Sermons on Softened:

Victorious In A Foreign Land (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jun 30, 2021

Regardless of who we are, or where we live, we all face seasons of comfort and ease countered by seasons of trials and difficulty. There is one constant in life regardless of the season we must face – the presence and help of the Lord.

Victorious in a Foreign Land (Part 1) Esther 9: 1-19 The emotional roller coaster for Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews within the kingdom of Persian continues. They have experienced a series of highs and lows. It seems as if they really didn’t have time to enjoy a victory before being confronted ...read more

Scripture: Esther 9:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Who's Your One

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Oct 19, 2019

A challenge to share your faith.

The May 9, 2019 edition of the Baptist Record has this story on page 8, “Church Rolls Continue Downward Trend, Survey Says.” This means: “In our state (the most “churched” state in the Union), we have over 50% of the population not connected with anyone’s church (anyone’s!!), while, our churches ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-36

Denomination: Baptist

Favoritism In High Places Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 18, 2021

God is at least fair with everyone, but has the prerogative to be especially gracious with those He has chosen.

Favoritism in High Places? (Romans 9:14-21) 1.Penicillin was invented by Alexander Fleming in 1928. What Happened: Halfway through an experiment with bacteria, Alexander Fleming up and went on vacation. Slob that he was, he left a dirty petri dish in the lab sink. Big Discovery: When he got ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:14-21, Exodus 19:16, Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Return For Revival

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 13, 2024

The invitation was to live in the ways of God. It was an invitation to come back to the ways that the people knew were right. When Hosea uses the words “let us”, he speaks in clear terms here to communicate that those who needed to return to the LORD were not alone.

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Play the video “RESTORED.” Israel had wondered far away from its place of origin. As if a child lost in a store, she is drawn away by delights of the eye, sensual insights and an overwhelming urgency to seek her own way. She awakens; finding herself tossed into the gutter of ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

May The Lord Be With You

Contributed by Darian Catron on May 2, 2025

May the Fourth has come to be known for Star Wars fans as a day to celebrate their sci-fi obsession. Some people view the Holy Spirit as a force, like in Star Wars. But the Holy Spirit is God... God with us and in us, empowering us to do the work and accomplish the mission set before us.

INTRODUCTION: A couple of Sundays ago was Easter Sunday for those of us who follow Christ and celebrate our risen Lord and those celebrating Spring with the annual hunting of the Easter Eggs left by the Easter bunny. But, to my surprise (or perhaps my horror), I found out that a different group ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Joshua 1:1-9, Ephesians 6:10-11, Joshua 1:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"nimrod's Folly"

Contributed by John Huyser on Sep 5, 2023

From Sunday School I remember vividly all sorts of lessons on The Tower of Babel. I think almost all of them missed the mark. The issue is far less the Tower of Babel - in fact the tower is a symptom of humanity wanting to do their own thing without God. Jesus came down to reverse that.

It was a moment of folly, a church in Northwest Iowa prefers to forget. Busting at the seams, they broke ground on a new building in the early eighties. Their sanctuary and parking lot would double in size. Featured too were a large kitchen and fellowship hall and many a classroom and extra ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Unleash The Power Of Praise

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Sep 12, 2023

There is power in our acknowledgment that God is worthy of our worship and praise

TITLE: UNLEASH THE POWER OF PRAISE SCRIPTURE: PSALM 100:4 / PSALM 117 This morning we continue in this fourth installment in our series on Praise. We began with “THE BATTLE CRY OF PRAISE” – we then examined “THE WEAPON OF PRAISE” followed last week with “THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE” – this ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:4

Denomination: Baptist

Sheba's Rebellion Against King David Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Oct 3, 2023

Mephibosheth comes to David having not washed his clothes, or shaved or cared for his appearance, basically to show David that he was waiting for his return.

At the end of 2nd Samuel chapter 19 we see Mephibosheth rejoining King David after he had fled Jerusalem. We also see Barzillai, a rich guy who was supporting David in Mahanaim, come to David, and David invites him to Jerusalem, but Barzillai prefers to return to his own home, because he’s in his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 20:1-5, 2 Samuel 19:40-43

Denomination: Salvation Army

Is There Fire In Your Bones?

Contributed by John Gaston on Jan 22, 2025

Jeremiah (like us) was told to speak God's message to the Israelites. He got a cold reception. He decided he wouldn't speak any more, but God's Word, bottled up inside, became like fire in his bones! My Question is: Do YOU have fire in your bones?

IS THERE FIRE IN YOUR BONES? Jer. 20:1-9 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: One-Liners 1. I accidentally went grocery shopping on an empty stomach and now I’m the proud owner of aisle 4. 2. You know you’re getting old when your knees offer a more accurate weather forecast than the guy on TV. 3. My ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 20:1-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Paul Preaches In Rome Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Aug 8, 2025

The Book of Acts ends, not with a period, but with a comma. We don’t get a tidy conclusion to Paul’s story, but we do get a powerful reminder that the mission of the Church is far from over.

PAUL PREACHES IN ROME Text: Acts 28:17-31 Introduction 1. The Book of Acts ends, not with a period, but with a comma. We don’t get a tidy conclusion to Paul’s story, but we do get a powerful reminder that the mission of the Church is far from over. 2. In Acts 28:17–31, we see Paul in Rome, under ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:17-31

Denomination: Methodist

The Herods Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 26, 2022

In regard to overcoming sin, what should be your aim as a Christian? You should aim to overcome each and every temptation that you encounter, knowing that you have been given the grounds and the means to overcome such temptations,

The Herods During my study of the Herods, I realized that many people get confused about who "Herod" is in the Bible. This is not surprising since there are six different "Herods" in the New ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:28

Denomination: Baptist

"How Do Christians Live In A Fallen World?”

Contributed by Bubot Parago on Nov 28, 2018

Take a moment to consider the implications of Christ’s statement. It means that the secular world is not our enemy.

9 “ I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. 10And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. 11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine ...read more

Scripture: John 17:9-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

"getting Ready For Christmas: Walking In The Light"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Dec 11, 2018

A sermon for Advent.

“Getting Ready for Christmas: Walking in the Light” Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 One weekend, author Paul Tripp allowed his teenage son to spend the weekend at a friend’s house. But during the weekend Paul got a call from the friend’s mother informing him that Paul’s son was not at her home. Her son had ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Denomination: United Methodist

Lgbtq - A Christian Response

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 28, 2019

We Christians face an immoral society with alternate lifestyles. How are parents to explain to their children the lifestyles of these people and how we should treat them? Despite our stand for godliness, we must still demonstrate the grace and love of Jesus Christ to those still lost in sin.

LGBTQ – A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS 1. The village blacksmith finally found an apprentice willing to work long, hard hours. The blacksmith instructed the boy, “When I take the horse shoe out of the fire, I’ll lay it on the anvil. And when I nod my head, you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:24-27

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hometown - Pt. 1 - Cry . . . Baby! Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Apr 28, 2016

Hometown. Comfortable confines. Known streets. Familiar sights. Our people. Our mission field? Our challenge? Our assignment?

Hometown 
Pt. 1 - Cry . . . Baby! Introduction: 
Apathy. The word is defined as and literally means "without feeling". Little or no concern. From the Greek it perhaps carries the most revealing and what should be the most frightening definition for us today . . . Without passion! How ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-44

Denomination: Pentecostal