Sermons on Sacred Tension:

Temptations -- Jesus' And Ours Series

Contributed by Revd Dr Ruwan Palapathwala on Jan 1, 2025

Temptation is our awful struggle not to lose ourselves and our potential to lose ourselves. Temptation also highlights God’s mercy and grace in our lives in the wilderness for forty minutes, hours, days or years.

In today’s Gospel reading, we encounter the most human and common experience: temptation, which Jesus also experienced in a very profound way. The temptations of Jesus are found in all four Gospels. But we are accustomed to thinking that Jesus was tempted three times before his public ministry ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-2, Luke 4:1-13, Mark 1:12-13

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

2 More Than Perfect Plans Series

Contributed by Steve Pearman on Dec 5, 2025

What do you do when life doesn’t go to plan? In this week’s Christmas message, we look at Joseph’s story in Matthew 1:18–25 and reminds us that even when our plans fall apart, God’s purpose still stands.

1. Introduction – When Plans Go Wrong Have you ever had one of those perfect plans — only for it to completely fall apart? Maybe a family dinner that turned into chaos, or a Christmas trip that went sideways. I found a saying the other day, and it’s, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Gentleness PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Highlight the importance and power of gentleness as a Christian virtue, and to encourage believers to embody and display this gentleness, as exemplified by Jesus, in their daily lives.

Good morning, brothers and sisters. The Bible has much to say about the power of gentleness, the benefits of being gentle, and imitating Jesus' gentleness. [Read passages] I'm reminded of a quote by Francis de Sales who said, "When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, Titus 3:2, Proverbs 15:1, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:12  (view more)  (view less)

Topics: Being Gentle, Jesus

"any Samaritans Among Us?"

Contributed by Darrell Campbell on Aug 24, 2022

You can love people and not be a Christian, but can you be a Christian and not exercise love?

An expert in Jewish Law asked Jesus a question about eternal life. We have no indication that the question wasn't sincere. Eternal Life was more than a duration, but the quality, even the rewards of it. The lawyer was correct in his answer to Jesus, at least textbook, but the man got it all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Baptist

Ezekiel Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 8, 2022

After the fall of Jerusalem and his period of silence, Ezekiel now addressed himself more pointedly to the exiles. He sought to direct their hopes for the restoration of their nation. His theme changed from the harsh judgment of God to the promise of the future.

OUTLINE Introduction Hebrew prophet Alternate titles: Ezechiel, Ye?ezqel, Ezekiel Ezekiel, also spelled Ezechiel, Hebrew Ye?ezqel, (flourished 6th century BC), prophet-priest of ancient Israel and the subject and in part, the author of an Old Testament book that bears his name. Flourished: c.600 ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:26

Denomination: Baptist

Third Commandment (3 Of 12)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 14, 2022

The Jews of old usually gave their children names that had meaning. Today we give our children names and have no idea what they mean, we go more by how they sound. Some do not even go by sound.

Illus: In Connecticut four ministers were named Wright none of them were related. To avoid confusion: • One was referred to as: “Minister Upright". • Another was referred to as, “Minister Downright”. • And another was referred to as, “Minister Outright.” • And the fourth was referred to as, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:20, Exodus 20:7

Denomination: Baptist

How Important Is Your Marriage To God?

Contributed by A.t. Stewart on Jul 20, 2004

When we see how important our marriage is to God, how can it be any less important to us?

Home Improvement: How Important is Your Marriage to God? Selected Scriptures I. Introduction A. It’s comes as no surprise to any of us here today that the institution of marriage in America is in deep trouble. 1. one out of two end in divorce– 50% 2. great number of unmarried couples living ...read more

Let's Talk About Race

Contributed by Daniel Haas on May 18, 2008

When as a Church talking about race, who are we? Are we a white church talking about the people of color who are not us? Are we afraid of "Made in China" taking our jobs?

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come. Amen. Listen for the Word of God in the very beginning of the Bible, Genesis 1:1 through 2:4a (TEXT) Dear Brothers and Sisters! The Title of this Sermon is "Let’s talk about race". I didn’t make it up. Today many pastors across ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

The Devil Goes To Church Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 12, 2008

Uncontrolled speech may reveal a devilish heart that has never been regenerated. James challenges us to review our heart by examining our speech to determined our relationship to the Master.

JAMES 3:5b, 6 THE DEVIL GOES TO CHURCH “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” At 9:00 p.m., ...read more

Scripture: James 3:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

What Do You Know?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 21, 2020

Knowing God means that we love the brothers and build them in the Faith.

“Concerning food offered to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it. But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.” [1] “I’m as good a Christian as you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

"God Became A Human.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Dec 19, 2001

Year A. 4th Sunday of Advent Romans 1: 1-7 Title: “God became a human.”

Year A. 4th Sunday of Advent Romans 1: 1-7 December 23, 2001 Title: “God became a human.” “The Letter To the Romans,” appears first in the Pauline corpus, the collection of letters either written by Paul or by a disciple of Paul, because it is both the longest and the most important. As such it ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Denomination: Lutheran

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

Contributed by Tammy Garrison on Apr 1, 2002

Its not just about what we believe. Its about how we treat one another. And its not just about how we treat one another. Its also about how we engage with people outside the faith.

Bibliography: Finding Christ, Finding Life: Reconciliation In 1967 Columbia Pictures released a movie called “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?” Set in the 1960’s, this comedy tells of a dinner party given by a bride’s parents to meet her fiance‚ and his parents. The comfortable middle class ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

Denomination: Methodist

Is Marriage That Important

Contributed by James Buchanan on Aug 14, 2004

A sermon which deals with certain issues regarding the Marriage Amendment and same-sex marriages.

I want to talk to you this morning about a topic that is sensitive to me, and is sensitive to a lot of you. As a warning, this sermon is rated PG—we are going to deal with some fairly sensitive issues, and I want to let you know that if you have children upstairs with us, we do have a children’s ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"God Pays The Price" Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jun 22, 2007

Sermon 3 in a study in Hosea

“Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 3 Then ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 3:1-5

Denomination: Orthodox

Truth, Obedience, And Other Antique Virtues

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 4, 2007

The unpopular notion of absolute truth, and how obedience leads us to truth

TRUTH, OBEDIENCE, AND OTHER ANTIQUE VIRTUES 1 John 2:3-6 March 5, 1995 INTRO: A few weeks ago, during our Friday night devotional, I asked my teens how many of them had seen "Schindler’s List", Steven Spielberg’s recent movie about the Holocaust. I asked them: was the Holocaust right or was ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Denomination: Baptist