Sermons on Racket:

What Does A Healthy Church Look Like

Contributed by John Hamby on Mar 27, 2019

Paul says that He uses the church of Thessalonica as an example to other churches of a church worthy of emulating (v. 4). In noting what Paul praises about this church we can see what a healthy church looks like.

“What Does A Healthy Church Look Like?” 2 Thessalonians. 1:1-4 It is hard to know what it takes to be healthy these days. Almost every week we hear how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Fig Tree Cursed And Temple Cleansed Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 9, 2018

In this Passage Jesus performed two acts of judgment: He cleansed the Temple, and He cursed a fig tree. Both acts were contrary to His usual manner of ministry, because He did not come to earth to judge, but to save (Jn. 3:17).

-Monday- Bethany to Jerusalem (2) Fig Tree Cursed and Temple Cleansed (Jer. 7:11) Matthew 21:10-19 (focal passage), Luke 19:45-48, 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:10-19, Luke 19:45-48

Denomination: Baptist

The Fruit Of Gentleness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 9, 2021

The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, you recall, not as a vulture or a screeching hawk, but in the form of a dove, the symbol of gentleness. Jesus will be forever praised in heaven as the Lamb of God, the creature of gentleness.

Bill Hybels, the popular pastor of the Willow Creek Community Church, one of the fastest growing churches in America, admits that he is not a tender hearted person. By nature he is often cold, hardhearted, and indifferent to the hurting world around him. In his book Who Are You When No One's ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

A Servant Mother Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

She is the only mother of the twelve that is referred to in the New Testament, and she is the mother of two of the twelve that Jesus picked for his disciples, and these two were in the inner circle with Peter.

One of the paradoxes of life is the many famous people we don't even know, and many of them are mothers. F.W. Boreham, the great Australian preacher, tells of the English mother Mrs. Trollope who saw her husband and children dying of consumption under her very eyes. She nursed them and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:10-18

The Courtroom Of Heaven Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Satan is no amateur accuser. He knows that if you can bring the best man to a fall, you don't have to worry about lesser men. Satan goes right to the top. God is so proud of Job that he flaunts him before Satan.

The FBI has some amazing ways of bringing criminals to justice. One of these ways is by means of the Petrographic Unit of their famed laboratory in Washington, D. C. This unit is devoted to the analysis and identification of different kinds of soil. They know what soil is from a South Dakota ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:6-12

The Little Man With A Big Need

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 22, 2022

This is a popular text with preachers, and I have heard several intriguing titles for it besides the one I am using today.

Here are some of them that I recall: • A man who went out on a limb for Jesus • The Salvation of Shorty the Racketeer • The Short Scoundrel that Seriously Sought The Saviour • Seeking the True Vine By Sitting In A Tall tree Any of these titles would be appropriate for this sermon, but I have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Prodigal's Father Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 7, 2021

Fathers need some encouragement. There are two things I see in the parable of the Prodigal that can be an encouragement to fathers, for these two things make it clear that fatherhood is hard, but that there is hope. The two things I see here are the intricacy and the intimacy of fatherhood

We live in the age of the marvelous machine. In Washington D. C. the traffic for a half mile around the White House is controlled by a computer system. The system is constantly telling the lights when to change to move the traffic according to the need. 450 buses have a transmitter which is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Friends In High Places Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 18, 2014

What impressed Jesus in this story was the faith of the men who'd brought their friend to him - a friend who was crippled and lived in a low place of life. The phrase is "Jesus saw their faith." What does that mean? And what can it mean to us?

A few years back, Garth Brooks came out with a popular Country and Western song called: “I’ve Got Friends In Low Places” How many of you have ever heard the song? (when most of them raised their hands, I stage whispered: “Pagans”) It has a catchy tune, but it is NOT a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Parable Of The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 12, 2017

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep." (John 10:1-2)

Jerusalem Parable of the Good Shepherd John 10:1-21 The ancient sheepfold of that day still exists in many towns in that land. It was a public sheepfold. In the evening all the shepherds who lived in the town would bring their sheep to the sheepfold and turn them in for the night. They would ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Apostles' Creed: Comfort In God's Judgment Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Aug 14, 2019

Jesus will return to Judge. Because Jesus is the Judge, there is 1) justice, 2) accountability, and 3) grace.

APOSTLES’ CREED: Comfort in God’s Judgment In last week’s message on the Apostles’ Creed, we looked at how Jesus ascended into heaven, where he has all authority and power, advocates for us, and is holding a place for us. The next sentence of the creed looks to the future: “From there he will come ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-6, 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Romans 3:21-26, Revelation 20:11-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Samson: Shortsighted And Short-Circuited

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 14, 2002

This message deals with the characteristics of Samson’s sad life, and the lessons to be learned from his mistakes.

Samson: Shortsighted And Short-Circuited Text: Col.3: 1-6; Judges 16: 19, 20 Intro: Samson is one of the more colorful figures of the Bible. As a child in Sunday School, his physical exploits captured my youthful imagination, and filled me with wonder and admiration. I tended to overlook, ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:19-20, Colossians 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Robbed By Relationships Series

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Mar 20, 2006

The first of four messages on the threats to spiritual identity theft.

Identity Theft March 12, 2006 Robbed By Relationships Intro: I need a volunteer. Did you ever take the ACT/SAT? This will be kind of like that. Have you ever seen one of these? I want you to take a few seconds to put these shapes into the canister. According to our Vandy alumni this is ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:4-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Revelation To Thyatira - Jezebel In The Church. Series

Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004

The letter to Thyatira - addressing people who follow false teaching.

The Revelation to Thyatira - Jezebel in the Church. As with all the other churches that we have studied, Christ’s letter to this church had four elements 1) an introduction from Christ 2) commendations 3) condemnations 4) promise to those who overcome. THE CITY OF THYATIRA Before having a look at ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29, Revelation 3:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Mark (Jesus Suffering Servant) Series

Contributed by Rick Thiessen on Jan 3, 2005

An overview of the gospel of Mark for seekers, looking at his specific view of Jesus as hard working, suffering Son of God, ransom for the world.

SE120504 GOSPEL TRUTH 1. Mark WHAT’S “GOSPEL” We’ve all heard this phrase: It’s the GOSPEL truth, man! Which means we think something is absolutely true, there’s total veracity… but that’s not what it meant to the people who coined the term. The Greek word we get it from is actually a compound ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love The Church Honestly Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Jun 24, 2013

The Church, our messes, Jesus' love

LOVE THE CHURCH HONESTLY Revelation 2-3 (p861-863) June 23, 2013 INTRODUCTION Do you know how you can tell if someone really loves you or not? It’s not so much if they hug on you and smile at you in your presence…Don’t get me wrong, that’s encouraging and nice, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ