Sermons on Racial Barriers:

Are You Justified By Faith, Or By Works?

Contributed by Charles Degner on Oct 23, 2006

This difficult chapter of the Bible is not hard to understand if you ask a simple question. James says we are justified by our works, not just by faith. But justified BEFORE WHOM?

James 2:1-5, 8-10, 14-26 Pentecost 17B Rev. Charles F. Degner 1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-25

Denomination: Lutheran

The Terror Of The Cross

Contributed by Roger Spaugh on Jul 6, 2008

This sermon explores the Suffering Christ endured to pay the price for sin.

“THE TERROR OF THE CROSS” TEXT: Mark 14:32-36, "And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-36

Denomination: Pentecostal

Who Is My Neighbor?

Contributed by James Choung on Aug 29, 2008

Main point: Stop justifying ourselves and be the neighbor

This sermon is by James Choung of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. You are also invited to visit James’s blog at http://www.jameschoung.net/. __________________________________________________ Introduction: on desiring to justify myself I’m a new dad. We have a six-month old boy, and his name ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Vineyard

After The Cicadas

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 15, 2004

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education: God still sees much to judge in America, and we are laid waste by lingering racism. We must recommit to justice in the nation and in the church.

I am here to announce an invasion. This land has been taken over by an alien army. The invaders are so numerous that all hope of turning them back is gone. It is useless to resist. And not only are they here in massive numbers, these invaders, but also they know no fear. They are perfectly ...read more

Scripture: Amos 2:6-8, Amos 5:24

Denomination: Baptist

Two Peoples, One Nation

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 25, 2009

Blacks and whites must develop together and learn from one another; we will also be judged together. Together we must work on issues of justice and righteousness.

The world is full of divisions. Every sort of difference and distinction you can imagine has been magnified. Who of us knew anything a few years ago about six or more different ethnic groups in Yugoslavia!? About all I knew about Yugoslavia was that they made a little car called a Yugo, which ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Living The Gospel: Black And White

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 21, 2010

We are prone to reduce tensions by choosing not to live in diversity. But the Gospel calls us to embrace diversity and yet to recognize that all sin, all are worthy, all need the Gospel. Our issue is our own insecurity, which Christ’s death can address.

Takoma Park Baptist Church February 21, 1988 All of us, it seems, have a tendency to choose comfort. All of us appear to prefer to choose a way to live that involves as little tension, as little discomfort as possible. I am not talking just about luxuries and material things; I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

Paul The Preacher To The Gentiles.

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Oct 28, 2011

Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles. (Powerpoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: • (1). The Mystery Concealed (vs 1-5) • (2). The Mystery Revealed (vs 6-9) • (3).The Mystery Fulfilled (vs 10-11) SERMON BODY: Ill: Joke - Prison life versus a full-time job • In prison you spend the majority of your time in an 8’ X 10’ cell. • At work you spend most ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Denomination: Brethren

Peter And Cornelius: From Pronouncements To People

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 14, 2009

Prejudice deals only with groups, not with persons. Peter had to get beyond outworn principles, and both he and Cornelius had to learn to give and receive what was needed. All need Christ.

If you have to choose between principles and people, choose people! Do you agree? If it comes down to deciding whether to adhere to certain principles and thereby injure people; if it comes down to violating your beliefs or violating another person, what will you choose? The principle or the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:1-43

Denomination: Baptist

Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 17, 2009

We damage ourselves as well as the others when we write off whole peoples through racism. When we see them as persons, with human faces, we discover that to write them off is to damage ourselves. Fellowship in Christ leads us to value difference.

A widow, shortly after her husband’s death, was going through his papers. She found a couple of old certificates, yellowed with age and crumbling into dust. They had been made out to her husband more than fifty years ago, and seemed to be some kind of promissory notes. Some sort of company had ...read more

Scripture: Esther 7:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Three Score And Ten

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 12, 2009

For 1989, 70th anniversary of the church. Three Scriptures with the number "70" in them ... life includes pain and conflict; but we are to forgive without reservation; God knows the plans He has for the next 70 years of this church.

We’ve reached a milestone, a real milestone. Seventy years old. That’s a good long while. That is, in fact, a lifetime, according to one of the Scriptures I’m going to read, the typical, average lifetime of a human being. And it’s not too bad for an institution like a church. We’ve been here, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Drawn To Jesus-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Aug 12, 2014

1 of 5. John recalled the manner by which Jesus’ disciples first became convinced that He was Messiah. Some will become Jesus' disciples. But What draws/attracts those disciples? Disciples are drawn to Jesus thru their…

DRAWN TO JESUS—I—John 1:35-51 Attention: Thirst—draws us to—water Hunger—draws us to—food Darkness—draws us to—light Need: John recalled the manner by which Jesus’ disciples first became convinced that He was Messiah. Some will be drawn to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-51

Denomination: Baptist

Give Us Free

Contributed by Wayne Solomon on Mar 15, 2021

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Give us Free John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. On July 4th 1776, America declared independence from 156 years of British rule. IN the CONGRESS of JULY 4, 1776 the founding ...read more

Scripture: John 8:32, John 8:36

Denomination: Church Of God

Abraham Justified Before Circumcision Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Apr 22, 2024

Paul wants his people to know that salvation is not dependent on any work.

4:9 “Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised?” Is God’s blessedness, or happiness, which David just described, for only Jews, or can Gentiles get in on this? He doesn’t use those two terms though. He is making a point. Is a man made right and happy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:9-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Quench Your Thirst With Living Water!

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Mar 6, 2023

Water and thirst. Those are two powerful pictures that we find in Jesus’ interaction with a Samaritan woman at a well. May God the Holy Spirit enable us to recognize the insatiable thirst that sin gives us. And every day, let’s quench our thirst with living water.

This reading from John 4 uses something from everyday life that is intended to give us a powerful connection to spiritual truth. It’s supposed to touch our head and our heart and impact our emotions. But I fear that it is lost on us. What am I talking about? It’s just plain water. Well, I ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-26

Denomination: Lutheran

The Salvation Of Our God

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Dec 21, 2005

The Babe of Bethlehem is God’s most precious gift to humanity, the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52: 7 – 10 - The Salvation of Our God Intro: I suppose by this time everyone has opened all their Xmas presents. When you get back to work after the holidays, usually the 1st question people ask is “What did you get for Christmas?” --- Some people think that Christmas is all about ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:7-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed