Sermons on Power To Preach:

Lesson 35: Preach A Hegelian Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 13, 2018

Solve a seeming contradiction, the Hegelian thesis, antithesis and synthesis

Lesson Goal I hope to encourage preaching a sermon solving a contradiction. Lesson Intro Non-Christian skeptics love to point out apparent contradictions in the Bible, the Church, Christian history or even Christian propositions like morality. Sometimes the point is valid, sometimes not. For ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 26:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 38: Preach A Rebuttal Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 17, 2018

Preach a sermon that disproves something

Lesson Goal Learn how to preach a sermon that disproves something. Lesson Intro In Matthew 12:1-14, Jesus presents a number of rebuttals to the Pharisees. What is a rebuttal? It is a counterargument to disprove the evidence supplied by another party. It is a process for establishing truth by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 49: Preach With Balance Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 9, 2018

How can we teach our congregations to balance Christian essentials with non-essentials? How can we overcome bigotry on non-essential doctrines, while still maintaining our preference.

Lesson Goal Introduce some basic elements of balanced preaching. Lesson Intro In Acts 20:27 Paul informs the the church of God in Ephesus that he had preached to them the whole counsel of God. Most preachers that do not have a structured annual preaching plan are guilty of over-preaching their ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson 8: Preach For Application Series

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 7, 2018

Making our sermons relevant and practical

Lesson Goal The purpose of this lesson is to help us always make our sermons relevant for daily use and our congregations doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22). Lesson Intro There is nothing worse than hearing a pie in the sky, unrealistic sermon from a young preacher who has no ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #1

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

In Paul’s writings, his greetings varied from church to church. He made the greetings fit the church he was addressing and the things he wanted to talk about.

For example, when he wrote to the Corinthians he stated that he was an Apostle in his greetings. Look at 1 Cor. 1:1 “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.” He did not mention that he was an Apostle in his address to the Philippians! He ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #2

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

One of the reasons that it is a sin for Christians to take drugs or drink alcoholic beverages is because these are substances that control our behavior.

These are things that will ruin our lives and cause us to make fools out of ourselves. There is no way that a Christian can be controlled by the Holy Spirit if they are controlled by these substances. But these are not the only things that control Christians. For example, there are many ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #3

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

In the last sermon, we dealt with Paul stating that whether he lived or died, his purpose for living was for the Lord Jesus.

When he wrote to the Philippian church, he was in prison. In prison he knew that he faced a capital crime and that he might be executed. If you were in prison and you thought that you might die, what kind of letter would you write? We do not have to guess at what kind of letter the Apostle Paul ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #4

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

In Chapter one, Paul let these Christians in Philippi know that he wanted to come to them, but couldn’t because he was in jail.

He also wanted them to know that his being in jail might bring about his death, but if it did, they were not to let it shake their faith in the Lord Jesus. He did not want them to feel sorry for him or for themselves, because Paul let it be known that for him “TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #6

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

In this passage of scripture, Paul talks to the Philippian Christians about salvation. That may seem strange because these people said they were Believers.

A good pastor deals with the subject of salvation for two reasons: (1) He knows it is a possibility that many are deceived about their salvation. The Lord Himself dealt with this deception in Matthew 7:22-23, we read, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #7

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

As we look at the life of the apostle Paul in this passage of scripture, we see that he is in jail.

Illus: A man that was in prison was asked, “What is the worst thing about prison?” He said, “The worst thing about prison is that you are here and everybody that you love and care for are out there!” Paul knew exactly what this man was talking about. He was in prison and those that he loved and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #8

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

Paul’s life was like ours in that he had two kinds of friends.

(1) HE HAD HIS SUNSHINE FRIENDS One of the sunshine friends was Demas. When things were going great, Demas was there, but when things got rough, Demas got going! Look at 2 Timothy 4:3, we read, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #9

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

When you consider that Paul is in jail, this verse takes on new meaning.

Notice, he says, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…” • We can understand someone who is not in jail writing to someone in jail trying to get them to do this. • It is unusual for a fellow who is in jail to be encouraging to those who are free to do this. This passage of scripture is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #11

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

Many consider this passage of scripture to be one of the most important passages in the Bible. Once we get into these verses, it is easy to see why it is ranked so high by so many.

The reason it is ranked so high is because this passage deals with the example we set before our FAMILY and FRIENDS. Every one of us has influence for GOOD or BAD! Illus: Even Jesse James had a gang that followed him around, and so do we. We have people under our influence. When we speak about ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #8

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 31, 2022

Paul’s life was like ours in that he had two kinds of friends.

(1) HE HAD HIS SUNSHINE FRIENDS One of the sunshine friends was Demas. When things were going great, Demas was there, but when things got rough, Demas got going! Look at 2 Timothy 4:3, we read, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #7

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 31, 2022

As we look at the life of the apostle Paul in this passage of scripture, we see that he is in jail.

Illus: A man that was in prison was asked, “What is the worst thing about prison?” He said, “The worst thing about prison is that you are here and everybody that you love and care for are out there!” Paul knew exactly what this man was talking about. He was in prison and those that he loved and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-24

Denomination: Baptist