Sermons on Simple Pleasures:

On Easter Morning A Simple Question, With A Glorious Answer, Challenged And Changed Everything

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 13, 2022

The women go to the tomb to find a dead Jesus, but they are given life and hope instead. We have the same hope and life in Christ alone.

4.17.22 Luke 24:1–12 1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. 3 When they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

You Can't Take It With You Series

Contributed by Harold Laubach Jr on May 4, 2013

Sermon on the Rich Farmer. Living for God, not for the world's definition of success. Luke 12:16-21

The Famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy writes in one of his novels about a young man who owns a small farm in Russia. The farm is now his, because his father just died. With his father fresh in the ground at his feet, the young man begins to dream about expanding the farm, growing more crops and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-21

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Simplicity Of Faith

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Jul 7, 2019

Faith in Christ is not always easy, but simple. Elisha, Naaman, and his servants remind us to: 1. Offer a simple witness to someone in need 2. Encourage others to do the right thing, and 3. Accept what God offers you.

2 Kings 5:1-14 The Simplicity of Faith There is a saying: “Nothing is as simple as it seems.” Sometimes that’s true. Someone well-meaning gives you advice, and you’re thinking, “You don’t know the half of it!” Or you plan something out, and Murphy’s Law kicks into gear, and makes life a lot more ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Peter 5:6, Acts 16:31

Denomination: Baptist

How To Be A Wise Guy (Or Gal) Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jan 5, 2019

To be wise in God’s eyes, let’s revere and draw near in the new year.

How to Be a Wise Guy Proverbs 1:1-7 Rev. Brian Bill January 5-6, 2019 The weekend between Christmas and the New Year is often difficult for churches to navigate. One church I know cancels services the last weekend of the year and instead encourages its members to have “Church in My Jammies” ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:1-7, Proverbs 2:2, Proverbs 3:7

Denomination: Baptist

Making God Smile

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 8, 2003

The function of worship is to bring God appropriate pleasure.

(Overhead 1) This time of year is a time for love, romance, and passion. Millions of dollars are spent on Valentine’s Day gifts. In fact a 1998 report from Ball State University indicates, “Valentine’s Day ranks second behind Christmas in total sales of candy, flowers and cards.” Love is important ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-26

Denomination: Church Of God

Walking The Road To Bethlehem: Mary Learns She Will Bear The Son Of God

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 2, 2021

Why do we remind ourselves of the coming of Jesus? I always wondered that as a child. The reason is very simple: The cares of this world, job, college, family, and the various pleasures of life can crowd out the true center of our lives, which is Jesus.

Welcome, officially to the Christmas season. As we call it, “advent.” Why do we have this season of advent? What is advent? Advent literally means “the arrival.” And specifically, the arrival of an important individual. So this advent season we’re going to be taking a journey, to recall and refresh ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:20-21, Luke 1:37

Denomination: Salvation Army

Simply Trust And Obey Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 7, 2020

We see the disciples' simple obedience to God, simple dependence on God in prayer, and simple faith in the Scriptures.

Luke wrote the book of ACTS. It’s a sequel to the Gospel of LUKE which gives an account of the life of Jesus and all that He said and did. • ACTS tells us how the risen Lord works to build His church by His Word and the Holy Spirit, in particular covering the works of two principal apostles ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-26, Matthew 27:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

If You Have Run With Footmen...

Contributed by Christian Curby on Mar 10, 2013

God has called us to do hard things! Do we walk away from our relationships including our relationship with God because it gets to challenging? Jeremiah 12:5

Good afternoon, it is so good to be back with you. I am thankful for all that God is doing in my life and in the life of our church. And so it is great to be with you today. Today I want to share a word with you that I believe God has been stirring in my heart for a while but I think that in the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 12:5-6

Denomination: Foursquare

Borrowed Time

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Mar 2, 2011

We must make the most for God with out of our time on earth.

Focus Passage: James 4:13-17 Supplemental Passage: There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Facing Temptation Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 21, 2011

Jesus' encounter with Satan helps us to understand the power of temptations and ways to overcome it.

Matthew 4:1-11 “Facing Temptation” INTRODUCTION Video: “Temptation—Deep Thoughts By a Shallow Christian This brief video seems to echo the thoughts and actions of many people in our modern society. It is commonly believed that sin has no consequence and the resisting ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Lutheran

The Significance Of A New Creation-1 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jan 5, 2016

1 of ? Paul clarified the significance of being a new creation in Christ to the Corinthian church. But what is significant about being a new creation in Christ? A new creation is significant in its New...

The SIGNIFICANCE Of A NEW CREATION-I—2Corinthians 5:9--6:10 Attention: The key to our verses— 2Corinthians 5:9--6:10— is 2Cor. 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Prov. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Heart Of Love: What Am I Seeking In Life? Does It Line Up With My Faith?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

We live to follow certain core desires that exist beneath the surface of who we are. It seems like many people live for self-gratification.

We live to follow certain core desires that exist beneath the surface of who we are. It seems like many people live for self-gratification. Many live for desires like pleasure. That's fairly common. Others live for the goal of success, and they pursue that underlying intention through the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:2

Denomination: Salvation Army

This Lent Get Your Passions Under Control Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 21, 2023

We take pleasure in the lesser goods of earth–food, drink, beauty, sex. And if we take too much pleasure there, we can treat them as if they were the highest good and we fall into sin.

Ash Wednesday Homily What brings us here today so early? We are here because we want something. Not a mere smear of black soot, no. If that were our goal, we’d be certifiably insane. We are here because we want at the end of our lives to be united with the Blessed Trinity forever, body and soul, ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:12-18

Denomination: Catholic

Polar Opposites

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Feb 14, 2025

We must keep our hearts focused on eternal life and pleasing God. We cannot afford to let the things of this world make us spiritually bankrupt.

ROBERT FROST HAS WRITTEN ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND STATEMENTS WHICH SIMPLY SAYS, “TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD, AND I—I TOOK THE ONE LESS TRAVELED BY, AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.” THOSE WHO FOLLOW CHRIST MUST ALSO CHOOSE A SIMILAR PATH LESS TRAVELED THAT WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:17-26, 1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 16:26, Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Free Methodist

Hope In The Wilderness: Turning Suffering Into Seeking - Psalm 63 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 29, 2025

What if your deepest pain could become your greatest pathway to God? Learn how to transform suffering into a thirst for His presence that changes everything. Imagine a life where every moment—good or bad—draws you closer to God. Psalm 63 reveals the one desire that can make it a reality.

Psalm 63:0,1 A Psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water ************************************** Introduction: Emotion and Temptation The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:1