Sermons on Responding To Stress:

A Blue Christmas Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 13, 2009

What happens when Christmas doesn’t go according to plan? How do we handle it when circumstances rob us of the joy of the season? How do we respond to a "blue Christmas?"

OPEN: John Simmons tells about a grade school class that was putting on a Christmas play which included the story of Mary and Joseph coming to the inn. In that class was one little boy who wanted so very much to be Joseph. But when the parts were handed out, his biggest rival was given that part, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Duty To Forgive Our Enemies

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 12, 2009

To the rabbi who wrote "The Virtue of Hate," we must respond that the real Enemy is not Osama bin Laden, and the real Victor is Christ, who bade us to forgive and pray for our human enemies.

November 15, 2009 33rd Sunday in Course The great division. The end. The separation of sheep from goats, of good from evil, of winners from losers. That is the day we anticipate, not just on the 33rd Sunday in Course, but every Sunday, and indeed every day of our lives. If we don’t arise each ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-18

Denomination: Catholic

Every Time The Church Doors Open

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 11, 2010

Preached 1985. What merits our coming to church frequently? We need to come with the expectation that God will meet us in the presence of His people. And then we will respond with prayer for the church, not mere criticism or complaint.

They tell the story about the fellow who on one Sunday morning woke up, struggled out of bed, shuffled downstairs for his breakfast, and then announced to his mother, "Mother, I’m not going. I’m just not going to church today. I don’t feel like it, they don’t care for me down there, I don’t need ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Cheer

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 20, 2020

Christmas is a time of cheer. You might respond with, "not this year. The Christmas cheer has been replaced with Christmas fear!" There was both fear and cheer surrounding the events of the first Christmas.

CHRISTMAS CHEER There's a Christmas song titled, Holly, Jolly Christmas. It starts out, "Have a holly jolly Christmas; It's the best time of the year. Now I don't know if there'll be snow; But have a cup of cheer". I wonder what's in that cup? But Christmas is a time ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-15, Matthew 1:18-21, Luke 1:39-49, Luke 1:67-79, Hebrews 2:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seek The Lord

Contributed by Jerry Owen on Dec 3, 2019

God calls out to us to come to Him. He gives us free will as to whether we follow Him or reject Him. How we respond, though, will affect our lives and eternal destiny.

SEEK THE LORD IS 55:1-13 1. GOD’S OFFER OF MERCY. IS 55:1-3a 1 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. 2 “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Prescription For Happiness Sermon V: Be Merciful Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Dec 23, 2019

A fact of human nature is that it's no necessarily what happens to us that matters as much as it is how we respond to adversity. Jesus taught that a merciful attitude is a sure way to experience contentment in this life.

PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12 Everybody I know wants to be happy. However, it appears to me that some folks may not understand what true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 5:7

Harassment: The Blessing No One Wants Series

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Jun 15, 2016

This is the last sermon in our beatitudes section of our Sermon on the Mount Series. It deals with how we handle persecution and harassment, by recognizing the source, responding positively, refusing to retaliate, rejoicing as we remember the reward.

Sermon on the Mount “Harassment: The Blessing No One Wants” Matthew 5:10-12 Tonight we’re finishing the beatitudes section in our Sermon on the Mount series. The message we’ll be looking at is how we are to handle being harassed or persecuted for our faith. It’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Foursquare

Zophar’s Second Attack On Job Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jul 10, 2017

How we respond to people who are hurting STILL matters. Our ability to show grace, compassion, and love to those around us is critical, and it's something we see quite clearly in these conversations.

Zophar’s second attack on Job Job Sermon Series, Part 10 Introduction (Job Slide) - We are continuing to examine Job’s conversations with his friends -- Re: These men came in Ch. 2 to sit with him and mourn his loss - They appear to come to comfort … but quickly their real motives are ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Handle An Unjust Attack (Ii) Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 25, 2017

This is the 2nd part of message begun previous week. This sermon comforts believers with assurance that God is working things together for their good and instructs them on how to respond to unjust attacks from other people.

pt. 2 Matt. 10:29-31 10/30/16 Last weeki we introduced our text in Mark 10:29-31. “So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:29-31, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, Matthew 5:10-48, Romans 8:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

God's Guidance: Finding Your Way In Uncertain Times

Contributed by Mark Sanders on Aug 3, 2015

We all face trials and tests in our Christian lives, but it is not the trials and tests that are significant, but how we respond to them. This sermon is an example of how I learned to rely on God more in uncertain times.

SLIDE # 1 GOD’S GUIDANCE: FINDING YOUR WAY IN UNCERTAIN TMES PROVERBS 3: 5-6 When I left here last week, I was suppose to be finished with one week-long intensive course, home for the weekend, and heading to another week-long intensive course at IWU for next week. But, due to some ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Right Way To Fast For God

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jun 9, 2015

When we respond faithfully to those people God puts before us, we will also fulfill part of God's purpose for our lives---and we will be worshiping God in a faith-filled manner.

We all know the story of the three wise men who came to see the baby Jesus after he was born, but did you know that there is a story about a fourth wise man? The story says that he left with the other three to follow the start in search of the baby Jesus. Along the way he was constantly distracted ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12

Denomination: Anglican

Count It All Joy

Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 7, 2014

We’re going to look at James’ outrageous proposal, why Christians - above all others - are destined for trials, and how Christians should respond differently to them than other people.

COUNT IT ALL JOY James 1:1-4 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: EVOLUTION JOKE 1. Orangutan One day the zoo-keeper noticed that the orangutan was reading two books - the Bible and Darwin's Origin of Species. 2. Surprised, he asked the ape, "Why are you reading both those books?" "Well," said the orangutan, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Calling Series

Contributed by Josh Foster on Feb 18, 2014

1) 'calling' is an invitation to follow; 2) calling is the adventure as following unfolds; 3) to respond to the calling in faith will involve some “leaving”; and 4) calling always originates with and centers upon Jesus.

Just Words: Calling Scripture Text: John 1.43-50 INTRODUCTION Mindin’ his own business! He was minding his own business, …sitting under the shade tree, …doin’ his devotions. That’s-what Nathanael was doing just-before his friend, Philip, came and turned-his-world ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-50

Denomination: Nazarene

Bridling The Tongue

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 31, 2013

The same tongue which responds to God’s manifest glories by blessing His holy name also denigrates the poor - the widow, the orphan, and the resident alien - who, like us, are made in His image.

BRIDLING THE TONGUE. James 3:1-12. “If anyone thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26). James 3:1. James begins his elucidation of this text with a warning against seeking pre-eminence amongst the brethren. This ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Mind To Work

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 12, 2022

Disapproval and discouragement can result from ridicule. We should choose not to respond in the same manner or to become discouraged when we are ridiculed for our faith or criticized for doing what we know is right.

Many years prior to Nehemiah’s time, the Northern Kingdom had been conquered and many were taken captive to other lands. The conquering nation introduced prisoners from other lands, which led to intermarriage with the few Israelites. This blending of the races produced the people known as the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible