Sermons on Pretense:

Leaving Religion Entering Kingdom

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Sep 5, 2021

Jesus always talked about Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom is at Hand, my Kingdom is not of this world. Today when we hear the word kingdom, immediately many different ideas, concepts, and pictures come to mind.

Leaving Religion Entering Kingdom By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: When you are traveling down the road regardless of where you are going you will pass a sign that says Leaving (Michigan) so and so and Entering (Ohio) so and so. I am leaving one destination and I am entering into ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18, James 1:27, Matthew 23:5

Denomination: Apostolic

21st Sunday After Pentecost. October 13, 2024. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 4, 2021

Year B, Proper 23.

Job 23:1-9, Job 23:16-17, Psalm 22:1-15, Amos 5:6-7, Amos 5:10-15, Psalm 90:12-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31. A). HOPE IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS. Job 23:1-9; Job 23:16-17. “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). An active faith may question suffering - but it will ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:1-9, Job 23:16-17, Psalm 22:1-15, Amos 5:6-7, Amos 5:10-15, Psalm 90:12-17, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good Out Of Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

What Paul learned by his experience is that the bad stuff of life can be a way for God to use your life in a way that good things could not be used.

Luther Burbank, the world famous scientist, worked for years to try and develop a black-petaled lily. He had several thousand experimental lily plants in his laboratory. A sudden cloudburst let loose a flood of rain that they were all washed away. William Stidger tells of sympathizing with him over ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Luke 21:1-4 A Deeper Discussion Of Giving

Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 10, 2024

The widow's offering. 4 verses, we often breeze through them and pull out a few tried and true statements about giving. But a deeper look gives many more principles to apply.

Here's what I want us to see: this is part of a bigger story. This isn't just a talk about giving, but it's a continuation of what's been happening with the scribes and Pharisees. To fully understand this set of verses, we actually have to back up to the last couple of verses of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Praise Of Laughter Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The Bible links laughter to joy and to feasting, and these are both vast subjects in the Bible, making laughter a major aspect of the godly life.

Have you ever praised God for the enjoyment of laughter? Some of the greatest of God's people have. When Theodore Cuyler, the American preacher, visited the great London preacher, Charles Spurgeon, they told each other the crazy things that happened in their respective ministries. They ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:1-6

Good Out Of Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The key to being an optimist is having the patience to wait and see what God will do with your negative experience. We so often jump to the conclusion that bad stuff is just that, and that alone.

Luther Burbank, the world famous scientist, worked for years to try and develop a black-petaled lily. He had several thousand experimental lily plants in his laboratory. A sudden cloudburst let loose a flood of rain that they were all washed away. William Stidger tells of sympathizing with ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Call Waiting Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 27, 2022

If God puts unexpected obstacles in your path to ministry, how should you handle it?

When I graduated from seminary, I had no idea when or where I would be called into ministry. Many of my classmates were luckier. They knew where they were going. They had received a call. I, on the other hand, would not even be eligible to receive a call for at least one year, perhaps two or more. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:8-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Beware Of Hypocrisy Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Aug 25, 2025

In His encounter with Pharisees and Scribes, Jesus discusses the characteristics of hypocrisy. To His disciples He notes the promises of hypocrisy with a stern warning. And yet, in the gospel, we find great hope for hypocrites.

It seems like nearly every month (maybe even more frequently if we look hard enough), we receive news about some Christian leader who fails morally, gets caught, and is removed from ministry. Whether it’s pastors, professors, performers, or politicians - failure happens. We see hypocrisy ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 24:20-21, Galatians 5:1, James 5:16, Philippians 2:12-13, Romans 8:1, Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:4, Proverbs 10:9, Revelation 20:11-14, Hosea 6:6, Psalm 32:1-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

No Satisfaction

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 10, 2025

Solomon’s relentless search for meaning—in wisdom, work, and wealth—ended in emptiness, proving that life “under the sun” cannot satisfy the human heart. Lasting joy and fulfillment come only from God through Jesus Christ, who alone turns life’s vanity into eternal victory.

Introduction When “More” Is Never Enough It was the six-year-old boy’s first day of school. His one life ambition? Have as much fun as humanly possible. He marched through the gate with the bold confidence that only a child possesses, ready to squeeze joy out of every moment. But at noon there ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17, Mark 8:36

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Answering Life's Most Important Question Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 8, 2023

This sermon marks a critical point in the ministry of Jesus. It is time for Jesus' disciples to know that He is the Messiah and to know what kind of Messiah He will be. They are shocked to discover there is a cross in store for Jesus and for all of Jesus' followers.

Introduction: A. One day, two men with the same qualifications interviewed for the same job and both did equally well in the interview. 1. The hiring manager decided to have them both take an exam with 10 questions to help him make a decision about who to hire. 2. As it turned out, both men only ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Come Home Running Series

Contributed by Jacob Burdette on Aug 14, 2023

A look at what we as Christians and we the church must do.

Come Home Running If you have your Bible, please open it to Joel Chapter 2. John ordered flowers to be sent to the opening of his friend’s new branch office. When John`s friend got there, he was shocked to see the flowers with the inscription. “Rest In Peace.” He was so outraged that he stopped ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12-17

Kingdom Living - Humble, Holy, And Forgiving - Matthew 18 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jul 18, 2025

Living in GOD's KINGDOM means walking in humility, protecting others from sin, restoring the fallen, and forgiving like our KING. Jesus teaches how to live together as His followers - with humility, care for the vulnerable, accountability, and forgiveness.

2025.07.20. Sermon Notes. KINGDOM LIVING - HUMBLE, HOLY, AND FORGIVING - MATTHEW 18 William Akehurst, HSWC Scriptures: Matthew 18:1-35, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 103:12, John 6:35, 1 Corinthians 11:24, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:36 Living out Christlike humility, holiness, and forgiveness in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-35, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 103:12, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:36, John 6:35, 1 Corinthians 11:24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unshared Unrivaled Unequaled

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 10, 2025

Christ alone is the unshared, unrivaled, unequal Rock; surrender means stepping off the throne of self and letting Him reign today.

There’s a certain comfort, isn’t there, in imagining that somewhere out there is a man who carries the weight of spiritual certainty on his shoulders. He sits robed, enthroned, vested in centuries of tradition and expectation. His words ripple across continents. His gestures become symbols. His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 62:2, Matthew 16:18, 1 Peter 2:4-7, Joshua 24:15, Galatians 2:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

When C Is Not Average PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 30, 2025

God sees and values our hearts over outward appearances, choosing and loving the overlooked and ordinary to accomplish extraordinary purposes through His grace.

Maybe you walked in today carrying the sting of being overlooked. You’ve watched others get the nod, the promotion, the platform, while you’ve kept the sheep, cleaned the messes, showed up in quiet faithfulness where no one was clapping. If that’s you, take heart. Our God loves to surprise us. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Topics: God's Choice, Divine Selection

Galatians Chapter 4 Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on May 23, 2022

Verse by Verse Study of Chapter 4

Galatians Chapter 4: *This may need to be trimmed or summarized. Gal. 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; (KJV) 4:1 Now what I mean [when I talk about children and their guardians] is this: as long as the heir is a ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-31

Denomination: Pentecostal