Sermons on Pursuing Understanding:

The Gift With A Cost Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 19, 2009

This time of year, we get excited and touched by Baby Jesus in a cradle but you can’t separate the cradle from the cross. This gift of Jesus comes with a sacrificial cost. A lot of us understand the cradle but we fail to connect the cradle with the cross.

The Gift with a Cost Isaiah 53:1-12 Christmas has become the #1 self-focused consumer day in America. It’s so interesting that Good Friday leads into Easter and Black Friday leads us into the Christmas holidays. The church needs to lead a movement of conspiracy to reclaim Christmas from ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Ask, Seek, Knock

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jul 29, 2014

Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. Does this mean Jesus is our genie in a bottle? Can I ask for anything I want and Jesus will just give it to me? There's much to understand about what Jesus said here.

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK Matt. 7:7-12 1) Ask, Seek, Knock (7-8). Here we see three different words three different meanings. I think this illustrates a process; like a chain of events if you will. As the Fourfold gospel commentary puts it, “Asking is a simple use of voice, seeking is a motion of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Am Worthy

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 21, 2018

If we really know God as He wants to be known by us, we will love Him. And if we really love Him, worship will be the explosion that takes place in our souls as we seek to understand and appreciate our Maker, our Defender, our Redeemer, our Friend.

How many of you had a kaleidoscope growing up? We all at least know what a kaleidoscope is, right? It’s usually a tube that you hold up to the light and see a beautiful picture made up of colorful pieces of glass or stones or paper. You turn the end of the tube and the mirrors rotate and the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24, 2 Corinthians 3:18, John 17:1-3

Denomination: United Methodist

Defer To One Another-2

Contributed by Terry Hovey on Aug 11, 2023

But there is something I want you to understand today—if you don’t get anything else out of this message, I want you to get this: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Defer to One Another-2 Romans 14:13-23 More than any other individual, the apostle Paul was responsible for the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. He made 3 missionary journeys through much of the Mediterranean, tirelessly preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and establishing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:13-23

Denomination: Methodist

Transformed By Truth: Biblical Literacy In A Post-Literate Age 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 19, 2024

As we navigate a world saturated with digital media and rapid information consumption, the importance of understanding and engaging with God's Word remains paramount. Let us explore how we can cultivate biblical literacy to be transformed by God's eternal truth.

Transformed by Truth: Biblical Literacy in a Post-literate Age 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Introduction: Today, we delve into a vital topic that resonates deeply in our modern context – biblical literacy in a post-literate age. As we navigate a world saturated with digital media and rapid information ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 30:5, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:14, Joshua 1:8, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Is The Gospel?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

What is the Gospel? How are we to understand exactly what the Gospel is? =We can know scriptures, we can memorize verses, and we can tell people about the Bible, but what in essence is the basic message of the full Bible, cover to cover?

What is the Gospel? How are we to understand exactly what the Gospel is? =We can know scriptures, we can memorize verses, and we can tell people about the Bible, but what in essence is the basic message of the full Bible, cover to cover? To me, we see a description of two basic issues. First, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:12

Denomination: Salvation Army

Grace We Struggle To Accept: The Embrace Of Grace Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Apr 27, 2005

Grace is not only hard to understand, it is difficult to accept. While every human being has a deep need for acceptance, security, and significance, we tend to seek the meeting of those needs in other human beings, who can never really meet those needs.

Grace We Struggle to Accept: The Embrace of Grace Grace, prt. 2 Wildwind Community Church David K. Flowers 3/20/05 I want to start today’s message on an uncharacteristically heavy note. I have a few questions for you, and they’re the kind of questions that may not be easy for you to answer. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Free Methodist

Know Your Role Series

Contributed by Justin Ford on Nov 28, 2012

Understanding the importance of knowing our role within the church body. This was conclusion to a Capital Fundraising Campaign so some won't apply but it would work especially well around the Super Bowl. I also have a complete PowerPoint presentation av

LIVING STONES (6) GOD’S GAME PLAN MARK 2:1-5 We are in week 6 of our Capital Campaign emphasis “Living Stones” and we’re getting close to the finish line – or as Darryl Schmidt likes to call it: The starting line! Over the past 5 weeks I’ve been trying to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Partakers Of The Divine Nature 2 Peter 1:4 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 12, 2024

Peter unveils a profound truth about our identity as believers—our participation in the divine nature. Let us delve into this scripture and uncover its riches, allowing it to deepen our understanding of who we are in Christ and how we are called to live transformed lives.

Partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Peter 1:4 Introduction: Today we embark on a journey of discovery into the transformative power of God's truth, as revealed in 2 Peter 1:4. In this passage, Peter unveils a profound truth about our identity as believers—our participation in the divine nature. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Romans 4:20-21, Romans 8:11, Romans 1:21-25, Ephesians 2:1-3, 1 John 2:15-17, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 4:22-24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus: The Ultimate Example Of Humility Series

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Aug 25, 2009

Philippians 2:5-11 has been called the greatest text on Christ ever written. Most preachers preach this text doctrinally. But Paul meant us to understand in terms of our personal relationships. See how Jesus’ example helps us get along with others.

HOW DID JESUS CHRIST EXHIBIT HUMILITY? 1. Jesus Christ exhibited humility in His thinking. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God..." - Philippians 2:5-6 (NKJV) Paul says, "let this mind be in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11, John 13:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

Decoding The Da Vinci Code: Listen To Your Mother! Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on May 15, 2006

A Jewish proverb says, "God could not be everywhere so he made mothers." The power of a godly mother who understands the issues of the Faith and who takes the time to communicate those to her children surpasses the impact of a thousand Dan Brown’s.

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: Mothers are teachers. Mothers are disciplinarians. Mothers are cleaning ladies. Some mothers are gardeners and landscapers. And most mothers understand that baking cookies is more important than washing windows. Mothers are nurses and doctors and psychologists and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:13-16

Fishing For Men

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Aug 19, 2013

What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does it mean to hear "the Master's call?" "Many are called but few are chosen," the Bible says. In order to understand that statement, we may say that many are called but few really respond to that call.

Mark 1:16-20 "And as He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.' And they immediately left the nets and followed Him. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Romans Chapter 2 Verses 7-8 Messages In Romans – Strong Division Between The Truth And Disobedience (Part 5) Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 23, 2023

What is it to seek the Lord and to find Him? Abide in Christ so you do not shrink away at His coming. Marvellous things await God’s people but horror for the ones who won’t obey and are unrighteous. The fate of non-Christians is here.

ROMANS CHAPTER 2 VERSES 7-8 MESSAGES IN ROMANS – STRONG DIVISION BETWEEN THE TRUTH AND DISOBEDIENCE (PART 5) Welcome to the next part of Romans chapter 2. Last time we got to the end of verse 6 and what remains in the Chapter is the division of all human beings into two classes, and then the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:7-8, Ephesians 2:8-9, Deuteronomy 4:29, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Matthew 7:7-8, John 12:20-24, 1 Corinthians 12:13, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 John 2:28, 1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Revelation 21:4, John 8:44, Isaiah 5:20-21, Ezekiel 22:31  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God So Loves

Contributed by Steve Wilson on May 24, 2012

God's love for us is SO beyond our comprehension, yet He wants us to know the width, length, depth, and height of His amazing love. Though we can't fully understand we sure can experience His love.

GOD SO LOVES John 3:16 Introduction • If you could sum up the gospel in one Scripture verse what verse would you choose? You can’t do much better than John 3:16 • Most of us, if not all of us are familiar with this verse so I have chosen to read it from The Amplified Bible ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

What Does Patriotism Have To Do With Serving God In America?

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jul 6, 2010

Being Patriotic is a good thing! We live in a blessed nation and should be proud of our country, but as believers in America we need to understand about the foundation of our nation to fully appreciate it and realize it was very much part of God's plan!

SERMON BRIEF Date Written: July 1, 2010 Date Preached: July 4, 2010 Church: OPBC (AM) FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS Series: Special Events/Days Title: In America, what does Patriotism have to do with Serving God! Text: Hebrews 12:1-2 [ESV] 1 Therefore, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist