Sermons on Reluctance:

Overcoming Perfectionism

Contributed by Paul Fritz on May 10, 2006

As the saying goes, perfectionists take great pains, and they give them to others.

Overcoming Perfectionism (Heb 12:2) "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith." (Heb 12:2) "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is my made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12:9,10) "Every good and perfect gift is from above." (James 1:17) "He who began a good ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Searching For Christmas

Contributed by John Harvey on Nov 30, 2006

Finding the central focus of Christmas in the busy society of America.

“Searching for Christmas” December 3, 2006 Me: One of my favorite Christmas memories is of an event that happened when I was about six years old. I am the youngest of six kids, and Christmas around my house when I was growing up was a wild adventure. I remember on this particular Christmas that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Helping Children To Know God

Contributed by Robert Leroe on May 10, 2015

Children need to know God's Truth; they can't simply take on their parent's beliefs, but need to understand and receive the truth of God on their own. Parents have a responsibility to guide children in the way they're to go.

Being a parent is an enormous responsibility. I can’t think of anything in life that’s more challenging. I’ve been to war, and I’ve had kids; war was easier. Proverbs 22:6 tells parents to “Train up children in the way they should go, and when they are old, they ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Denomination: Congregational

God, The Supernatural Healer

Contributed by Craig Condon on May 20, 2015

How do we respond to people who come to us for help? Do we ignore them? Do we listen to them and then send them on their way instead of helping them? Do we just throw money at the problem by making a donation or do we lower ourselves like Naaman did?

A missionary lady was sitting by her window as she opened her mail. In one letter she found a crisp, new, ten-dollar bill. She was pleasantly surprised, but then she noticed a poorly dressed stranger leaning on a post by her window. She couldn't get him off her mind. Thinking that he might be in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15

Denomination: Anglican

The Jonah Connection Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jun 10, 2015

Jesus makes a connection to Jonah and his "sign" to the people. The connection appears when he and the disciples cross the Sea of Galilee and face the storm before he cast out the Legion of demons from the possessed man.

1. Swallowed by Whale In the late winter of 1891, the whale-ship 'Star of the East' was in the area of the Falkland Islands when it sighted a whale. Two boats were sent out with harpoons to catch and kill the creature. But the whale's lashing tail overturned one of the boats spilling the crew into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Man’s Way Or God’s Way

Contributed by Chris Beam on Apr 26, 2015

Jesus challenges his disciples, the crowd and us to surrender ourselves to what God has planned for us, rather than holding on to worldly things for our own comfort.

Series: The Book of Mark Man’s Way or God’s Way Text: Mark 8:31-9:1 What does it mean to be a Christian? Some people think that just because members of their family are Christians, then that automatically makes them Christians. Others think that just because they were baptized then ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Into All The World

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 15, 2013

God wants us to do things His way

Into all the World Matthew 28:16-20 Introduction This morning’s passage is often called the “Great Commission”. All of the Gospels have a Commission although there is some variance of how it is worded. As a good teacher, Jesus would have repeated the Commission at various times ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Kingdom Of Heaven (Part 6) Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 31, 2015

What is clearly revealed here is that doing the will of God must ultimately find expression in following Jesus. You cannot do God’s will and not follow Christ. Apart from allegiance to him by faith, there is no salvation.

Opening illustration: One dark and stormy night, a gang of thieves broke into a jewelry store, but they were on a mission with a difference. They didn't steal a thing. But they carefully went round the whole shop and switched all the price tags. Then they left. The next day, the staff came in, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:23-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Amos: Enduring Grace Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jan 14, 2013

God's warning is an act of grace, an act of love and a gift of hope. His desire is not to condemn but to save.

[Read Amos 7:7-17] Amos saw a vision – God standing by a wall that has been built true and straight. • He was also holding a plumb line in His hand, to confirm that the wall has been build true and straight. • If the wall is true, the plumb line will prove it. If it is not, then ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Funeral For A Believer

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Aug 24, 2012

The story of Bartimaeus provides an excellent text for a funeral with both a clear gospel message and encouragement for the family: Mr 10:50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

Funeral for a Believer Mr 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. Mr 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-50

Denomination: Pentecostal

Praying Without A Sense Of Failure

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Sep 6, 2009

When it comes to prayer most of us feel a sense of failure and some of us give up. This need not be. There is no one-size-fits-all method. You can be encouraged and enable in your prayer life.

COLOSSIANS 4:2-18 ’Devote yourselves to prayer’ PRAYING WITHOUT A SENSE OF FAILURE INTRO One of the great discoveries we make as Christians, particularly when we begin to read the early chapters of Genesis, is that we were created by God, NOT to go it alone -- not to live a life disconnected from ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-18

Denomination: Baptist

"Hilarious Giving"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 17, 2009

A sermon on stewardship.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 “Hilarious Giving” By: Rev. Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN “God loves a cheerful giver,” writes Paul to the Church in Corinth. What a concept… …That giving will make us happy! But it’s the truth! Anyone who’s ever dug down ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Denomination: United Methodist

Prayer Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Oct 4, 2009

Pretty much everyone under the right circumstances prays. The key question is are you praying to the right person in a way that they will hear you and respond? Learn some important key ingredients to powerful prayer.

Last time we talked about not condemning people—because we don’t know their eternal state, nor are we qualified to make a decision about someone’s position with God. We talked about how God is the only one qualified to know the heart, and He is capable of making a fair and just decision. A lot of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

From Trouble To Triumph Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Aug 4, 2009

Trials in the life of a Christian are a norm. But it is how we handles those trials, that separates us from the rest.

From Trouble to Triumph James 2:2-12 Intro Trials in the life of a Christian are a part of life. How we view those trials and handle them is a whole different story though. The Scriptures mention at least eight purposes for the Lord’s allowing trials to come to the lives of His ...read more

Scripture: James 2:2-12

Denomination: Baptist

When Heaven Celebrates Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 18, 2010

Heaven celebrates the salvation of even one sinner. Let us understand the heart of God for the lost, treasure every person and experience the joy of reaching the lost for Christ.

[Read Luke 15:1-10] In Luke 15, Jesus tells 3 stories. * Each story speaks of something lost and then found. A lost sheep. A lost coin. And a lost son. * And at the end of each one, Jesus describes a party, a celebration. * The shepherd throws the party for the lost-now-found sheep. * The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible