Sermons on Return Forbidden:

U-Turns Encouraged Here Series

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 22, 2023

A four part series on Jonah. A good reminder that you can run… but you can’t hide from God! Teaching sheet at the end of the text.

“U-turns Encouraged Here” Jonah 1:17-2:10 Pastor John Bright Jonah 1:17 “Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 2 “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly. 2 And he said: “I cried ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, John 3:16, Deuteronomy 31:6, Revelation 2:6, Matthew 5:23-24, 2 Timothy 4:2, Ephesians 4:18-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Conflicting Signals

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 18, 2023

More important than knowing WHEN Jesus is coming is remembering that he HAS come, and he WILL come.

How many of you read the comic strip Peanuts? Anybody here NOT read Peanuts? Tell me, what do you think when you see Lucy with the football, holding it for Charlie Brown to kick? She always manages to talk him into it, doesn’t she? And he runs to kick the ball and she snatches it away and he falls ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-36

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Person, Purpose, Penman, And Promise Of The Book Of Revelation (1:1-3)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Dec 1, 2023

This message centers on the best method of interpreting Revelation, and how it presents to us the things that have been seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.

The book of Revelation has been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misrepresented by many people. This last book of the Bible has been avoided because many seem to believe that it cannot be understood and that reading, studying, and preaching from it somehow tends to lead to confusion. As I ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, Matthew 18:1-8, Philippians 2:5-11, Revelation 1:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Things We Can Know About The Second Coming

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Feb 5, 2024

There are at least seven things we can know about the Second Coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ found in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. And the apostle Paul, who wrote this letter, explains these things so that we will not be ignorant about them.

Alba 2-4-2024 SEVEN THINGS WE CAN KNOW ABOUT THE SECOND COMING I Thessalonians 4:13-18 Janine's family had a special treat for breakfast occasionally. When a hog was butchered, their mother would fry pig brains and serve it on homemade bread. In honor of that, it became a tradition at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Fresh Encounter With God

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Sep 8, 2024

God’s desire is that we experience a fresh encounter with Him. But what does a fresh encounter look like? To answer this question let’s see what a fresh encounter with God looks like through Jesus’s letter to the Ephesian church and in the life of the prophet Isaiah.

A Fresh Encounter with God Revelation 2:1-7 Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvUgyQZ-yGM As we begin our series, “Energized to Engage,” which is speaking to our vision on how we can energize our transformation so that we can be those disciples of Jesus, engaging our world ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8, Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Foursquare

Meeting In The Air (1 Thessalonians 4)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 29, 2024

Many no longer use the term rapture, because it is often confused with a so-called "secret" rapture. Let's look at meeting the Lord in the air, in 1 Thessalonians 4.

Meeting the Lord in the air at His return, was once called the rapture. Many no longer prefer that term because it is so often confused with a so-called “secret” rapture. Regardless of our personal theories, the important thing is that we are ready for Christ’s return. Let’s discuss this in 1 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Transformed By Truth: Hope In The Resurrection 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on May 31, 2024

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 speaks to the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ and the resurrection of believers. As we delve into this scripture, we will uncover three transformative truths that anchor our faith and guide our lives.

Transformed by Truth: Hope in the Resurrection 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Introduction: Today, we gather to explore the profound hope and assurance found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. This passage speaks to the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ and the resurrection of believers. As we delve into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:30-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:52, John 14:3

Denomination: Pentecostal

Apocalyptic Hope

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on May 20, 2025

This sermon explores God’s prophetic plans for the Church, Israel, and the nations. It centers on the rapture, rise of the Antichrist, and Christ’s return.

3 MAIN GROUPS IN BIBLE PROPHECY There are three main groups to keep in mind when reading bible prophecy/apocalyptic writing. The Gentile Nations The Jewish Nation of Israel The Church Now, the reason that I bring this up as we get into the tribulation again today, because we want to keep each ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:12-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Your Favorite Prophet False

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 27, 2021

It is time to return to seek the old prophets as many of the the new ones have missed the mark and are suspect.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1, Matthew 7:21-23, 1 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Ayeka - Where Are You?

Contributed by Dr. Harold Elam Jr on Aug 20, 2016

Where Are You? It is a question asked in Genesis 3:9. Adam and Eve had just eaten some fruit from the forbidden tree and, sensing God's presence in the Garden of Eden, they hid among the trees. While they were hiding, God asked Adam a one-word question.

Where are you?" Where are you? It is what we ask our children when they knock over the living room lamp and hide behind the sofa with their foot sticking out. Where ARE you? Today God has allowed me the opportunity to reveal a Rhema Word Ayeka (Where Are You), Some Spiritual Principals and most ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-10

Denomination: Christian Church

End And Beginning

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 8, 2015

What shall we do as we await the return of Our Lord Jesus Christ?

33rd Sunday in Course 2015 End and Beginning The Book of Daniel and St. Mark’s Gospel have one important thing in common: they were both written in times of persecution of the faith. Daniel was published–probably through a kind of underground press–in the persecution of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-32

Denomination: Catholic

The Signs Of The End Times

Contributed by Craig Condon on Nov 28, 2015

When we see natural disasters and conflicts, we can be sure that Christ’s return is near. We must be ready, because he could return at any time. The promise of his return offers us hope.

At first glance the reading we just heard from Luke 21:25-36 seems to be out of place during Advent. After all, most of us think of Advent as a time to prepare for Christmas. That is only partially true. Advent is also a time to remember and prepare for Christ’s Second Coming, and that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25-36

Denomination: Anglican

Anticipation Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on May 4, 2006

We must wait patiently for the Lord’s return because it will be worth the wait.

Anticipation Text: James 5:7-11 Introduction 1. Read James 5:7-11 2. Illustration: Do any of you remember the old Heinz Ketchup commercial that played the song "Anticipation?" The point of that commercial is that the best things in life are worth waiting for. 3. Well I know something that ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Let It Go Out! Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Nov 22, 2017

Jesus warns us to be ready for His return. He warns us because the danger and threat is real. To do so, He tells us story about 10 virgins who are waiting for the return of the Bridegroom. The parable is explained and applied to the hearer.

In Annie Dillard’s Teaching a Stone to Talk, she talks about a British Artic expedition which set sail in 1845 to chart the Northwest Passage around the Canadian Artic to the Pacific ocean. Neither of the two ships and 138 men on board returned. Why? They packed their ship like they were going ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Dec 7, 2017

John the Baptist helps us get ready for Advent. He points us to baptism, repentance, and the Mighty One, Jesus Christ. This sermon looks at the text and then shifts into an application with two illustrations.

To borrow the words of Meredith Wilson: “It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go.” Thanksgiving is done and the leftovers are consumed. Black Friday is over. Cyber Monday and Cyber week are finished. This week, we had our first real taste of winter and Minnesota weather ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran