Sermons on Refining:

How To Build A "Mega" Church!

Contributed by Dwight Jones on Nov 27, 2005

We trumpet high impact ministry with all of its frills. Our services are filled with video clips, movie clips and unfortunately scripture clips. We take more time and efforts refining our delivery than we do making sure that what we are delivering has H

In practically every gathering of ministers there is a subject that comes up; that subject is church growth. “How do we get people to come to church?” We have answered that question with a thousand books and yet by and large we are losing the battle for souls. In spite of our best efforts, we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:10-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Fragments Of Our Lives

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 12, 2018

Our God is concerned about the fragments about what is left. Yield to the will of God, Give him every portion every fragment of your life. Allow him to mold you, to refine you into the image of His Son. Our inadequacy makes room for His sufficiency! Updated July 2021.

Read one of the following Gospel Texts: Matthew 14:13-21 / Mark 6:30-44 / Luke 9:10-17 /John 6:1-14 We have a story before us ... in the Gospel text ...that has been told ... and retold. An event from which ... numerous lessons ... have been drawn. One of the blessings ... of having four ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:3, John 6:1-15, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:10, James 2:26, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, John 6:1-14, 1 Kings 17:13, Luke 21:1-4, Luke 9:10-17, James 2:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Transformed To Be Like Jesus

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Mar 2, 2025

God's Spirit is at work in us, refining us, growing the fruit of the Spirit in us. He is transforming us to be like Jesus. How do we sometimes resist this? What does it mean to see each other as ones who are being transformed by the goodness and grace of God?

March 2, 2025 Sermon - “Transformed to Be Like Jesus” Nature is an incredible thing. Most of us have likely had our breath taken away at the site of something in creation. Barbara and I spent our 35th anniversary in Jasper, Alberta and I’m frankly still in awe of the extraordinary beauty of that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:13-15, Exodus 34:29-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Expectations & Excuses

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 7, 2025

In Genesis 3:8-13, the refining of our expectations and removal of our excuses is shown in three ways through 1) God’s Gracious Call (Genesis 3:8-9), 2) God’s Gentle Question (Genesis 3:10-11), and 3) God’s Grace for Our Excuses (Genesis 3:12-13).

Genesis 3:8-13. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-13

Denomination: Other

In The Fire! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 24, 2021

Don’t be surprised or ashamed by the fire. Instead, be glad in the fire, glory in the fire, and give yourself to God in the fire.

Kathryn Leatherwood from Washington, Ohio, recalls spending a week with a roomful of VBS preschoolers. Many of them had been first-timers and attended with loud protests. Toward the end of the week, she noticed Jessica adjusting her colorful headband with a look of frustration. After quieting yet ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:48, 1 Peter 2:5, Acts 26:28, Acts 11:26, Acts 7:55, Exodus 40:34, Romans 8:18, Revelation 20:14-15, 1 Peter 4:12-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

God Was With Him Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 11, 2010

Why did God allow Joseph to suffer as he did? Why not show his love for this great hero of the faith by removing him from all the difficulties of life?

OPEN: When I was taking my kids home from King’s Island (an amusement park in southern Ohio) yesterday we were listening to a Country Music station that was playing a popular song by a group named “Ricochet”. The song told the story of a man who was sitting in church when he noticed a young woman ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Judgment Of The Almighty Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Sep 12, 2022

The Old Testament prophets predicted a day so alarming that even those who are religiously careless wake from their moral sleepiness. They frequently refer to it as “that day” when the nations are judged.

It is widely regarded as one of the best films of all time, Shawshank Redemption was released nearly thirty years ago in 1994. It became an instant classic telling the tale of an innocent man in prison who eventually gains his freedom through a satisfying escape plan. And if watched any TV in the ...read more

Scripture: John 8:33, Romans 12:19, Malachi 3:17, Malachi 3:2, Acts 17:30-31, Luke 6:23, Matthew 19:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Romans 2:5, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 1 Corinthians 5:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

It's All About Jesus Series

Contributed by Mike Rickman on May 3, 2004

The world needs to know that the Question is not, "What can God do for us?" it is "What can we do for God. It’s not about us. It’s all about Jesus.

Text: Malachi 2:17-3:7 Subject: The Coming King Title: It’s All About Jesus As we have gone through the book of Malachi in the past couple of weeks we have seen that although the prophecy is meant for the nation of Israel, every part of it has a practical application for Christians as well. ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Proven Love Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 21, 2019

Peace with God is nothing to be taken lightly; it took God’s immense sacrificial love to attain, and its effects in our life can be surprising, it includes walking through difficult times.

Proven Love (Romans 5:1-11) 1. We Vasiceks are in the midst of living out the implications of the verses we are about to study this week.I can’t say what God is teaching others, but it has been an intensive therapy for my patience and hope muscles. 2, You know the rough experiences we had this ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"preparing The Way: Embracing Peace "

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 10, 2024

Advent is a time of anticipation and longing—a season that calls us to consider how we can welcome the peace of God into our lives and our world.

Good morning/afternoon, everyone! As we gather in this sacred space during this Advent season, we are invited to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Advent is a time of anticipation and longing—a season that calls us to consider how we can welcome the peace of God into ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-5

Denomination: Methodist

From Prisoner To Prince Series

Contributed by Rodney Kelley on Sep 3, 2009

Joseph went thru trials he didn’t understand so God could prepare him for something bigger. Sometimes trials we face are a result of God making us more like Him.

Intro. For the sake of time, I will not read the entire text. Remember, Joseph has been sold and scandalized. He was in the middle of a storm that was God’s plan for him. I. The Dedication - vs. 4 There are two imprisoned with Joseph. There may have been a conspiracy to kill ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Prophet Among Us

Contributed by John Knight on May 2, 2002

Becoming aware of hidden fallacies in our life and in our church.

A Prophet Among Us John 2:12-25 Jesus is often known in his roles as priest and king, but not as often in his role of prophet. What is a prophet? The voice of God! Special calling/ special experience The Spirit of God delved into the lives of ordinary men and transformed them into ...read more

Scripture: John 2:12-25

Denomination: Holiness

You Purified Me To Be Yours

Contributed by James Kirkland on Aug 29, 2006

We are in awe of what He has done and what He is going to do, that is the kind of statement we need to use when we speak of our awesome God.

You Purified Me to Be Yours I have an AWESOME God. I Have an AWESOME, AWESOME God. I have a God that will part the water so I can walk through on dry ground. I have a God that will create a big fish to shallow me up and spit me out on dry land. I have a God that turns darkness into light. I have a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-3

Denomination: Nazarene

A Consuming Fire Series

Contributed by Peter Parry on Feb 28, 2002

Our God is a consuming fire.

A Consuming Fire (Heb.12:29) I have always been intrigued by that concluding verse in Hebrews 12:29: …for our God is a consuming fire What does that mean? God is a consuming fire. Most of us are familiar with the story of Sodom and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:29

Denomination: Congregational

Message 1 - 1thessalonians Chapter 1 - A Church You’d Like To Belong To Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 27, 2022

Paul had such a refreshing memory of the Thessalonians and they were dear to his heart. In part, Paul recounts his time among them, and their wonderful testimony and their waiting for the Lord. There are 2 separate messages for Chapter 1.

MESSAGE 1 - 1THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 1 - A CHURCH YOU’D LIKE TO BELONG TO {{1Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.”}} INTRODUCTION The opening verse of 1Thessalonians is so typical ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Acts 26:14, Acts 17:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:17-21, Malachi 3:2-3, 1 John 2:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational