Sermons on Shortfall:

Life Is Not Fair Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 29, 2003

Life seems unfair to the disappointed, the cheated, the cynical. It was unfair to compel Simon to carry the cross -- injustice piled on. But God uses injustice to stir His people to action, to help us get beyond mere survival, to give us to one another.

Life is not fair. It just isn’t. The playwright MacLeish has his character “J.B.” scream out something we are all afraid to say, but it might be true: “If God is God, He is not good; if God is good, He is not God.” What an awesome thing to think, let alone speak! “If God is God, He is not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

A Tale Of Seven Churches: Thyatira Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Mar 8, 2003

This is the fifth in an eight part series concerning the eight churches of Asia

This is the fifth week of an eight week series and this morning we are looking at the fourth of seven churches. It’s interesting to note that this is the longest letter and yet it’s addressed to the church that was situated in the least important city of the seven. If we were to pull up our ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Wesleyan

True Love In A Nutshell

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Jan 12, 2003

Four practical words built around the idea that true love manifests itself in action.

- - - - - - - - - Unless otherwise noted all scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation of the Bible. - - - - - - - - - Bud was a factory worker with more than a slight resemblance to Archie Bunker. Every single day he’d come home sweaty and dirty. He’d go in the back door, grab a beer ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-24, 1 John 3:11-21

Denomination: *other

"The Least Of These…”

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jun 10, 2009

Discussion on just who Jesus is talking about when talking about "the least of these" and why it’s so important that we care for them.

“The Least of These…” Matthew 25:31-46 May 31, 2009 Me: I don’t know that compassion could be called one of my strong suits. I don’t think I’m necessarily a big meanie, at least not intentionally, but I’m not a person who can easily see someone’s suffering, unless someone tells me about it, or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Blessed Man Prospers

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Aug 24, 2012

The first Psalm introduces us to the blessings of the righteous man.

August 26, 2012 Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

The Tower Of Babel

Contributed by John Lowe on May 14, 2014

The story of the Tower of Babel is a sad description of the breakdown of fellowship, of failure in communication, growing isolation and confusion. It all results from human beings failing to live in dependence on God, becoming proud of their achievements.

11-12-04 The Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1-11:9 1 At that time all mankind spoke a single language. 2 As the population grew and spread eastward, a plain was discovered in the land of Babylon and was soon thickly ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Developing Physical Intimacy Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 7, 2016

While our culture has taken sex too far, the church hasn’t taken it far enough. We need to take sex back and reclaim it for the intended purposes of God. The problem is that we have not thought deeply enough about it, that is from God’s perspective.

Physical Intimacy Song of Solomon A young pastor was once asked to preach a sermon on sex. Being somewhat reserved, he found himself embarrassed when he came to write the word “sex” while writing his sermon. To remove this discomfort, he decided to simply put the letter “S” ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 1:1-16

Denomination: Methodist

A Snake That Saves Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Apr 2, 2023

The venom of the African black mamba is one of the deadliest poisons. Within minutes of a bite, the central nervous system begins to shut down culminating in convulsions, paralysis, and a suffocating death.

The venom of the African black mamba is one of the deadliest poisons. Within minutes of a bite, the central nervous system begins to shut down culminating in convulsions, paralysis, and a suffocating death. Researchers have discovered that this deadly venom also contains a potent painkiller known ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

The Announcement Of Peace

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Dec 3, 2022

This message is be preached as a series for Advent.

Title: “The Announcement of Peace” Scripture: Lk. 2:10-18 Type: Thematic 2nd Sunday of Advent Where: GNBC 12-4-22 Intro: When we were little boys staying with our grandparents, my brother shot a dove. My grandfather was a great hunter and fisherman. He would pay us to keep blackbirds, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Covenant Community Communicates Clearly Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 30, 2024

As James closes his letter to exiles, he concludes with instructions on three different topics - communication (oaths), prayer, and care. This sermon looks at the first of those in the context of a covenant community.

In the run up to the 1988 Presidential Election, Vice President George H.W. Bush famously said “Read my lips: no new taxes.” He was running on a platform of consistency. He sought to take the policies and success of the Reagan years into a new term. He, in essence, swore an oath, made a promise ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:25, Matthew 5:34-37, Matthew 23:16-22, Matthew 19:22, Zechariah 8:14-17, Psalm 32:3-4, 1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Close To God Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 24, 2024

When you couldn’t reach up to God, He reached down to you, and He invites you to meet Him in the darkness, away from any idol, at the foot of the cross.

Leighton Ford, the husband of Billy Graham’s youngest sister, Jean, tells the story of a Russian cosmonaut. He came back from space and said, “Some people say God lives out there. I looked around, and I didn't see any God out there.” Billy Graham's wife, Ruth, said he looked in the wrong ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:21-26, Matthew 6:24, Joshua 24:15, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:10, Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 9:12, John 14:6, Psalm 2:4, Hebrews 9:22, Leviticus 17:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Christian Loyalty, Revised & Expanded Series

Contributed by Dennis King on Sep 9, 2022

I admit that in 2017 a much shorter version of “Loyalty” was submitted and freely distributed. This lengthier, updated submission was written to give the subject of “Christian Loyalty” a more appropriate reexamination.

Christian Loyalty, Revised & Expanded As an introduction, I would like to admit that in 2017 a much shorter version of “Loyalty” was submitted and freely distributed. This lengthier, updated submission was written to give the subject of “Christian Loyalty” a more appropriate reexamination. In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:18, 1 Samuel 22:14, 2 Timothy 1:15, Ezekiel 5:7-9

Denomination: Baptist

Pursuit Of Personal Holiness

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Jul 10, 2001

"Without holiness, no one will see God". Hebrews 12:14. This study looks at what holiness is and how we become holy.

Pursuit of Personal Holiness Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: Consider for a moment the implication of this passage. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. The weight of this passage is clear, we can’t be with God without first ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14, 2 Peter 3:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Minister's Prayer For God's Church: Lord, Help Us To Walk Together

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 29, 2005

This is a sermon that stresses how important it is to have a deep fellowship within the congregation and the greater church body.

May 1, 2005 Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! A Minister’s Prayer for God’s Church: LORD, Help Us to Walk Together I. As an individual church When we were at the Seminary one of my professors told us to “beware of the loners” - the fellow ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 133:1

Denomination: Lutheran

Qualities Of An Elder, Pt. 2 Series

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Mar 4, 2008

pt. two on the qualities of an elder

Character of an Elder, pt. 2 This week a cherished family member passed away. To some of you, he was dad, grandpa, or husband. To many of the rest of us, he was family under the Fatherhood of God. I learned and saw a lot about Don Nelson Friday and Saturday, as memories and photographs were ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ