Sermons on Rational Development:

Forging Our Faith

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Sep 4, 2025

"Forging our Faith" involves the ways in which trials, demands, delays, and daily dependence on God shape and reinforce our reliance on His promises and power. Faith is not developed in a vacuum but in the context of real-world challenges ...

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Imagine a blacksmith forging a sword. The process begins with raw, unshaped metal. The blacksmith must heat this metal to extremely high temperatures, making it malleable enough to be hammered, shaped, and ultimately refined into a strong, sharp blade fit for ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helping Christians Rely On Grace

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 22, 2006

Most people want to be treated in a kind, gracious and respectful way. When one learns how to appropriate the grace of God, interpersonal relationships are developed in a genuine spirit of love. Without a proper appropriation of God’s grace to our communi

Helping Christians Rely On Grace 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV, NIRV, TNIV, KJV) HELPING CHRISTIANS RELY MORE ON GOD’S GRACE THAN ON LAW Learning how to balance the Bible’s emphasis of truth and grace is a continual struggle for most people working with legalists. There is such a thing as ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Attending Your Own Funeral Conclusion Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 1, 2004

It’s A War! Christians should not take sin lightly, but need to focus on developing their relationship to God as the best way to win the battles. Paul offers several arguments to convince us of this. There are other motivations besides merit and fea

Please note: this is part two; part one is simply called, "Attending Your Own Funeral." In part two, I summarized material I covered in part one and added some new material. Attending Your Own Funeral Conclusion (Romans 6:1-23 concluded) 1. The War in Iraq keeps dragging on. 2. We hear both ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Walking In Love - The Process

Contributed by Jeff Budzinski on Mar 3, 2007

· Mankind is born with the tendency to think and act selfishly, but the agape love of God is deposited within your heart when you became born again. Once a Believer develops in love, power becomes available, but walking in love is a process that requires

Introduction · Last week we spoke about the Law of Love and defined the importance of our love walk in our life. · We studied that without love, none of the principles of God work as intended. · We learned that the foundation of all the principles are rooted in the Law of Love. · This week we ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What We Are In Christ

Contributed by Colin Coombs on Jul 29, 2006

Revealing a wonderful progression from one who is a disciple, through to one who puts into action what he is taught, so developing a close relationship with his Master as a loving friend, and being honoured by being accepted as part of the family

WHAT WE ARE IN CHRIST AS SEEN IN JOHN’S GOSPEL I A DISCIPLE John 8:31 31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. [AMP] Disciple: Mayhthv - mathetes - math-ay-tes’; a ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Our Responsibility To Make Judgment Calls Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 1, 2007

Although we do not need to verbally label people, we need to understand where different people are at in their lives and thinking if we are to significantly help them. We need to develop our people skills and direct them toward growth.

Our Responsibility to Make Judgment Calls (I Thessalonians 5:14) 1. A New Barna report came out this week (Sept 07): "The new study shows that only 3% of 16 - to 29-year-old non-Christians express favorable views of evangelicals… "… Among young non-Christians, nine out of the top 12 perceptions ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christmas For Everybody, All Year Long! Series

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Oct 12, 2007

One of the least developed secrets of a thriving healthy church is that if the WHOLE church recognizes and uses their gifts, it will have great impact! God wants to use us, and has specifically designed us to be used for his glory! Part of a series base

CHRISTMAS FOR EVERYBODY, ALL YEAR LONG! --Love, God 1 Peter 4:10-11 (This was for “Family Sunday” at our church and the sermon, though part of an ongoing series on growing a healthy church, was designed more for the many young children that would be in attendance.) “The last time we had family ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Resume In Your Life Series

Contributed by Christopher Sealey on Nov 12, 2007

God’s resume in your life is a document, which contains a chronological listing of experiences in your life through which He was working to instruct, to teach, to counsel and to watch over you. The purpose of developing it is to increase you faith in Him.

Introduction Online encyclopedia Wikipedia.org, defines a resume as a document containing a summary or listing on relevant job experience and education, usually for obtaining an interview when seeking employment. A resume is often the first item a potential employer encounters regarding a job ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:7-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Rooster Crowed

Contributed by John Lowe on May 27, 2013

As a fisherman Peter had developed his muscles by rowing boats and casting heavy nets. He showed his physical strength in the garden; he was strong enough to take on the whole mob.In spite of these qualities, Peter denied the Lord.

Title: The Rooster Crowed Text: (Luke 22:24-25) Scripture Reading: Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-34

Denomination: Baptist

Retraining The Mind, Body And Soul Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

If we are to run the race in life that God has set for us, we must develop a lifestyle of training to be like Jesus. As one noted basketball coach once stated, “The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win.”

 This

Retraining the Mind, Body and Soul Ephesians 4:22-24 In the ancient Greek Olympic games, an athlete would begin training at least 10 months before the race. This training involved rigorous discipline including the athlete’s diet, his sleep habits, exercise routine, and daily running.
The ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:22-24

Denomination: Methodist

Men And Women Series

Contributed by Chad Moore on Aug 21, 2009

Everyone wants their marriage to withstand the challenges of life, the flames of fear, lack of intimacy, debt, and temptation. Join us for our next series as we learn to maneuver through the fiery challenges and help you develop a stronger, more fulfilli

Men and Women Ephesians 5:21-33 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 1. To submit is to surrender “self protection” for the benefit of the team. 2. You can only submit from a position of power. 3. Submission is choosing to give and serve. 22Wives, submit to your husbands as ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Succsexful Series

Contributed by Chad Moore on Aug 24, 2009

Everyone wants their marriage to withstand the challenges of life, the flames of fear, lack of intimacy, debt, and temptation. Join us for our next series as we learn to maneuver through the fiery challenges and help you develop a stronger, more fulfilli

SuccSEXful 1 Corinthians 7:4-5; 6:15-18 4The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Find Joy In Your Relationships Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Oct 10, 2009

This sermon gives five aspects of building good relationships. 1. Stop having selfish AMBITIONS 2. Stop having selfish CONCEIT 3. Increase HUMILITY 4. Increase CONSIDERATION of others 5. Develop a Christ-Like CHARACTER

How To Find Joy In Your Relationships Here is a fact: God has made us to have relationships. We can have a relationship with Him and we can have a relationship with other people. Since the fall of Adam and Eve – maintaining relationships have been a major struggle between man and man - and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Do You Perceive Jesus To Be? Series

Contributed by John Braland on Apr 23, 2014

Who do you perceive Jesus to be? Every person can develop an accurate perception of Jesus by taking three steps: determining who Jesus really is, discovering why he came, and deciding to put their faith in hi

Welcome to Freshwater. We are one church in multiple locations committed to making healthy disciples and we are glad that you are here on Easter weekend. I heard a story about this kindergarten teacher who wanted to teach her students about self-esteem. She said to her class, everyone who thinks ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Came From Within: Jealousy Series

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Mar 17, 2021

Sermon in series about the heart based on the book "Enemies of the Heart" by Andy Stanley. In order to overcome jealousy, we must develop the habit of presenting all of our desires to the Lord and celebrating the blessings He bestows on others.

It Came From Within: Jealousy Each of the enemies of the heart we have talked about in this series has been about debt. Guilt says, "I owe you." Anger says, "You owe me." Greed says, "I owe me." The fourth issue is jealousy and it also is related to debt. Jealousy ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Denomination: Pentecostal