Sermons on Reach Up Down:

Perseverance

Contributed by Dennis King on Oct 25, 2022

Perhaps you've been lucky and haven’t had to endure a lot of life’s common trials and tribulations. If so, “persevering or perseverance” might not resonate much with you?

Perseverance Perseverance means various things to different people at different stages of their lives. Let's rethink some of the situations we encountered where we demonstrated tenacious determination before we discuss biblical characters that displayed exceptional perseverance. What does the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 14:27, Job 42:10, Romans 8:18, 1 Peter 5:8, Hebrews 13:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Turning The Tables Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jun 14, 2012

By his resurrection, Jesus has turned the tables. Rather than be consumed with the present and the temporary, we are able to turn our attention to the hope and eternity. The change in perspective can tyurn our lives up-side-down, or right-side-up.

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 “Turning the Tables” INTRODUCTION I heard a story recently about a young man who had trouble one Sunday getting up for worship. His mother knocked on his bedroom door and called to him that it was time to get up. The young man rolled over and pulled the ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Some People Scandalize My Name Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 10, 2020

Sometimes we cannot be cleared of accusations – at least immediately – before all onlookers; but we can take our case to God. David does just that.

Some People Scandalize My Name (Psalm 7) 1. Larry Norman, the father of contemporary Christian music, wrote a few songs some of you might know: I Wish We’d All Been Ready, Sweet Sweet Song of Salvation, and Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music. 2. Although musical purists in the 1970’s ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 7:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Eagle's Wing Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 7, 2022

God, grant me the courage to change the things I can.

[This the second sermon that is based on Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer/poem "The Serenity Prayer." This sermon is about asking God to grant us the courage to change the things that we can.] Once upon a time, a caterpillar crawled inside a hare’s house when the hare was away and set ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15, Isaiah 40:25-31, Jonah 1:2, Jonah 1:12, Jonah 1:17, Romans 8:28-31, Jonah 2:2, Jonah 3:4, Jonah 4:2, Jonah 4:6-11, Jonah 3:9-10, Isaiah 40:31, 1 Samuel 17:46, Numbers 14:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

The Reluctant, Rebellious, Pouting Prophet: Jonah Chapter 4 Series

Contributed by Pastor Jeff Hughes on Feb 16, 2014

One would think that when an evangelist comes to a large city and practically the entire city repents and comes to faith, that the evangelist would be jumping up and down with joy to God. Not this prophet...

The Reluctant, Rebellious, Pouting Prophet: Jonah Chapter 4 Today's message is the final in a four part series on the book of Jonah. Turn to page 1325 in your pew Bibles to Jonah chapter 4. If you have your own Bible, it is after Obadiah and before Micah in the Old Testament. So far, we've ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Bible Church

Two Sad Sisters Over One Dying Brother

Contributed by Gregory Thomas on Jan 8, 2014

There are a host of women who today could identify with the idea of having someone that they love dying right in there reach, but, feel handcuffed to hopelessness, because there is nothing they can do until Jesus shows up.

Two Sad Sisters over one Dying Brother Sermon Starter John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Writing On The Wall

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 25, 2011

Do we as a body of Christ and as a nation glorify God? Time for each one of us to heed to His warnings, stop testing God; come to Him in complete repentance, reliance and rest on Him alone. Let us not give God an opportunity to write on our walls ...

Opening illustration: Have you ever seen a tragedy coming and could do nothing to stop it? One night as my wife and I were returning from an underground church service, a car passed us at incredible speed, losing control as it sped by. Careening out of control, the car bounced along the center ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get In On What God’s Up To!

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Mar 15, 2015

A missions message the Sunday before the start of a missions conference.

Get In On What God’s Up To! Missions Chuck Sligh March 15, 2015 TEXT: Acts 16:9-10 – “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Wretch Like Me

Contributed by Richard Goble on Jan 7, 2008

No sinner is beyond the reach of Jesus Christ.

Title: A Wretch Like Me Text: 1 Timothy 1:12-16 Theme: No sinner is beyond the reach of Jesus Christ. Introduction: The Conversion Of John Newton At a young age, John Newton went to sea. Like most sailors of his day, he lived a life of rebellion and [wickedness]. For several years, he worked on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

Ugly Praise

Contributed by Gregory J Brice on Jul 22, 2013

Life has a way of bringing you down, BUT God WILL lift you up out of the pit that life throws you in. All you have to do is praise Him.

Joseph’s own brother Rueben was responsible for Joseph’s pit. It was Rueben that suggested they throw Joseph in the pit. We don’t know what happened but whatever it was; we know that Rueben was there when Joseph was thrown into the pit but he was not there when Joseph was lifted ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

She Touched Me

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 8, 2025

In a noisy crowd, one weary woman reached for Jesus—and discovered He’d been reaching for her all along.

1. The Room We’re In Sometimes you come to church, but your mind doesn’t. You sit down, still hearing the argument from breakfast, still turning over what the boss said on Friday, still carrying a silence at home that’s heavier than words. You look at the bulletin, nod to someone across the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5, Mark 5:25-34, Hebrews 11:6, Luke 8:43-48

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Forgetting And Focusing Series

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 8, 2017

Release your past to Christ, both successes and failures. Reach toward your glorious future, living with one foot in eternity as you remember where you’re heading. And daily seek to grow closer to Christ. Make it your daily ambition to know Christ better.

Philippians 3:10-14 Forgetting and Focusing I noticed an odd phenomenon in the military. When people were drawing close to retirement or their discharge date, their whole demeanor changed. They started dragging to formation. Their PT efforts became weakened. Their work grew subpar, or average at ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Over Yourself Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Aug 13, 2019

In this final message of the OVERCOME series we will talk about what is perhaps the biggest and most unrelenting obstacle that we will have to overcome in life... ourselves

Getting Over Yourself One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. AND BTW MGCC - that is a really good thing to do at times. To leave the noise and the crowd (yeah, they’ll be fine without you) and to get alone with God. IN FACT – for some in this room that is exactly what you need to do this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let Us Go Over To The Other Side

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jul 31, 2002

Our destination is sure, our orders are established, but what we have to go through to reach our destination is not known, don’t give up we’re going over to the other side.

(1) (In this phrase is the promise of divine presence) Let us- Jesus has said: I will never leave you nor forsake you but go with you all the way even to the end of the world. (2) (They launched forth) Eagerness, willingness, zeal, enthusiasm They started out with Jesus-the word in the boat, Their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25, Isaiah 53:1-2

Denomination: Pentecostal

Keeping A Clear Head During Mixed-Up Times Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2012

Leading and following during uncertain eras of church life require us to keep a clear head. So does handling life. Paul rehearses some principles that can help us do that.

Keeping A Clear Head During Mixed-Up Times 2 Corinthians 10 1. I had a stressful weak; my sister is approaching death, and she and my brother-in-law had to talk about some painful decisions. 2. It is hard to keep a clear head when you are unsure, upset, and heart-broken. 3. But it is our choices ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible