Sermons on Spiritual Dangers:

Heart Of The Matter Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Feb 1, 2021

What did Simeon mean when he said that Jesus was going to cause the rising and falling of many? [Watch video: https://youtu.be/dl0sCOH54JY]

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-32 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Skeletons In The Closet Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Feb 4, 2021

Are you worried that those skeletons you have buried in the closet will come out to point a finger at you? Well, give Jesus the key and let him clean them out!

Scripture Reading: Mark 6:14-29 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Habits Of Abiding, Part 2: Community And Accountability Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Feb 8, 2021

We don't often think of community as a spiritual discipline. But its one the body of Christ literally can't do without.

Good morning. Please turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 15. We are continuing our series on spiritual disciplines. When we started this, I introduced you to this illustration of building a trellis—a framework on which your spiritual life can grow. The trellis helps the plant grow in a healthy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

I Want To Walk Out Of The Valley Like David Did Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Feb 12, 2021

Two people may enter the same Valley, but they may come out of the Valley with completely different outcomes.

Introduction Last week, in the Valley of Elah, we saw David’s breakout. He was no longer fighting the bear or fighting the lion to save his sheep; he was now fighting a giant named Goliath because he was mocking the greatness of Israel's God. And David was not going to stand for that; so, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Habits Of Pruning, Part 2: Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Feb 13, 2021

Fasting is probably the least understood of the spiritual disciplines. But it has the potential to be one of the most rewarding.

[I am very grateful to SermonCentral contributor Jim Luthy for his sermon "To Fast or Not to Fast." His opening illustration and structure formed the backbone of this sermon.] Good morning. Please open your Bibles to Matthew 6. How many of you are tea drinkers? I know we are in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18, Jeremiah 14:10-11, Isaiah 58:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Hard Hearts Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Feb 15, 2021

A hard heart prevents us from understanding spiritual truths. What causes it, and what’s the antidote? [Watch video: https://youtu.be/xfdCdhRhS3I]

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:14-21 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

So Many Thoughts On Prayer

Contributed by Troy Borst on Feb 16, 2021

Learn to pray persistently more with right motives to our Heavenly Father who answers with goodness.

SO MANY THOUGHTS ON PRAYER LUKE 11:1-13 #prayer INTRODUCTION… preceptaustin.org/prayer_devotionals_and_illustrations David Jeremiah is a Southern Baptist minister and you can hear him on the radio on ‘Turning Point’ and he has also written a few books. He has a 2004 book called “Prayer: The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Most Excellent Way

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Feb 23, 2021

apostle Paul shows us that Love is the Most excellent way to be Christ-like. God's love is unconditional.

The Most Excellent Way 1 Cor. 13:1-8 Good Morning… My Men’s devotional reading kicks off our time together as he makes a statement worth hearing- deciding what we want seems easy when we are young… I want a beautiful wife, a college degree, I want a good job, I want a child. As these things come ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Denomination: Nazarene

The Last Habit: That All May See Your Progress (1 Tim. 4:10-16) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Mar 1, 2021

Concluding our series on spiritual disciplines, we look at the discipline of decision making, and why it matters to live a life of visible holiness.

The Last Habit: That All May See Your Progress (1 Timothy 4:10-16) Good morning. Please open your Bibles to 1 Timothy 4 Today we are wrapping up our series on developing spiritual disciplines. Next week, Cody will be preaching as part of our DNow weekend, and after that, we will be starting ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:10-16

Denomination: Baptist

Introduction To The Fruit Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

People who eat only fruit are called fruitarians. In this series on the Fruits of the Spirit we are going to be Biblical fruitarians, and strive to consume all God has revealed about spiritual fruit.

A doctor, an engineer, and an attorney were debating whose profession was the oldest. The doctor said, " it's obvious the medical profession was the first. The Bible refers to God creating Eve from Adam's rib, and that is surgical procedure." But the engineer said, "No! ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-24

The Fruit Of Love

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Love is the highest virtue man is capable of giving or receiving. You cannot give God or man any higher gift than the gift of love. The highest goal of life is to be like Christ. The only way to approach this goal is to be a person filled with love.

Howard Thurman in Disciplines Of The Spirit, tells of one of the most unusual jobs. A large General Hospital hired a high school girl to be there mice petter. Her sole occupation was to take white mice out of their cages several times a day and pet them. They had learned that when mice are made ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

The Fruit Of Joy Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Joy is a feeling that no matter how hard life is, I have the best that life can offer in Christ. Anyone can feel good and be happy when all is going well and life is free of negatives. But with the fruit of joy you can rejoice in the Lord always, even when life is full of negatives

Martin Clark said every church should have a humor committee because there are more funny things that happen in church than in a zoo, for people are funnier than the animals. God made man to be the only creature on earth who can laugh because of his sense of humor. Christians need a sense of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

The Fruit Of Kindness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

People who do not grasp the theology of Christianity can easily grasp its love when they see it displayed in acts of kindness. Instead of thinking of kindness as a minor virtue, we need to exalt it to the level where the Bible puts it-a vital ingredient to being Christ like.

Allen Emery, one of Billy Graham's associates tells of his experience as a boy back in 1937. He was travelling on a train with his father. One of the porters had a limp and was obviously in pain. When they inquired about it, they learned he had an infected ingrown toenail. After breakfast ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

The Fruit Of Goodness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 9, 2021

Jesus blasted all religion that failed the test of goodness. If people are not made good by their faith, their faith is no good. God is good, and what is not good is not of God. That is Biblical theology in a nutshell.

A young boy had been sent to his room for bad behavior. After awhile he emerged and told his mother he had thought it over and prayed about it. "That's wonderful", said the mother. "If you ask God He will help you be good." The boy responded, "But I didn't ask God ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

The Fruit Of Gentleness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 9, 2021

The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, you recall, not as a vulture or a screeching hawk, but in the form of a dove, the symbol of gentleness. Jesus will be forever praised in heaven as the Lamb of God, the creature of gentleness.

Bill Hybels, the popular pastor of the Willow Creek Community Church, one of the fastest growing churches in America, admits that he is not a tender hearted person. By nature he is often cold, hardhearted, and indifferent to the hurting world around him. In his book Who Are You When No One's ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23