Sermons on Seek First:

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

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

"the First Steps In Rebuilding People"

Contributed by Christopher Arch on May 21, 2020

From a series on Nehemiah.

Intro: 1st Steps in Rebuilding People Script: Neh. 8 Type: Expos./Series Where: GNBC 3-1-15 Intro: Dr. Paul W. Brand, the noted leprosy expert who was chief of the rehabilitation branch of the Leprosarium in Carville, Lousiana, had a frightening experience one night when he thought he had ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Provoking Thoughts From First John (1 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

1 John is called one of the “General Epistles,” because it was not sent to a specific church. Rather, it was sent to churches in general.

The three books of John are referred to as “letters, however, the first was not written in the form of a letter. For example, it has no salutation nor conclusion. In fact, it has all the characteristics of a sermon in which a pastor is revealing his love for God’s people. To have a good ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

First Sunday Of Advent, Year B: Advent Hope

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 5, 2023

Optimism is an assessment. Hope is an act.

A man named John Hakel says his three-year-old daughter looked at a calendar and asked him, "Daddy, how many BE GOOD days until Christmas?" 1 Advent is not a penitential season; it’s a period of devout and expectant delight, yet we intuitively understand that it is not possible ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:33-37

Denomination: Catholic

Putting Jesus First Isn't Easy. Series

Contributed by Michael Blitz on May 5, 2024

Martha's jealousy and anger drove her to the point where she was literally yelling at the Lord, and bossing him around. How did she get to this point? What is the point of service to God, family and church, and what can get in our way?

Good Morning. I got a fun story to start with as we dig into the story of Mary and Martha. It took place in 1956, and Tom Attridge was test piloting the brand new jet they wanted to use for the famous Blue Angels. Gunning it up to break the sound barrier, he was instructed to test fire his guns at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Anglican

She Keeps Her First Sabbath In Eighteen Years

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 11, 2022

The command to keep Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. so how is it properly kept?

She Keeps her first Sabbath in Eighteen Years Luke 13:10-17 Notice that the LORD not only states keeping the Sabbath, but He also provides the rationale for keeping it. The LORD Himself rested from His work on the Seventh Day after creating the heavens and the earth. We don’t know exactly how He ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17, Hebrews 4:9-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

First Sunday Of Lent, Year A- The Tactics Of Temptation

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 21, 2023

C.S. Lewis made an astute observation in his masterful Screwtape Letters: the devil cannot manufacture real goods or pleasures; he’s stuck with the ones God has made and for which our natures have an inclination.

I saw this Cartoon of Satan tempting Jesus, saying: “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a medium rare ribeye steak with truffle butter.” [Jesus is thinking to himself, “He’s getting better at this.”] Note that Jesus did not say, “Man cannot live by coffee alone, but he will ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7-9, Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Catholic

The First Sunday Of Advent, Year C: Not Very Christmasy.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 12, 2024

The Church tells the Christmas Story backwards: the focus is to prepare for the coming of the Lord: at the end of the world, and when Christ comes for us at the end of our individual worlds, at death.

Our Gospel from St. Luke today is a little unsettling. Not very Christmasy. Unseasonal thoughts about the end of the world. Yet, the word Advent from the Latin, adventus, means “coming.” The Church tells the Christmas Story backwards: the focus is to prepare for the coming of the Lord: at the end ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:36

Denomination: Catholic

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

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

Jesus’s First Public Events, Part 1 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Sep 28, 2025

When we see what Jesus can do, two things becomes evident: We either believe that He is the Messiah capable of providing for us, or, we deny His ability to do anything for us and call Him, and His Word, a liar.

John, Part 8 Series: Jesus’s First Public Events, Part 1 John 2:1-11 - Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you’re here today; dismiss children - Begin our next series in John titled: “Jesus’s First Public Events” (short 3 msgs.) -- Many things we will explore feel “out of order” ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, Psalm 33:20-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus’s First Public Events, Part 2 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Oct 5, 2025

As Jesus confronted the "false religious" on-goings in the Temple, we must ask if we are willing to confront sin, cast it out, and live a life devoted to Him? Or, will we allow our own desires and emotions to lead us?

John, Part 9 Series: Jesus’s First Public Events, Part 2 John 2:12-22 - Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you’re here today; dismiss children -- Continuing series; REM: John less focused on chronology; purpose (redeem) - Read John 2:12-22 / Pray Point 1 – Confronting Sin ...read more

Scripture: John 2:12-22, Psalm 69:9, Revelation 3:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

First Sunday After Trinity (B C P). Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 18, 2025

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

Psalm 41:1-4, 2 Samuel 9:6-13, 1 John 4:7-21, Luke 16:19-31. A). THE BLESSING OF THE COMPASSIONATE. Psalm 41:1-4. This is a Psalm of David. It is quite possibly about David. It is also about our Lord Jesus (except that Jesus has no personal sin to confess, unlike Psalm 41:4). Psalm 41:1. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 41:1-4, 2 Samuel 9:6-13, 1 John 4:7-21, Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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