Sermons on Soften Up:

Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C: Lazarus And The Rich Man

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Sep 26, 2025

Dives ended up in a Dive Bar in Hell's Kitchen for all eternity, and I don’t mean a below sidewalk-level seedy bar in Manhattan, NY.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is the only parable that contains a proper name, "Lazarus;" the rich man has no name, but he is traditionally known as "Dives," the Latin word meaning "rich." Dives ended up in a Dive Bar in Hell's Kitchen for all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic

Two Ways To Pray, One Effective, The Other Not So Much

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 21, 2025

Our Gospel from St. Luke is the only place in the NT where we can find this parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, or tax-collector. Both go up to the Temple to pray.

Thirtieth Sunday Integral 2025 The deuterocanonical book of Sirach, a late work in Hebrew that survived only in Gk, is kind of a long reflection on the entire OT. It was used by the Church to help new barbarian members understand the moral law and the road to virtuous living so much that it was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 2 Timothy 4:16-18, John 3:16, Psalm 34:2-3, Psalm 34:17-18, Psalm 34:19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Cracked But Called: How The Light Gets In

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Oct 25, 2025

THEME: God’s glory shines through the cracks of our weakness. BIG IDEA: The gospel treasure shines brightest through fragile people who refuse to give up.

SERMON TITLE: Cracked but Called: How the Light Gets In TEXT: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (CSB) Opening: The Cracks Where the Light Gets In There’s a line from a song by Leonard Cohen that always catches my heart: “Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Paradoxical Sayings Of Jesus: Lose Your Life To Save It Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jul 30, 2018

Perhaps Jesus' most challenging saying of all is that to save your lives we must be willing to lose it for His sake and the Gospels. We explore what this really means practically, and whether Jesus meant for it to be literally true.

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus Lose Your Life to Save It Mark 8:31-39 We continue in our summer series on the paradoxical sayings of Jesus. Jesus said a number of things which violate common sense, and seem to be impossible with regard to all the realities we face in this world, and would not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Bible Church

Rebuilding Faith - Recognizing Our Brokenness - #1 Series

Contributed by Michael R. Hodge on Apr 5, 2012

This series focuses on three key steps in the book of Nehemiah that will help us to "Rebuild Faith". It moves from recognizing our failures to defending our resolution - all using the letters R.E.B.U.I.L.D. Each message is set up as a leader guide for a

OPENING CONVERSATION As we begin this new series together entitled, “Rebuilding Faith”, I want to invite you to share with the group something that you’ve had to REBUILD in your lifetime. Maybe it was a room in your house, a school project gone wrong, or even a relationship. What comes to mind when ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

It's For Your Own Good

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 2, 2021

Last Sunday I used a phrase that you may have heard growing up: do as I say, not as I do. Today I have another that would be just as bothersome: this is for your own good. God will do things we won't like but will be for our own good.

IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD Last Sunday I used a phrase that you may have heard growing up: do as I say, not as I do. That's a phrase we wouldn't have wanted to hear. Today I have another one that would be equally as bothersome: this is for your own good. We didn't like to hear that ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9, Hebrews 4:13, John 16:5-7, John 14:16-17, John 16:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Forerunner And The Final Trumpet: Preparing For The Coming King (Parts 1 & 2) Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Oct 17, 2025

Two thousand years ago, God broke four hundred years of prophetic silence by raising a man named John the Baptist—a forerunner crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Today, the same Spirit is stirring the remnant Church to take up that mantle again.

The Forerunner and the Final Trumpet: Preparing for the Coming King (Parts 1 & 2) October 18, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship Luke 1:67-80 Somewhere in the halls of our universities, in our capitol buildings, on the glow of our screens, and even inside our sanctuaries, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:67-80

Denomination: Brethren

A Father's Strength

Contributed by Don Gaston on Oct 18, 2000

‘Abraham, take your son, your only son and sacrifice him’, why would this have happened? Let’s take a few moments to study the circumstances that led up to this event.

‘Abraham, take your son, your only son and sacrifice him’, why would this have happened? Let’s take a few moments to study the circumstances that led up to this event. Will power! Have you heard the expression, ‘so and so has a strong will power’? Will (noun): the power of control over one's own ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-2

A Father's Strength

Contributed by Don Gaston on Oct 18, 2000

‘Abraham, take your son, your only son and sacrifice him’, why would this have happened? Let’s take a few moments to study the circumstances that led up to this event.

‘Abraham, take your son, your only son and sacrifice him’, why would this have happened? Let’s take a few moments to study the circumstances that led up to this event. Will power! Have you heard the expression, ‘so and so has a strong will power’? Will (noun): the power of control over one's own ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:9

How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Win Our Spiritual Battles

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Sometimes I do not pray in words— I take my heart in my two hands And hold it up before the Lord— I am so glad He understands (Nicholson)

How the Holy Spirit Helps us Pray (Eph. 6:10-18) Illustration: We do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us. —Romans 8:26 My son Brian had been struggling for several hours to repair the plumbing in his bathroom. No matter what he tried, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Overcome Challenges To Your Leadership

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Remember that there are plenty of cycles of ups and downs in every relationship, ministry and group. While the first century church grew in maturity they were faced with the tensions between Grecian and Aramaic speaking Jews.

1. Remember that there are plenty of cycles of ups and downs in every relationship, ministry and group. While the first century church grew in maturity they were faced with the tensions between Grecian and Aramaic speaking Jews. The differing tribal perspectives meant that Grecian Jews felt that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Giving Out Doesn't Mean Giving In

Contributed by Kevin Taylor on Nov 24, 2000

Have you ever wanted to just give up? Sometimes, wouldn't it seem easier to simply give in? If you have ever felt this way in life, then this message is for you.

I. Text: Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” A. God expects us to give of ourselves, give of our time, give of our finances. But one thing He doesn’t require of us, and that is to “give in!” 1. God is not in the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

The Power Of Persistent Prayer

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 12, 2002

Jesus taught that we should "always pray and not give up." But why? Is God hard of hearing? Is it difficult to get His attention? Or is there something else we don’t understand?

OPEN: The organ in a large church broke down one Sunday morning just before services were to begin. A member of the congregation happened to be a organ repairman and he immediately went to work on the instrument – finding it was a simple electrical problem. When he finally got it fixed it ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 10:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Grace For Those Who Need It Series

Contributed by Tim George on Aug 20, 2001

How can we live up to these commands of the book of James? The answer is surely not our own power or ability. Only God and his grace can enable us to live this life.

"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:6-7) Adrian Rodgers, the well-known pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, tells the story of a young man who ...read more

Scripture: James 4:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

Sanctity Of Human Life Series

Contributed by Johnny Small on Jan 11, 2002

2nd in series of Taking Up Your Cross in Today’s World. Is human life important to you? Sunday Evening January 20, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE 2nd in series of Taking up Your Cross in Today’s World On September 11, 2001 evil doers killed over 4,000 people. They were future leaders of this nation, doctors who could have saved many, scientist who may have found a cure for cancer, evangelist who may have lead ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27

Denomination: Baptist