Sermons on Present Focus:

Samson: Dealing With Fatal Flaws Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 26, 2003

In our series called, “Keeping the Story Alive,” we’ve looked at Hanna, Gideon, and Ruth. Today, we’re going to focus on Samson as we seek to deal with our own fatal flaws

Samson: Dealing with Fatal Flaws I love what happens when children retell Bible stories. Here are a few of my favorites: The first three books of the Bible are Genesis, Exodus, and Laxatives. Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark. Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Bright And Dark Side Of Man Series

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on Jul 17, 2016

The Bible says that in the heart of every Christian, there is a nature that points to the bright side and another on the dark side of man. Our goal is that we will not just focus on our strength of character but also improve our weaknesses.

That great Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson published an interesting novel in 1886 entitled, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Many of you probably have read or seen the film about this. We studied this literature when we were in High School. It is about a London lawyer named ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-28

Denomination: Nazarene

The Eternal God Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 1, 2009

Jesus presented Himself as God, only to be rejected by the theologians. Would we have reacted any differently? John compels us to think seriously about our own response to Jesus, the Living God.

*John 8:48-58* *Jesus, the Great “I Am”: The Eternal God* “The Jews answered [Jesus], ‘Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?’ Jesus answered, ‘I do not have a demon, but I honour my Father, and you dishonour me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who ...read more

Scripture: John 8:48-58

Denomination: Baptist

The Once And Future King

Contributed by Scott Lefebvre on Oct 12, 2004

A call to pursue your destiny in God by leaving your past, looking beyond the present, & living for the future. (Props to James Emery White from whom I shamelessly stole the three levels of living.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING Have you ever had one of those days where you wanted so bad for it to just be over? Because you knew that tomorrow had to be better. Because there’s just no way that any two days could ever be this bad. Last summer my dad and I flew back to Wisconsin to hook up ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The City Of Truth Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Oct 6, 2010

The incentive of future blessings is held out to the present as reason for repenting and living a heart-emanating kind, compassionate and righteous life. So here we have the assurance of full kingdom blessing for Zion and Jerusalem.

ZECHARIAH 8:1-8 "THE CITY OF TRUTH" The remnant people have been told what disobedience to the Word of God had brought to pre-exiled Israel and what it would bring to them in chapter seven. In chapter eight they are told the glorious blessings of what repentance and obedience to the Word of ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Strengthen What Remains

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Oct 29, 2022

Jesus calls us to live the life we have now. Too often, we are so busy lamenting the past or reaching for the future that we miss what He wants us to do presently.

Strengthening What Remains I. OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Resilience is the ability and the process of overcoming life-challenging and threatening experiences and events. Bouncing back does not happen overnight. The ability to live with what is left after trauma is something that not everyone possesses ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Boy Named Jesus

Contributed by Carl Greene on Dec 31, 2007

This message deals with the significance of Jesus’ name(s). The focus is about "God with us" vs God "is" with us. The importance of having God "within" us, guiding, comforting, encouraging, loving. Not alongside us, but "with" us.

Now, I’m a long time country/western fan. I just love a good country song that proclaims: “I don’t love you anymore, trouble is, I don’t love you any less!” There are even some truly classic country Christmas songs such as Momma got run (or run-ed’) over by a reindeer! I always had a fondness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23

Denomination: Methodist

Our Blessed Hope

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Aug 17, 2005

A sermon telling us of the hope we have in the Lord Jesus; to not despair or give up, but to persevere and keep our focus on the hope of Him. (Another sermon I did from one I found on Sermon Central.)

There have been many prestigious people throughout the years who have been atheists, but have come to the Lord and ended up saying and doing great things that helped others see Jesus more clearly. Malcolm Muggeridge was a British journalist who was an atheist. He was so good, that he was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

Denomination: *other

How Say Ye To My Soul, Flee As A Bird? Psalm 11:1-4

Contributed by David Tack on Mar 24, 2024

This morning, as we approach Easter, I would like to focus on our Lord Jesus Christ as he, like David, is experiencing much agony while facing a very destructive and lonely path known to be The Passion of Christ.

How Say Ye to my Soul, Flee as a Bird Chaplain David Tack: JNRC Psalms 11:1-4 Psalm 11:1- In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? TEMPTATION TO FLEE: A lot of speculation can be made of the phrase found in Psalm 11:1, “a bird fleeing to the mountains”; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 11:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

When Life Does Not Work Out

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Sep 2, 2013

1. WHAT WE DON’T KNOW 2. WHAT WE DO KNOW 5. Life Ingredients 3. A Phrase Difference Gives A New Focus 4. ALL THINGS 5. Life Ingredients

Our Daily Bread It has a story about a shipwreck. When the sole survivor reached a small, uninhabited island, he prayed for God to rescue him, but help didn't come. Eventually he built a hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements. One day he returned from scavenging for food and found ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Baptist

Areopagus Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jul 8, 2022

The focus of this sermon is Paul's observational skills and how Christians can also practice observing people and culture in a way that helps us connect them to the Gospel and lead them back to God.

Sermon Date 11-09-2014 Areopagus (Chuck Gohn) How many of you detest waiting in line for anything? I hate waiting in line. I hate waiting in grocery lines. I hate waiting on the telephone. I hate waiting in the doctor’s office. I just don’t like it. I am always thinking about ways I can ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Christian Church

Weeds & Wheat Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 16, 2019

In Matthew 13, Jesus explains why there continues to be evil in our midst and what will happen through the 1) The Presentation of the Parable (Matthew 13:24–30), and 2) The Interpretation of the Parable (Matthew 13:34–43).

Matthew 13:24-30; 34-43. [24]He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, [25]but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. [26] So when the plants came up and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:34-43

Denomination: Other

Knowledge Without Love Who Get's The Glory?

Contributed by Doug Koehler on Jan 29, 2009

What would happen to our world if we had knowledge but no love to guide us? What happens to us when we focus on Godly knowledge but love does not motivate us to share our wisdom?

Knowledge without love? WHO GETS THE GLORY? Where would we be if we had great knowledge but no love? Imagine if our entire generation decided that knowledge was all that mattered. What would be the result? We would know how to operate using all our medical skill but, we would not care enough about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Children Of God Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jul 11, 2016

This passage centers around one basic truth for people that believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. People that believe in God and in Jesus Christ are considered to be “children of God.” Focus on purity as God's children.

CHILDREN OF GOD 1 JOHN 3:1-17 #childrenofGod RESPONSIVE READING [READ 1 John 3:1-17] LEADER: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2 Dear friends, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Encouragement For God's Weary Soldiers

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 2, 2023

We need to adjust our entire mindset on this battlefield. We need to focus on Jesus Christ our glorious, victorious, perfect savior full of perfect love and grace and truth, and find refreshment for our souls.

Soldiers gather on the outskirts of a city. There are about two hundred of them gathered there, though other groups of faithful fighters are gathered in other places, some out in the woods encamped around fires, others in facilities deep within the cities. These soldiers are beat up, bruised, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 123:1, Romans 5:3-5

Denomination: Salvation Army