Sermons on preconceived notions: showing 331-345 of 5,267

Warfare & Witness: The Godly Christian Life Series

Contributed by Zack Ford on May 28, 2015

The Godly Christian life is a life of warfare against sin and witness to an unbelieving world. Abstain from the passions of your flesh! Make war with your sin. And as you do this, continue to live lives that are honorable among the unbelieving world.

1 Peter 2:11-12 Warfare & Witness: The Godly Christian Life INTRO One of my favorite documents from early Church history is called “The Epistle to Diognetus.” The letter was written in the early 100’s AD, probably around 130. That puts its writing not even a century after the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

Denomination: Bible Church

A Matter Of Interpretation Series

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 5, 2014

In this sermon, we discuss the things we have to contend with that make interpreting the Bible challenging, then we discuss a method for interpretation, including the matter of the silence of Scripture.

Introduction: A. How many of you enjoyed Jay Leno’s “Headlines” segment on the Tonight Show? 1. Let’s begin with some actual headlines collected from local, national, and international newspapers that are rather ambiguous. a. It’s clear what the writer was trying to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christ And His Church Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 17, 2011

The challenge for the church is not what we do when we call our Sunday morning huddle, but what we do when we break our huddle ... When Satan lines up against us, what difference does it make that we are Christians?

Opening illustration: The job of the church is not to impact the church, but to impact the world. It’s like a huddle in a football game. 67,000 people don’t pay $25.00 a ticket to watch the Titans huddle. What if you went to a Titans game and for 2½ hours you watched 11 men stand in a circle and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remember To Give Thanks!

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Nov 29, 2012

Thanksgiving or Advent reminder to be grateful as believers.

Intro: A man stood writing at the post office counter one day when an older man shuffled up to him with a postcard in his hand.“Sir,” the older man said, “would you please address this postcard for me?” The first man gladly consented, and wrote what the older man dictated to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Am Not With Them

Contributed by Sean Dees on Feb 7, 2020

It is easy to go with the flow of doubters when it comes to the promises of God, we are to go against the grain and the flow of "doubters traffic" to the promises God has for us.

(23) And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. (26) And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:23-27

God Has A Dream

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 15, 2018

God's dream for the church is that it is made up of people of all kinds who love each other and for the church to teach the world how to live together in harmony.

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are equal.” 1. With those words, Abraham Lincoln changed the course of history. B. Fast forward 100 years to a sweltering August day in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Be Holy In All My Conduct Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 8, 2016

Being holy as God is holy means living as a stranger in a strange world

ENGAGE/TENSION A California driver’s license examiner told about a teenager who had just driven an almost perfect test. “He made his only mistake,” said the examiner, “when he stopped to let me out of the car. After breathing a sigh of relief, the boy exclaimed, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Denomination: Baptist

Love The Family Of God Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on Jan 30, 2023

For the love of family. The family of God, the church, the bride of Christ should be a place where love is felt most, expressed as help, care, and support. Unfortunately that is not always the case. We need to learn from Scripture what it means to love the family of God.

Video Ill.: Without Love from Shift Worship What is love? Love is the perfect expression of God. I chose that video to start our new study, because I wanted just for a few moments to think about what life would be without love. I wanted us to think for just a few moments about how important ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-35, Galatians 6:1-3, Ephesians 6:18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Matter Of Interpretation Series

Contributed by David Owens on Feb 25, 2019

The Bible is the amazing word of God, but it is not always easy to understand or apply the Bible. God wants us to correctly handle His word, and so we must learn how to interpret it and apply it to our lives.

Introduction: A. How many of you used to enjoy Jay Leno’s “Headlines” segment on the Tonight Show? 1. Let’s begin with some actual headlines collected from newspapers that are rather ambiguous. 2. It’s clear what the writer was trying to say, but in each case there is a humorous interpretation of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Blessed Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 17, 2013

1) The Question of Blessing (Luke 7:18–20), and 2) The Answer for Blessing (Luke 7:21-23).

The noted eighteenth-century hymn writer Charles Wesley composed more than 7, 000 hymns in his life, including the magnificent Christmas hymn “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.” The lyrics express rich theological truth concerning the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Come, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:18-23

Denomination: Other

God Can Use You Series

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Mar 24, 2004

Many of us have some preconceived ideas about who God can use but Rahab tells us that God can use anyone, even me.

God Wants To Use You! Joshua 2:1-13 Elmer Towns tells about a member of a motorcycle gang who was converted to Jesus Christ dramatically and the first Sunday he did the only thing he knew he should do and so he went to church. Nobody in the church knew him and he walked down to the second aisle ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Living In A Topsy, Turvy World"

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 25, 2005

Where is God in a world that doesn’t make sense? God can be found intimately involved in the world, hidden by our preconceived ideas, and limited spiritual imagination.

Luke 16:19-31 “Living in a Topsy, Turvy World” INTRODUCTION I once read that Native Americas, the Sioux to be more exact, at one time in their history participated in what they called a Sun Dance. As part of the dance, men would allow themselves to be skewered through their pectoral/chest ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

Taking The Risk

Contributed by Dwayne Brown, Phd on Jun 2, 2005

There are times in all of our lives when we must venture into the uncharted waters of life.

Taking the Risk Mt 14:28-32 Giving honor to God, our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ; who calls us together, that we may lift our voices and praise His holy name. To the Pastor, I thank you for affording me this opportunity to do what the Lord has called me to do. To the other preachers of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:28-32

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 17, 2010

The popular notion of "the spirit of Christmas" does not recognize that pain and suffering are involved. But the coming of Christ foreshadows His cross.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC December 2, 1984 Here it is only the second day of December, and already we are bombarded with Christmas carols in the stores. Already the annual countdown of only so many more shopping days until Christmas has taken on an urgent tone, and some of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Second Coming Of Christ Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

We all have preconceived ideas about certain systems of interpretation, but none of these will be of much hindrance if we study just the Bible text in front of us as of independent value.

The doctrine of the second coming of Christ is one on which all true Christians agree as to its reality, but one on which they disagree on many other points. One of the causes for much confusion is the fact that we are seldom content with reading the Bible from the historical point of view. That ...read more