Sermons on Short Cuts:

Christmas Carols (2) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Nov 19, 2019

The tradition of singing carols at Christmas time can be traced all the way back to the very beginning. The Nativity story, as told in the first two chapters of Luke, actually contains 4 short songs. In Luke 1, Zachariah sings about a horn, a house, and holiness.

Christmas Carols (Zechariah) Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christians Church: 12/6/15 We all have our favorite Christmas traditions, don’t we? Maybe it’s decorating the tree, visiting with family, baking cookies and setting a plate out for Santa, or just driving around town to check out all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:64-75

Denomination: Christian Church

Where Is Your Gethsemane?

Contributed by Pastor Dre on Jun 18, 2018

Here is a short sermon that encourages us as a Christian to have a place Gethsemane, a time where we spend time with God to get the strength to do His Will. Jesus spent time in Gethsemane to get a hold of the Father, how much more should we.

Matthew 26:36-39 36 - Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 - He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 - Then he said to them, “My soul is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-39

Denomination: Pentecostal

Paradise Lost

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Mar 5, 2017

Like our first parents, each of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. The story of the Fall tells us much about God's giving heart, Satan's destructive lies, and humanity's need for a Savior, of which God provided from the beginning.

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Paradise Lost “Genesis” means “beginnings.” This first book of the Bible introduces us to the beginning of creation and lots of other things. Today we’ll look at “The Fall,” the beginning of sin and all that goes wrong with the world. It would be nice to blame Adam and Eve, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-7, Romans 5:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

A Hill To Die On Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 20, 2016

Why wasn't Moses allowed into the Promised Land? The short answer is: he sinned, but somehow that doesn't seem quite fair. He was one of the greatest and meekest men in Scripture. Is there something more about God's decision that we need to know?

I love to read and a few weeks ago I ran across a word quiz from a non-Christian publication that – at first – angered me. I thought they were making fun of Christianity. But once I read the answer to the quiz I realized not only were they NOT doing that, but in fact someone had ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:48-52

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Are A Part Of The Christmas Story

Contributed by Arlen Payne on Dec 23, 2023

I preached this short message at our Christmas Even event. It was preceded (of course) by singing a number of Christmas carols. It was an attempt to include everyone who attended in the Christmas Story. I have several people help read through the long passage of Scripture.

You are a Part of the Story of Christmas Luke 2:1-20 Read passage… One of the exciting things about the Christmas story is that you are part of the story. I. God sent His Son because he loves you. 1John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, John 3:36

Denomination: Baptist

Dead To Sin - Alive In Christ

Contributed by Rolando, Jr Pama on Jun 4, 2023

• Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. • Sin enslaved us and it entangles and bondage us. • John 8:34 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS • Romans 6:10 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. • 2 Corinthians 5:21 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. • 1 John 2:2 2 He is the atoning ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:6-7

Return To The Gold Standard

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 6, 2023

"Doing to others as you would have them do to you" is another way of saying "Love your neighbor as yourself," which isn't easy. Love seeks their long term good, not their short term happiness.

About 50 years before Jesus’ time, two famous rabbis were competing for the future of Judaism. One, Rabbi Shammai, was an engineer known for the strictness of his views. The Talmud - that is, the authoritative commentary on the Hebrew scriptures - tells that a gentile came to Shammai and told him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12, 1 Peter 3:13-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Triumphant In Temptation

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jan 18, 2008

Temptation is as old as mankind, seen first in the Prototype in the Garden of Eden when the First Adam fell, but the Second Adam was Triumphant in the Wilderness from which we can be forearmed to meet Satan’s temptations.

Why does God allow temptation? That, together with the origin of evil, are great mysteries and they’re closely related. The Bible gives us no explanation as to the ultimate origin of evil but is undoubtedly connected with the devil. When we open the pages of Scripture he already existed. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Knowing Christ

Contributed by David Swensen on Jun 12, 2003

Have you forgotten the feeling of dedication, passion and hunger for Christ? A vital,vibrant, powerful,life-changing relationship with the Lord comes to those who make knowing Him a priority in their lives.

Writing in Moody Monthly magazine, Mayo Mathers tells about the first time she saw Keith sitting alone in a pew at the back of the church. He wore a biker’s T-shirt and tattoos decorated each arm. Only 36, he was more faded then his jeans with a worn out, lived-out look in his eyes. He seemed ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

Murder Mystery Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Anger is the impulse to strike out - either with words or with actions - at whatever threatens us, or threatens something we value. Anger is an impulse to destruction. Anger is in stark contrast to the commandment to love, which brings life.

Have you ever caught yourself looking at your reflection in a shop window? I have to confess that I sometimes do. I'll wager there's not one person in this room who doesn't take at least one good look at him or herself in the mirror every day. Maybe you don't care much. But you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Murder Mytsery Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 25, 2022

How the prohibition against murder expands to include anger.

Have you ever caught yourself looking at your reflection in a shop window? I have to confess that I sometimes do. I'll wager there's not one person in this room who doesn't take at least one good look at him or herself in the mirror every day. Maybe you don't care much. But you ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:17, Matthew 5:17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Christian Husband: What He's Supposed To Be Like And Why

Contributed by Todd Riley on Oct 18, 2000

Just last year an old friend of mine got married.

Just last year an old friend of mine got married. She married a fella who is an automobile mechanic. A couple of friends and I agreed that this was a big score for her. What better than to land a guy who can fix cars. I suppose in a way my opinion has been colored by the Red Green show. At times ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:24-33

Denomination: Baptist

All Things Working For Good

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 7, 2001

Joseph was "up against it" as a captive in Egypt but, God being with him, difficulties and disappointments turned into a "pattern for good".

ALL THINGS WORKING FOR GOOD St. Paul has some very encouraging words for people who are finding life hard, who are ’up against it’. ’We know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28). The apostle is writing to the church at ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Temptation

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Feb 11, 2002

A sermon for the First Sunday in Lent Temptation

  1st Sunday of Lent Matthew 4:1-11 "Temptation" What is a sinner? Let me repeat that question, what is a sinner? Pascal says: "There are only two kinds of people, the righteous who believe themselves a sinner and the sinner who believes themselves righteous". Mary Wilson Little put it this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

The New Wine Of The Kingdom

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 12, 2000

The miracle of Jesus changing water into wine at Cana is a sign pointing to the new wine of the Kingdom found only by obedience to Mary’s prophetic words to the servants "do whatever he tells you".

THE NEW WINE OF THE KINGDOM Have you ever wondered how the stories recorded in the Gospels came to be selected out of the many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the events in the earthly life of Jesus? (John 20:30; 21:35). The evangelist John gives us the reason for their inclusion in Scripture: ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist