Sermons on Pure Thoughts:

The Limits Of Tolerance

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

There’s been a shift in American thought over the past several decades. America historically stood for the right to express any opinion. Where we used to believe that you should tolerate my views even when they were false but now, we believe it is wrong to call anybody’s views’ false.

Find the book of Jude with me. There are books in your Bible and there are letters in your Bible, but you could probably think of Jude more like a postcard. There’s been a shift in American thought over the past several decades. America historically stood for the right to express any opinion. ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-4, Jude 1:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

Thursday - An Evening Full Of Surprises Series

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 28, 2022

Thursday evening was full of surprises as Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples. During the evening, Jesus washed their feet, and announced that one of them would betray Him, another would deny Him, and all of them would desert Him. They must have thought He was kidding, but He wasn't!

A. If you know me very well, then you know that I like to laugh and joke. 1. This Friday is April Fools Day, so I thought I might share a few April Fools’ funnies. 2. I heard about guy who years ago swapped the price labels on the pumps at the gas station? It was an April Fuel’s joke. 3. I heard ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dealing With The Mess Of Stress - Part 3

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Oct 29, 2020

Last time we looked at Right Praying. Today, we are going to look at the subject of right thinking.

So far, we’ve learned that stress is a load on the system that usually results from worry or anxiety. Stress manifests itself in many ways, physical, emotional and spiritual. We also learned that the key to dealing with stress is securing the mind against wrong thinking and wrong feelings about ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Overcoming Temptation Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Nov 26, 2007

How can we withstand the temptation which we face on a daily basis?

Overcoming Temptation Introduction: A mother told her son not to go swimming. However, when he came into the house his mother noticed that his hair and bathing suit were wet. "I told you not to go swimming," the boy’s mother scolded. "I couldn’t help it mom," he defended himself. "The water looked ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Promises, Promises Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 25, 2022

How the prohibition against adultery expanded to include lust.

Moses has been gone up in the clouds on Sinai for days and the elders are getting nervous. Finally he appears, carrying two large hunks of rock, with what appears to be writing on them. The elders are nervous, understandably, given what’s been happening - the golden calf, and so on. Moses ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:18, Matthew 5:27-28

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Grumpy Old Christians

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 31, 2001

There are too many grumpy old Christians in this world that are hurting the spread of the Gospel and not helping the spread of the Gospel. Remember Gospel means Good News- not Bad Critical News!

Grumpy Old Christians Thesis: There are too many grumpy old Christians in this world that are hurting the spread of the Gospel and not helping the spread of the Gospel. Remember Gospel means Good News- not Bad Critical News! Texts: Phil. 4:8 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8, 1 John 4:16-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living In An Egg Shell

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 12, 2012

I have said many times that our life is so fragile, so delicate, that if it wasn't for the protection of our Lord we couldn't last very long in this flesh we live in. It's like living in an egg shell. Of course when we were young we thought we were invi

Living in an egg shell 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

We Have Come Too Far To Turn Back Now Subtitle The Cross Before Me

Contributed by Joe Rowland on Aug 6, 2012

God sees your confusion, He sees that you really don’t understand why you are going through this situation.You might even have thought about giving up on God, you don’t think that he sees what you are thinking? You might even be thinking that this is not

We Have Come Too Far To Turn Back Now Subtitle The Cross Before Me Psalm 56:6-11 6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. 7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God. 8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:6-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

All In The Family Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 30, 2014

Have you ever stopped and thought, “Why me? Why did God choose me to be his child?" It just pleased God to do so. It gave God pleasure to choose you to be his child. And when God does something he does it so he derives personal pleasure from it.

INTRODUCTION Today I want to talk to you about being part of God’s family. We’re all so proud of our parents– or at least we ought to be–like the little boy in school who was bragging about how tough his daddy was and he turned to a little girl and said, “You know, my ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

A Plan To Save Face (The Face Saving Plan) Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Apr 17, 2012

THE FACE SAVING PLAN Luke 15: 13-19 (p740) July 24, 2011 INTRODUCTION: Have you ever had to go to plan "B" because plan "A" does not work out like you thought it would? Yeah?!!! Me too....In fact I'd hazard a guess that everyone in this

THE FACE SAVING PLAN Luke 15: 13-19 (p740) July 24, 2011 INTRODUCTION: Have you ever had to go to plan "B" because plan "A" does not work out like you thought it would? Yeah?!!! Me too....In fact I'd hazard a guess that everyone in this sanctuary this morning has thought they had the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:13-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Best Laid Plans Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 19, 2019

Robert Burns wrote a poetic apology to a mouse for having destroyed its home. How often are we like that mouse when we try to leave God out? What does the Psalmist have to say about finding balance between faith and effort? Check out these thoughts from our Family Minister, Scott Jewell

There’s a popular saying that goes, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Where does this saying come from? Many attribute this to John Steinbeck’s book- Of Mice and Men, written in 1937. He actually got the title from a poem by Robert Burns- To a Mouse, written in 1786. ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hope Floats

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Mar 2, 2020

Movie-she thought all was good until she learns her husband is having an affair. She tells her daughter, "when you find yourself at a new beginning, give hope a chance to float up." There's a hope that sinks, a hope and that floats and a hope that not only floats, it rises.

HOPE FLOATS 1998 movie. The premise is a woman who thought everything was going well learns that her husband is having an affair with her friend. She takes her daughter and moves back to her hometown. But she quickly learns that the problems keep coming-in waves. In a conversation between her and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:28, Lamentations 3:19-24, Romans 5:1-5, Isaiah 40:30-31, Jeremiah 29:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sleep In Heavenly Peace

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 15, 2021

I read an article where the writer posed a question: "what keeps you up at night?" It's too early to think about Christmas songs but I thought, 'what better sleep could there be than to sleep in heavenly peace?' Let's see how.

SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE There are times when it's hard to get to sleep. It can be because we had caffeine too late in the day or we had a snack too close to bedtime and now we're paying for it. Then there are other reasons-you have a deadline to meet and you're not ready. You have an ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 15:14, Psalm 3:1-6, Psalm 4:1-8, Psalm 121:1-4, 1 Kings 18:27-29, Matthew 8:23-27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

See The Hidden Glory Of God’s Son

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jul 25, 2023

Let’s leave behind our pride and our thoughts about ourselves and witness the glory of the One and Only—God’s Son—who became human to give us life, and light, and hope. The baby in the manger wants us to have these blessings. May we see the hidden glory of God's Son!

You can still go to Bethlehem. Even though it has been over 2000 years since the first Christmas we could get on an airplane and fly to Israel and travel to the town where Jesus was born. And we can even go to the place that for centuries has been considered the actual location where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14, Hebrews 1:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

Protective Praise

Contributed by Joe Dan Vendelin on May 25, 2024

Have you ever thought about how praising God in the highs and lows can provide a layer of protection against pride (in the highs) or despair (in the lows)? Here we take a look at Hezekiah as an example of why we need to praise God and forget not all His benefits described in Psalm 103:1-5.

Protective Praise Have you ever thought about praise being a protective agent? Psalm 103:1 (ESV) says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” When we bless the Lord in our highs and lows, he provides a layer of protection. From what? Getting too high or ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5, Deuteronomy 8:11-20, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 5:5, Romans 7:24-25, 2 Chronicles 32:25  (view more)  (view less)