Sermons on Sacred Tension:

Return To A Listening Heart

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 22, 2025

A pastor’s burden exposes spiritual deafness in the church and calls believers and leaders alike to listen, repent, realign, and return to Christ.

There are moments in ministry when the burden becomes heavier than the words. Moments when you stand before God with His people on your heart and realize that what troubles you most is not persecution from the outside, but resistance on the inside. God spoke through Jeremiah to a people who were ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:19, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 13:17, Revelation 2:4-5, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Discovering True Sexual Freedom Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 11, 2009

No aspect of life that runs deeper… and no gift that has been more tragically confused and corrupted.. Sexuality reflects our deepest longings and our most painful wounds.

This morning we are going to begin a series entitled Restoring the Gift of Our Sexuality. No aspect of life that runs deeper… and no gift that has been more tragically confused and corrupted.. Sexuality reflects our deepest longings and our most painful wounds. Before unpacking that further, I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Timing Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

What we want to see is that though timing may not be everything to Christmas it is plenty, and a focus on the timing of Christmas events can be quite revealing.

Timing may not be everything, but it is plenty. At the dedication service of the Statue of Liberty a boy was to wave a flag indicating that Senator William Evarts had finished his speech. This way the signal for men high in the head of the statue to let go of a giant French flag, which in turn ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-7

How The War In Israel Affects Me PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 11, 2023

To explore the ongoing conflict in Israel through the lens of biblical prophecy, specifically from the books of Daniel and Revelation, and to understand its relevance and impact on modern-day Christians.

Good morning, beloved family. We find ourselves today in a world where the news headlines often bear witness to a tale as old as time - the conflict in Israel. The land of our Savior's birth, where biblical prophecy and modern reality intersect. Today, we're going to unpack the roots of this ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:1

Topics: Israel, Conflict

God Made Them "babel" Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 18, 2019

Is this a true story? (Hint: yes) And why did God include it in the Bible?

OPEN: Several years ago, there was a tiny village in Scotland called “Lost.” It’s a quaint name for a quaint little village… but they had a problem. Lost kept losing their sign. A local official explained, "For many years now, the sign has continually been taken because all it says on it is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Marriage - The Six Cs Of A Happy Marriage PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Nov 22, 2023

Explores the importance of cultivating compatibility, committing through communication, and creating compassionate communities in Christian relationships, guided by love, patience, and humility.

Welcome, dear friends, to our gathering today. It's a joy to see each one of you here, gathered in the name of our Lord, eager to delve into His word and discover His truths. We are here to learn, to grow, to be inspired and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We find ourselves today on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8, Ephesians 4:2

Topics: Marriage

Hope In The Lord Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Nov 28, 2021

When we find ourselves in the depths of despair, we have the gift of Jesus … the very embodiment of God’s “hesed” … God’s steadfast love … and we have the cross to remind us of the greatest Christmas gift of all, amen?

Advent is a time of tension. There is the joy and anticipation of the season and the stress and strain of trying to prepare for it, amen? But the season itself represents an historical and theological tension as well and I am going to use songs from the Jewish song book and songs from our own ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 130:1-8, Romans 7:18-19, Romans 7:24, John 1:5, John 1:14-15, Matthew 16:26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

A Set Up

Contributed by Paul Decker on Mar 12, 2006

We can adjust to the change God brings.

A SET UP Acts 6.8-15 S: New Covenant C: Adapting to Change Th: A People with Purpose Pr: WE CAN ADJUST TO THE CHANGE GOD BRINGS. Type: Narrative PA: How is the change to be observed? • Be a person of faith, like Stephen – a man of character and courage. • Adjust yourself, adjust your ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

Faithfully Submit Series

Contributed by Ed Taylor on Apr 10, 2008

Submission is not a popular word in our society.

1. Submission is not a popular word in our society. a. Everything screams at us to do what WE want, the way WE want it, how WE want it, any way WE want it. b. It could be something as simple as the slogan, “Have it your way.” Or still another “Just Do It!” c. And when we hear that, it feeds a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Jun 9, 2005

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart.

Rev. Wayne A. Lawson Pastor, First Baptist Church Ardmore, OK 73402 Pastor@firstbaptist.org (Preached Sunday, July 21, 2002) SCRIPTURE: ZECHARIAH 3:1-4 1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 3:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Advent Week 1 PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 4, 2023

Invites us to embrace the Advent season as a time to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ.

Good morning, beloved family of God. Isn't it a joy to gather together in this sacred space, united in our love for Christ and our shared hunger for His Word? As we come together, let's take a moment to pause, to breathe, to center our hearts and minds on the divine truth that awaits us in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-45

Topics: Advent

John 8:2-11 The Stone Dropped: How Jesus Turned A Legal Trap Into A Call For Self-Examination

Contributed by Ellick Wu on Jan 6, 2026

Now we come to study John 8:2-11. A familiar story about “The Woman Caught in Adultery” and the well-known phrase, “He who is without sin throws the first stone.” Let’s explore the Hypocrisy in the Temple that day, and challenge the judgmental spirit alive in our world today.

Imagine the scene: The temple court is quiet, filled with people eager to hear Jesus teach. But the peace is about to shatter. Suddenly, a group of powerful religious leaders storms in, dragging a terrified woman to the center. They haven't come for justice; they've come to set a trap. They ...read more

Scripture: John 8:2-11, Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 20:10

Denomination: Baptist

Greed Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

Benedictine Monks had rules for just how much each monk was to eat in the monastery. But if one monk takes more than his share of the limited food, another monk goes without dinner lunch.

We are continuing our teaching series around the Seven Deadly Sins of Family. This is the fifth in the series. Our fifth deadly sin for families is greed. The Sin of Greed In the iconic 1987 film, Wall Street, Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas gives an affirming speech in favor of greed. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:15

Denomination: Baptist

Opening Connection To God… In A Secular Culture

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 4, 2018

Opening Connection to God… in a Secular Culture Brad Bailey – Sunday, June 3, 2018

Opening Connection to God… in a Secular Culture Brad Bailey – Sunday, June 3, 2018 Intro We have spent the past 8 weeks engaging the questions of what is involved with belief and engaging some of the questions that must be considered in believing in Christ. Today, I want to consider how we talk ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Plotting Plotters Provide Personal Pitfalls Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Sep 10, 2008

A Dinner invatation given by one of the chief Pharisee to publicly humilate Jesus failed miserably

LUKE 14:1-6 PLOTTING PLOTTERS PROVIDE PERSONAL PITFALLS I. THE PLOT: LUKE 14:1, 2 A. Premeditated. B. Participants. C. Plant. II. THE PRAGMATISM: LUKE 14:3, 4 A. Proposition. B. Procedure. C. Parting. III. THE ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-6

Denomination: Methodist