Sermons on Public Square:

800-Pound Gorilla? Or The First Pope?

Contributed by William Mouser on Aug 23, 2005

In Matthew 16, Jesus confers on Peter (and, later the other Apostles) authority to rule the Church, founded on the truth of Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah.

Matthew 16:13-20 800-Pound Gorilla? Or the First Pope? There’s a phrase that’s popular in modern discussions of any number of topics, and that phrase is this: “an 800 pound gorilla in the room.” An example would be this line which I plucked from a blog entry on the international economy as it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Hard Or Simple?

Contributed by William Mouser on Oct 25, 2005

In one of the final debates with the Pharisees, Jesus exposes their penchant for complicating the simple meaning of God’s Word, while ignoring those parts of God’s word which truly are full of mystery.

Hard or Simple? Matt. 22:15-22 A university research wished to study the differences in perception that are related to ones vocation. So, they devised a simple test in order to detect how a person’s professional vocation influenced their answer to a simple question. The first to be tested ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Attitude Of Ownership Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 8, 2006

Who owns my money determines not only what I give to God, but how I treat God. Who "owns" your money and what difference does it make?

OPEN: Gordon Wood, a preacher in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin once wrote: “Recently, I tried something different in our worship service. Instead of preaching at the end, I did it first, with music, the offering, and Scripture reading afterward. As I stood behind the pulpit, I could see people getting ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of Choice Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 23, 2006

Why did God require the tithe in the Old Testament? Was it because He needed the money? Consider these possible benefits to giving your gifts to God.

OPEN: Year ago, if you wanted a pair of shoes, you couldn’t go down to “Payless Shoes” or “Shoe Carnival”. You couldn’t even go down to Sears or J.C. Penney to pick a pair of ready made shoes to wear. There was a time when – if you wanted shoes or boots – you had to go someone called a “Shoe ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:7-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Looking Through The Faith Telescope

Contributed by Nate Barbour on Jan 29, 2003

A powerful explanation of the meaning and use of faith.

Looking Through the Faith Telescope Believing is Seeing 1/15/03 I. Introduction Blondin lived from 1824-1897 and was a famous French tightrope walker and acrobat. His greatest fame came in 1859 when he accomplished one of his greatest feats for the first time- walking across a 1100 foot ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1, Mark 11:12-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Golf And The Christian Life

Contributed by Glenn Newton on Jun 28, 2004

This morning I’m going to attempt to compare the Game of Golf and the Christian Life. I have found that there are some good ways to help illustrate how we should live our Christian life, through this game we call Golf.

Golf and the Christian Life Pastor Glenn Newton 8-4-02 Romans 10:11-15 “ As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:11-15

Denomination: Nazarene

Wanted: Third Class Passengers

Contributed by Steve Hong on Oct 18, 2000

Illus: Once, a man was taking a stagecoach across the country.

Illus: Once, a man was taking a stagecoach across the country. When he went to buy his ticket, he was informed that first class seats were P100. Second class seats were P50. Third class seats were P25. The man looked in the stagecoach and all the seats looked the same to him, so he bought a third ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-4

Codfish And Catfish

Contributed by Steve Hong on Oct 18, 2000

Illus: Once, a man was taking a stagecoach across the country.

Illus: Once, a man was taking a stagecoach across the country. When he went to buy his ticket, he was informed that first class seats were P100. Second class seats were P50. Third class seats were P25. The man looked in the stagecoach and all the seats looked the same to him, so he bought a third ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:4-11

Our Response To Disaster: Where Is God? Series

Contributed by Mark Jones on Dec 17, 2002

Where are you GOD…MY GOD why? This was written and delivered to a Bible Study on the Wednesday evening following 9/11/2001. It’s a look at the proper response to disaster and tragedy-how Jesus responded to terrorism and disaster in His day.

Our Response To Disaster: Where Is God? Luke 13 1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

Finding Christ In Spite Of The Barriers

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 20, 2008

Christmas sermon discussing how the Magi overcame many obstacles to find and worship Christ and how we can help others overcome barriers to Him as well.

Finding Christ in Spite of the Barriers Matthew 2:1-12 December 16, 2007 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me/We: Top 10 Reasons why there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the Inn. 10. The Roman Government’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

Dwelling Together With God

Contributed by David Cook on Feb 1, 2010

God wants to be with His people

Introduction : “Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law. And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

So That You Will Not Sin Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Feb 27, 2010

John tells us what we can do to overcome sin. 1- We must accept God’s sacrifice for our sins 2- We must obey His commands 3- We must walk as Jesus walked

INTRO.- ILL.- A 77-year-old granny made a citizen’s arrest in Germany when she rugby-tackled a 25-year-old jay walker. The pensioner sat on him until police arrived - because he had walked across a road before the light was green. The woman, from Freital, near Dresden, shouted at the man as he ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

To Honor The King

Contributed by Doane Brubaker on Mar 28, 2007

A Palm Sunday sermon exploring why Jesus wept at His triumpal entry into Jerusalem and how we can respond to Him in ways that Honor our true King.

“To Honor A King” Luke 19:41-44 Do you love a parade? Billy Graham wrote in "The Key To Personal Peace" “One of the powerful, enduring images that my wife, Ruth, and I have of our early years together is of the ticker-tape parades in New York City celebrating the end of WWII. The war was finally ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-44

Denomination: Mennonite

"Life In The Heavenly City” Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Jun 19, 2006

# 6 in series on Eternity. To gain an appreciation for just how marvelous Heaven will be we must understand the city that will be its capital.

“Eternity: What Awaits After Death” Sermon # 6 “Life In The Heavenly City” Revelation 21:1-23 There is within every human heart a desire for home, this desire for home can only partially be fulfilled in the present. Someday we who have by ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-23

Denomination: Baptist