Sermons on Probing:

The Love Of God

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Apr 13, 2005

God’s love rescues us from our hopeless condition in sin.

I. GOD’S LOVE IS GREAT (Ephesians 2:4-5). "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)." Look at the three previous verses. The man in sin is DEAD, DOMINATED, and UNDER ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Prayer Of Sorrow Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 5, 2006

Why would Jesus pray to have the "cup" taken away, if He knew that wasn’t going to happen? Was His prayer simply an excercise in futility, or was there something more to it? I learned some surprising truths as I prepared this sermon.

OPEN: A minister noticed a young boy kneeling off to the side of the room after youth group and praying very fervently. As the preacher came within earshot of the boy, he was surprised to hear the boy saying: "Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo." After the boy finished his praying the preacher approached him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-46

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of Holiness Series

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Nov 13, 2006

We want power. Everyone wants power. The pursuit of power is what got Adam in trouble and landed us in a fallen world – a creation groaning under the curse and a heart bent toward sin. And yet, what is it that Paul prays for in our text this morning –

The Power of Holiness Ephesians 3:14-21; 2 Corinthians 6:4-7 Cascades Fellowship CRC, JX MI March 13, 2005 Fourth Sunday of Lent Tim Allen, brought to life one the most beloved and most quoted television characters of all time. In fact, he played the man trying desperately to be “a man’s man,” ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Staying Married Is Not About Staying In Love, Part 2 Series

Contributed by John Piper on Mar 29, 2007

Marriage is more wonderful than anyone on earth knows. And the reasons it is wonderful can only be learned from God’s special revelation and can only be cherished by the work of the Holy Spirit to enable us to behold and embrace the wonder.

Marriage and the Gospel Marriage is more wonderful than anyone on earth knows. And the reasons it is wonderful can only be learned from God’s special revelation and can only be cherished by the work of the Holy Spirit to enable us to behold and embrace the wonder. The reason we need the Spirit’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

Job 28 (Where Is Wisdom To Be Found?)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 21, 2007

"The secret things belong to the Lord our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." ...

God answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge." Job 38:1 - the beginning of our reading from today’s lectionary, that marks the beginning of the end of the book of Job. We’ve been plowing our way through the book of Job for quite a few Sundays ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Last Laugh Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 8

THE LAST LAUGH (PSALMS 52) On the cover of the May 21, 2001, Newsweek magazine was the full-size head of a man, except that the face of the man is indistinct because the print is in the form of a red X-ray film or an undeveloped photograph. The word E V I L in bold covers his nose and mouth, but ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 52:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Cup Of Cold Water

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 10, 2010

A message encouraging the saints to refresh others.

“John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-41

Denomination: Baptist

How Truth Changes Us Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on May 21, 2010

God saves our lives by conforming us to his Word by his Spirit.

Scripture Introduction “The only way to keep a broken vessel full is by keeping the faucet turned on.” We are broken people. We may dress nicely to be seen by others, but the cracks remain even when plastered over. So Jesus asks God the Father to continue to sanctify us in the truth. ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Peter: The Power Of Peer Pressure

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 5, 2010

Calverton Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, 1983: Our denials, like Peter's, reflect our confusing loudness with loyalty and our seeing ourselves as victims rather than victors. But Christ is able to look at us, evoke repentance, and turn us around.

The fire crackled in the crisp air, casting shadows on the walls not five yards away. It looked inviting, this bonfire, for not only was the night air chilly, but also this whole episode had been so draining, so terrifying, that the body cried out for comfort, for something, anything, that would ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-62

Denomination: Baptist

Conquerors All

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 8, 2009

We are bored. Feelings shut down because we strive for security and for status, and even for spirituality, but nothing works. Only allegiance to the risen Christ provides fulfillment.

Of all the diseases of our time, the most serious one is boredom. Of all the sicknesses this flesh is heir to, the most fatal is boredom. Not AIDS, not homicide, not heart disease nor cancer, but boredom. Oh, I don’t suppose any mortuary ever tagged a cadaver’s toe with "boredom". I don’t suppose ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Maundy Thursday Communion Message: Sitting With The Enemy Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 30, 2010

There is an important lesson we need to learn. You can’t sit with the enemy, and warm yourself by the enemies fire, and not be burned !

MAUNDY THURSDAY Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper. The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in Maundy Thursday refers to the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:14-62

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Absence Of God

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 3, 2010

January 1985: The psalmist experiences the absence of God, even to the point of denigrating himself as a "worm." But when he takes inventory, he does see evidence of God's presence, opens up his heart, and dares to hope.

Today I am going to take a somewhat different approach to the reading of the Scripture and the way I will be preaching on it. And in fact I hope this will make it come alive for you and will enable you to follow the thought of the Scripture writer as well as my own thought. What I plan to do today ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Truth About The Resurrection

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 6, 2010

An Easter Sunday message on the resurrection from a worldview perspective.

[play mini-movie called 'Spiritual Cafeteria' produced by Floodgate Productions]. One time at University I spent all night finishing an assignment despite having a major exam the next day. So I hadn’t done an ounce of study. All my friends had a good night sleep and were in the library ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sharing In The Most Important Work Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 9, 2010

God offers every Christian the privilege of partnering in the advancement of the Gospel.

Scripture Introduction In our church structure, when we give a man authority to preach and lead a congregation we ordain him as a “minister of the Gospel of Christ.” Though I appreciate the honor of that title, I think God offers every Christian the privilege of sharing in this work; I do not ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

My Three Sons

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 7, 2008

Dramatic monologue as if David were speaking: he starved emotionally his son Adonijah, he indulged his son Solomon, and he distanced himself from his son Absalom.

"Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and do not forget all his benefits ... as a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him." As a father has compassion for his children … When I first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:1-33

Denomination: Baptist