Sermons on Shrink Back:

The Dead Church

Contributed by Jeff Taylor on Jan 21, 2023

Many churches all over the world are dead churches. Why? Because they have forsaken the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are still living on past victories and faded glory from long past. They are not living the daily life with Christ the Lord and as such, have now grown cold to the Gospel.

Please turn in your Bibles to Revelation Chapter 3, as today we are going to look at verses 1-6, Jesus’ warning to the church at Sardis. John MacArthur, in his exposition of these verses, used an illustration that has stuck with me. I would like to begin with it. He talked about the phenomenon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:27-28, Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Good News Of Great Joy Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 17, 2021

1) Joy in Watching (Luke 2:8), 2) Joy in Wonder (Luke 2:9-14), 3) Joy in Worship (Luke 2:15-16), 4) Joy in Witness (Luke 2:17-20

Luke 2:8-20. [8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10] And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Other

Keys To Answered Prayer - James 5:14-15 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 2, 2022

Scripture describes several things we can do to make it more likely our prayers will be answered. This message explores several of them.

James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned. 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you weak? He should ...read more

Scripture: James 5:14-15

The High Cost Of Sin Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 14, 2023

Sin has infected the race. It contaminates our lives, ultimately ensuring our death. The Son of God was born to offer His life as a sacrifice, taking the sin of all mankind upon Himself. This is the neglected message of Christmas.

“To the woman [God] said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.’ “And to Adam he said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Selfless Christianity In Action! - Fellow Soldier Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Oct 18, 2002

If Paul’s and Epaphroditus’ experiences are any indication, fighting battles are a normal part of the Christian experience. You’re engaged in warfare today. The church is engaged in a fight today as we endeavor to take back enemy-held territory in people’

SERMONIC THEME Opening Statement: One would think that God would make some special allowances for a man who dedicated his life to planting churches throughout the Mediterranean world. It only seems appropriate that God would have blessed this man with great health, the nicest of accommodations, a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30

If God Is Against Us... Series

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Oct 21, 2002

In Nahum, God says, "I am against you." We like to emphasize one of the verses of Nahum: "God is slow to anger..." but there is a limit to God’s patience. What happens when we continually turn our backs on God?

IF GOD IS AGAINST US By Maynard Pittendreigh Nahum 1:1-15 1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. 2 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath ...read more

Scripture: Nahum 1:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Making A Stand For God

Contributed by Wayde Wilson on Jan 12, 2002

We can sense in the strength of this one famous statement that Joshua was a man who knew who he was, who knew what he believed, and who was willing to live in such a way as to back up his words with his actions.

INTRO: Why do we admire Joshua? Why has this moment in time been immortalized, serving as an inspiration to so many people down through the years? Why does it still touch some place deep inside our hearts when we hear those famous words, "As for me & my house…?" The reason this phrase is so well ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:1-15, Joshua 23:1-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Ten Lepers Series

Contributed by John Covell on Oct 17, 2001

Everything I have can be traced back to an opportunity or an event that I never could have orchestrated or created; every good thing I have going on in my life finds its source in a gift of God’s grace

Beginning a few Wednesday nights ago and for the next several weeks, we’re talking about the issue of Grace. And as I said last time, the way we define grace is that “Grace is getting a gift you don’t deserve.” Now mercy is when we don’t get a punishment we do deserve; but grace is getting a gift ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul's Spiritual Autobiography

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Apr 7, 2001

Paul frankly discloses his spiritual balance sheet in terms of What he Renounced and What he Received in converting to Christianity, and looking back 30 years later, What he once Counted and What he still Counts.

PAUL’S SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY Nothing fascinates me more than a good biography. Perhaps, like me, you’re curious to know the motives that are behind the person’s actions and to learn how his character develops. It’s all the more interesting when a great man or woman write their own life story - ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Fears That Keep Us From His Presence

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Jun 1, 2007

What fears cause us to back away from the Presence of the Lord? Fear that He will require more than you are willing to give? We can probably relate to some of the same fears that these people did many years earlier.

June,2007 Fears that Keep Us from His Presence Luke 8:26-39 INTRODUCTION: Jesus did many miracles when He lived on earth. One of those miracles involved the deliverance of a demon-possessed man who had been living among the tombs for a long time. He was so out of control that he could no ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

Denomination: Methodist

The Coming Warrior King Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 9, 2006

Like the cavalry to the rescue, Jesus comes riding back to earth on a white horse to wipe out the enemy and set up His kingdom. What does that mean to us as we find ourselves in need of rescue right here and now?

As we move into chapters 19 and 20 of The Book of the Revelation we can breathe a big sigh of relief. No more plagues and catastrophes, no more rebellion and evil ruling the planet. We transition from what’s going on in heaven and earth separately - to the two becoming one - as Jesus Christ returns ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What Did Jesus Do About Conflict In His Team? Series

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 8, 2009

Jesus dealt with conflict head on, yet always without sin. He did not avoid conflict. Once he dealt with it in his team, he pointed them back to His mission and their mission. He does that with us also.

What did Jesus do about conflict in His team? In their book called ’A bucket of surprises’ J. John and Mark Stibbe refer to a friend (a church leader) who said this: ’Whenever the conflict gets too much in my church I go and visit the local kennels. There’s a whole group there that’s always ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Anglican

Of Life Before Accepting Christ Series

Contributed by Bruce Landry on Mar 31, 2008

We are not to dwell in our lives before Christ, but I is good to cognitively think about what our lives apart from Christ were. If we seriously consider it, then we will not so quickly be pulled back into such turmoil and strife.

“Of Life Before Accepting Christ”Ephesians 2:1-3 A Life of Death… A Life of Sin… A Life of disobedience under God’s wrath… Donald Grey Barnhouse, led the son of a prominent American family to the Lord. He was in the service, but he showed the reality of his conversion by immediately ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Reflections

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jul 13, 2008

A reflection is to give back an image or likeness. When ‘one’ turns to the Lord the veil that kept the light of God from shinning (as with Moses) is uncovered or taken away and now every believer has the very light sent from God!

Reflection Text: II Corinthians 3: 7-11,16-18 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Are You Excited To Repent?

Contributed by Doug Koehler on Dec 5, 2008

Mark offers us a deep look into the call to repent. This sermon, brings us back into the day when all of Jerusalem traveled 25 miles or so to see what John the Baptist was all about. Would you be as dedicated and driven?

Mark 1:1-8 2nd Sunday in Advent December 7, 2008 “Series B” Are You Excited to Repent? What gets you excited with anticipation? I am talking about the sort of excitement that keeps you up at night. You used to own tons of examples of this sort of excitement when you were all kids. You had ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran