Sermons on Shrinking Back:

The Cost Of Discipleship

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Jun 27, 2019

This sermon looks at the rejection of the Samaritans, and examines the excuses of the three would be disciples. This sermon has some illustrations to draw the hearer back in, and helps to apply the text to the life of the hearer in their baptismal identity.

Sometimes you just need to learn the value of a dollar. I remember when my nephew Kaden was learning this at the Wisconsin Dells. We were downtown, where all the shops were, and he was given a dollar earlier in the day. Thinking that was enough money to buy something in a tourist trap, he began ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Denomination: Lutheran

Losing It At Home

Contributed by Craig Benner on Feb 29, 2020

We preach all the time about those who have been in church and then go back to the world and lose their salvation. How about those who stay in church but have become lost?

LOST AT HOME Luke 15:8-10 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:8-10, Ephesians 1:13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Christmas Carols (4) 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. In Luke 2, Simeon sings about the revelation, redemption, and rest that comes through the birth of Christ!

Christmas Carols (Simeon) Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christians Church: 12/20/15 For the past few of weeks, we’ve been delving into the Carols of Christmas. In honor of all the Carols we sing at Christmas time, I thought I’d start off today by playing a little game. I’ll quote a line from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:29-32

Denomination: Christian Church

The Sermon That Launched The Church Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Oct 12, 2019

While there are a number of preaching patterns to follow, I keep coming back to a simple outline I first learned some forty years ago. It goes like this – Hook, Book, Look and Took.

The Sermon that Launched the Church Acts 2:14-41 Rev. Brian Bill October 12-13, 2019 I’ll never forget what happened when it was my turn to preach in my first homiletics class at Moody. I stood up, nervously cleared my throat, and apologized for the corny illustration I was about to use for the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:14-41, Jeremiah 23:29, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Is Accounted For Righteousness

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Aug 23, 2021

God has always required those who want to be righteous to place their faith in Him. This has been always been true. As far back as Abraham in the Old Testament it has been true.

Alba 8-22-2021 FAITH IS ACCOUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS Romans 4 John Newton, who wrote the song “Amazing Grace”, once said: “Down through life I have forgotten a lot of things. But these two things I remember. The first is that I am a great sinner. The second is that I have a great Savior.” Anyone ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Worship God Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jun 16, 2022

Psalm 100 shows how seriously worship was taken in Old Testament times. That in itself is enough to tell us we should take worship seriously today. There is a back and forth rhythm to this Psalm.

Do you need to learn to do something new? How will you learn? You could read a how to book. You could watch an instructional video on the internet. But if you want to know how to worship God you should spend time in Psalm 100 the divinely inspired how to worship guide. Psalm 100 Shout for joy to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Zechariah's Song Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Dec 19, 2020

Zechariah’s Song challenges us to expect God to work even in the middle of our present difficult circumstances. We do this by looking back at the actions of God, and then looking forward to the promises of God.

Message Zechariah’s Song Luke 1:57-80 We are working our way through a series which looks at the Advent Songs. Today we are going to have a look at Zechariah’s Song. So that we can be reminded of the context of the song let’s start by reading Luke 1:57-66 (read just verse 57) Hopefully you are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:57-80

Denomination: Baptist

(Christmas Sermon) Another Way Home: When Finding Christ Changes Everything

Contributed by Terry Hovey on Dec 27, 2025

They (the Magi) went home, but they didn't go back the same way they came. Physically, yes, they took a different route to avoid Herod. But spiritually, this represents something much deeper.

(Christmas Sermon) Another Way Home: When Finding Christ Changes Everything Good morning, church family! As we gather here the Sunday after Christmas, many of you are probably still feeling the warmth of Christmas morning - the joy of family, the excitement of beautifully wrapped presents, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Fundamental Gratitude Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Gratitude is more than just saying "thank you." It is an offering of thanks for the grace we have received. It is a reciprocal practice, where we receive God's grace and offer it back to Him and others.

You know, these past few years we've lost a lot of famous legends. It makes us all stop and think about what really matters in life. We all want to live a life that means something, right? A life that leaves a mark. But what makes a life meaningful? The Bible tells us it's all about gratitude. When ...read more

Topics: Appreciation, Thankfulness, Positive Psychology, Emotional Wellbeing

Sighs And Wonders

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 18, 2023

Even as we sigh over the evening news, and wonder when the time will come, the wars and earthquakes and floods do call us back to alertness, even if most of our neighbors are deaf to the alarms.

A wonderful little song came out in the 60's, I think the Kingston Trio sang it... It’s called The Merry Minuet. They're rioting in Africa, they're starving in Spain There's hurricanes in Florida, and Texas needs rain. The whole world is festering with unhappy ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9, Habakkuk 1:2-4, Mark 13:24-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sermon On Flying Beneath The Radar

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 27, 2024

Radar is defined as a system for detecting the presence, direction, distance, and speed of aircraft, ships, and other commodities, by sending out pulses of radio waves which are reflected off the intercepted object back to the source.

Dallas Willard, an American philosopher once remarked: “The core of the person is what he or she loves, and that is bound up with what they worship - that insight recalibrates the radar for cultural analysis. The rituals and practices that form our loves spill out well beyond the sanctuary. Many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16, 1 Peter 3:4, Colossians 3:2, Romans 12:2

Ascension And Return

Contributed by Mathew Philip on Mar 6, 2023

"This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

The Miraculous Ascension Jesus is a fulfilled Biblical theme. After Resurrection Sunday, Jesus led the disciples out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven (Luke 24:50-51). Luke began his Gospel with ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Denomination: Other

The Tower Of Babel Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 17, 2023

God's intercession, or judgment, in Babel was to again bring His creation back to Himself. It was done to place within them a desire to seek God out for what they need and not to be self-reliant.

Alpha and Omega, Part 15 The Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1-9 Introduction - 2023 has been led with “one purpose”: To know there is a God! -- Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; examining the beginning to the end - Last time (Gen 9) we discussed the aftermath of the great flood -- Re: ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can!

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Apr 14, 2024

want to begin by asking you this question, and later we will go back to this question with the answer. “If God wants it done, can it be done?” “Does the Bible say with God most things are possible?”

(Thoughts from this message came, Dr. Neil Andersons devotion) I Can! Philippians 4:11-13 I want to begin by asking you this question, and later we will go back to this question with the answer. “If God wants it done, can it be done?” “Does ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13, Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

Acts Of The Apostles (14 Of 39)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 14, 2022

Many in America today, seem to be confused as to why, when we incarcerate law breakers, and send them through a rehabilitation program, they go back to doing the same crimes again, after they are released.

Well, the problem is that we are trying to fix the wrong thing. Illus: If you had trouble with the carburetor on your car, and you took it to be fixed, and the mechanic worked on the transmission, you would find, when you drove the car from the garage, that you still had the same trouble as ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:30-43

Denomination: Baptist