Sermons on Reality Check:

Love Slaves

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Sep 16, 2006

Jesus’ time of crucifixion was drawing near and here he sat, with his leadership team for the future who still didn’t get it – talk about a desperate and seemingly fruitless reality. Since none moved, Jesus did it. The towel that Jesus wrapped around him

Most of you will be familiar with the term and concept of servant-leadership. It is not a new concept of course. Corporate North America didn’t come up with it and the bright minds of the world didn’t phrase it as a new discovery. One of the Army’s earliest references to servant-leadership is that ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Salvation Army

Debt Makeover Series

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 17, 2014

In this sermon, we explore six principles that lead to financial freedom.

Introduction: A. How many of you have enjoyed playing the game of MONOPOLY? 1. You know how the game works. Players accumulate property, build houses and hotels, and then wait for the other players to land on their property so they have to pay up. 2. Eventually you hope to bankrupt everyone else ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Beloved, Try The Spirits

Contributed by Timothy Shumer on Apr 28, 2002

In Ch.1 John established that we have fellowship with the Father through the Son, and we demonstrate the reality of that fellowship: to the world; and to our self (assurance) - by living a holy life. In ch.2 & 3 we enlarged on the idea of the assurance of

A habit of devout fellowship with God is the spring of all our life, and the strength of it. <Henry Edward Manning, British Cardinal, 1808-1892> + That should be the goal of our Christian walk + And that was our stated reason for starting this series from 1 John + [1:3] = Horizontal AND vertical ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Americas Idols

Contributed by Greg Bryan on Nov 15, 2004

At times, the horizontal totally eclipses the vertical. What I mean is that our relationships with other people are often more important than our relationship with God. Our relationship with God becomes secondary. God is the ultimate reality. Theref

At times, the horizontal totally eclipses the vertical. What I mean is that our relationships with other people are often more important than our relationship with God. Our relationship with God becomes secondary. God is the ultimate reality. Therefore, to be rightly aligned with Him is the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Attaining Your Goals Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 25, 2005

How do you get where you want to be? Naturally we try hard and try to be motivated - and hope God approves of us. In reality we need to trust in the Holy Spirit instead of our own abilities.

What if you had to climb a really steep trail - and somebody came along and said, "here, use my brand new 2004 Dodge RAM SRT-10 with its 500 horsepower engine capable of 525 pound feet of torque - able to reach 60 miles an hour in 5 seconds and tear up that mountain trail!" So you say "thanks" ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Go Fishing...

Contributed by John Nadasi on Jan 20, 2005

A message addressing the reality of time catching up to our rural church. This is an initial call to embrace a paradigm shift within church and society. In order to speak to a new generation, we have to be willing to find new methods of communication.

Matthew 4:12-23 Paonia United Methodist Church January 23, 2005 “When the going gets tough, the tough go fishing” Can you remember back to when I gave you a message that Began with the words… Life is complicated? Well, this morning starts off with a similar statement. Life is rough. It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-23

Denomination: Methodist

Much Grace Was Upon Them All

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Dec 14, 2005

First, Jesus is alive. Really alive. Abundantly alive. Second, because Jesus is alive, a new community of people is formed-—people who demonstrate the reality and power of the risen Christ in their life together. Real life. Abundant life.

When Jesus walked the earth—teaching, and preaching, and healing—-strange things happened. Not strange as in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. More like strange as in counter-intuitive. Strange as in turning upside-down what everyone knew to be true about how the world worked—what was important and ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Wonderful News!

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Aug 2, 2006

Wonderful news for those who mourn and wonderful news for the peacemakers at a time when war rages and bereavement is a reality for many people. This short ’homily’ was used at an all-age service and aims to provide hope for people in awful situations.

For the last few weeks we have been studying St. Paul’s first letter to the Greek Church at Thessalonica. Today we begin to look at some of the teachings of Jesus which have become known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount.’ Jesus was on the side of a mountain (5:1) when he delivered this message. Now, of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Anglican

The Smallville Of Nazareth Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Aug 31, 2007

Everything that Superman aspires to be in imaginary tales, Jesus is in reality—and so much more. The story of Superman is really a modern day parable for the story of Jesus Christ. This is the first in a series of youth lessons title: Jesus Is My Superher

The Smallville of Nazareth Between the child rocketed from the doomed planet Krypton and the symbol of truth and justice Superman is destined to become, lies a vitally important aspect of Superman mythology—Smallville. Catching fire upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, the baby Kal-El’s spaceship ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-20

Denomination: Christian Church

The Toughest Job On Earth Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Aug 15, 2007

One of the uncomfortable realities about parenting is that we don’t know as much as we think we know. This is the final message in our series: Desperate Households. Today’s message deals with parenting, the toughest job on earth.

Introduction One of the uncomfortable realities about parenting is that we don’t know as much as we think we know. When I was younger I used to think I knew almost everything about my kids. But the older I get the more I realize how naïve I was. This is only scratching the surface about my naiveté, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Finding Gold In The Garbage Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 14, 2010

No one whose hope is in God will be put to shame. It is not the harsh realities that defeat us but our inability to see God¡¯s goodness and will in them. Trust the Sovereign God who is in control and still very much involved in your life.

[Main thoughts taken from Max Lucado’s book Just Like Jesus] Theme: A Hopeful Heart Hope is like gold in the garbage. - In the midst of all the trash you find something precious. - In the midst of the darkness you see a ray of light. Look at Jesus at the lowest point of His life - the night ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 25:1-5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Come And See! Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Apr 1, 2013

The heart of our faith is the reality of the resurrection. At the empty tomb three commands were spoken to the two women – “Do not fear – Come and see – Go and tell.” They apply to us today as well!

Come and See! - Matthew 28:1-10 - March 31, 2013 Series: Easter Sunday I’m going to read a few verses to you from the Gospel of Luke as we begin this morning, and as I read them, I invite you to simply listen to what is being said, and to try to grasp the impact that Jesus’ words ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: *other

What Is Faith? Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 2, 2012

What is the real nature of faith? We often think it is blind trust in Jesus to give us what we ask for. In reality faith means a transformation of how you think of life, needs, and your relationship with Jesus.

In this portion of Chapters 7 and 8 Jesus puts His men into several situations to show them what it means to rely on Jesus. Sadly, they don’t get it, but it gives us some great direction on how to trust Jesus in our lives. We leave a situation where Jesus encountered the Pharisees who thought ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Blessed Are The Peacemakers Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Apr 19, 2011

Just as Jesus predicted our world is a constant hotbed of continual armed conflict (Matt 24:6).War is a constant reality of life. It into this world filled with violence and hate that Jesus sends his disciples (followers) as ministers of peace.

“Blessed Are The Peacemakers” Matthew 5:9 Just as Jesus predicted our world is a constant hotbed of continual armed conflict (Matt 24:6).War is a constant reality of life. At least one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Denomination: Baptist

The Resurrection That Was, That Is, And Is To Come

Contributed by Tim Diack on Apr 24, 2011

The wonder of Easter is found in the reality of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. The tomb is empty and our Lord lives! This message invites us to consider our lives in the light of the resurrection of Christ, the new life we can have in

The Resurrection that Was, and Is, and Is to Come - 1 Corinthians 15:12-23 - April 24, 2011 (Resurrection Sunday and Communion Service) Thomas Jefferson is a name many of you are to likely recognize this morning. In his time he was the principle author of the Declaration of Independence, he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-23

Denomination: *other