Sermons on Sharp Focus:

The Gift From The Name

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 21, 2007

Understanding the name Jesus helps us understand Christmas and why He came. We can see this in: 1) THE GIVER OF THE NAME 2) THE MEANING OF THE NAME 3) THE FOCUS OF THE NAME

There is a lot you can know about someone from their name. In the news this week, because of the high birth rate among Muslim families, the name Mohammed is on track to become the most popular boy’s name in England and Wales by next year. Muhammad is regularly cited as the most common name in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-23

Denomination: Other

Jesus Is Coming

Contributed by Brad Rigney on Jun 23, 2006

This sermon is during Advent as we focus on Jesus’ first coming, but remembering His promise to come again. What does it mean to be ready and prepared as we await Jesus’ coming again?

Jesus Is Coming Matthew 24:36-51 (1st Advent Sunday) Intro.: A. How many of you remember a game you played as a child - Hide n Seek? It is one of those universal games that children in all time - even today - enjoy playing. You remember: one person is chosen to find everyone as they hide. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-51

Denomination: Adventist

Everything Changes

Contributed by Michael Hollinger on Feb 22, 2007

Humility is the right response to salvation FCF: Mary’s song teaches us how to accept a gift in way that is both grown-up and gracious: namely by putting the focus back on the giver.

Long Branch Baptist Church Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786 Sunday, December 17th, 2006 Enter to Worship Announcements Prelude David Witt Meditation 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 Invocation *Opening Hymn #88 “Joy to the World” Welcome Morning Prayer *Advent Litany [See Right] *Hymn CH#622 – [See ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-56

Denomination: Baptist

Clashes Of Power Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 28, 2005

The series of clashes with the Pharisees reveal their blindness - blinded to (1) the true identity of Jesus and (2) the needs of man. Learn therefore that the power of life is in Jesus, and the focus of life ought to be the needs of others.

The 5 clashes Jesus had with the Pharisees: Mark 2:7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone? - Jesus has authority on earth to forgive sins! Mark 2:17 "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?" - Jesus has come to save ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Loving Others Through Outreach Series

Contributed by Don Jaques on Jan 13, 2005

We have 3 priorities – worship, small group, outreach. This week’s focus: OUTREACH. As the program states, “We are dedicated to reaching people who do not know Christ as their Savior.”

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing 1. Loving Others Through Outreach January 8/9, 2005 Don Jaques INTRO: We have 3 priorities – worship, small group, outreach. My vision is for a congregation of people who gather weekly for corporate worship, come together in small groups for discipleship and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:13-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fortifying Your Faith Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Nov 17, 2004

Why was this early church SO powerful? It had discovered it could help its members not stop with HAVING faith, but fortifying their faith! What could this focus do for you? *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

Let me ask you: Why is the church here? (By ‘the church’, I don’t mean this building, I mean the group of people that makes up the church.) I’m looking for your feedback – *DON’T RESPOND if you’ve attended this church for over 1 year.* Don’t you wish you belonged to a church like that? - A ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Holiness

How To Respond To Hardship

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 3, 2004

When we look at life from an eternal perspectives it alleviates stress and helps us focus on God’s perspectives rather than our own limited-selfish view-point.

How to Respond to Hardship (John 15:20) Illustration: All the Ethiopian teenager had to do was tell the men who were beating her that she no longer believed in God, and they would have stopped. Yezeshewall was being detained and beaten because of her faith in Christ. But she told her tormentors, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do I Offend Thee Lord?

Contributed by Ervin Kosch on Aug 27, 2002

The focus of this message is ’Do you love the Lord’, ’Do you offend others’, ’How can you hate the God’s children’, ’What price will I pay for my offence’.

1. Whom do you Love? a. Do you love the Love? b. Do you love the pleasures of this world? c. Do you love the things you’ve achieved, the things you own? d. Which rules your world, the love of our Lord and God, or you?(Jeremiah 51:17) 2. Do you offend others? a. Do you ignore others ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:42

Denomination: Baptist

Standing On The Rubbishes

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2010

Revised from an earlier message for a small church trying to affirm a new direction: Focus on what you have accomplished, know the heart of Christ for His church, confirm loving relationships.

Bethesda First Baptist Church, Bethesda, MD October 3, 2004 Some things end, but are not completed. Other things are completed, but do not end. There is a world of difference between the two. Some things end, but are not completed. Some things stop, unfinished. All these recent accidents ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Love

Contributed by Daniel Haas on Jan 5, 2011

There are many nativity stories. Matthew has one too. Every story has its own focus. Matthew focuses on David's lineage, fulfilled prophecies, Jesus' name​ and love.

Many Nativity stories - Matthew has one too - every story has its own focus - Mark starts with grown-up Jesus getting baptized by John​, heading right into ministry and his final days in Jerusalem​ - Luke makes sure he has the history right, dating it while Quirinius was governor of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Congregational

The Hero Of The Church

Contributed by Troy Borst on Aug 14, 2014

We see the problems and issues presented in Revelation 2-3. We see the solution presented in Revelation 4-5. The solution is simple: Focus on Jesus Christ our Ultimate Hero.

HERO OF THE CHURCH REVELATION 4:1-5:14 INTRODUCTION… Adapted from “Comic Book Character” by David A Zimmerman, IVP 2004, pgs 10-11 Our Western pop culture is shaped by superheroes whether you realize it or not. Superheroes have cemented their place in the American cultural ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Resident Aliens

Contributed by David Roth on Sep 19, 2015

Proper 9 (b) Christ was rejected in his hometown. We, too, are rejected by the world. Focus on our status in the world distracts us from the truth of our citizenship in God's kingdom.

Mark 6: 1-11 J. J. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. “Resident Aliens” It has been quite a week. A week ago the Supreme Court redefined marriage within the legal and civic sphere. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

5 Reasons To Give Thanks

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Nov 20, 2015

We seem to focus on the material things when it comes to Thanksgiving, in Psalm 103:1-5 we are given 5 reasons we can stand up and give thanks to God!

INTRODUCTION • PC VIDEO • SLIDE #1 • It is so easy to forget the small things in life; it is easy to forget the BIG things also. • Milk, a washer and dryer, a TV remote, the and most tragic loss of all, it looks like his iPad disappeared! • During the course of life, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Benaiah!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jun 2, 2015

I like the way Benaiah kills a lion in a pit on a snowy day! That is going to be our focus of study today, he went against all odds and slew the lion despite the snow!

Benaiah! 1 Chronicles 11:22”……Benaiah also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.” People who are God-driven are not ‘ lazy couch potatoes’ but are gutsy people who would go out of their comfort and convenient zones to achieve ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:1-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

Worship Christ At Christmas And Always Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Dec 8, 2013

To truly keep Him as our focus, we must start by truly worshiping Christ. What can we learn from those who worshiped Christ at the very first Christmas?

Keep Christ in Christmas Worship Christ Joseph worshipped through Obedience Mary Worshipped through Submission The Magi worshipped through Sacrifice Series introduction Well, here we are. December 2013 and the Christmas season has started. But in a lot of places in our country, I am not sure ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational