Sermons on Smugness:

How To Be Exalted By God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 18, 2010

This message looks at the need for humility and how God works through it.

OUR OWN BOOTSTRAPS: How often do we bring our plans to God as an afterthought? - Too often in church life and in our individual lives, we come up with our plans and then we bring them to God. - “Is this alright with You?” - “Please bless this.” - “God, make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Happily Harassed Series

Contributed by Eyriche Cortez on Sep 15, 2007

Happy are those harassed for the faith.

Because we are enjoying so much religious freedom here in our country, we tend to forget about persecuted Christians elsewhere in the world. In a Southern Baptist Convention, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, “As we celebrate our freedom here today, we’re mindful that too many people of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10

Denomination: Baptist

God Uses Reverse Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

3rd in series on what Pentecost means. Here Babel is contrasted with Pentecost, from judgement to mercy

Acts 2:1-36; Genesis 11:1-11 – God Uses Reverse A few years before John Newton, the writer of the song “Amazing Grace”, died, a friend was having breakfast with him. Their custom was to read from the Bible after the meal. Because old John’s eyes were growing dim, his friend would read, then ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Reality Of Hell

Contributed by David Mcnally on Jul 23, 2012

Yes God is a loviing God who sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross to atone for the sines of the world, but this does not, cannot, mean that everyone is saved. Universalism is a nice thought, but nor biblical. The worst sinner can become a saint,

Luke 16: 19-31 Sermon: The reality of Hell Most preachers do not like giving sermons on hell, preferring to use terms such as “lost eternity”. Most pastors don't want to be regarded as a "fire and brimstone" preacher, yet we do no one a favour by avoiding this unpleasant subject. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Anger Kills Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Jul 22, 2015

Righteous living includes seeing anger from God’s perspective and deals with it.

April 15, 2012 “Your Anger Kills” Matthew 5:21-26 Ultimately, the commands of God reveal the character of God. 1. Selfish anger is unacceptable to God. vv.21-22 Our anger, almost exclusively, is not in defense of truth and righteousness, it is in defense of ourselves. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

Denomination: Baptist

Cultivating An Attitude Of Gratitude

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 9, 2016

Only one of the ten lepers in today's story thought to thank the giver for his miraculous gift of healing. God calls us to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, as we thank him for every good gift from heaven above.

Luke 17:11-19 Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude One day a woman was rushing home from a doctor’s appointment. The doctor had been late, so by the time she left the clinic she was running quite a bit behind schedule. She still had to pick up her prescription, pick up the children from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19, James 1:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Denomination: Baptist

Christians Are God's Children

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Aug 16, 2013

PENTECOST 9 --- Christians are God's children. This means that even though we are sinful we are still, always loved by God - our heavenly Father.

CHRISTIANS ARE GOD’S CHILDREN (Outline) August 14, 2011 - Pentecost 8 - ROMANS 8:12-17 INTRO: From last week to this week our texts take us from slaves to children. This is quite an adjust-ment for our Christian character to comprehend. There is a wide gap between lives as ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:12-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Lord, I Clearly See, Restore To Me

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Sep 15, 2013

Restoration, is still paramount in the deep south, in a diaspora, that practiced redistribution of wealth and sinned against God, when they took, from their neighbors, and falsely claimed lands and properties that did not belong to them.

Lord, I Clearly See, Restore To Me “Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,” ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 6:1-30

Denomination: Friends

Belonging In A Better Place Series

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Sep 14, 2022

King Saul had just died. David had been anointed king for the second time. Now he looked at the city of Jerusalem (a Jebusite stronghold) and said to himself, "I"m going to take that city. That is where I belong as the King of Israel."

This story unfolds in four main points: 1. David’s Desire for Jerusalem (v. 6a) It’s interesting that the Bible does not say anything about David’s desire to take Jerusalem. Verse 6 simply says, “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites.” However, David was a conqueror, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

How? Now? Wow!

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Dec 28, 2022

I believe that the angel Gabriel left Mary thinking at least three different thoughts: How? Now? Wow!

How? Now? Wow! Luke 1:26, 34-35NKJV One well-known Christian author, James Montgomery Boice, once documented some amazing things about Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life and sacrificial death accomplished for mankind as an amazing sign of His love: Jesus endured a human ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26, Luke 1:34-35

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Ripple Effect

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Apr 13, 2023

Conflict between the old and the new can lay the foundation for growth, even if the self-examination and change can be painful.

One afternoon when I was 14 or 15, my father and I down in a bottom of a large hole in the side yard digging a septic tank. We were digging with a trowel and a pair of pruning shears, because the ground was so laced with tough, springy ivy roots that you couldn’t use a shovel, you had to scrape ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:1-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Day I Tore Up The Bible Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 11, 2017

No, I didn't actually tear up a Bible, but my audience didn't know that. Find out why I pretended to do that, and what that means to those who actually do tear pages from Scripture.

Last week I said that we’re going to make one statement over and over throughout this series: We don’t have to APOLOGIZE for our faith. We don’t need to rally to God defense. Our God is bigger than we are – and doesn’t really need our help. But in spite of that… God calls us to contend for the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:3-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Forgive, We Forget And We Fight On

Contributed by Mark Sutherlin on Dec 10, 2001

The practice of Forgiveness

We Forgive, We Forget and We Fight On Luke 23:34 INTRODUCTION A. THINK OF NUMEROUS THINGS THAT WOULD PUSH MY CAPACITY TO FORGIVE 1. Certain things happening to my children, wife, family 2. Repetitive occurrences 3. Lack for remorse, smugness coming from the offender B. A FARMER AND HIS SON ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lord, Spare Us From Skewed Priorities

Contributed by Edward Frey on Aug 7, 2003

The gospel shows us how Christ prioritized our salvation through his own life, death, and resurrection. Now, we are equipped to prioritize our lives in service to him.

An old Native American tale recounts the story of a chief who was telling a gathering of young braves about the struggle within. “It is like two dogs fighting inside of us,” the chief told them. “There is one good dog who wants to do what’s right and the other dog always wants to do what’s wrong. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

A Place Among The Great Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Sep 15, 2004

#13 in Proverbs & Parables series (#12 unavailable) From the Parable of the Banquet in Luke 14 - a look at humility and greatness using Proverbs

A Place Among the Great Proverbs 25-26 SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 14:7-11 INTRODUCTION: Many of us have seen the movie THE PASSION. For 2 hours we watched the suffering Jesus endured during the last hours of his life. We know that Jesus humbled himself to the point of torture and death. But ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:4-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ