Sermons on Reluctancy:

Christmas News: The Angels Series

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 8, 2014

We need to be seized once more by heavenly realities – just as Zechariah was. We need to experience something like a shock to our smug certainties that whittle God down to a manageable size and leave us underwhelmed by the mysteries of eternity.

Angels have fallen on hard times these days. Hardly anyone thinks about them anymore…except at Christmas, of course. But even at that, people don’t much believe in them. Although…I knew a woman – a member of this church at one time: She told me that she had actually seen an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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

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

Keep Watch

Contributed by Tim Walker on Jun 17, 2020

Most of Jesus’ parables are aimed at telling us about the kingdom of heaven or what it will be like when that kingdom arrives.

Most of Jesus’ parables are aimed at telling us about the kingdom of heaven or what it will be like when that kingdom arrives. Now this passage begins with the phrase, “At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be like,” and then he goes on to describe a scene from a very typical Jewish wedding at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

Kindred Spirits

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Jan 13, 2021

God has designed the created order with the foundational communities of the family and church. They reflect his gracious providential care, especially through the blessings of love, grace and a sense of belonging.

Matthew 12:46-50 [Read text] The cover photo from the Mother’s Day issue of a Christian magazine showed a neatly groomed and well dressed little brother and sister serving their mother an artistically arranged breakfast in bed on a silver platter. In a subsequent letter to the editor, a mother ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:46-50

When Your Theology Bumps Into The Facts Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 16, 2021

A lengthy story about a man born blind provides a clear picture of what happens when your theology bumps into inconvenient facts. Will you reach for God or cling to your predetermined ideas?

SEEING THE LIGHT: The man was blind but saw by believing and obeying Jesus. - John 9:1-7. a. We’ll get more into the confusion in a moment, but the disciples echo the prevailing theology of the time and presume that someone must have sinned for him to be blind. - vv. 1-2. - It was a theology ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Trample On God's Grace: An Overview Of The Book Of Nahum

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Feb 25, 2021

God had graciously spared Nineveh in Jonah's day. But their repentance did not last. Josiah started a reformation but it did not last either. Judgment awaits those who trample upon the grace of God.

Don’t Trample on God’s Grace: An Overview of the Book of Nahum Introduction We continue our study in the Minor Prophets today by taking a look at the Book of Nahum. We don’t know all that much about the prophet. Nahum identifies himself as an Elkoshite, but scholars have difficulty identifying ...read more

Scripture: Nahum 1:1-15, Nahum 2:1-9, Nahum 3:1-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sacrifice Is Not Sacrifice Where There Is Love...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 3, 2016

You can give and not love, but you can never love and not give. What can I give God to thank him for his blessings he pours out on me?

SEE SACRIFICE IS NOT A SACRIFICE WHERE ONE IS COMMITTED IN LOVE... By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF A GOOD QUESTION? Psalm 116:12 (KJV) What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? Psalm 116:12 (NLT) What can I offer the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Revival (Section 3) What A Revival Of Religion Is (From Charles Finney’s Lectures) Series

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Mar 28, 2019

Religion is the work of man. It is something for man to do. It consists in obeying God.

Revival (Section 3) WHAT A REVIVAL OF RELIGION IS (From Charles Finney’s Lectures) Theme Scripture Habakkuk 3:1 -2 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. 2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:1-2, Acts 8:5-17, 2 Corinthians 9:4-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

No Prison Doors Can Hold Me Down

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 19, 2016

There Are Many Iron Gates, Chains, Darkness, Prisons, death threats, fears, that hinder and imprison believers. Some are Self-righteousness, Pride, Worldly pleasure, The approval of the world, Doubt, Weariness in our labor for Christ, Discouragement.

NO PRISON DOOR CAN HOLD ME DOWN ACTS 12:1-19 1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

Denomination: Charismatic

The Parable Of The Laborers: An Exposition Of Matthew 20:1-16

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Sep 9, 2020

Parables are more than stories from life. They illustrate something greater.

The Parable of the Laborers: An Exposition of Matthew 20:1-16 Have you ever wondered about what Jesus did between the time he astonished the rabbis in the Temple when He was twelve years old and the time He came to John the Baptist for baptism when he was about thirty years of age. All Luke tells ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 19:16-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

The Prayer Of Jesus

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jul 3, 2012

The power of prayer and Jesus ability to intercede for His children.

The prayer of Jesus John 17:1-17:18 Introduction- Happy Father’s Day! This morning we look at Jesus praying what is called the priestly prayer to the Heavenly Father. We definitely can tie this to a Father’s day message in the fact that Men, we should be leading and praying for ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-18

Denomination: Nazarene