Sermons on Soften Up:

Shape Up Or . . .

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 19, 2011

Amos sends Israel a clear message from God: you are not meeting my standards, and I am about to cut you off.

Good morning. I am special correspondent Shinon Byorus for the Mesopotamian News Network, coming to you live from Bethel in Israel, where controversy has been stirring for months around the inflammatory rhetoric from the prophet Amos, who appeared some time ago from Judea with a very harsh message ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dressed Up

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Oct 26, 2013

Sermon titled dressed up because it is close to Halloween. The describes how the Pharisees dressed up outwardly but inwardly were not Saints. The sermon share how Saints are dressed up.

Matthew 23 :1-12 Dressed Up First let us look how the Pharisees dressed Up: 1. The Pharisees Dressed Up their outer garments were Devoutness but their inward garments were Hypocritical They don't live up to the standards of a true Saint • : 2"The teachers of the law and the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Shaping Up Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Nov 20, 2013

Pal teaches us how God is shpaing up His Church.

“Connected: Shaping Up” Romans 8:5-11; Eph. 4:1-16 Throughout this series we have been considering how we, as individuals, get and stay connected with God, each other, and the world in which we live. But thinking about connectedness would not be complete unless we also consider what it ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Swallowed Up

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 11, 2013

Any time you run from God, you never go “up"; you always go “down.” God sometimes allows us to face frightening circumstances so that we will learn to trust and obey Him. It’s always best to obey the Lord right away - then we won’t be “swallowed up.”

Opening illustration: Being shocked by electricity can be very dangerous. Just ask professional golf legend Lee Trevino. He was struck by lightning while sitting under a tree during a tournament several years ago. He said, “It bolted my arms and legs out stiff, jerked me off the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fill It Up Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 20, 2013

Peace is frsrt and foremost a spiritual issue.

“Guidelines for Christmas: Fill It Up” Isaiah 9:1-7; Luke 1:26-38 In a radio broadcast on September 2, the day after he accepted the Japanese surrender, General Douglas MacArthur said, “Today the guns are silent. A great victory has been won. The skies no longer rain death; the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Bearing Up

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 1, 2014

The sufferings of Jesus were unique in that He suffered once for all, the just for the unjust. But we are still sometimes called to bear up and endure grief, suffering unjustly. Our model was laid down in the patient pattern of His sufferings.

BEARING UP. 1 Peter 2:19-25. The Apostle Peter uses his address to domestic servants (1 Peter 2:18) to illustrate the calling of all Christians to share in the sufferings of Christ. “For this is grace,” he quite literally says (1 Peter 2:19): this is acceptable; this is thankworthy - if out of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:19-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wake Up Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jan 30, 2014

A study of chapter 52 verses 1 through 15

Isaiah 52: 1 – 15 Wake up! 1 Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you. 2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise; Sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:1-15, Isaiah 49:14-16

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Growing Up Series

Contributed by Monty Newton on Mar 10, 2014

Growing up people need growing up grace.

Title: Growing-Up Text: Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-7 Thesis: Growing-up people need growing-up grace. Introduction We generally associate age with growing up. Age is also a period of human life, measured by years from birth, usually marked by a certain stage or degree of mental or physical ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mixing It Up Series

Contributed by Josh Foster on Mar 18, 2014

Advent is not so much about shopping; it’s not so much about lists and baking and decorations. Rather, Advent points us to the One who came and will come again. A ‘ready life’ is one lived through the power of His Spirit to serve Him in holiness.

Why Christmas Is a Big Deal: Mixing It Up Scripture Text: Luke 1.68-79 Advent Reading: Luke 1.68-79, Advent-Peace INTRODUCTION The Bible is full-of-examples of God-calling people to do things that appeared to be a little-strange …or goofy, …or surprising. I think it just ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:68-79

Denomination: Nazarene

Wake Up Series

Contributed by Nokomis Jackson on Mar 17, 2015

God has called the church to trail and has given the verdict that the church needs to wake up. We are asleep when it comes to God's business and ministry. The world is awake and thriving because the church won't wake up and stand on God's principle

The Church on Trial Pt. 5 Wake Up Revelation 3:1-6 (NIV) 1) To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of god and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2) Wake up! Strengthen what remains ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Listen Up!

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Apr 21, 2015

Now, where is God leading you? Is God leading you or are you trying to lead God?

Mark 10:32-45 (NKJV) 32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 "Behold, we are going up to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:32-45

Denomination: Baptist

Measure Up

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 18, 2018

God asks us to help build His ONE church - and how we measure things can make all the difference in how the local church turns out. What measuring stick does God want us to use in making the right measurements?

(This sermon was preached at our annual “Unity” service, where we bring our English, Spanish, and Burmese churches together for one big worship service. On this occasion, we ordained one Hispanic man to the preaching ministry and another as an Elder for the Hispanic church). OPEN: Years ago I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:12, Mark 16:16, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Growing Up

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 30, 2018

Our maturity in Christ involves our holiness.

1. Children often ask, “What will you be when you grow up? a. A life’s vocation is what is meant by the question. I thought I would join the Navy, Not Ministry b. There is an old rhyme that children used to say when counting the sections of an orange or petals on a flower that was supposed to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Look Up! Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 5, 2017

Our congregational worship involves glory to God.

1. There is an old French proverb that says, "A good meal ought to begin with hunger." It is hard to enjoy a good meal when you are not hungry, but when you are starving anything tastes good! The same is true with worship. When we approach worship with a hunger for God, starving for a spiritual ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thumbs Up!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Jan 7, 2018

Pastor, church and rebuking spiritual leaders are your RIGHT THUMB which he would cut off and maim you. Caveat!

Thumbs up! Judges 1:6“Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.” We hear an incident in the Bible about a Canaanite king Adoni Bezek; when the people of God went for war against the Canaanites , he tried to flee but they caught him and did ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal