Sermons on Rational Control:

It's All About People

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 25, 2025

God calls us to release control, embrace peace, magnify good, and trust Him to change people while transforming our hearts.

Introduction One interesting thing about people — they are everywhere. You can’t get away from them. Think about your day today: the barista handing you your usual beet root kale smoothie. That driver who cut you off on the freeway. The e-mail you got earlier from a coworker. The text you sent to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:16, Romans 12:18, 1 Peter 5:8, Matthew 25:1-10, Romans 12:21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

We're On God's Team

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Sep 18, 2023

One of the unquestioned beliefs in the Church today is that God is in control of everything that happens in our lives and on this planet. This message addresses this belief using the analogy of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as coaches of a football team.

Turn with me to Romans 12. We're going to read verses four and five. (4) For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: (5) `So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Some years ago, a well-known professional ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:4-5, John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 12:14, 1 Corinthians 12:18, Jeremiah 15:16, Psalm 19:14, Psalm 138:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Ephesians 4:25, Ephesians 4:29, 1 Peter 1:1-7, Matthew 4:4, Isaiah 55:10-11, Hebrews 11:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The War Within Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 7, 2011

Being human we are born with certain default settings that drive us to think in certain ways. When we become a Christian a war starts between a new nature seeking to establish a beachhead and take over and the old regime that wants to stay in control.

The human mind is self-rationalizing. In other words, we will rationalize our thoughts and actions according to ourselves, rather than to some external source. Even when we read something or hear something and alter our behavior, it is because we choose to believe that thing we read or ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Fervent Prayer From The Bell Of A Fish

Contributed by Jim Mccutchen on Mar 12, 2017

One of the most powerful prayers ever uttered came from a desperate preacher that found himself in a unbelievable situation. YOU will learn how to pray when the storm is beyond your control.

FERVENT PRAYER FROM THE BELL OF A FISH We come the theme -- Character’s that build Character. We will park in Jonah 2 and discover a desperate prayer from a desperate Preacher who was cast into the sea and swallowed by a big fish. Jonah 1:17 unequivocally states, “7 Now the LORD had prepared a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10

Denomination: Christian Church

Our Sovereign God Series

Contributed by Rule Digal on Jan 6, 2006

Many of us are perplexed of the evils around us. Doesn’t God care anymore? Take heart! God has the sovereign control of every event. Every incident is always in line to what He has in mind.

Theme: OUR SOVEREIGN GOD Daniel 1:1-7 Intro. A. Looking at the evils happening around us, we would be tempted to think that the Devil and his evil forces had won the world over God. The evils and the ills we have seen seem to be beyond remedy, and God seems to have no concern any longer. It seems ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

So Why Are Bad Things Happening To Good People? Series

Contributed by Alis Cerrahyan on Jul 9, 2019

Trying to get even with the enemy will turn a simple lesson in humility into a huge humiliation which is never God's plan for us. So the sooner we walk away from our oppressor without any retaliation; the sooner we give God the opportunity to right the wrong.

God created a special place for his beloved children: the garden of Eden where we were meant to have an eternal fellowship with him. He made us after his own image and decorated us with his own attributes such as the ability to think; reason; speak; create; love; increase; experience the many ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19

Series: Wow! Whose Young Daughter Is That? (Part 5) Behold A Woman Lay At This Feet?

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 9, 2020

Obedience to the plans of God for our lives can lead us into very tempting situations. Often times, things you desire most will crawl to your door. But always maintain godly integrity even in the midst of lack. Ruth lie at Boaz's feet, but no sex occurred.

SERIES: “WOW! WHOSE YOUNG DAUGHTER IS THAT? (PART 5) BEHOLD A WOMAN LAY AT THIS FEET? – AS IT TURNED OUT (RUTH 2:3) 1. Ruth 3:7-14: 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:7-13, Ruth 2:1-5

Denomination: Charismatic

David's Inaction (School Shooting)

Contributed by Daniel Park on May 18, 2018

This sermon was in response to the horrific shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS in Parkland, FL. Lessons from David's inaction when...1. Tamar was raped by Amnon; 2. Absalom murdered Amnon; 3. Absalom was plotting to overthrow his throne.

As a father of 2 kids in school, I still cannot process what I saw on the news this week. This is no longer a story that happened to some stranger in a different state, as a parent of 2 kids entering that age where they will be attending our school system very soon, this story affected me this week ...read more

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Paul's Sermon At Athens: The Unknown God Made Known, Part 2

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jun 12, 2021

Paul told the Athenians that God is not limited in power or His will and plans nor distant from His creation. This went against everything the Greeks had believed about the gods and goddesses they worshipped but with whom they had no relationship.

In his message to the Athenian elders concerning the true and living God, Paul shows us the characteristics of spiritual leadership in his application of responsibility and accountability for what is not just a teaching on God but a strategic plan in the invisible war between Almighty God and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 45:12, Acts 4:24, Acts 7:50, Acts 17:24, Hebrews 1:10, Hebrews 11:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit God Gave Us

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 21, 2020

The Spirit of God lives in each twice-born follower of Christ. Because He lives in us, we are enabled to walk in power, to love as God loves, and to act with divine wisdom. God calls us to be controlled by the Spirit He placed in each of us.

“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” [1] She was a recent convert to Christ, and she was in tears when she phoned me. The lady was suffering from disquieting events that were occurring each night. Each evening after retiring to her bed, a malevolent presence ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

"blessed Are The Meek"

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Hulse on Apr 29, 2023

"Blessed are the Meek" is one of the Beatitudes, a set of teachings given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. This specific Beatitude states that those who are humble, patient, and gentle will be blessed and inherit the earth.

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES (Matthew 5:5) "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Psalms 37:11) "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (James ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5, Psalm 37:11, James 3:13, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 25:9, 1 Peter 3:15, Titus 3:2, Colossians 3:12, Galatians 5:22-23, Isaiah 29:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Is Our Source

Contributed by Larry Norman on Sep 12, 2001

My prayer is that God will use this tragedy to bring America to its knees—not in an act of despair, but in a reliance on an Almighty God who is ultimately in control.

Intro: As the events of yesterday began to unfold, my emotions ran the gamut, as I’m sure did yours. Ø Shock Ø Disbelief Ø Horror Ø Anger Ø Outrage Then I began to ask a searching question. “Could we begin experiencing the judgement of God on our nation?” I am NOT saying that that is what this ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Beauty And The Beast

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Jan 20, 2003

This sermon deals with our tendency to sin and Jesus’ ability to free us from Sin and its control. It is patterned after a writing by Max Lucado

Beauty and the Beast Rom 7:15, Mat 27:26-31, Mat 25:40, Psa 51:5, Isa 53:6, Jer 17:9, Rom 3:10, 23, Heb 12:14 Pro 10:16, Isa 50:6, Gal 3:13, January 15, 2003 I. I am sure that most you know the story of the beauty and the beast. I know that since my kids got the animated video that I know ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15, Matthew 27:26-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Lion Is A Lamb: The Humility Of God Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 13, 2002

We can rest in the fact that: 1. God’s strength is disguised as weakness. 2. God has a plan. 3. God is in control.

In chapter four of the book of Revelation, John describes a scene in heaven which is beyond words. God is seated on the throne. He rules the universe. He has the right, the authority and the power to end the world. And he is surrounded by living beings that John has never seen before, and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

A Tormented Heart - Demon Possession - Occult - Satanism Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 17, 2005

A Controlling Spirit, A Constant Sabotage, A Controversial Salvation. The story of the possessed slave girl who was saved. Link included to Formatted Text and PowerPoint.

A Tormented Heart Acts 16:16-24; Deut. 18:10-12 ----- Link is below... ----- Last time, the Vision, the Venture, and the Victory…Paul heard God saying, Go west, young man, and we saw the gospel come to Europe, and we looked at Lydia, the first of “our kind” to be saved…she was a “tender heart”. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-24

Denomination: Baptist