Sermons on Pursuing Understanding:

Rough Beginnings Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 11, 2023

In this sermon, we consider the back story of the letters to the Thessalonians - the founding of the church. It's tumultuous beginning helps us to understand a bit of the environment into which the new church was planted and some of the ongoing struggles they faces.

Pre-quals Every story has a back story. We may not always gain insight into the back story, but there are things impact characters and cultures. When George Lucas wrote the original Star Wars series, he had in his mind some of the events leading up to the movie that many of us were first ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-10, 1 Thessalonians 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

If You Do Not Forgive… - Matthew 6:14-15 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 22, 2024

This message and the next will help you understand what God requires of you when someone hurts you, and how to move your heart from unwillingness to forgive to eagerness to forgive.

Matthew 6:5-15 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15

Keep A Balanced Perspective On Life

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Nov 18, 2021

Perspective is a certain point of view in understanding or judging things or circumstances. Our number battle is in the mind. The only way to combat the onslaught of Satan’s temptation is to view our human experience with a balanced perspective on life.

Introduction: one of the most challenging things to do today is to keep a balanced perspective. So much of the information we receive is misinformation. The word balance has to do stability. To keep one’s body steady without falling; to keep one’s life steady without wavering; or the ability to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-20, 2 Peter 2:9, Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Methodist

Purity Exam Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 19, 2021

In order to be pure in heart we must understand: 1) The deed of adultery (Matthew 5:27), 2) The desire behind It (Matthew 5:28), and thereby achieve: 3) The deliverance from it (Matthew 5:29-30).

Matthew 5:27-30 [27]"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ([29] If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30

Denomination: Other

Unfinished Business Part 1 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 30, 2004

Many of us have been given a task that is unfinished by the Lord and we wants us to complete it for Him. The result if we accept these missions is that many will come to understand the truth, many will embrace the truth and many will live by the truth.

“Unfinished Business!” - Titus part 1 Thesis: Many of us have been given a task that is unfinished by the Lord and we wants us to complete it for Him. The result if we accept these missions is that many will come to understand the truth, many will embrace the truth and many will live by the ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Relate To Teens? Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 22, 2002

To relate to teens you need to understand what questions they are asking themselves. The three primary questions are: 1. Who am I? 2. What beliefs will I adhere too? 3. What’s my destiny?

How to Relate to Teens? Thesis: To relate to teens you need to understand what questions they are asking themselves. The three primary questions are: 1. Who am I? 2. What beliefs will I adhere too? 3. What’s my destiny? Texts: Ephesians 6:1-4: 1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What God Is Looking For…

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on May 7, 2009

After seeing the disciples of Jesus hiding in the upper room it is hard to imagine that they had any vision of their own. That is why it is important to understand how God sees things and what he is watching for.

Last week we looked at the slowness of Easter’s arrival for the disciples. They were locked away in a room. They were full of fear and doubts. Jesus appears, it would be easy to claim that that fixed everything for the disciples. But it did not; we know that if we read through the different ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-31

Denomination: Congregational

Abiding In Christ's Love John 15:9-11 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jun 12, 2024

In John 15:9-11. Jesus speaks of His love, our call to abide in it, and the joy that comes from such a relationship. These verses invite us to deepen our understanding and practice of living in Christ's love.

Transformed by Truth: "Abiding in Christ's Love" John 15:9-11 John 15:9-11 (NLT): “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-11, John 15:9, 1 John 4:19, John 15:10, 1 John 5:3, John 15:11, Nehemiah 8:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

21 Days Pt 1 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 19, 2011

We need to have a biblical understanding of 3 spiritual disciplines giving, prayer and fasting so that we practice these disciplines and attain spiritual changes in our hearts and lives.

Series: Breath of Heaven 2011 Sermon: 21 Days For many they have started their fast. We are basing our called fast for a fresh Breath of Heaven in 2011 from the Lord. Scripture Text: Joel 1:14 14Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Loving Love

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Feb 20, 2019

God’s love is so misunderstood. This message looks at a prophecy delivered in 2008 about what God’s love means.

God is good. All the time. To me. Say it again. God is good. All the time. To me! Praise the Lord! A couple of weeks ago I was reading through some of the prophecies that have come forth here in this church. I came across one from 2008 that’s titled “Love, Repentance, and Judgment.” As I started ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9, John 14:21-24, John 14:15, Jonah 4:1-2, Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 1:1-2, 1 John 4:16, 1 John 4:7-8, Psalm 119:160, Psalm 119:128, Psalm 119:112, Psalm 119:104, Psalm 119:89, Psalm 119:60, Psalm 119:11, Galatians 5:6, 1 John 2:1-5, 1 John 5:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Incredible Shrinking God

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Oct 9, 2002

We "dumb God down" by confining Him to characteristics we can’t fully understand, and we shrink Him to fit our level by trying to make Him in our image.

The Incredible Shrinking God TCF Sermon September 22, 2002 The Tulsa State Fair begins next week. If you walk along the midway, you’ll hear what are known as carnival barkers. They don’t literally bark, but they do shout out the attractions they want you come and pay for... You’ll have some ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:33-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Empty Cisterns

Contributed by Keith Andrews on Oct 4, 2007

You may be sitting here fully understanding that you could be going down the wrong road. You have seen warning signs that your life may not be pleasing to God. And you want this to change.

Three Warnings of Empty Cisterns Jeremiah 2:4-13 All Scripture Marked NLT: Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. "Text edition"--Spine. (2nd ed.). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers. All Scripture Marked “The Message”: Peterson, E. H. (2002). The Message : The ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:4-13

Denomination: Baptist

Healing For Calloused Hearts Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Apr 28, 2003

Jesus wants to produce life in you and through you. His number one desire is healing the one thing that can stop you—a calloused heart.

Healing for Calloused Hearts Matthew 13:1-23 Pastor Jim Luthy Let’s try a few riddles from justriddlesandmore.com. Write down your answers and I’ll give the solutions at the end. 1. Cathy has six pairs of black gloves and six pairs of brown gloves in her drawer. In complete darkness, how many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Ezekiel 11:17-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Give Us This Day, Part 1 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jan 4, 2026

Launching into Chapter 6 in the Gospel of John, we see Jesus performing a miracle that so many are familiar with; but do we REALLY know (and understand) the complexity of the conversation being had around the feeding of the 5,000?

John, Part 22 Series: Give Us This Day, Part 1 John 6:1-15 - Continuing in John with a new sermon series: “Give Us This Day” (5 parts) -- Purpose: To examine the command (discipleship) to follow Him (obediently) -- FOCUS: The application of our belief in Him to help us live faithfully, ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15, Philippians 4:6-7, Mark 4:35-41, Isaiah 43:21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Never Give Up!

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 28, 2002

When you feel like giving up and that God has given up on you, you need to understand: 1. You cannot "lose" your salvation. 2. You can "reject" your salvation. 3. You must persevere.

In his book, In the Grip of Grace: When You Can’t Hang on, Bryan Chapell tells this story: “On Sunday, August 16,1987, Northwest Airlines flight 225 crashed just after taking off from the Detroit airport. One hundred fifty-five people were killed. One survived: a 4-year-old from Tempe, Arizona, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:4-9

Denomination: Methodist