Sermons on Refining Place:

Reflection

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 13, 2012

Jesus' cleansing of the temple graphically proclaims that the temple was no only needed. Jesus is the the temple and with the Holy Spirit in us, we become a temple. God is among his people, bringing in his kingdom.

John 2:13-22 “Reflection” INTRODUCTION I have always found the scene of Jesus cleansing the temple puzzling, if not troubling. It seems so out of character for Jesus. Certainly, he has shown anger before at the hardheartedness and judgmentalism of some people, but he has never ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22, 1 John 2:13-22

Denomination: Lutheran

Turning Religious Reluctance-8

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Sep 11, 2018

8 of ? Jesus bore witness of His Messianic identity to a reluctant but religious woman. God’s people bear witness of Jesus’ identity to reluctant religious people. What does it take to turn that religious reluctancy around? Turning religious reluctance to God requires...

TURNING RELIGIOUS RELUCTANCE-VIII—John 4:1-26(:28-30, 39-43) Turning the Religious Lost Attention: Think Twice Before Continuing down the path you’re on! The Church exists to turn the world away from it’s errant way! Everybody lives by a ‘religion’—a set of spiritual & secular values that ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Series

Contributed by Larry Grant on Oct 16, 2021

We are commanded to see that there is peace in the family of God. Paul teaches that each person is responsible for their own actions in this matter. “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

Romans 12:17-21 “Overcoming” (Prevailing or Conquering or Defeating) I. V.18 Live Peaceably - Here, we are commanded to see that there is peace in the family of God. Notice that God says that each person is responsible for their own actions in this matter. “If it is possible, as much as depends on ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On A Round Peg In A Square Hole

Contributed by William Meakin on Mar 14, 2025

The idiom and literal definition of “A round peg in a square hole” suggests a person who is unsuited or lacks congruence or affinity for a particular job, situation, or environment.

Steve Jobs, the California-born former CEO of Apple once remarked: “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-2, Ephesians 4:29, Romans 12:2, John 3:16

Exodus Part 8 (Nasb)

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Jan 12, 2025

Israel's obedience of Yahweh's instructions; the offering of the materials and the recognition of the artisans (c/o Word Biblical Commentary)

The Tabernacle Underwritten 36 “Now Bezalel, Oholiab, and every [a]skillful person in whom the Lord has put [b]skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work [c]in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with everything that the Lord has commanded.” 2 Then Moses ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

Two Heavens And Two Earths?

Contributed by Jason Jones on Jun 10, 2024

This morning I want to cover three misconceptions and three foundations for our study, then a final comparison

Background to passage: Beginning our new summer series on Heaven. Some of the material will be based on Randy Alcorn’s study called Heaven if you are interested in further reading. One of his opening hypotheses is that the subject of heaven is rarely and only casually dealt with in church life, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Come Rest A While Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on May 31, 2022

There are two dangers in Christian life. First, is the danger of excessive activity, work without rest. Second, is the danger of too much withdrawal. Jesus calls to balance it.

Mark 6:31-32 Come Rest a while He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while” —for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat. (AMP) Joke: A husband checked into the hotel. Then he decided to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:31-32

Denomination: Methodist

Taking No Chances

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 24, 2023

Incomplete obedience is disobedience. And yet, many fellow Christians attempt to serve God while living for the world. We need to discover the will of the Lord and courageously do that will.

“In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 15:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

How To Stay In Hope In A Dark World

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Nov 28, 2022

One could say we all have a hope meter inside each of us, the amount of hope we have in any given moment. Maybe my hope meter is at 100% full up, I’m centered on hope, this is where jesus wants me to be, in my mind and heart.

Showing up at the first pastor’s job 3 years ago was pretty scary stuff. It was me, a cook, a caseworker, and a driver. That was it. New officer, scared, unprepared, hoping that somehow, he can make a difference in this crazy world. Not knowing a single person in the city, driving in late at night. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-2, Romans 15:8-13, Romans 8:22-30

Denomination: Salvation Army

As The Silver Is, So Are We Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on May 17, 2008

Message looks at the correlation between the refining of silver and the Christian life.

As The Silver Is, So Are We Scripture: Malachi 3:1-3; 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 13:22; 1 Corinthians 3:11-14 Introduction This will be a two part series that I have titled “As The Silver Is, So Are We.” I received an email several months ago about the refining of silver. In the email, a women’s ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There's No Place Like Home Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 16, 2022

It is the cross and the promise of a life after this one that makes this world, with all its ups and down, with all its sorrow, with all its conflicts and challenges all that much more bearable when we know that all of this is just temporary.

“There’s no place like home.” Who said it? Right … Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Why is that line so iconic? As soon as you hear it, you see Dorothy … aka Judy Garland … holding Toto, clicking the heels of her ruby red slippers three times, and uttering the words … “There’s no place like ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, Matthew 25:31-34, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Revelation 4:2-10, Revelation 21:1-2, Revelation 21:16-27, Revelation 22:1-6, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Psalm 33:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

A Passion For Purity

Contributed by T. Michael Crews on Nov 30, 2006

Expositon of Zech. 13 dealing with God’s cleansing and refining.

A Passion for Purity Zech. 13 God desires for us to be pure; we ought to desire to be pure. Dr. James Dobson’s relates the story of a family where the rule was nobody attended “R” rated movies. When 3 teens came to dad to ask permission to see a rated “R” blockbuster, they laid out their case in ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 13:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Kingdom Keys Habakkuk Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 6, 2023

Living in Faith is an action leading to greater faith in Jesus and in the refinement of us

So maybe you’ve heard it said, ‘read your bible’ so you tried and failed. Our hope as leaders is that all of us will pick up God’s word and come to understand the true nature of God. After all, the bible is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 12:3, Ephesians 2:8, Galatians 2:20, Habakkuk 3:17-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let God Burn Your Field!

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 8, 2013

What's in your field?

In the parable of the sower we see that the fields of the heart are affected by many things and even the good field's harvest varies. Mark 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

God Looks At The Heart Series

Contributed by Obeth Jebakumar on Dec 23, 2020

God “tries the heart,” “sees the heart,” “refines the heart,” and “searches the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. In both the Old and New Testaments, the word “Heart” refers to the center of an individual’s mental, emotional and spiritual life. Put another way, the heart is the “innermost ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, Acts 13:22

Denomination: Methodist