Sermons on Shrinking Back:

God Does Write Straight With Crooked Lines

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 16, 2025

We know, every one of us, how many times we have told God “Thy will be done” with our fingers crossed behind our backs. No, repentance must be our daily habit.

Friday of the Twentieth Week in course 2025 (Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary) The Book of Ruth is both unique and important for both Jews and Christians. Ruth was an outsider, a Moabite woman married to the son of the widow Naomi, a native of Bethlehem. When Naomi’s two sons ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40, Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Catholic

A Song For Spiritual Giants (Psalm 63) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 6, 2025

It's hard, and risky, to describe to people your healthy, strong, radically committed relationship with God. David pulls back the curtain, and talks about how his relationship in a transparent, helpful way.

One of the more famous pastors of the last century was a guy by the name of A.W. Tozer. He was more famous for his books, than his sermons, probably. But one of his books was called "The Root of the Righteous." In the first chapter of this book, Tozer talks about spiritual giants. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1-11

Ten Arguments For The Historical Jesus

Contributed by John Gaston on May 28, 2025

Gary Habermas in his book, The Historical Jesus, gives at least 10 evidences. As part of my Apologetics series, I have abbreviated and rewritten them to fit front & back on one piece of paper.

TEN ARGUMENTS FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS 1. MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT SOURCES. The existence of multiple independent sources – the four Gospels, Paul’s letters, and other early Christian writings – that attest to the historical existence of Jesus. There wasn’t just one witness to Jesus, but a large number ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, Philippians 2:6-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

This Mother's Worst Dilemma

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 9, 2025

She went in disguise to find out if her son would live after he became ill. The disguise didn't work, and she came back with a dilemma no mother ever wants to face.

Introduction: She was the queen, but not even she could overcome her son’s illness. When she sought a message from a prophet of the LORD, she received news that shook her to her core. (Full disclosure: Sermon Central has previously accepted a message based on this text, called “The Message This ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 14:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Mr. Irrelevant Series

Contributed by Steven Ferber on Dec 22, 2022

If anyone was considered irrelevant, it would have been Jesus, born to poor parents, in a back-water town, in a land under the thumb of a brutal regime. But Jesus, "Mr. Irrelevant", was actually Mr. Indespensable.

What do you call the last player chosen in the annual draft of the National Football League? I know what some of you are thinking, “Pastor, I just don’t care!” That’s awesome! You obviously have a life! For many of the rest of us, who live and die by the sword of our favorite team’s record, two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Lutheran

Hell Is Not In Control Of Your Destiny

Contributed by John Gaston on Jul 28, 2019

Sometimes it looks like hell is in control of your life. Four Reasons Hell ISN'T in control. Four things to do to take back charge if your life has spiraled out of control.

HELL IS NOT IN CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY Esther 9:20-25 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Kids Learn a lot watching us Pray! 1. A boy went to an old-line church and saw the way they prayed. When he got home, he prayed a prayer like theirs, “O Holy Father, I pray that you may grant me out of Your beneficence ...read more

Scripture: Esther 9:20-25

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Games People Play With God

Contributed by John Gaston on May 27, 2020

One-third of church goers have quit watching online services and experts predict they will never come back to church! They are falling away. They are playing games with God and we must alert them to the terrible consequences.

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY WITH GOD Isaiah 1:13-17 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. An avid fan of the Washington Redskins took his dog to a friend’s house for an afternoon of watching their favorite team. The friend was surprised to see the dog, but felt like the dog might be more exciting to watch than the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:13-17, Psalm 51:6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

And They Continued

Contributed by Grant Adams on Feb 4, 2020

To continue means to persevere, endure, stick to it, or persist. That is the characteristics we must live today. So many are quitting, fading away or slipping back. Let's do our part to continue.

The church received the word of God. First, the word must be preached. Not ideas, thoughts, rules, philosophy, etc. Second, the word must be received. Welcome it, believe it, take it in, practice it, hold on to it, hunger for it, share it. Now the key thought is found in vs. 42 and 46, “they ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

Watching And Praying

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 24, 2019

When will Jesus return? Let’s learn that we do not know when Christ will return but that he will come back and we must keep watch. Let’s discuss this in Matthew 24:36-44.

When will Jesus return? Let’s learn that we do not know when Christ will return but that he will come back and we must keep watch. Let’s discuss this in Matthew 24:36-44. End of an Era Matthew 24:36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Baptist

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Dec 4, 2019

It is hard to believe that December is already here. And with December upon us, as a church, we need to go back and visit the area of Nazareth and Bethlehem and see what all that excitement was about some 2000 years ago.

Introduction: It is hard to believe that December is already here. And with December upon us, as a church, we need to go back and visit the area of Nazareth and Bethlehem and see what all that excitement was about some 2000 years ago. To us, looking back at the events that unfolded, it is called ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Instruction In Worship Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Sep 22, 2019

As King David brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, following a twenty-year absence from the Tabernacle, he instructed the people in worship for such a momentous occasion. The principles David shared remain relevant for our day.

Instruction in Worship 1 Chronicles 16: 23-29 This was a special time in the history of Israel. David had been anointed king over all of Israel and was ruling on the throne. God had given them victory over the Philistines and preparations were being made to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:23-29

Denomination: Baptist

David Takes The Sacred Bread & The Sword Of Goliath Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Feb 23, 2023

David now has food. But he is still unarmed. He ran away in such a hurry, he doesn’t have much of anything aside from the clothes on his back, and now a stack of sacred bread.

David is on the run! He is in a panic. Saul had tried to kill, pin him to a wall with a spear while he was playing music for him. Then Jonathan David’s friend goes and tries to calm Saul down and make things right. And Saul tries to kill Jonathan too. So David makes a run for it. His first stop is ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

A Day For Remembering (Thanksgiving) Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Nov 18, 2023

Thanksgiving is about looking back and being grateful for what we have been through and how God has been with us. As we remember, we celebrate and rejoice in all that God has given us.

What is your favorite part about Thanksgiving? (give time for the students to raise their hands and tell you what they love about Thanksgiving). Absolutely, Thanksgiving is a day when we stuff our faces with turkey and pumpkin pie. But, it's more than just a food fest. It's a day to remember and be ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:10-18

Topics: Gratitude, Family Gatherings, Historical Events, Traditional Meals

No One Knows Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Nov 30, 2023

We don't know when Jesus will come back, so we need to stay alert and ready. We should live confidently and share the gospel with others while we wait for His return.

What's your favorite mystery movie or book? (Spend a few minutes going around the room and calling on students who have a movie or book and ask them why they like it so much. If you have time, talk about your favorite mystery movie and why you love it.) Let's talk about a real-life mystery. This ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:24-37

Topics: Second Coming, Biblical Prophecy, Spiritual Readiness, Eternal Life

Backtrack To The Bible Series

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Sep 15, 2022

When dealing with perilous times brought on by a corrupt culture, the Apostle Paul knew the answer: it was to go back to godly living and the foundation of truth as found in the Word of God. This was his counsel to Timothy in II Timothy 3.

Our culture has long been going in the wrong direction. We have made great progress in technology, but it has also been our undoing. Existentialism and Post-modernism have taught us to focus on ourselves and selfishly pursue our own desires despite the consequences. Instead of the church affecting ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Denomination: Baptist