Sermons on Rags To Riches:

Matthew 6 – Part 6 - So Are You Saying God Wants Me To Be Poor? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Feb 4, 2010

Now here’s a passage that many Christians use to say that we ought to live in poverty and give away everything we own to the poor. Or the watered down version says that we should never be rich, only just earn enough money to live.

Matthew 6 – Part 6 - SO ARE YOU SAYING GOD WANTS ME TO BE POOR? I’ve never had all that much money in my life. Still don’t. But I’ve never lived in poverty either. I remember being down to I think $10 in our account. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be rich, but mostly all I want is to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

And How Hot Is Hell?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 15, 2010

Dramatic monologue, as if the speaker were "Dives" ... an appeal to move beyond "cool" and distant religion into compassion.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC January 26, 1986 I am Dives; and I have come to you today only because for this brief moment the unbridgeable is bridged, the chasm is spanned. I can speak to you only for a little while, and even then I am not certain that I can fully get through to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

At The Gate

Contributed by Chris Surber on Sep 25, 2009

What Lazarus is at the gate of our house? How do we move from pride to compassion?

At The Gate, Luke 16:19-31 Introduction Isn’t light self-revealing? Do we need to stand out in the street and shout to those who pass by, "That’s the sun," as we point to it in all its brightness? The sun is self-revealing in the same sense that Jesus Christ was and is the Light of the world. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Christian Church

"The Punishment Of The Man Who Never Noticed"

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Sep 24, 2010

We live in a very wealthy land...God has blessed us but are we mis-using our wealth? Do we notice the poor, the child captured by child trafficing, homeless prenant teenager.... can we help? or do we not notice. Our culture has taught us to "want more"

In Jesus Holy Name September 26, 2010 Text: Luke 16:19-31 Pentecost XVIII - Redeemer “The Punishment of the Man Who Never Noticed” A number of years ago Shania Twain, Country Female Artist of the Year had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Lutheran

The Vanity Of Wealth Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Oct 10, 2010

In today’s lesson we are warned against a greedy pursuit of wealth and encouraged instead to enjoy God’s daily gifts.

Scripture In his quest to find out how to live a meaningful life the writer of Ecclesiastes addresses the issue of the vanity of wealth. Let us read Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9: 8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Complacent Church Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jan 21, 2008

The Laodicean Church had become complacent & apatetic about the cause of Christ because its members were involved in the worldly activities of the affluent society in which they lived. Jesus tells them that He would not accept their luke-warm attitude.

Revelation 3: 14-22 THE COMPLACENT CHURCH [Matthew 2:19-34] The letters to the seven churches are God’s X-rays, given so that we might examine our own lives and ministries. Judgment is going to come to this world, but it first begins at the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Baptist

Drawn Upward: Embracing The Pleasures Of This World Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Apr 10, 2009

THE PLEASURES AND GOOD THINGS OR THIS WORLD ARE INTENDED TO DRAW US UPWARD RATHER THAN DISTRACT US.

Something is Out There: Rumors of the Invisible World of the Sacred God 3/22 Drawn Upward--Embracing the Pleasures of this world INTRODUCTION John and Cathy Skip Church (drama) subject: Seeking Heaven on Earth Bruce D. Rzengota John and Cathy Skip church for a ski trip John and Cathy on a ski ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Candidates Of Heaven And Hell

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on May 9, 2011

his message is for two groups of people: those who are candidates for heaven and those who are candidates for hell. You can divide the whole Christians into those two groups any day anytime.

Luke 16:19-31 says, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Eye Of The Needle Principle

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on May 21, 2011

One of the most difficult teaching (Yet true) teachings of Jesus concerns the "eye of the needle". While this is not a theological exegesis of the text, this message speaks to practical truths found in this text.

The Principle of “The Eye of the Needle” Luke 18:18-30 * "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." These are the words of Jesus as recorded for 3 of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-30

Denomination: Baptist

I Heart Money Series

Contributed by Brent Eubank on Oct 27, 2009

We are discussing different things we love more than God, and money is our focus in this lesson.

This is my wallet. I have had this wallet since I was in 7th grade. I got for Christmas from our family’s German exchange student, Eike. She lived at our house for a year and this is the wallet that she gave me. It is from Germany. In fact, it had a little German piece of paper in it until it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-26

Denomination: Baptist

I'd Rather Have Jesus Than Have Riches Untold

Contributed by Bo Dunford on Jan 21, 2009

Jesus is better to have than great wealth.

LUKE 18:18-30 “I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS THAN HAVE RICHES UNTOLD” A) A wealthy man was moving into a new house and his next door neighbor just happened to be a Quaker … The Quakers, as you know, believe in simplicity and plainness of life! * The Quaker neighbor watched as the movers carted in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-30

Denomination: Baptist

Embracing Life And Living Life Among Others Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 31, 2016

Sooner or later, we must revise our expectations downward and realize that it is not God’s will for us to always feel happy. Instead, we must embrace all of life with a view toward loving God and loving others.

Embracing Life and Living Life Among Others (topical) 1. Does your life ever feel like this? 2. I was reading recently about a man who awoke one morning to find a puddle of water in the middle of his king-size water bed. In order to fix the puncture, he rolled the heavy mattress outdoors and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Making Long-Term Investments

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jul 31, 2016

We are really good at accumulating stuff. But how often do our possessions begin to possess us? Jesus warns us about the dangers of greed and calls us to be more than our net worth, challenging us to invest rather in godly pursuits.

Luke 12:13-21 Making Long-term Investments Wow! Today’s passage is a little shocking for those of us who enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in this greatest nation on God’s green earth. By world’s standards, we are the richest of the rich. We may not be one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, 1 Timothy 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Rope To Thread Series

Contributed by Joe Tilton on Sep 2, 2013

Is it okay to be rich? Should we "hate" our family to follow Christ? These questions are answered through understanding original intent.

September 8, 2013 Rope to Thread Definitions! What do we really understand from the words that we use? Recently, a “Mother’s Dictionary” was written that includes some ways mom understands certain words, including; Bottle feeding: an opportunity for daddy to get up at 2-am ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: *other

Low Position Vs High Position

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Jan 24, 2013

I. EXORDIUM: Are you poor in high position? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that being rich is you are happy in your low position. IV. TEXT: James 1:9-10 (New International Version) The brother in humble ci

I. EXORDIUM: Are you poor in high position? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that being rich is you are happy in your low position. IV. TEXT: James 1:9-10 (New International Version) The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-10

Denomination: Pentecostal