Sermons on readers digest: showing 571-585 of 13,244

Servant

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 19, 2004

In the opening verses of this letter Paul introduces himself to the believers in Rome. When he wrote this letter he had never been to Rome, so naturally he gave a brief description of himself and his special status in the church.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family’s housekeeper: “It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Lies In Disguise—battling Temptation

Contributed by Mark Roper on Nov 20, 2007

Temptations may be bold, or subtle. Temptations may be good things to stand in the way of Devotion Temptations are for one purpose to destroy us

Lies In Disguise—Battling Temptation Matthew 4:1-4:8 I think that we all understand what temptation is. There is a story told about a little boy in a grocery store that I think illustrates the nature of temptation. The boy was standing near an open box of peanut butter cookies. “Now then, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-8

Denomination: Church Of God

Judgment Will Be No Joke

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 5, 2004

God is a God of justice. One day Jesus Christ will dispense that justice with unswerving and unquestionable accuracy on those who have rejected salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary.

JUDGMENT WILL BE NO JOKE Text: Rev.20: 11-15; Acts 17: 31 Intro: The Great White Throne Judgment is an event that is still at least 1,007 years in the future; but it is as certain as death. It will be God’s final act of justice upon sin and the sinner. This judgment will be unlike many ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Accused People Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 11, 2008

Like a prosecuting attorney, God levels accusations against the nation of Israel.

The Accused People (Malachi 2:1-17) 1. It gives us great satisfaction when someone gets caught cheating. Bonnie Jones shares this story: "I was in the express lane at the store quietly fuming. Completely ignoring the sign, the woman ahead of me had slipped into the checkout line pushing a cart ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christ At The Center Of Your Life Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jul 19, 2020

I pray this captures our hearts as we consider that there is no part of our life that escapes the presence of Christ - and that’s a comfort for us all.

CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE Colossians 3:12-17 Introduction Christ is in the Center of everything! -The center of our Faith and Prayers -He is our only Hope - Christ in You, the hope of glory! -He is at the Center because of who He is -He gives us the power to see it through by making ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Simplicity

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 21, 2005

From all indications Paul was a brilliant scholar and could have overwhelmed his listeners with intellectual arguments, but he shared the simple message of Jesus Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide his words.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: One man who was on the path of true simplicity was, according to the Talmud, a certain Rabbi Zusya. He once said, “In the coming world, they will not ask me: “Why were you not Moses?” They will ask me, “Why were you not Zusya?” (Reader’s Digest, March, 1980). In this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 12, 2005

. This section is one of three sections in II Corinthians devoted to a listing of Paul’s sufferings. Paul was not afraid of suffering because he knew that God controls trials, and God uses trials for His own glory.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: Driving through Texas, a New Yorker collided with a truck carrying a horse. A few months later he tried to collect damages for his injuries. “How can you now claim to have all these injuries?” asked the insurance company’s lawyer. “According to the police report, at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Language Of The Church

Contributed by William Mouser on Aug 2, 2006

Scripture -- all of it, read copiously over a long time -- shapes our minds and brings us light, far more than the narrow sectarian vocabularies of our cradle faith.

Psalm 47, Exodus 28:1-4,9-12, 15-21, 29-30, 1 John 5:9-15, John 17:11b-19 The Language of the Church I read a lot of blogs focused on Bible and theology. Something I read this week dovetails nice with our Lord’s words in the gospel lesson appointed for today. There is an online version of a ...read more

Scripture: John 17:11-19

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Lessons I Learned From Abraham Lincoln

Contributed by Tim Richards on Jul 3, 2005

A July 4th sermon about spiritual lessons I learned from an in depth study of Abraham Lincoln.

Introduction: 1. This morning as I begin my sermon on the lessons I learned from Abraham Lincoln I want to share a series of 5 questions about former presidents. They may or may not be about Abraham Lincoln. I will tell you that at least one of them will have Abraham Lincoln as the correct answer. ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day Series

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Nov 26, 2007

Learn the story behind the writing of the famous carol and the points of application from the message of the carol

Everyone loves the Christmas carols! Today I am starting a series of messages based on the stories behind the writing of the carols, and the message in the carols themselves. Take your hymnal and turn to hymn 98. The first carol we shall study is “I heard the bells on Christmas Day”. Look down ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:14

Denomination: Baptist

The Stubbornness Of Human Nature Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 15, 2008

What seems obvious to some seems unlikely to others, especially when confronted with the claims of Christ.

The Stubbornness of Human Nature (Acts 4:1-22) 1. Some people are hard to reason with and won’t take "no" for an answer. 2. Patsy Dancey tells this story: Hospital regulations require a wheelchair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found an elderly ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Paul's Principles For Handling Crises

Contributed by Paul Fritz on May 21, 2004

Paul came out of his crises even stronger in faith, courage, hope, and credibility. Every crisis that you pass through will either make you bitter or better - the choice is up to you!

How Paul the Apostle Handled Crises Acts 27:21-Acts 28:1-20 Illustration: Test pilots have a litmus test for evaluating problems. When something goes wrong, they ask, "Is this thing still flying?" If the answer is yes, then there’s no immediate danger, no need to overreact. When Apollo 12 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:21-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hitting Bottom Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 16, 2009

Sometimes we refuse to bear down spiritually until we or our family hits bottom.

Hitting Bottom Genesis 34:1-35:14 1. Jim Lopardo tells this story: I was a percussion major when I was in college, and during a rehearsal of the student orchestra, my section kept making mistakes. "When you’re too dumb to play anything," the professor conducting us sneered, "they give you a ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Doubting God’s Provision

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Mar 19, 2017

Like the Israelites of old, we are quick to complain and grumble and quarrel, and our fight really is with God, doubting his provision, forgetting what he has done for us in the past. But God is present and at work if we will only trust him.

Exodus 17:1-7 Doubting God’s Provision Do you wake up grumpy in the morning? No, just let him sleep! (That’s an old joke.) I went to the dentist this week, and I heard a patient in the cubicle next to me grumbling about the fee. She said, “Two hundred bucks for one tooth extraction! And it’s only ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7, 1 Corinthians 10:4-11, Philippians 2:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus The Lion Lamb!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 15, 2019

Jesus Christ is represented in the Book of Revelation by two animals, animals that are, in a sense, opposites: one gentle, one bold and vicious.

Jesus the Lion Lamb! (Revelation 5:1-10) 1. A man named Sam is lying on his death bed and his wife is sat by the side of the bed holding his hand. He looks at her and in a weak voice said: "Mary! Do you remember 60 years ago when we got married? I'd just started that business venture ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-10, Psalm 2:7-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible