few, the brave, the select, but this is not the Master’s attitude. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:12-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Are Some Folks Annoyed At The Sound Of A Bell Dinging?

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Dec 6, 2013

You see them every year at Christmas time. Someone who stands at the entrance of a Wal-Mart or in a Mall ringing a bell and standing like a soldier beside a big red pot and most never saying anything other than “Merry Christmas”.

Why are some folks annoyed at the sound of a bell dinging in their ear and some are not? John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.33 For the bread of God is he which cometh ...read more

Scripture: John 6:32-35

Denomination: Baptist

Bless Me

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Apr 9, 2015

Jesus blessed the people, a radical movement of sustaining faith that permitted the hope of the people to live in the spirit of Christ to forgive man's sins.

Bless Me by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (April 9, 2015) “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ...” (St. Matthew 5:3-11, King James Version (KJV) [The sermon on the mount]. Greetings in the Holy Name Of Jesus, My brothers and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-45

Denomination: Friends

Expect Persecution, Not Prosperity

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 13, 2022

You will be confused and doubting God when things fall apart if you are awaiting a golden age when God has promised persecution.

2 Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-13, John 15:18-20, 1 Peter 4:12-19, Philippians 1:29-30

Denomination: Baptist

Embracing Grace

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Apr 2, 2022

The vast majority of people do not "accept" Christ (Luke 4:24) but refuse the "favor" (grace) He offers (v. 19). God has sent Christ to offer His grace. We must embrace the grace offered in Christ. Luke shows us how.

There’s a key word in this passage that I would like to point out. It is not obvious in the English, so it’s a bit tricky. But the word ‘favor’ in verse 19 and the word ‘acceptable’ in verse 24 render the same Greek word, which is dektos. In fact, in the King James Version it is translated ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Matters Most Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Mar 13, 2006

This is about the widow’s offering, and what significance really is.

Mark 12:41-45 – What Matters Most Today I’d like to speak to you on the issue of significance. As we continue to look at The Life of Jesus, there is an incident towards the end of His natural life that paints a picture of what significance is, and what it isn’t. This is a message that I have ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-45

Denomination: Baptist

Motives For Giving Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Apr 13, 2023

It is important for us not just to give to the Lord, but to give with the right motives. Jesus rebukes those who gave with the wrong motives, so we need to carefully consider our motives and how our motives align with God’s purposes and glorify God.

What motivates people to give? You could read about results of research on this topic about what part of giving is motivated by self interest and what part is motivated by serving others. Our interest here is not the human psychology side of giving motivation, but the biblical motivation. What do ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:7-9, 2 Corinthians 9:10-12, Luke 6:32-36, Matthew 6:2-3

Denomination: Baptist

Who Is The Poorest Person In The World?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 21, 2018

Who is the poorest person in the world? Let us study how poor the person can be that has NO HOPE? Will you volunteer to be AN HOPE GIVER?

THE POOREST PERSON IN THE WORLD? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com TEXT: Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Hebrews 6:19 (MSG) Hop: It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Want To Test Your Sincerity

Contributed by Paul Workentine on Sep 27, 2002

What principles does the Lord give us for determining our offerings?

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:8-12 9/22/02 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:8-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Does God Really Cares For Us This Christmas?

Contributed by Randy Bataanon on Dec 14, 2009

If Christ has already redeemed the world, why evils such as injustice still happen in the world today?

Just a week before Christmas 2011, My country, Philippines has been devastated by strong typhoon that killed more than 500 people with hundreds still missing. I wonder how the victim’s family can celebrate Christmas this year. A month before Christmas 2009, 57 people including 30 journalist had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Refine Yourself Or Be Refined

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 25, 2021

Better to reach out to the "untouchables" before God reaches out to touch you on their behalf.

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. Isa 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another. Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 48:10-11, Zechariah 13:9, James 2:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Treasure Pipeline Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 28, 2007

The "health and wealth" doctrine is a heresy. But it uses many sound Biblical truths in its false teaching. Do you know what one basic truth they’ve left out?

OPEN: Ray Stedman shared the true story of a man who lived in Houston that received a letter from a large international radio broadcast seeking support from Christians for their broadcasting. They sent out a letter - the kind that is double-spaced, every sentence is a paragraph, and they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Garland Of Righteousness

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 12, 2013

I have finished the course, declares Paul to Timothy. You run your course as I have run mine. This applies not only to Timothy, but to every one of us.

A GARLAND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2 Timothy 4:6-8; 2 Timothy 4:16-18. Against a background of false teachers, and hypocritical hearers who will not endure sound teaching, Paul exhorted Timothy to urgently preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2). The young minister was to do this both when it seemed ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:16-18, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Temptations Of Christ

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Mar 12, 2011

Jesus being tempted in three important areas of life 1. Our need for food 2. Our need for identity and 3. Our need to worship The choice is how we respond

Introduction Leo Tolstoy tells this story: A young Russian inherits his father’s small farm. He immediately starts dreaming of how to expand his property when one morning a well-dressed stranger visits him and makes him an offer that is too good to be true. He could have free of charge ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Paying The Price Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 9, 2003

This passage is perhaps one of the greatest texts on giving known to preachers... but it is also one of the most difficult, raising questions many of us would just as soon avoid.

OPEN: Back in 1995 (“Bits & Pieces” pamphlet) I read the following story: Every February on George Washington’s birthday, the late newspaper columnist, Frederick C. Othman, used to visit the West Wing of the Smithsonian Institution, look at a certain statue there among the antique printing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ