Sermons on Soften Up:

Suit Up!

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Dec 1, 2007

A sermon in the Lowry "Oops, Ugh, Aha, Yeah, Whee!" narritive mold, focusing on puting on the armor of God.

Suit Up! Ephesians 6:10-20 (p.184) Oops (Life can be hard) My brothers and sisters, we all know that life can be hard. Life can be very hard. And to make it worse… most of the time it doesn’t make any sense at all. In seminary, they have a fancy term to describe it… the “theodicy” question. It ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Stand Up

Contributed by Jerry Mckee on Feb 28, 2009

This series is based on the book, "Do Hard Things" by Brett and Alex Harris. It is a 7 week series that challenges teenagers to step up from the low expectations that our culture has placed on them.

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-36

Denomination: *other

Look Up

Contributed by Randall Lavere Ii on Apr 28, 2007

The things we focus upon in life, often become bigger.

Col.3:1-3 With all of the distractions…dating, marriage, work, school, kids, life…its hard to keep your focus on the things that are truly important. We have been talking about the word of God, and the importance of our focus on that lately. The condition of your heart, and applying the word to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-3

Denomination: Charismatic

Going Up?

Contributed by Nate Barbour on May 16, 2007

Learn about where you’re going on life’s final elevator ride...up or down?

going up? life’s final elevator ride 2/03/06 I. Introduction The story is told of a Sunday school teacher whose assignment was to explain to the six-year-olds in his class what someone had to do in order to go to heaven. In an attempt to discover what the kids already believed about the subject, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Time To _____ Up!

Contributed by Randall Mitchell, Sr. on Jun 1, 2007

Various "Ups" in Christian Life

Message Title: "It is time to _____ UP!" Message Text: Romans 13:11,12 & various scriptures Opening remarks: The Base Commander of Goodfellow AFB in an article in the base newspaper wrote that he saw too many people looking down. This was the reason that many times the cars with the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Break It Up Series

Contributed by Darrin Hunt on Jun 4, 2007

Part of a series in Philippians, this passage deals with dealing with conflict and promoting unity.

Break It Up Phil. 4:1-3 Illus. (SC.com) Abe Lemmons was head basketball coach at the University of Texas for years. Asked if he was bitter at Texas Athletic Director Deloss Dodds who fired him…, he replied, "Not at all, but I plan to buy a glass-bottomed car so I can watch the look on his face ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Growing Up Series

Contributed by Jim Heidebrecht on Jul 21, 2007

Sermon 13 in Galatians series. Believers are compared to a child who has grown up and no longer needs a pedagogue. From slavery to freedom, from slavery to sonship!

06/10/2007 Growing Up (Gal 4:1-11) How do you know when you have Grown UP? I know what you are thinking – some of us never have But really – how do you know? Something kind of missing in our culture nowadays is a rite of passage, some ceremony that shows everyone that you have come of age. It ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Rise Up

Contributed by Rich Vanarsdalen on Nov 4, 2007

See how the power of God worked in the early church to miraculously transform the lives of individuals.

Rise Up Acts Chapter 3:1-10 We are continuing in the Book of Acts this morning and Chris and I have wanted to clear off this time to take a look at this incredible book of history, where God lays out His plan and power for this church age. Really, we want to go back and look at some of the things ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ups And Downs Series

Contributed by Anne Robertson on Sep 4, 2004

The fifth phrase of the Creed: "He descended into hell. On the third day he arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sittith at the right hand of God the Father Almighty"

UPS AND DOWNS TEXT: Luke 24:44-52; 1 Peter 3:18-22 We’re approaching the close of the first part of the Apostles’ Creed...the section that mostly deals with the nature of Jesus’ life and death. As I mentioned in the introductory sermon, there are several very old versions of the Creed, and they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:44-52

Denomination: Methodist

Waking Up

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 10, 2004

Three great awakenings: 1. Awakening from spiritual death. 2. Awakening from spiritual dullness. 3. Awakening from spiritual deafness.

For a long time I knew that the Christian life was a matter of having a relationship with God, but I also often thought of it as a list of rules to be kept. I wasn’t sure how to maintain a relationship with God, but it was clear to me what it meant to keep the rules. If I did well, I was in ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-44

Denomination: Methodist

Straightened Up

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Aug 24, 2007

Christ Jesus brings us abundant life. We must not lose out by putting up unnecessary barriers to the work of Christ Jesus. The challenge is to watch out. Do not set up our own Sabbath prejudices that stop us from seeing and doing the work of Jesus in t

Luke 13: 10 – 17 – Straightened Up Intro: When I was a kid, on those RARE occasions when I would be doing something mischievous or irritating to my mother, she would look at me and in all seriousness say, “Mister, you better straighten up and fly right.” For a long time I didn’t exactly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Runner Up Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jan 7, 2006

Beginning on series on Jesus’ life, actions, words, and ministry. This is a New Year’s message about making Jesus #1 in our lives.

John 1:6-9 – Runner Up I’d like to begin this morning by reading John 1:6-9. Today is of course New Year’s Day. It’s the 1st day of the 1st month of the new year. Today we are going to talk a little about being first, and being second, and what all that means. I’d like to take us back ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-9

Denomination: Baptist

Grow Up

Contributed by Kirk Devine on Jul 1, 2004

This message deals with the issue of moving on in the perfection that Christ has called us to walk in.

GROW UP! HEBREWS 5:12-14; 6:1-6 (Story of the Olsen twin with anorexia…) Anorexia is defined as: “a prolonged disorder of eating due to loss of appetite.” It is an eating disorder which causes you not to grow… Let me suggest to you today that the church is experiencing “Spiritual Anorexia…” We’re ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Up In The Air Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 4, 2003

Spiritual indecision leads to sickness and ultimately to death. We are scared of taking risks. Black history shows us, however, that without accepting risk there is no progress.

You should be a fly on the wall around our house on Friday evenings. You see, Friday evenings are our night for ourselves. We try not to take on church things on Fridays, and unless you are at the point of death, you can wait for your pastoral call until Saturday morning. The pastor and his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Wake Up

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Aug 12, 2003

It is time for Christians to awken from the slumber of indifference, complacency, and slothfulness in light of Christ’s coming.

WAKE UP! ROMANS 13:11-14 INTRODUCTION: It is amazing how time has changed through the years of my life. Someone wrote: What Happened to Time  When as a child I laughed and wept, time crept.  When as a youth I dreamed and talked, time walked.  When I became a full-grown man, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14

Denomination: Baptist