Sermons on Religiously Comfortable:

Funeral Sermon

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Mar 2, 2001

A "generic" message based on Psalm 23 that easily accomodates a variety of situations. Pastors will find that adding personal notes about the deceased is easy to do. This sermon may be particularly helpful when conducting a funeral of someone the minister did not personally know.

Psalm 23 Funeral Meditation by the Rev. Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh Pittendreigh@aol.com For centuries the Twenty-third Psalm has been one of the most treasured passages in all of Holy Scripture. It is among the most familiar, so much so that even people who are not religious or very ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6, John 6:37-40, Psalm 6:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Breakfast By The Lake

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Apr 10, 2008

This was written and delivered as a memorial Homily for Michael Cutrer [Ka-trair]. Executive Chef at Rocky Gap State Park Lodge near Cumberland, MD (the lodge sets right next to Lake Habeb. Therefore it was written and delivered as a memorial to his life

Breakfast by the Lake John 21: 9b; 12-13 Written by Paul E. Dietz as a Memorial Homily The wood had now burnt long enough to be glowing embers of charcoal. The fire was cracking and popping a little. The waves were slapping the shoreline of the lake. A mist was rising off the water and being ...read more

Scripture: John 21:9-13

Denomination: *other

Diary Of A Deserted City

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 30, 2019

Diary of a Deserted City

DIARY OF A DESERTED CITY (LAMENTATIONS 1) The last few months have not been easy for everyone in Hong Kong – from friends to family, and from the congregation to the pastors. No person is untouched. In September 2019 I cried for two minutes before I step up the pulpit in the Putonghua worship to ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Diary Of A Deserted City (Lamentations 1)

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 14, 2020

Lamentations 1

DIARY OF A DESERTED CITY (LAMENTATIONS 1) The last few months have not been easy for everyone in Hong Kong – from friends to family, and from the congregation to the pastors. No person is untouched. In September 2019 I cried for two minutes before I step up the pulpit in the Putonghua worship to ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How The Catholic Church Crisis Impacts You & Me

Contributed by Alan Scott on Jun 27, 2002

The moral failure of the priesthood within the Catholic Church points us to look at the priesthood of all believers and how we can avoid the same pitfalls.

“How The Catholic Church Crisis Impacts You & Me” 6/23/02 ACC Alan Scott C.T. – The moral failure of the priesthood within the Catholic Church points us to look at the priesthood of all believers and how we can avoid the same pitfalls. Text – I Samuel 1, 2, & 3; I Peter 5:9 INTRO: There is an ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Has Spoken. Are You Listening? Series

Contributed by Dale Mcintire on Feb 10, 2009

God contextualizes his message for every age, inlcuding ours.

I. God wants you to know. A. “One of the most commonsense principles in the physical realm of everyday life is a clear knowledge of one’s earthly position and earthly possessions.” (Hannah Whitall Smith, Everyday Religion) 1. Illustration: Balancing the Monthly Checkbook a. I’m two weeks ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

When The Church Is Scattered

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 23, 2021

Studying the response of the first church when persecuted can encourage a proper response to disruption of services in the modern church in the West.

“And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” [1] Fairmeadows Church met at seven o’clock each Wednesday evening for a prayer meeting. One evening, rather than going ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1

Denomination: Baptist

The God Of Circumstances Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Feb 21, 2022

Trust in the providence of God when you can't feel the presence of God.

Recently, someone posted a picture of me and my second-grade classmates. In case you’re wondering, I’m the burly and buff looking guy on the top left (next to the star). I noticed I’m not smiling which goes along with my thug-life, tough-guy image. This picture reminded me of an alarm system my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 23:12-35

Denomination: Baptist

I Was Blind But Now I See Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jul 14, 2025

When this man was healed, you would have expected a celebration, but instead all he got was confrontation. You would have thought that everyone would have been happy for the blind man. You would have thought this story would have been on the front page of the Jerusalem newspapers.

Liz wanted to catch an earlier flight, but her work meetings ran long. She was the valedictorian of her class and graduated from Georgetown law firm. She had been texting with her mother throughout the day and looking forward to returning home to DC for her 33rd birthday. When she was supposed to ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Baptist

Beatitudes--More Than Skin Deep

Contributed by Daryl Bahn on Nov 3, 2001

Jesus’ Beatitudes are a splash of frigid water in the face of the self-righteous, but a cup of refreshing water for God’s forgiven saints who are weary of the ways of the world. (All Saints Day, 2001)

BEATITUDES—MORE THAN SKIN DEEP (Matthew 5:1-12) The Beatitudes are like a splash of ice-cold water in the face of those who are self-satisfied and full of themselves. The Pharisees, for example, were wealthy, successful, powerful, and very religious. They thought the coming of the Kingdom of God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Troublemakers For God Series

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Aug 11, 2004

Sharing Christ to a secular world. Are we troublemakers? Or are we peacemakers?

I have been reading the report from the 9-11 Commission. I’m fascinated by some of the things I’m learning, but I also find myself feeling angry once again that our nation was so ruthlessly attacked. I find myself thinking of all of the victims, the families and relatives of those who died, the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Painful Letters Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Sep 15, 2003

Love’s priorities will not allow it to sit idly by and watch even when the action required involves causing great suffering. Love knows how to discipline best!

Chapter 2 1 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus And Lazarus Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Feb 28, 2010

Jesus raises dead things. Lazarus, jolted out of his reward, was just the first.

Sermon for CATM – February 28, 2010 – Journeying with Jesus: Lazarus (John 11:1-44) Today we continue our Journey with Jesus to the cross. This is the second in a series on the events that lead up to Jesus’ own suffering and death on the cross. Last week we looked at the Transfiguration. We ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Come And Follow Me

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Jan 25, 2003

When I have experienced the joy of God’s message, I offer it also to others who need it. But not with tricks or wrong methods, but inviting, attracting, luring and offering, just as God does it.

One evening, a social worker received a telephone call, saying that an old man had a fall on the way, as he went for a walk, and immediately needed help. The social worker called up his colleage, who was a voluntary helper, and asked him to come along. The colleage replied, “Wait a moment. I must ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Catholic

Slippery Slopes Series

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Oct 20, 2008

This message answers a question on backsliding.

TOUGH QUESTIONS BIBLE ANSWERS Slippery Slopes July 30, 2008 The question tonight has to do with an issue we see all too much in congregations everywhere—backsliding & even turning away from the Faith. 2 Peter 2:20-22—How does this apply to a backslider who comes back to God? Let’s notice a few ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:20-22

Denomination: Wesleyan