Sermons on Popular Piety:

Pretentious Verses Proper Fasting Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 14, 2010

Fasting must be done so for the right reasons, and Jesus contrasts 1) Pretentious (Matthew 6:16) against 2) Proper Fasting (Matthew 6:17-18)

With the start of the Paralympics in Vancouver, one factor that has been stressed is the fact that the athletes competing should be considered as athletes just as much as their able bodied competitors who just finished. The Para Olympians train, and diet like their other Olympic cohorts. For many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Other

New Wine And New Wineskins

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: We must constantly scrutinize our practices by the will of God.

Thesis: We must constantly scrutinize our practices by the will of God. Intro.: 1. Everyone has something dear enough to them that they would fight for it. It is interesting to observe what that something is. a. Illust. A friend of mine tells about a woman he knows who accepts with qui et ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-17

Giving To The Poor

Contributed by Roddy Chestnut on Oct 18, 2000

Thesis: There is a tension between being generous people & responsible stewards.

Thesis: There is a tension between being generous people & responsible stewards. Intro.: 1. Illust. "The Good Woman of Szechwan" is a play by Bertolt Brecht. The play captures the tension between being generous and being responsible. Shen Teh is a poor Chinese woman who one day shows hospitality ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16

Why Elders Are Important

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Why Elders Are Important Acts 15:1-29 Quality leadership is best seen in the plurality of godly servants

Why Elders Are Important - Acts 15:1-29 Illustration:Peter Drucker offers insightful guidance to the church when he calls leadership a peak performance by one who is "the trumpet that sounds a clear sound of the organizations’ goals." His five requirements for this task are amazingly reliable and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Identifying And Removing Masks

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Identifying and Removing Masks - How to remove the facade to be transparent and genuine

Identifying and Removing Masks (Matt 7:1,2) Illustration:I recently read about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Catching up with the youth, he asked what he was doing. The answer was that the stranded ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christian Courage

Contributed by Martin Field on Aug 7, 2001

Reflecting on Joseph of Arimathaea’s courage in stepping forward to bury Jesus, the sermon encourages Christians to be bold and courageous today.

In the Episcopal Church, today is the feast day of Joseph of Arimathaea, one of the more obscure New Testament characters. All that is known for certain about Joseph comes from the Gospel narratives of Jesus’ burial. Though John speaks of Joseph as a secret disciple of our Lord, and associates ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:50-56

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Pentecost, Vocation And The Priesthood

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jun 1, 2001

An exploration for Pentecost on the call of God to all Christians, as well as the obvious call to the priesthood, given as my last sermon prior to Ordination.

Pentecost, Vocation and the Priesthood Given at St.Barthomew’s Parish Church, Ripponden, West Yorkshire, England, 3rd June 2001 TEXT: “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh: your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams” In the name ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Lesson 4 (Prayer Partners): Interceding For Others

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jun 13, 2002

What do you do when interceding for others?

Prayer Partners Series By Elmer Towns Lesson 4: What Do You Do When Interceding For Others? A. WHY SO FEW PARTNERS IN PRAYER 1. Ignorance. Many do not know that their partnership in prayer with others can be their greatest ministry. a. Boniface 500 A.D. “We entreat the piety of your ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:11

Denomination: Baptist

The Benefit Of Godly Elders

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 4, 2003

Here is an example of how multiple gifts, abilities and perspectives can synergistically work together for a greater total effect than the sum of several individual’s efforts. Without elders, the church can easily be led astray by one person’s agenda, per

Why Elders Are Important - Acts 15:1-29 Illustration:Peter Drucker offers insightful guidance to the church when he calls leadership a peak performance by one who is "the trumpet that sounds a clear sound of the organizations’ goals." His five requirements for this task are amazingly reliable and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Confirm Your Call

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jun 5, 2003

The heart of the call of God is comming to the place of seeing my talents dont amount to a Hill of beans in the light of His glory & goodness.

2 PETER 1:10-11 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you. WHERE THERE IS A ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:10-11, 2 Peter 1:3-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

This Fast That I Choose

Contributed by Donna Muise on Apr 18, 2007

The walk of faith is not for the faint of heart, but walk it we must if we desire to find the Lord’s favor.

THIS FAST THAT I CHOOSE Isaiah 58:1-12 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry….” The walk of faith is not for the faint of heart, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12

Denomination: Congregational

Why Is Holiness So Important?

Contributed by Major Gerardo Balmori on Apr 2, 2011

The question is asked today by many people, “Why is holiness so important?” Why do we talk about holiness and sanctification and John Wesley all of the time? Many have become disillusioned by all of the talk of John Wesley and have begun to think that t

IMayor Gerardo Balmori The Salvation Army ntroduction: The question is asked today by many people, “Why is holiness so important?” Why do we talk about holiness and sanctification and John Wesley all of the time? Many have become disillusioned by all of the talk of John Wesley and have begun to ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Living With Eternity In Mind

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Sep 16, 2010

Living with eternity in mind helps us establish priorities in our daily living so that God’s purposes and plans are always more important than ours.

Living with Eternity in Mind Matthew 25:29-46 Introduction 1. We are deciding now what our eternity will be. 2. Only what we invest in eternity will endure forever. 3. How much of what we are doing with our lives is eternal? 4. How much of what we are doing reflects our belief in an eternal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:29-46

Denomination: Baptist

Three Reasons Why Naomi Went From Sweet To Bitter

Contributed by Jerry Stepp on Nov 30, 2009

The Choices that SHE made caused her attitude to change as well as her outlook on life

Three (3) Reasons Why Naomi Went From Sweet To Bitter Ruth 1:1-22 Introduction; This book opens with a famine, and closes with a great feast. This book begins with a funeral, and ends with a wedding. Matthew Henry’s Commentary says… <>We find in this book excellent example of faith, piety, ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Renovation: It Takes Change Series

Contributed by Dan Cale on Jun 8, 2009

A 5 week series on the book of Philippians that parallels a renovation project in the church. This message deals with the kind of change that has to happen for us to be revived.

Renovations: Making it New Again Pt 4 – It Takes Change Philippians 3:1-16 We started last week talking about renovations. The definition of the word is simple: 1. To restore to an earlier condition, as by repairing or remodeling. 2. To impart new vigor; to revive. In Chapter 1 we looked at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-18

Denomination: *other