Sermons on Productive Rest:

When Persecution Comes Calling

Contributed by Gordon Brownlee on May 13, 2024

The Church has been missing a valuable tool in fighting oppression. The authority of Christ remains on our lips.

For anyone that has been following the news there are a growing number of stories that speak of the persecution of Christians. For many, such articles seem surreal, they remain so far removed from our current peaceful existence that we find no reason to try and relate, let alone guard ourselves ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:6-7

Denomination: *other

"the Bad Habits Of Jesus"

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on May 29, 2024

PC controls our culture, and values. Harrison Butker stood against a self righteous culture at a personal cost. Jesus confronted PC Pharisees regarding the "Sabbath" rules. quotes from Leonard Sweet, Ken Bailey (Jesus thru Middle Eastern Eyes)

In Jesus Holy Name June 2, 2024 Text: Mark 2:23-24,27-28 Pentecost II Redeemer “The Bad Habits of Jesus” Each Sunday in this liturgical calendar year our gospel readings are from the Book of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Sermon: God’s Call To The Weary

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jul 2, 2024

Rest is what weary people seek. Rest restores the vigor and strength necessary to carry on and enjoy life. To all who are weary and heavy-laden that come to Jesus, He promises I will give you rest.

Sermon: God’s Call to The Weary Scripture: Matthew 11:25-28 “At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15, Philippians 4:13, Matthew 11:25-28, 1 Peter 5:7

Denomination: Methodist

Come To A Lonely Place

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 30, 2024

We tend in our enthusiasm to forget that WE are not the saviors of the world. The world already has one of those, and He is unmatchable.

Saturday of the Fourth Week in Course 2024 Today St. Mark’s Gospel interjects a short story about Jesus counseling His disciples how to be effective missionaries. ‘And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while."’ The great saints advise similar rest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:4-13, Psalm 119:9-14, Mark 6:30-34

Denomination: Catholic

Are We Tight-Fisted Toward God? (Haggai 1:1-14) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Apr 14, 2022

God, through Haggai, challenges the people to look honestly at their lives-- their priorities, and how well that's worked out for them. God wants his house built.

Today, we start a new three week series on the book of Haggai. I should really start, by explaining something about the background of Haggai. Give you something to set it in the context of Israel's history. But I just don't want to. I'll just say this: Haggai prophesied to ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-14

Flour Power

Contributed by Henry A Roso on May 15, 2023

Growing from Fear to Faith

I’d like to speak this morning about faith. We are people of faith, amen? However, there are times when some of us struggle with not having enough faith. A broken relationship, news of a life-threatening illness, loss of a job, or your house burns to the ground, a normal response is to feel ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sabbath Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Jun 27, 2022

Based on Exodus 20:8-11 - Encourages hearers to realize how much God values rest for His children.

“THE SABBATH” Ex. 20:8-11 FBCF – 6/25/22 Jon Daniels INTRO – The US has embassies all around the world in other countries. Represents your home in a foreign land. The rules & laws of your home nation apply inside the walls of the embassy. You & I are living in a foreign land. We are ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

There’s Always More

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 15, 2023

Even when we feel drained physically and financially, we still need to offer what resources we do have - and in so doing, find that we can do more than we thought.

I have a lot of fellow feeling for the disciples in today’s story. I expect all of us who have put so much time and effort into VBS do, too. It’s done! We can put our feet up and have something to eat, talk about how everything went, see how well we did, maybe get a stroke or two for the old ego. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gift

Contributed by Delray Lentz on Aug 21, 2023

• Do the holidays break you out of your routine? • Do you go into a holiday traditional? • Lisa often says our tradition is that we have no tradition!

Recently I read a social media post about The Virgin Mary, and how her traditional sense of family was changed forever. She didn’t ask for this disruption in her life, but when she got the news from the angel, about the gift she was to receive, she responds by singing a song. Oftentimes, isn’t that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-11, Luke 2:8-17

Why We Gather, No.2, Rhythm

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 15, 2021

God wants human life to have a rhythm to it and meeting together on Sunday helps us to establish that rhythm.

INTRODUCTION Two weeks ago we started a new four-talk series titled ‘Why we gather?’ I got the idea for the series from a website called SermonCentral. For the past 16 months most of us haven’t been gathering, or at least, not in person. Two weeks ago we started to meet again. So I think ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:14, Genesis 2:1-3, Isaiah 58:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

Nothing Left But God

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Mar 17, 2024

A wise Bible teacher once said, sooner or later, God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource, but him- No strength, No answers, nothing but him. Without God’s help, they’re sunk.

Nothing Left But God. 2 Chronicles 20. A wise Bible teacher once said, sooner or later, God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource, but him- No strength, No answers, nothing but him. Without God’s help, they’re sunk. He then told of a despairing man who ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:12, Exodus 14:14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Come Unto Me

Contributed by Ikenna Uleanya on Aug 21, 2025

JESUS calls every one, come, I will solve every Problem, and give you rest

COME UNTO ME Text: Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. In the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

The Unforced Rhythm Of Strength

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 23, 2025

This sermon contrasts the world's frantic and exhausting path to strength with God's divine invitation to find salvation and power through the "unforced rhythm" of returning to and resting in Him.

Introduction: The Tyranny of the Urgent I want you to picture a scene. It's late at night. A student sits hunched over a desk, surrounded by textbooks and empty coffee mugs. Their eyes are gritty with exhaustion, their mind a frantic buzz of facts and figures. Fear of failure is a physical ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:15

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Napped

Contributed by William Thompson on Aug 24, 2025

The Bible gives us a beautiful, almost humorous detail about Jesus: He took naps.

How many of you would say you’re tired right now? (Pause, let hands raise and smiles show.) We live in a world that celebrates exhaustion. We wear busyness like a badge of honor. • We brag about how little sleep we got last night: “I only slept four hours, but I still made it to work.” • We ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:38, Matthew 8:24

Walking Through Chaos Series

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

The Father who commands paralysis to move also commands storms to rest—calling His children to rise, walk, and trust His steady presence.

(John 5 & John 6:16–21 — The Lame Man and the Storm) --- Introduction — When Life Won’t Move Have you ever been stuck? Not the “traffic jam on I-15” kind of stuck. I mean the deeper kind — when nothing in your life will budge. You pray, you plan, you push, and still it feels like the wheels ...read more

Scripture: John 6:16-21, Isaiah 43:2, Psalm 46:1-3, Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist