Sermons on Rite Of Passage:

Clean Hands Or Clean Heart? Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Jun 10, 2012

In this passage, Jesus is dealing with very religious people who allowed their traditions replace the authority of God’s Word. Jesus is not impressed with religious ritual or tradition, rather He is concerned with the condition of our hearts.

The Gospel of Mark #18 – “Clean Hands or Clean Heart?” Mark 7:1-23 Intro – 1. ILL – A man was watching the news one night when it was reported that a car was going the wrong direction on the freeway. The man knew his wife was on that freeway and became very concerned ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Reaction To A Changed Life Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Oct 12, 2011

THE PASSAGE BEFORE US TODAY IS THE UNDISPUTED BIRTH OF THE CHURCH. AND THIS BIRTH IS ACCOMPLISHED IN A VIBRANT, EXCITING MANNER. SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS EVIDENT TO THOSE NOT PART OF THE PROCESS. SO GREAT IS THIS BIRTH, THAT THOSE IN PROXIMITY COME TO FIN

THE REACTION TO A CHANGED LIFE Acts 2:1-13 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

How God Comforts The Downcast Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 16, 2019

This passage shares the encouraging truth that "God . . . comforts the downcast." It also points out one of the major ways that He does that: through the people He's put around us.

DOES GOD CARE ABOUT THE DOWNCAST? He cares enough that He has put the answer all around us. - 2 Corinthians 7:6 – “God . . . comforts the downcast” - We doubt. We feel discouraged and downcast and we wonder if God cares. - And this is a big deal because there are so many today who struggle ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:2-7

Denomination: Baptist

These Three Things Part One Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jan 24, 2019

In these sermon we will unpack a very familiar passage in Philippians 3 and discover 2 things that if we embrace and keep striving to live out, this year can be different... forgetting what is behind and pressing on to what is ahead.

These Three Things #ThisYearCouldBeDifferent 700 years before Jesus put on flesh and invaded our planet, GOD breathed the following words through the prophet Isaiah… to a people who… • Had seen better days • Experienced great suffering • Lost hope • In many ways had no one to blame for their ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:3-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Declarations That Defeat Us

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Feb 25, 2019

Far too many Christians are defeating themselves. And they’re doing it with words. This message looks at Numbers 13 and 14, a passage about the spies sent to verify what God said about the Promised Land.

Are we ready to get into the Word? If you have markers, put one in Deuteronomy 1 and in Hebrews 3. We’re going to open tonight in Numbers 13. The greatest struggle for most Christians is their declarations. Tonight, we’re going to talk about “Declarations That Defeat Us.” We’re going to look at a ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-3, Numbers 13:17-20, Numbers 13:25-33, Deuteronomy 1:19-23, Numbers 14:1-9, Deuteronomy 1:26-32  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Clean Hands And Defiled Hearts Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Oct 18, 2017

I fear too often we major on the minor things and neglect the greater aspects of our faith and service unto the Lord. Jesus confronted the hypocrisy and neglect of the Pharisees. This passage reveals similarities to the modern church.

Clean Hands and Defiled Hearts Mark 7: 1-23 It has been a while since we’ve heard from the scribes and Pharisees, but they were a continual nuisance to the Lord as He ministered among the people. It appears they followed Jesus as often as they could, seeking any means to accuse Him and discredit ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Was The Early Church The "Golden Age"? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 31, 2018

Christians today tend to romanticize the early church as a Golden Age when passages like this one present a picture of a church with plenty of struggles. What does that mean for how we should view the church today?

- Read 2 Corinthians 1:12-17 and 2:1-10. An Early Church Story: - What we are looking at today is just one story from the early church. 1. There was serious sin in the church. - 2 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. - We know this from 1 Corinthians 5 and Paul’s extensive instructions to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12-17, 2 Corinthians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Boo!

Contributed by Michael Brown on May 28, 2018

Teaches what God's Word means in "fear God" & "fear of the Lord" passages. Many people think these scriptures mean we are to be afraid of God. Boo! teaches what these verses are really leading us to do.

Fear is an emotion that is learned early in life. It’s a healthy emotion that could save our lives in time of danger. We fear things like fire, snakes, & strangers who mean us harm. The range of things we fear is very wide. In a healthy family one person we should never fear is our parent. They ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Justified By Faith Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Nov 4, 2019

We are being justified by faith, We have Shalom with God. Justification by faith gives us three blessings according to this passage hope of sharing the glory of God, tribulations to mould our character and reconciliation with God.

Romans 5:1-11 Justified by Faith Introduction: Romans 5:1-11 weaves together themes of faith, love, hope, and glory, threading them through the Life events of Christ on the earth. “justified (dikaiothentes) by faith”. The word dikaioo means to be made just or righteous—not guilty, declared ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

Five Insights The ‘bride Of Christ’ Analogy Gives

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 7, 2019

The "bride of Christ" analogy is one that can be difficult. Looking at several of the New Testament passages referencing that, this sermon unpacks five ideas about the church being the "bride of Christ."

- Beautiful but opaque analogy of the church as the bride of Christ. What does that mean? - That nature and frequency of analogies in the Bible. - The Bible often uses similar analogies as word pictures of who we are. A few examples: a. The branch. - In John 15 Jesus refers to Himself as the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:1-2, Ephesians 5:22-32, Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:9, John 3:29, Revelation 19:7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Decadence Of The King Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 24, 2021

Esther lived within the Persian Empire, an environment hostile to the Hebrew people. Although their situation seemed dire, God had a plan to preserve and prosper His people. The opening passage provides insight to the culture in Persia.

The Decadence of the King Esther 1: 1-9 The opening chapter of Esther reveals the ungodly condition of the society in which God’s people were dwelling. It was a culture that possessed and promoted unbridled lusts and insatiable appetites. The people within Media and Persia had one goal in life: ...read more

Scripture: Esther 1:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Proofs That Jesus Is The Christ Series

Contributed by Glenn Pablo on Sep 23, 2020

As we expound this wonderful passage, you cannot help but see that Jesus Christ is God's Son, the works He performs, and the witnesses who knew Him personally and declare who He is.

INTRO. 1. We are now in the 3rd week of our series in the Gospel of John. - Last Wednesday I’ve shared about the Incarnation of Christ based on the Testimony of John the Apostle who confessed… - Jn.1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen ...read more

Scripture: John 1:19-28

The Importance Of Explaining The Scripture. Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jun 13, 2021

(PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info) Note: in case you are wondering: a mistake was made and the passage I was given to speak on does not truly match the title of the talk!

Reading: Acts chapter 26 verses 26-32. SERMON OUTLINE: Meet the Cast: (1). Festus, the Roman Governor. (2). King Agrippa. (3). The Apostle Paul. Meet the Need: (1). “It is the Bible that gives our message its content” (vs 26&27). (2). “It is the Bible that gives our message its ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:26-32

Denomination: Brethren

The Doubting Thomas In Us

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 24, 2021

In this passage .... Thomas ... is struggling with his lack of faith. .... I want you to think about how the Gospel of John mentions Thomas in three different ways, Thomas the courageous believer, Thomas the inquisitive and Thomas the doubter.

THE DOUBTING THOMAS IN US (Easter season) Text: John 20:19-31 John 20:19-31  When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: United Methodist

Thanksgiving Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 25, 2018

The apostle begins this passage with thanksgiving for various blessings bestowed upon this church, which is a proof of the apostle's great love for it, and how much its welfare was on his heart. The object of thanksgiving is God, because he is the . . . .

JULY 16, 2012 First Corinthians By: Tom Lowe Lesson 1.2: Thanksgiving Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1.4-1.9 1 Cor 1:4-9 (KJV) 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Denomination: Baptist