Sermons on Ruts Are Traps:

Lessons From The Coyote

Contributed by John Dixon on Jul 20, 2019

At first glance the sly Coyote seems to be a genius! With every cleverly laid trap and ingenious deception the Coyote meets with failure. There is no better contemporary example of the fool described in the book of Proverbs than the cartoon Coyote.

PROVERBS 26:1-28 (NASB) Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. 2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, So a curse without cause does not alight. 3 A whip is for the horse, a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 26:1-28

Denomination: Christian Church

Change? How Can I Sing?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 16, 2024

Seems we are so resistant to change. Growth, increase, more must become a focus. What happens when we are stuck in the trap of sameness? The is more. I want to know God in his fullness.

HOW CAN WE SING A SONG? CHANGE? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. As many great teachers have taught, I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-4, Daniel 4:25-30, Romans 12:1-3

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Haunted Me? Comparison!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 23, 2022

We can build a death trap by comparing ourselves with ourselves. Quit trying to be like everyone else. Glorify and Worship God. The presence of God is what we seek. Every common bush is aflame...

HAUNTED ME? COMPARISON? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com FEBRUARY IS A MONTH OF THREE DAYS OF CELEBRATION. February 29, 30 and 31 are three days when anything a man says he is right. (Or at least the women allow men to think he is right for these three days?) MY BROTHER CHARLES ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:12, Galatians 1:10, Galatians 3:26-29

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Break Out Of The Box

Contributed by Jamie Wright on Jul 3, 2004

We are trapped inside the four walls of the church house. It is time for us to get out of the box. As long as you are in the box you can not walk with God properly, witness effectively nor worship freely.

Break Out of the Box Pastor Jamie Wright * Maranatha Fellowship Church Lamentations 3:7 (AMP) “He walled me in so that I could not get out…” There are things in our lives that Satan will try to use to box us in. Perhaps all of us feel that way at times. Boxed in. Trapped. Inadequate. ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Supersize Me!

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 12, 2006

In order to avoid the trap of self-indulgence, we need to: 1. Reject the spirit of entitlement and embrace a spirit of gratitude. 2. Reject excess and move toward moderation. 3. Reject the temporal and focus on the eternal.

Two years ago Morgan Spurlock created a film documentary called Supersize Me, which won several international film awards. It was based on an experiment to see what would happen if he would eat nothing but McDonald’s fast food for one month. He had three rules for this experiment: 1. During the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Denomination: Methodist

How Shall You Escape Hell? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 28, 2006

One of the harshest questions Jesus asked was asked of the Pharisees: "How shall you escape Hell?" As much a byword of legalism as they were, we must be careful we don’t fall into the traps that ensnared them.

OPEN: Down thru the ages, there have been rare occasions when different printings of the Bible have been found to have small errors them · For example in 1653 Christians were upset to find that one Bible which declared: “Know ye not that the UNRIGHTEOUS shall inherit the kingdom of God?” · The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:15-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Legalism Stinks Series

Contributed by Larry Osborne on Jun 13, 2007

Having a clear understanding of God’s law can help us avoid the trap of legalism. King David, the apostle Paul and Jesus can each give us a healthy perspective on God’s law.

1 Timothy: Doing Church God’s Way North Coast Church Message #5 August 12-13, 2006 Dr. Larry Osborne Why Legalism Stinks 1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Ganging Up On Jesus Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jun 11, 2012

In this portion of Mark we get a clearer picture of what it means to rely on God for things, and what it means to rely on the government. Here the religious leaders try to trip Jesus up, but they fall right into His trap.

After the episode in the Temple on the previous day, I guess Jesus should have expected the religious leaders of Israel to react. In fact, the Lord is trying to get them to react and eventually figure out a way to arrest and condemn Him. In the end of Chapter 11 and into Chapter 12 we see a series ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

For The Love Of Money?

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Jul 29, 2019

Ever wonder at what line a Christian crosses that makes money a trap and sin in their spiritual walk with Jesus? In this sermon I am going to outline a basic truth: putting trust in money and wealth and not God is a sin.

For the Love of Money? 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines money as a “medium of exchange” for goods and/or services. While one could barter to obtain the necessities of life such as food, shelter and clothing for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Denomination: Baptist

When No One Is Looking

Contributed by Don Carpenter on Oct 18, 2000

We know how we out to dress, the tone our voices should take, and all the other Christian trappings that we bring to our public worship, BUT... who are we when no one is looking?

Daniel 1:1-17 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

What Do You Do When Your Wine Runs Out?

Contributed by Kirk Devine on Jul 6, 2001

Many times in life, we find ourselves trapped and emgulfed in the hustle and bustle of life often "burning the candle at both ends." This message is designed to encourage the believer to trust God to get things back into perspective.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR WINE RUNS OUT? JOHN 2:1-10 I have discovered that when it comes to managing our time, many of us are not good stewards…! Many of us both in and out of the church oftentimes find ourselves burning the candle at both ends… And because we find ourselves not using our time ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Danger Of Holding Grudges

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Feb 19, 2025

This message highlights the severe consequences of holding grudges while encouraging forgiveness and reconciliation.

THE DANGER OF HOLDING GRUDGES By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Ephesians 4:31-32 "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32, Matthew 6:14-15, Hebrews 12:14-15, Colossians 3:13, Proverbs 19:11, Romans 12:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When You Turn On The Light

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Mar 6, 2009

Light reveals not only what we want to see but also what others don’t want us to see. Jesus, as the true light, does both, all for the purpose of offering freedom to a world trapped in darkness.

When You Turn On the Light Griffith Baptist Church – 3/8/09 A.M. Service Text: John 8:1-12 (9:1-5) Key verse: John 8:12 - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Premise: Light ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Paraphernalia

Contributed by Craig Benner on Apr 30, 2015

Gizmos, gadgets, trappings, add-ons, etc. are really optional, but so many of us have come to think that we cannot live without them. The problem is that it becomes like the proverbial "straw that broke the camels' back".

Paraphernalia--furnishings and apparatuses, (add-ons) to enhance or give more options to a thing. Synonyms-embellishments, accessories, trappings, adornments, gizmos, do-dads We are in the middle of a Personal Pampering Pandemic Heb. 12;1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1, Matthew 13:22

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Image Of Liberty Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 31, 2015

Israel was trapped, and afraid. And yet God had one simple message was: "Be still and trust me." But how could that kind of reaction help solve their problem? And how can it solve our problems as well?

OPEN: (we showed the following video from the 10 Commandments with Heston and Yul Brenner) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo0JMs-evQU. (Beginning at 2:43 running till 4:09) The year was 1856. Artist Auguste Bartholdi was vacationing in Egypt and he was overwhelmed by what he saw. The grandeur ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ