Sermons on Present Focus:

Standin' In The Need Of Grace

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 20, 2005

It’s easy for us to focus on ourselves and our alleged abilities. It’s far better to realize that we are constantly in need of the sustaining presence of God’s grace.

Passage: Judges 6:25-32 Intro: There is an old spiritual that we all know. Very simple. 1. “It’s me, it’s me oh Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer” 2. this is not a song celebrating selfishness, but the recognition of need 3. its amazing how easily pride worms into our hearts, how we begin ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:25-32

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Christian A&p 101: Carrying Out The Will & Directives Of The Head Series

Contributed by Johann Neethling on Oct 5, 2005

Sermon 4 in a series of 4 sermons reflecting on Paul’s favorite description of the Church as the Body of Christ. In this message we focus on the body’s responsibility to carry out the will of the Head.

CHRISTIAN A & P 101: CARRYING OUT THE WILL & DIRECTIVES OF THE HEAD Colossians 1:15-20 1. Over the past three Sundays we have been examining the Apostle Paul’s favorite description of the Church as the Body of Christ and have reflected thus far on three lessons we learn from our human anatomy and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Been There, Done That, Got The T-Shirt

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 9, 2001

This sermon was done while peeling off T-shirts, one by one. The focus is that the presence of the Lord in our lives, as an active participant, drives out cynicism and preserves our joy.

I wish I had bought stock in the T-shirt industry. Of the making of souvenir T-shirts there is no end. People are using T-shirts to send all sorts of messages. Some T-shirts advertise products. Some T-shirts identify the work places. Some focus on the club memberships. And then some T-shirts ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Growth Through Suffering

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 9, 2001

God often teaches us through suffering. Why? Because in good times, we have a tendency to forget God. But adversity helps focus us on what is most important.

You may be familiar with a story that’s been in the news recently [Bobby Knight allegedly choking one of his players]. My purpose this morning is not to take a position on whether or not he should be fired. What interests me is how some of the very people that this man supposedly abused are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

God's Rx For Discouragement

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 1, 2001

Discouragement comes when we focus on the problem rather than God, on the wonders of God rather than the Word of God, on our inadequacies rather than God’s resources.

We find ourselves at an interesting time of history. Perhaps, more than any other time, we find ourselves polarized as a people. During the world wars the country seemed to come together in patriotic unity, but with the absence of war, and the influx of prosperity, we seemed to have lost ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-15

Denomination: Methodist

What Time Is It?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral message for Mr. Jeremiah Reese, a businessman to whom one of our members had witnessed in his closing weeks, and who requested that his funeral focus on Ecclesiastes 3.

The other night, as all too often happens, I fell asleep in front of the television set, watching who-knows-what and who-knows-why. It’s just one of the more disturbing realities about getting a little older – that if I sit still for more than about twenty minutes, I’ll get sleepy. I’ll try to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Economics Of War

Contributed by Ron Hietsch on Oct 10, 2005

We are at war against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. To win a war it is necessary for all to sacrifice and focus effort and resources on winning the war.

Text 2 Corinthians 8: 1-5 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

A Light In The Darkness

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2002

Peter stressed that we "pay attention" to the words of the prophets. But why? What did Peter think was so important about Scripture that we needed to give it such a focus of our attention?

OPEN: I have a quiz for you this morning. I’m going to give you 10 different quotes and then ask you if the phrase if from the Bible or not 1. "To the victor go the spoils." (False—This was written by William Learned Marcy in his Life of Jackson.) 2. "Can a leopard change his spots?" (True—See ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Strong In The Lord Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Feb 8, 2010

If you’re having a hard time saying no to sin and you’re allowing the devil to win in your life, focus and work on being strong in Jesus Christ!

We have been learning from the Letter to the Ephesians and we are now in the middle of the last chapter. We have learned that the letter is addressed to every person who believes in Jesus Christ. God tells us through the Apostle Paul who we are as Christians; that we are citizens of heaven and so ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Whoever Believes Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 18, 2010

In this sermon we focus on our response to such a great gift. Who has the gift been given for? Whoever. How is it received? Faith. Who can be saved? Whoever Believes.

Introduction: A. We return today to one of the best known passages in all the Bible – John 3:16. 1. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn. 3:16) 2. We have looked at the fact that God is and that ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Have Mercy On Us. (Hix)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Sep 16, 2015

Four types of Christians in a church 1-Everybody 2-Somebody 3-Anybody 4-Nobodyplease enter a brief summary that helps other preachers know the focus of your sermon

Matthew 9:27-31-When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:27-31

Denomination: Baptist

Walk After The Spirit Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on May 27, 2015

Based on Galatians 5:16, 25, and Romans 8:1, this message compares walking in the flesh to walking in the Spirit. The fuel, focus, and finish line of each way of walking is examined.

Walk after the Spirit (Our Spiritual Walk #6) Galatians 5:16, 25; Romans 8:1 INTRODUCTION: Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. When we talk about our Spiritual Walk, we’re talking about more than taking a step or two. We’re talking about ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Essential Truth

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Mar 11, 2015

Attempting to re-focus our congregation on some basic truths and get a 'FreshStart" in their own spiritual lives, this was one message offered to 'reboot' us in our spiritual walk.

An Essential Truth Jerry Watts Luke 7:36-48 • As we have spent this month focused on the thought “Fresh Start”, I pray that each of us has experienced a “FRESH START” in our walk with God. Every now and then we need a ‘reboot.’ In this computer age, we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-48

Denomination: Baptist

Facing Your Fears

Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Nov 30, 2011

From the story of David and Goliath we learn that overcoming fear means that you must FACE your enemy, FOCUS on God, FOLLOW your calling and FAITHFULLY point to Christ.

FACING YOUR FEARS Dr. Jerome Frank, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University was flying across the US a few years ago. This was before all of the modern security measures were installed at the nation's airports. He sat beside a man on a coast-to-coast flight who said, "You know, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:37-50

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Eliphaz Takes Aim At Job, Again Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jul 2, 2017

Job is in a world of complete hopelessness, and his friends are only making things worse. Our lesson from this is actually simple: The key to strengthening our hope is to focus on God, not yourself!

Eliphaz takes aim at Job, again Job Sermon Series, Part 8 Introduction (Job Slide) - Today we continue to examine Job’s conversations with his friends -- Re: These men came in Ch. 2 to sit with him and mourn his loss - They appear to come to comfort … but quickly their real motives are ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational