Sermons on Pretenders:

Among Us

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jun 3, 2007

Realizing that Jesus stands among us can cause us to rejoice or recoil in fear.

Luke 7:7 – 11 Among Us Intro: One of my favorite TV programs is “Ghost Whisperer.” A young woman named Melinda Gordan can see spirits of dead people. The “spirits” are trapped here because they have some unresolved issue. I find fascinating the various reactions of people when Melinda tells ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Poor In Spirit Have God's Approval Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Sep 12, 2011

Part 1. God's approval, his blessing, rests upon those who are poor, contrite in spirit, aware they are spiritually bankrupt before God.

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (5:3). The Good News Bible says, ‘Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor’ but that doesn’t properly capture what Jesus means. Although it seems old fashioned now, when a father gives his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Anglican

Things From Which We Cannot Escape

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

There are things from which we cannot escape. We may think that whatever inevitable things there are, such are not our concern. We may be even aware of them but we don’t care. Yet inevitable things will come overtime. I hope and pray that it won’t be too

Intro: There are things from which we cannot escape. We may think that whatever inevitable things there are, such are not our concern. We may be even aware of them but we don’t care. Yet inevitable things will come overtime. I hope and pray that it won’t be too late when you discover that you’ll ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:36

Denomination: *other

Open To Obedience Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 6, 2010

Jesus is the true sacrifice which we re-present in our worship; he is a perfect sacrifice of obedience to the Father's will

Monday of 32nd Week in Course November 8, 2010 Spirit of the Liturgy What the New American Bible calls “things that cause sin,” and the RSV translates “temptations to sin,” is the word skandala, which is lousy Greek but good Hebrew. The word “scandal” means a ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Excuses That Could Keep You Out Of Heaven

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Nov 20, 2010

An "excuse" is something said to hide the real reason for wrong actions. It is an attempt to cover up a shortcoming or sin. Beware! Excuses can damn not only the character but the souls of men.

Intro: Summarize the passage. An EXCUSE is something said to hide the real reason for wrong actions. It is an attempt to cover up a shortcoming or sin. For example, every man has excuses for his neglect of duty; the debtor makes excuses for delay of payment; the student for being absent or failing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:16-22

Denomination: *other

A Man After God’s Own Heart

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Jan 10, 2012

Saul disobeyed God. His throne was taken away and given to another. David was anointed by Samuel to be Israel’s new king. Then and now the Lord is seeking for a man or a woman who is “after His own heart.”

Intro: In 1 Sam. 13:1-14, Saul disobeyed God. His throne was taken away and given to another. David was anointed by Samuel to be Israel’s new king. Then and now the Lord is seeking for a man or a woman who is “after His own heart.” In Psalm 26:1-12 we see the characteristics of such a person. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 26:1-12

Denomination: *other

Backsliding

Contributed by Gene Escoe on May 4, 2010

To encourage those who have allowed their relationship with Jesus Christ to become lukewarm to repent and return.

INTRODUCTION: Play the video on refinishing furniture. Discuss backsliding and the comparison between it and refurbishing furniture. I. There are steps we take when we move away from JC. A. Self confident. Vss 27-31 1. Peter became extremely self confident. 2. The Christian is in danger when ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:27-72

Denomination: Baptist

To Tell The Truth Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 29, 2007

We need to tell the truth on the masters other than God that threaten to enslave us.

Remember the show, “To Tell the Truth?” There would be one person who did something strange or different perhaps for a living while two others would try to pretend to be that person. The object was to try and fool the panel of stars and the audience. Sometimes the person would be something strange ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24

Denomination: Church Of God

The Church, A Place Of Safety For The Spiritual Weak. Part 1 Series

Contributed by Richard Laraviere on Sep 14, 2007

A message challenging mature believers to show compassion to the spiritually weak.

The church, a place of safety Part 1 Text: John 8:1-12 Main thought: The church, a place of safety for the spiritually weak Introduction: 1. What should have been a place of safety had become a seat of accusation. What should have encouraged – now depressed What should have fostered ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-12

Denomination: Mennonite

Matthew 5 - Take A Bath! You Smell Like A Hypocrite! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 27, 2009

Take a bath! You smell like a hypocrite! Better to live like the unbeliever you are than to act like a Christian on Sundays. Because at least you won’t be deceiving yourself. Take the Purity in heart test from Matthew 5 and examine your motives!

Matthew 5 - Take a bath! You smell like a hypocrite! I don’t know about you but I don’t like the term "pure in heart". It seems like woose talk or I think of someone with an intellectual disability or so totally naïve they don’t see bad things happening all around them. Maybe even children, up to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reflecting On The Dark Passages Of Scripture Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 12, 2012

As in the story of Judas, there are dark passages in the Bible, but they can help us if we use an interpretation which enables their meaning to emerge in the light of the mystery of Christ.

Feast of St. Matthias 14 May 2012 Verbum Domini Today’s feast gives us an opportunity to reflect on one of the darkest moments in our salvation history. The crucifixion of Jesus was set up by a traitor, Judas “the Iscariot.” It also helps us to consider what the Holy Father and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:15-26

Denomination: Catholic

Bring Us Together By Thy Word Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 25, 2012

The existence of the Word of God makes it necessary to have a living and authoritative interpretator "of last resort," in the Church.

Monday of 21st Week in Course St. Monica/St. Augustine Verbum Domini St. Monica could easily be called the patron saint of frustrated prayer. A Catholic herself, she found herself married to a pagan, with a son who, unbaptized as a child, turned into a kind of semi-pagan hellion during his youth. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-22

Denomination: Catholic

Small Stuff Or Big Deal? Series

Contributed by Vance Elzinga on Jul 5, 2007

This is about the problem of spiritual indifference, and God’s promise, "return to me and I will return to you."

Main Idea: The problem with spiritual indifference. God’s Promise: Return to me, and I’ll return to you. HOOK A quote from David Hansen (The Power of Loving Your Church) about being ’at war’ with God sometimes but at least not ambivalent. (The strong wording of the quote gets one’s attention ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Render To God

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jul 11, 2008

A message on Christian responisibilities in service and tithing.

RENDER TO GOD Matthew 22:15-22 INTRO: One day, as I was driving down the street in Nashville, a man flagged me down. Thinking there was some emergency, I stopped. He was a wino, wanting some money. We live in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Sin Of Indifference

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Nov 18, 2012

One man said, “The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.”

The Sin of Indifference 2 Timothy 3:1-4NKJ Apathy: Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference. Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness. One man said, “The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal