Sermons on Settling For Less:

Want New Wineskins? - Aim Higher

Contributed by John Gullick on Mar 2, 2004

A sermon that discusses the need for the Christian to aim higher in order to live in the new wineskins God wants for us. contains a good story about Rees Howells.

Here’s a story about a couple of Westcoast men who used to go Possum hunting. In the West coast there are Possums everywhere – you see them on the road whereever you go. Anyway these two men used to take the dogs out and the dogs would find a possum up a tree or chase one up a tree,and the two ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:21-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Paying The Price Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 9, 2003

This passage is perhaps one of the greatest texts on giving known to preachers... but it is also one of the most difficult, raising questions many of us would just as soon avoid.

OPEN: Back in 1995 (“Bits & Pieces” pamphlet) I read the following story: Every February on George Washington’s birthday, the late newspaper columnist, Frederick C. Othman, used to visit the West Wing of the Smithsonian Institution, look at a certain statue there among the antique printing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Get Stressed Out!

Contributed by Edward Frey on Oct 11, 2002

The promise of forgiveness and salvation in Christ Jesus tempers our lives with joy and hope.

The population of this country is 200 million people. 84 million are retired. That leaves 116 million to do the work. There are 75 million in school, which leaves 41 million to do the work. Of this total, there are 22 million employed by the federal government. That leaves 19 million to do the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7

Denomination: Lutheran

Escape From Prison Series

Contributed by Charles Scott on Jan 31, 2007

The periods of servitude Israel spent in Egypt and Babylon were times repentance; an allegory depicting the meaning of Lent for us.

Septuagesima C ESCAPING PRISON Luke 6:27-38 READINGS FROM SCRIPTURE Genesis 45:3-11, 21-28 Psalm 37:(1-2), 3-9, (10-17) BCP 384 I Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 Luke 6:27-38 Jesus said, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38

Denomination: Anglican

Bought And Paid For Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Feb 5, 2007

Fifth in a series taken from Ephesians 1, this series delves into the riches that we know through our relationship with Christ.

Well…he’s back. Exactly thirty years after we first learned the name Apollo Creed, thirty years after we first heard the strains of “Gonna Fly Now”, thirty years after we first heard him cry, “Adrienne”, and sixteen years after we last saw him on the silver screen, this Christmas, Rocky Balboa is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Pursuer

Contributed by Bruce Ritter on Feb 2, 2008

John 4 is regarded primarily as a foundation for understanding worship. When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, He describes to her the nature of worship that God will accept… vv. 23-24 – But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worship

Frank Abagnale was the world’s greatest con artist. The movie Catch Me If You Can is based on the true-life story this man, who bilked the government out of more than $5 million by the time he was 21. Raised in the home of a father who cheated the government and a mother who cheated on her husband, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Christmas! Why?

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Dec 21, 2008

This sermon discusses the purpose of Christmas ans was taken from the book, "The Purpose of Christmas" by Rick Warren.

Illustration There was a woman out with two young children Christmas shopping. Her children wanted everything they saw on the shelves for Christmas. She was shopping for hours. Finally at the end of the day as she pushed her way into a crowed elevator, as the doors closed, she exclaimed, “Whoever ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Charismatic

Come Out With Your Hands Up

Contributed by Everett Mccoy on Jul 19, 2008

Everyone loves a good pursuit. Like in an old western - God pursues us. It’s about time we surrendered!

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:7-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sue Your Own Mother! Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 12, 2009

Our relationship with God can require a strained relationship with others when we take sin seriously and need to avoid it.

I was watching an old movie on television and I heard a line that I’d missed before. The villain of this comedy was talking on the phone and said something like: “Sure, I know what kind of low-down person would sue his own mother, but we’re not talking about me!” It caught me off-guard and I had ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 2:2-23

Denomination: *other

Seek God's Perspective

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jan 9, 2010

Pray and seek God's will. He has a plan, and He can bless us wherever we are, even in the midst of hardship.

When you take a window seat on a flight, there are two times you would like to look out the window – while it is taking off and when it lands. • You’ve lots to see then. Anything in between is just pitch darkness and just plain white. Before, you see the clouds above you. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:4-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jephthah: Forcing The Hand Of Deliverance Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 28, 2009

AS FOLLOWERS OF THE FORGIVER WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR ROLE IN GOD’S DELIVERANCE STORY IS NOT ABOUT ADVANCING OUR OWN AGENDA.

Jephthah: Forcing the Hand of Deliverance Judges 11-12 8/23/09 INTRODUCTION Hidden Agendas -- An idiomatic phrase used to refer to the subtext which discreetly drives a conversation, meeting or other activity. „X Marketing and advertising uses them all the time. „X We assume Politians use ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Sing With The Mind Also

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 26, 2009

Cantate Sunday, 1986: Music has power to involve every facet of our beings in worship, it helps build the body of Christ, and it can offer a credible witness to the world.

It was offertory time in the morning worship, and everyone had settled down quietly – settling down, I suspect, for a little nap to get themselves ready for the big nap they would take during the sermon! And, as was customary, the organist began the slow and solemn strains of an offertory: music to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

When Daddy Changed Series

Contributed by Rodney Kelley on Sep 7, 2009

Jacob’s change by God prepared Joseph to be able to face the trials that were coming.

Intro. Gen 30:24-25 The Birth of the Favorite Son! I want to begin a series on Joseph. But in doing so, I want to look at his very beginning as we journey into his life. To do that, we must begin with Jacob. Joseph was just a young man at this time. But Daddy was about to be changed ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Be Not - M O V E D

Contributed by William Akehurst on Oct 31, 2008

HANG ON! What are we to BE. What are we NOT to BE. We can look at the ’NOTS’ in the negative. This is looking at the POSITIVE. When things look bleak. Be Not MOVED from your Faith. STAND FIRM.

10.19.08 Sermon.Be Not-Moved By William Akehurst, HSWC 1 Thessalonians 3:7-9 Philippians 1:27 For the last 2 weeks, we were looking to scriptures regard what it was to be a Christian, and what we were to be... Be Kind, Joyful, Patient, Loving, Gracious, Forgiving, Forbearing In Acts we read: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Dating Game Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 2, 2008

There are two complimentary components of a God-honored life; knowledge of Scripture and faith-motivated action.

THE DATING GAME Mark 12:18-27 Sermon Objective: There are two complimentary components of a God-honored life; knowledge of Scripture and faith-motivated action. Supporting Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-39; Hebrews 11:6, James 2:14-26 18Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:18-27

Denomination: Nazarene