Sermons on Speak Up:

Today's Stumbling Blocks Of The Church

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Aug 17, 2021

Jesus spoke about stumbling blocks in the faith. Oh yes, that includes the church. Does the church have any?

42 "aWhoever causes one of these 1little ones who believe to stumble, it 2would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he 3had been cast into the sea. 43 "aIf your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:42-48

Denomination: United Methodist

#9 Lost And Found Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Aug 23, 2021

All of Heaven rejoices with us in our relationship with God - no matter what we have done or failed to do in this life

"Tell me a Story” is a simple and shorter way to reference Jesus' use of parables. A parable is a relatable way to share a moral or spiritual lesson. While some don’t like parables because they don’t get right to the point. Others love a good story because it forces us to think and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon On Emotions

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 29, 2021

Emotion is defined as a strong feeling deriving from one’s circumstances, mood or relationships with others.

Jeffrey Kent Eugenides, an American novelist and short-story writer once remarked: "Emotions, in my experience, aren't covered by single words. I don't believe in "sadness," "joy," or "regret." Maybe the best proof that the language is patriarchal is that ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 12:15, 2 Timothy 1:7, Galatians 5:22-23

The Right Way & The Wrong Way To Receive Good News

Contributed by Michael Mays on Aug 31, 2021

Amazing how the same message engenders such different responses. What was your reaction when the message of hope was shared with you?

I. Intro: Bad News A. Quotes 1. “Bad news travels at the speed of light; good news travels like molasses.”--Tracy Morgan 2. “He who laughs has not yet heard the bad news.”--Bertolt Brecht 3. “I've just had some bad news. Tomorrow is the mother-in-law's funeral. And she's ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-56

Good Mourning Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Jan 18, 2022

God blesses us with comfort when we are heartbroken over brokenness.

Good Mourning lanny smith Reboot / Repentance; Grief; Comfort / Matthew 5:4   • David’s story of failure. • Considered Israel’s greatest king - promised a line of succession eternally. • Sort of our George Washington-Abraham Lincoln-John Wayne-(young) Brad Pitt with a dash of Harry Connick ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4, 2 Samuel 12:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Paul Addressing The Ephesian Elders Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Feb 3, 2022

Paul is ready to pass the baton of leadership to the elders of Ephesus. Paul mentioned he had invested three years at Ephesus. Paul was handing off full responsibility to elders with very little experience. He did need to send Tychicus and then Timothy later to help the elders.

Background of Paul addressing the elders This discourse of Paul addressing the Ephesian elders takes place near the end of his third journey. He already spent two years at the hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus. He mentions that in total he poured into the elders for three years (Acts 20:31). This exit ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:17-35

Denomination: Baptist

Owl #1 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Apr 12, 2021

Wisdom is merely seeing life from God’s perspective and responding accordingly. It does not happen by chance. It is given by God to those who pursue, test and prove its value.

<The owl commercial launches the message> Did you know that that commercial is almost 50 years old? It’s memorable. It points to a question, provides a practical experiment and even an answer. However, the wise old owl is only validating his own personal knowledge and experience so is that ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:13, Proverbs 4:7, Proverbs 1:7, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10, Isaiah 64:4, James 1:5, James 3:17, Proverbs 2:1-22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon On The Importance Of Baptism

Contributed by William Meakin on Apr 13, 2021

Baptism has been identified as: "Giving the faithful a parallel to Jesus's death for man."

William Stringfellow, an American lay theologian once remarked: "Thus the vocation of the baptized person is a simple thing: it is to live from day to day, whatever the day brings, in this extraordinary unity, in this reconciliation with all people and all things, in this knowledge that death ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13

Abide In Me, Living The Resurrection Series

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on May 1, 2021

We are practicing this abiding in Christ as we worship together with the hope that it will continue after the benediction is pronounced and the postlude ends.

Like the good shepherd of last week’s text, this week’s image of the vine is another extended metaphor, which also borrows from and adapts Old Testament imagery for Israel. Whereas the Synoptic parable of the vineyard is a story of violence and greed (Mark 12:1-12), this image of the vine is one ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Sermon On Atonement

Contributed by William Meakin on May 8, 2021

Atonement is defined as: "The action of making amends for a wrong or injury."

James Esdras Faust, an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician once remarked: “Sometimes we carry unhappy feelings about past hurts too long. We spend too much energy dwelling on things that have passed and cannot be changed. We struggle to close the door and let go of the hurt. If, after ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 30:10, Leviticus 4:20, Hebrews 9:12

Hair And Communion (1 Corinthians 11)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 10, 2021

Do hair length and sharing communion worthily matter to God? Who does Paul follow?

Do hair length and sharing communion in a worthy manner matter to God? Who does Paul follow? 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 Hair 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Did the Corinthians generally remember their founding pastor and his instructions? 1 Corinthians 11:2 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why We Need To Witness (June 2, 2013).

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 14, 2020

We are called to be God’s witnesses. Our calling is an ongoing call because the world chases after illusions that can rob people of their souls.

WHY WE NEED TO WITNESS Text: Galatians 1:1 -12 The story is told about a professional violinist who was giving a concert. When he finished, the crowd jumped from their seats and gave him a standing ovation. He had delivered a magnificent performance. The young violinist, with tears coming ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-12

Denomination: United Methodist

"who Killed Jesus?"

Contributed by David Henderson on Sep 3, 2021

When we look back at the life of Jesus, I find it helpful to look at it in segments and each segment comes with a theme. We see his birth and dedication in the temple; we’ll call that phase one.

“Who Killed Jesus?” Matthew 12:1-14 When we look back at the life of Jesus, I find it helpful to look at it in segments and each segment comes with a theme. We see his birth and dedication in the temple; we’ll call that phase one. Then we don’t hear anything of anything in the life of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

A Summary Of The Person And Work Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Sep 29, 2021

Our study of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith continues with an examination of the Holy Spirit, Who He is and what He does as presented in the Scriptures.

We have examined vital Biblical teachings on God the Father, God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and we now come to the Person and work of God the Holy Spirit, no doubt the most neglected and misunderstood member of the Holy Trinity. I say that in light of how the church throughout its history ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:7-10, Luke 1:35, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Hebrews 9:14, John 16:7-15, Acts 1:1-11, Acts 2:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Ethics At A Glance Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 4, 2021

Christians are supposed to stand out from others in their ethics, but sometimes we need both direction and permission to be different. Paul does this by means of several bullet points.

Christian Ethics At-a-Glance (Romans 12:14-21) 1. The Law Professor specialized in teaching ethics: “You’re currently failing your ethics course,” he told me. So I slipped him a $200 in crisp bills across the table. “How about now?” I asked. The professor pocketed the money and said, “Still ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible