Sermons on Safety First:

Shouldn’t We Put Family First?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Aug 20, 2013

A look at the difficult passages where Jesus calls us to "hate" our families. Why would He ask something like that?

IT SOUNDS GOOD AND RIGHT: “Family first.” - “Family first” comes naturally for us because it’s so easy to love your family more than anything. - Sure, they aggravate us sometimes, but they are our deepest earthly relationships. When a family is as it should be, they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Compare To Jesus First Disciples? Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 1, 2016

When I think about the first disciples of Jesus there is one thing that I find really encouraging - they were very ordinary people, average people, people like you and me, people with faults and failings, imperfect people.

How do we compare to Jesus first Disciples? When I think about the first disciples of Jesus there is one thing that I find really encouraging - they were very ordinary people with very ordinary jobs - fishermen & a tax collector. If Jesus public ministry had begun here in Rayleigh and Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

When Your First Choice Is God's Second Choice

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Jan 6, 2012

A sermon about the providence of God as discovered in the life of Paul.

Acts 16:7-8 KJV After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. [8] And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. I. INTRODUCTION—THE CHALLENGE OF CONTENTMENT -One of the most challenging spiritual battles that many face in our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:7-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

The First Convert In Europe (Acts 16:9-16)

Contributed by Victor Yap on Apr 4, 2019

THE FIRST CONVERT IN EUROPE (ACTS 16:9-16)

THE FIRST CONVERT IN EUROPE (ACTS 16:9-16) https://bible.ryl.hk/web_en Grammar Bible (English) https://bible.ryl.hk/web_Bah Tatabahasa Alkitab (Indonesian) https://bible.ryl.hk/web_Esp Biblia de Gramática (Spanish) https://bible.ryl.hk/web_Tag Gramatika Bibliya ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:9-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

First Sunday Of Christmas & Feast Of St John

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Dec 23, 2020

How St John can inspire us to share the good news of Christ

In the name of the Living God, Father, son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Today as we gather for the first Sunday after Christmas, we also take the time to celebrate St. John the apostle and evangelist. But before we talk about John, we should begin by breaking the stigma of what evangelist means, ...read more

Scripture: John 21:19-25

Denomination: Anglican

People Of The First Christmas-The Magi Or Wise Men Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 29, 2020

Even though the Magi or "wise men" have had a Christmas carol or two (or more) written about them, they're only mentioned in one paragraph of Matthew's Gospel. They came from a far distance, worshiped the Christ Child, and then went back home, never to be heard from again.

Introduction: the shepherds of Bethlehem were the only recorded visitors to go see Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus on the night He was born. Sometime later, Matthew recorded that “wise men (KJV)” or magi (several other translations) came to Jerusalem. The purpose of their visit was to worship the One ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-8, Micah 5:2

Denomination: Baptist

A Study Of The Letter Of First John – Praying According To The Will Of God Series

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Aug 10, 2020

John wants to assure believers of the eternal life they possess and spur them on toward continued faith in Jesus Christ.

The Christian’s assurance concerning salvation (vs. 13) “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.” One of the purposes of John’s letter was to convince the unbelieving, Gnostic follower that Jesus was the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Study Of The Letter Of First John – Proving That You Are A Christian Series

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Aug 13, 2020

One cannot have fellowship with God and at the same time walk in darkness.

John wrote his first epistle from the city of Ephesus. It helps to understand this epistle if you know something about the city of Ephesus at the beginning of the second century. There were four important factors that were in play in Ephesus and throughout the Roman world when John wrote this ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Study Of The Letter Of First John –the Testimony Of God Series

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Aug 17, 2020

When John writes of the “love of God” he is literally referring to one’s “love for God. “Love for God” is expressed when one keeps God’s commands.

1 John 5:1-12 A police officer pulled over a driver and informed him that he was speeding. Just then, his wife, who was seated next to him, said, “I told you; you have to drive slowly until you get a license!” The policeman, surprised, exclaimed, “Were you driving without a license?” His ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The First Passover: An Exposition Of Exodus 12:1-14

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 22, 2020

The first Passover points the way to a greater second Passover.

The First Passover: An Exposition of Exodus 12:1-14 The Passover is a special day for the Jewish people. Even secular Jews celebrate it. It serves a purpose similar to Independence Day in the US or Cinco de Mayo in Latin and South America. The Children of Israel had served as slaves in Egypt for a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus’ Circumcision And First Temple Visit With Acknowledgements By Simeon Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 13, 2017

Sin has an internal character, because we are sinners by birth, not because we have come into contact with anything. There is a connection between motherhood and the transmission of sin by inheritance. At birth, we inherit a sinful, fallen nature.

-5-4 BC- In Bethlehem Jesus’ Circumcision and First Temple Visit with Acknowledgements by Simeon and Anna Jesus’ Circumcision (Leviticus 12:3) Luke 2:21 Circumcision was the sign that God gave to His covenant people, Israel. Every male child was to be circumcised when they were eight days ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21, Luke 2:21-38

Denomination: Baptist

Thirty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time, B: Shema

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 16, 2024

Prostrating oneself in prayer helps me to mean all the words of this creed, with all its intensity and wide scope.

This is the most Jewish and Catholic prayer possible, in our Gospel today, from Mark 12:29, which Jews call the Shema, which means “hear” in Hebrew-- we have the first line of the Shema in our Gospel today: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Catholic

Samson's First Wife (Judges 14)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Mar 14, 2025

How important is it that a marriage have a common faith? Let's begin in Judges 14.

How foolish is choosing a life’s marriage partner solely because of their looks? How important is having the same faith values? Let’s begin in Judges 14. What happened when Samson traveled and saw a foreign woman? Samson traveled down to Timnah. While he was in Timnah, a Philistine woman caught ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

First Sunday After Easter (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 22, 2025

Sermons upon the Bible readings of the Book of Common Prayer.

Psalm 81:1-4, Ezekiel 37:1-10, 1 John 5:4-12, John 20:19-23. A). A SUMMONS TO RESOUNDING PRAISE. Psalm 81:1-4. PSALM 81:1. There may be a time for quiet contemplative worship, but this is not it. It is a time of loudness, a time of noise. It is a time of fulness of joy. We are not called to be ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 81:1-4, Ezekiel 37:1-10, 1 John 5:4-12, John 20:19-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Balaam's First Prophecies (Numbers 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 27, 2024

Can a crooked prophet be used by God? Let's look at Numbers 23.

Though he was hired to curse Israel, what was Balaam forced to do? Can even a bad prophet be used by God to tell the truth? Do we take God’s word at face value or look for excuses to change God’s mind? Let’s look at Numbers 23. What did Balaam request so that God would perhaps give him a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist