Sermons on Sad Stories:

Faith Like A Child

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 29, 2022

We need to consider how our waning faith can become a hindrance to others. Jesus provides a warning about hindering other believers who have the faith of a child. It is also a warning about hindering children from coming to Christ.

Back when I was in college, one of my favorite songs was “Faith Like a Child” by Jars of Clay. Listen as I share some of the lyrics to this song: “Dear God, surround me as I speak; the bridges that I walk across are weak. Frustrations fill the void that I can’t solely bear . . . Sometimes, when I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Light In Earthen Vessels

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 29, 2022

God saw a lowly farmer like Gideon as a mighty warrior. When God looks at each of us, He sees a mighty warrior too. However, that warrior doesn’t appear unless we put our trust in the Lord and rely entirely on Him in faith.

Our text today will come from the New International Version. In our message we’re going to view a story about an ordinary man who had an intense struggle with trusting God, and this man’s name was Gideon. We will learn how when Gideon finally trusted the Lord, that he understood what it meant to ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-40, Judges 7:16-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Matter Of Motives

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 29, 2022

Have you ever heard anyone say a person, “LACKS MOTIVATION!”

Illus: On a national television program they had a power lifting competition. These BIG FELLOWS would walk up to a bar of weights that would take six or seven men in this congregation to pick up. One after the other they would walk up to the bar and powder their hands and would work at getting ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Mark #57

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 30, 2022

In 1858, the Illinois legislature, using an obscure statute, sent Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln, although Lincoln had won the popular vote.

When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said he felt, “Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.” (Source unknown) All of us know that feeling. Life is filled with disappointments. Most of us will do anything to keep from having ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Mark # 12

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 30, 2022

In this sermon I want to look at the Jewish Sabbath. When we start to look at some of the ridiculous things that the Jews taught about the Sabbath, it shocks us

Illus: This reminds me of a young boy that found himself in the locker room of the local YWCA. When he was spotted, the room burst into screams of horror, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and said “What’s the matter haven’t you ever seen a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:23-28

Denomination: Baptist

He That Winneth Souls Is Wise No. 1

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 31, 2022

Someone said, "Most men blame all accidents on fate - but feels personal responsibility when he makes a hole-in-one on the golf course."

It is absolutely amazing how and when we use that word, "responsibility." Illus: That word used to be used when a child was attending school. On one side of the report card all the grades for the subjects, such as math, English, science and social studies were listed so you could tell ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Proverbs 11:30

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Spirituality? (4 Of 7)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 1, 2022

A man was watching a wood carver carve a six foot bear out of a large chunk of wood. The man was fascinated as he watched him and he finally asked him, “HOW DO YOU DO THAT?”

The wood carver said, “It really isn’t as hard as it looks. What I do is get a huge piece of wood, and I carve out everything that does not look like a bear!” This is what God is trying to do with our lives. He wants to cut everything that does not look like Christ out of our lives. Peter shows ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-9

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Fit To Be Tied? Part Iv

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 1, 2022

These days we often hear the question, "Why are there so many divorces?" The answer to that question is found in the Word of God. It is because of sin.

All across this nation we have lost our fear of sin. Fear will cause us to protect ourselves and avoid what is harmful to us. Illus: Most of us have a real healthy fear of snakes. This is a healthy fear because it keeps us from being harmed. If we were not afraid of snakes we might carry them ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:7-15

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob’s Funeral

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 5, 2022

The last thing we can do for those we love when they die is to carry out all of their wishes for their funeral.

Illus: Many times when a person plans for their funeral, they want to: • Select certain songs they want sung • Select certain passages of scriptures they want read • Select a pastor and a church building where they want their funeral to be held And when they die, the family does everything they ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Here Comes Trouble Again! # 2a

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 6, 2022

When things are going right for MOST of us, folks ask us how we are and we give them a big smile and say that things are GREAT!

Our differences are revealed, not during our GOOD TIMES, but during the BAD TIMES in our lives! One thing we all seem to do during the DIFFICULT TIMES in life is to turn to our friends for sound advice. Most of the time when we do this what we get is not good sound advice, but a lot of RHYMES ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Thessalonians # 10

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 6, 2022

A man had a friend who enlarged his business because his sales had increased to the point that a larger warehouse and sales office were needed.

Even though the move was a rather complicated and burdensome process, it was really a thing to be celebrated. For this reason, the man sent his friend some flowers on the day of his grand opening. The matter about the flowers, however, was poorly handled and the businessman received a bouquet ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Cross Of Blood

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Apr 10, 2022

The importance of blood in God's plan of salvation for mankind.

The Cross of the Blood 1 John 1:1-7 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

Expecting God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 10, 2022

Many people have expectations of what God can do for them. But that's not how it works. We were saved to do things for Him. Why?

I’ve been told that when people come to God –– they have certain expectations. They have certain opinions of what they think God should DO for them. They visualize a God who is going to do what they want done. ILLUS: A woman named Donna had a conversation with her 4 year old niece. The little ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Eighth Commandment (9 Of 12)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 14, 2022

These commandments deal with every segment of society.

Illus: A preacher was talking to a teenage girl one day about the Lord when she told him, “I have a hard time living up to the Bible." Then she added, "But I do try to live up to the ten commandments." To hear this young lady talk you would think she rejects all scripture except the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Secret Is Out

Contributed by Victor Yap on Apr 15, 2022

Revelation 1

THE SECRET IS OUT! (REVELATION 1) Are you good at remembering passwords? Have you been asked at your job to change your passwords regularly? I’m terrible at remembering passwords. I try to coordinate my passwords for online, e-mails and computers. My memory was so bad with passwords that, one time ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible