Sermons on Simple Pleasures:

Commit Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 29, 2017

Second in a series on our church's Discipleship Path. If I want to be Jesus’ disciple I need to be “all in”

ENGAGE This morning, I’m going to begin by taking you through a very quick history of some prevailing ideas about discipleship over the last 600 years or so. I’ll begin in the early 16th century, with a German monk named Martin Luther. Here is what he wrote this about being a disciple of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Baptist

Avoiding Sexual Temptations

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Jun 19, 2018

Proverbs about Sexual Purity

Avoiding Sexual Temptations - Assorted Proverbs Turn with me if you would to the book of Proverbs, chapter 5. We have been going through the Old Testament together, and we are looking at the period of the unified kingdom: God brought the Jews as His chosen people into a land that he had prepared ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

18th Sunday After Pentecost. September 27th, 2026. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2023

Year A, Proper 21.

Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-4, Psalm 78:12-16, Ezekiel 18:1-4, Ezekiel 18:25-32, Psalm 25:1-9, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32 A). A PLACE OF NO WATER. Exodus 17:1-7. Moses must have been pretty near the end of his tether (Exodus 17:4). After all, the LORD had already heard the cries of His ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-4, Psalm 78:12-16, Ezekiel 18:1-4, Ezekiel 18:25-32, Psalm 25:1-9, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Obedient Servant Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 23, 2024

In the darkness, don’t trust yourself; trust the Lord. Rely on His unfailing love, His unlimited power, and His obedient Servant--Jesus Christ, who CHOSE to die for you.

Vance Havner was one of my favorite preachers when I was growing up, because had a wonderful, witty way of putting things that really made you think. He went home to be with the Lord several years ago, but I remember a story he told about two Indians who from a distance had been watching a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:1-11, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 10:28, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:15-16, Hebrews 5:8-9, Acts 2:23-24, Acts 2:36, Luke 1:37  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

God's Design And Desire For Marital Intimacy Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 11, 2009

And today I want to help us consider the goodness of marital physical intimacy.

As we continue in our series ‘Restoring the Gift of Our Sexuality’… I thought you might appreciate knowing a little more how the choice to do this series came about. This little video kind of fills it in… [VIDEO: VCF SEXUALITY SHORT (by Nate Torrence) ] Well… needless to say… I got the message. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Winnable War Series

Contributed by Dan Jackson on Sep 11, 2005

9th in James series. The history of the world is a war history. James brings it even closer home when he makes it clear that our personal stories are war stories as well, James shows how we can acheive victory over the world!

World War II had ended. On September 2, 1945 General Douglas MacArthur spoke to a waiting world from the Battleship Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay, “Today the guns are silent...the skies no longer rain death...the seas bear only commerce...men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10, James 4:1-4

I Can't Get No Satisfaction Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jan 25, 2009

4th in a series from Ecclesiastes. Joy in life comes from the journey, not the destination.

On June 5, 1965, the Rolling Stones released their single “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” which went on to be their first number one hit in the U.S. The song was a response to the rampant commercialism that the band had observed in America. But the idea behind the song was certainly nothing new. When ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Get In The Game: Preview Of Coming Attractions At Bethany Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Sep 28, 2002

This is a "preview" of the National Campaign of the 40 Days of Purpose, a spiritual growth campaign in which Bethany Church will participate.

(PowerPoint presentation available--email author) Slide 1 GET IN THE GAME: Preview of Coming Attractions at Bethany Slide 2 What are the best things about the arrival of fall? Its crisp air, brisk breezes, and dipping temperatures? Its radiant colors and ravishing smells? The picture on the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14, Habakkuk 3:2

Denomination: Methodist

Twenty Answers To Common Objections To Becoming A Christian

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 28, 2002

Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who ask you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. Do it with a clear conscience so that when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusive

Answers to Common Objections to Becoming a Christian I Pet 3:15,16 - "But in your hearts set Christ as holy (and acknowledge Him) as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who ask you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. Do it with a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Put Up With That! Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Mar 9, 2004

We should not accommodate sin.

DON’T PUT UP WITH THAT! I Corinthians 5:1-13 S: Sin (church discipline) Th: Live the Difference Pr: WE SHOULD NOT ACCOMMODATE SIN. ?: How? How can we do it? KW: Misses TS: We will find in our study of I Corinthians 5:1-13 four “misses” we can make that enables us to accommodate sin. The _____ ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Bless The Lord

Contributed by Lindsey Mann on Jun 2, 2006

A study of Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O my soul: Bless means to make someone happy, make someone enviable, and to make someone prosperous. When we worship and honour the Lord we actually make Him happy, enviable and prosperous. Sounds absurd doesn’t it? There is Almighty God, totally self reliant and self ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

America Has Gone Too Far

Contributed by Cooper Abrams Iii on Sep 17, 2001

In the face of America’s current trend to deny God where can we find comfort.

America Has Gone Too Far! A nation of people that have no fear of God. Amos 7:1-13 Date: November 6, 1998 Intro: The elections of this past week have proven clearly that America has no fear of God. I rarely preach messages addressing current events or politics, but I feel compelled to ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Act Your Own Wage! Series

Contributed by Randy Hamel on Nov 3, 2008

Sermon looks at what the Bible says about debt and how to become debt free

Managing Well Series – Part 2 – November 2, 2008 Act your own wage! We live in a culture of instant gratification. Buy it now and pay later. Now this causes enormous complications both personally, as couples, and for our households. The Bank of Canada reports that ‘for every dollar of disposable ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:7

The Essence Of Your Strength ~ Self Control Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Nov 19, 2008

I guess of all the nine fruits of the Spirit, “self-control” is the one with which we might feel the greatest sense of unease. Self-control is allowing God to be in control of your will and heart and seeking the Spirit to enable us. Then we will know what

Opening illustration: Some years ago the press had reported that the president of a Midwestern theological seminary was fired after the Board of Directors determined that his temper had imperiled his leadership. The president confessed to “misappropriation of anger,” and after hours of agonizing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"What Have We Learned?” Series

Contributed by Richard Pfeil on Apr 18, 2005

Testimonials of what God did during 40 Days and a review of all that we learned

“WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?” Sunday, June 6, 2004 You can raise your hand because you can be proud of this, who read all forty of the readings during the 40 Days of Purpose? How many of you can say I read all 40 of them? If you did, congratulations, I congratulate you, and if you didn’t, that’s ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:2

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed