Sermons on Rite Of Passage:

What The World Needs Now

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on May 6, 2018

The world is in desperate need of love, agape love: willful, purposeful, decisional, sacrificial love. In today's passage, Jesus points us to the source of that love, urges us to choose it as an act of obedience, and sometimes to love until it hurts.

John 15:9-17  What the World Needs Now In 1965 Burt Bacharach wrote a song he didn’t believe in. He and Hal David offered it to performer Dionne Warwick, who turned it down. Bacharach was reluctant to play it for Jackie DeShannon, but he finally did, and she liked it. Together they recorded, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Value Of A Child Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Dec 31, 2021

Pro-life advocates use this Bible passage to show how God values the life of the unborn, while pro-choice advocates use this same Scripture in an attempt to justify abortion. This message looks at both sides of the debate.

Today, January 23, 2022, is recognized as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in the Southern Baptist calendar; and so, I’m going to be discussing the value of the unborn child and have us look at the abortion debate. The abortion argument centers on human rights – namely the right of a person to make ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 21:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Omniscient God Attributes Of God – (7 Of 10)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 9, 2022

This passage of scripture has been preached on through the centuries and still today the hearts of God's people are blessed as they see what God's Word says about Nebuchadnezzar's dreams.

Verse 1 tells us he dreamed these dreams "...in the second year..." of his reign. Someone may be saying, "SO WHAT?" We all have had dreams! Yes, but you had better pray to God that you never have a dream like Nebuchadnezzar had. Of course we know that during ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Refiner’s Fire

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 13, 2022

In this passage, Ezekiel described the Babylonian exile as being the crucible in which Israel was melted down, and the godly (the silver) were separated from the unrighteous (the dross). The purpose of the refiner's fire is spiritual purification.

I wish to begin our message with an illustration: There was a dedicated Christian woman who once visited a tourist attraction, which happened to be a working replica of a pioneer village; and one of the manned displays she observed was a silversmith shop. The woman watched the silversmith as he ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:17-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Good News And The Bad News About God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 9, 2020

We all like to make our own estimations of what we think God is like. This passage is a reminder to us that we must accept God for who He is, not who we wish He was.

- Opening image: the result explosion of Facebook avatars. They are cute and fun and I don’t have a problem with them. But if I may make a gentle observation: some of you don’t look like you think you look! - I’m sure some people intentionally upgraded their appearance, but there are others who ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Two Revealing Prayers Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 28, 2022

This passage records two prayers, in which are shown two kinds of hearts, whose contrast is not only seen in the way they make their requests, but also in the way they approach God. Some people trust in themselves; others trust in God.

This evening’s sermon is entitled “Two Revealing Prayers,” and it’s taken from what is commonly called “The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.” Darrell Bock, in The NIV Application Commentary, says, “This parable is really the parable of the two prayers. In those prayers appear two ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Withered Fig Tree.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 17, 2022

Today’s passage brings together two events which are not unrelated to each other: the cleansing of the Temple, and the withering of the fig tree. Both are figurative of the state and changing status of the old Jewish faith at the dawn of the gospel era.

THE WITHERED FIG TREE. Mark 11:12-33. I. The Barren Fig Tree. Mark 11:12-14; Mark 11:20-26. As we see Jesus approaching the fig tree (Mark 11:12-13), we need to recollect that Jesus is God. The fig tree is a well-known symbol of Israel: ‘every man under his vine and his fig tree’ (cf. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is He Your God? Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Sep 15, 2021

Good Friday: Psalm 22 is an amazingly accurate depiction of the events that surrounded Jesus’ crucifixion, and there is a lot we can learn from this passage about God’s character and His power over both life and death.

Our passage that we will examine today is amazing, for it is a prophecy of the passion story, or an account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, that was written nearly 800 years before the birth of Jesus. James Smith says that, “Such a hope [as is found in this passage] must be restricted to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The World’s Most Dangerous Profession - James 3:1-2 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 23, 2021

This passage stands out because teaching is so highly valued throughout the New Testament. Why is it discouraged here? James considered himself a teacher and was teaching even as he penned these words about not many should be teachers.

James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. Introduction: We Talk a ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-2

We Must Choose (2012)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Oct 20, 2022

We did not have a choice in our fist birth, but we do have a choice as to whether or not we are going to be born again. This passage of scripture talks about our rebellion, or God’s remedy and our choice.

WE MUST CHOOSE Text: John 3:14 - 21 How many times have you received one of those mail items where you had a key and a possibility of winning the prize if the key fit? When you received that item in the mail, you had to decide whether or not you were going to go to the dealership to see ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Denomination: United Methodist

The Shocking Servant Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 18, 2023

As we consider Jesus Christ in this passage (Isaiah 52:13-15) we see... (Title, outline and material adapted from Ray Pritchard at: https://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/the-shocking-servant/)

HoHum: As we head into the Lenten season, the Easter season, wanted to do a sermon on Isaiah 53. I thought I had never preached on this passage so I went into my files and there at the top was a sermon by Davon Huss. I preached on Isaiah 53 during the Lenten season heading into Easter in 1996. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-15, 1 Corinthians 2:8, John 3:14-15, Revelation 19:16, Romans 15:20-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Shocking Good News: God Redeems The Ungodly Series

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Nov 30, 2023

The Bible – God’s life-giving word – that leads us to life in Jesus. What a great privilege you and I have to have a book or a device – earlier scrolls.How did you feel reading this passage?

For more sermons visit our: Website: https://cityharvestag.com/ Podcast : https://city-harvest-sermons.simplecast.com/episodes/the-shocking-good-news-god-redeems-the-ungodly Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CityHarvestA... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityharvestag/ YouTube: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1, Titus 3:4, Romans 5:1, Titus 2:13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Looking For Some Empty Vessels!”

Contributed by Sean Dees on May 1, 2021

From these passages I find more than a story of the sustaining power of God, but I see this event as a type of prophecy to the outpouring of the Holy Ghost as prophesied by the latter prophet Joel in 2:28 and the fulfillment on the day of Pentecost.

Intro: From these passages I find more than a story of the sustaining power of God, but I see this event as a type of prophecy to the outpouring of the Holy Ghost as prophesied by the latter prophet Joel in 2:28 and the fulfillment on the day of Pentecost. Today I want to talk to you about ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-6

Words Of Wisdom For Graduates

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on May 10, 2021

In this passage, Solomon is acting as a teacher instructing his students about life. He concludes with his observations about the purpose of life; and in his closing remarks we find four words of wisdom that can be applied to graduates.

Today is our Graduate Recognition, and I feel led to share from a passage in Ecclesiastes. This book is believed to have been written by Solomon, since Ecclesiastes 1:1 says that these are “the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” To get started, I think these words can ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Navigating The Ebb And Flow

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Dec 24, 2024

Jesus shared words to help John's disciples navigate change, as they were dealing with the loss of their leader. He also addressed the change of grace over legalism. This passage can be applied to change within the church.

I have entitled our message this morning, “Navigating the Ebb and Flow.” The expression “ebb and flow” is an idiom used to describe periods of highs and lows, and growth and decline, just like the rising and falling of the tides. It is essentially the idea that life is not always constant, but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:14-17

Denomination: Baptist