Sermons on Productive Hands:

Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A: What Loving Your Enemies And Being ‘perfect’ Mean

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 8, 2023

“Now raise your hands if you have only one or two enemies.” And even fewer people raised their hands. “See,” says the priest, “most of us feel like we have enemies.”

A priest is giving a homily like I am right now on “What loving your enemies and being ‘perfect’ mean.” “Now,” says the priest, “I’ll bet that many of us feel as if we have enemies in our lives. So, raise your hands if you have a few enemies.” And several people raise their hands.” “Now raise ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Catholic

Healthy Choices Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

We are a product of the choices we make. ut what’s the most important choice we can make? All healthy choices on the road less traveled start with the decision to serve God.

Healthy Choices Matt 7:13-16, 21-23 When I’m on a road trip, do you know what my top two questions are? Where am I going to eat and how can I eat healthy? Here’s the thing: I always start off with the best intentions to eat healthy. I usually work out first, I take water to drink, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-23

Denomination: Methodist

Prison Break

Contributed by Sean Dees on May 2, 2021

What we need to do when life gets overwhelming, when it comes in like a flood; is RAISE OUR PRAISE! Understand me when I tell you that Praise is permeated with Productive Power.

I. Nobody wants to go to prison willingly. Prison does not have the appeal of a Hilton, beach, or exotic location. I know by the reports that we hear of our prison systems running over that it must be the number one vacation destination in the world. It is evident that we are living in difficult ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:19-26

Pilate- Career Opportunist

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Apr 9, 2003

A review of Pilate’s career and how God has our careers in hand

Pilate - Career Opportunist Luke 23: 1-24 A Man with a dilemma Career or justice Who was Pilate? Upper-middle class Procurator of Judea power of life and death/ appointed High Priests/ controlled Temple and funds First recorded action (Josephus: Ant. 18: 55) was setting ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:1-24

Denomination: Anglican

Don't Let 'em Pull Your Strings!

Contributed by Jim Luthy on May 14, 2001

If you cannot or will not forgive, you are a puppet in the hands of the one who harmed you.

Actress Molly Ringwold learned Survivor Tip #4 somewhere along the way, saying "From my experience, forgiving is the only way to survive." Obviously, we would be mistaken if we took our survivor tips directly from Hollywood. Unfortunately, many people do. But Molly Ringwold’s survivor tip didn’t ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Getting Ahead Of God Series

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Jun 13, 2005

We love to take matters into our own hands instead of waiting on God.

Abraham: Getting Ahead of God Genesis 15-16 Remember when you first got your driver’s license? You studied and got all the knowledge necessary to pass the written test, went to the office, took the written test, aced it, and then you had to take all the knowledge you had attained and put it ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Letting God Have Control

Contributed by James Powell on Dec 22, 2006

Realizing, when we give God full control we are in safe hands.

Psalms 24:1-4 & 25:4,5,20 Ps 24:1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Ps 24:2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Ps 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

Friend In Heaven

Contributed by Buddy Baird on Oct 17, 2006

We do have a friend that loves us and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

FRIEND IN HEAVEN TEXT: John 15.13, 14 INTRODUCTION: A. A famous singer has a song entitled, "Friends in low places." B. People seem to like to brag about this very fact. C. Yet at a Christian, we can brag about a fact that others cannot say. D. We can tell, we can sing about a friend in a ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13-14

Denomination: Church Of God

Go Forward

Contributed by Rick Adams on Oct 11, 2001

Taking what God has given you in your hand and going forward

· Have you ever felt like your back was against the wall? o One minute you are basking in the joy of God’s presence, peace and provision and the next you are bombarded by any thing and everything that could go wrong · This morning I want us to look at the children of Israel ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Desperate Prayer - Help, Lord!

Contributed by Dr. C. David White on Sep 23, 2002

This simple but powerful prayer takes human need and places it in the hands of Almighty God.

“Help, Lord…" Psalm 12:1 1. A few weeks ago I wondered how many lives had ended with two words, “WHO cares?” 2. This morning I am wondering how many lives have been saved with two other words, “HELP, LORD?” 3. There is no more SIMPLE or INTENSE than this one! 4. Most of us have prayed this prayer ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 12:1

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Over Fear (Fear Not)

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Aug 10, 2007

Joshua had a BIG task at hand. God encouraged him NOT to be lead by fear.

INTRODUCTION • THE MATRIX START DVD. Time: 1:10 Start Time: 0:53:38 End Time: 0:54:48 Start Cue: Feet zooming in on building top End Cue: Man laying on pavement • Each day we have to decide if we are going to let the fear of what is before us keep us from living the way that God wants us to live or ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Plentiful Harvest

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jun 12, 2008

A plentiful harvest requires seeing eyes, willing hands and a servant’s heart.

Matthew 9: 35 – 10:8 / A Plentiful Harvest Intro: When my children were little, Sunday after church was the toughest day of the week for me. One particular Sunday, I sat in my chair in front of the TV and pretended to sleep. My kids tried their best to awaken me. Finally, Jon climbed up on my ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When God Applies The Board Of Education To The Seat Of Knowledge Series

Contributed by James Bohrer on Jan 14, 2009

A sermon about God’s Discipline and how His hand is in all things.

Discipline and training are foreign concepts to many people in America today. So it was for one young man who approached his dad about a getting a car when he turned 16. His dad said son, I will help you if you begin to discipline yourself. So he wrote a contract with the dad for the next 6 ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

And So It Begins

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jun 16, 2011

The greatest drama in human history begins with love on one hand and betrayal on the other.

Passage: Matthew 26:1-16 Intro: The play will begin in a few minutes. 1. we are in the next several weeks going to see the greatest drama ever performed 2. it took place in a dusty city in the Middle East, but changed the entire universe, both the spiritual and physical realms. 3. we have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free

I Think I'm Going To Throw Up...

Contributed by John Butler on Aug 11, 2008

Let’s learn to throw up our hands and praise Him in the battle.

I THINK I’M GOING TO THROW UP...My hands and praise the Lord I. Are You Sick?... How many in here this morning have ever been so sick of something that it made you want to throw up? I’m not just talking about being sick with the flu and feeling like you need to throw up! I’m not just talking ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:35