Sermons on Spiritual First Aid:

800-Pound Gorilla? Or The First Pope?

Contributed by William Mouser on Aug 23, 2005

In Matthew 16, Jesus confers on Peter (and, later the other Apostles) authority to rule the Church, founded on the truth of Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah.

Matthew 16:13-20 800-Pound Gorilla? Or the First Pope? There’s a phrase that’s popular in modern discussions of any number of topics, and that phrase is this: “an 800 pound gorilla in the room.” An example would be this line which I plucked from a blog entry on the international economy as it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Today God Is First Part 1 Series

Contributed by Eyriche Cortez on Oct 15, 2008

Putting God first requires resetting our priorities.

Have we ever promised something to the Lord and then we failed to follow through on our commitment? We promised to give a certain amount to the mission pledge card last year but reneged on that pledge? At that time, our business was doing well. Then, the oil crisis came. The peso-dollar exchange ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

You Have To Take The First Step

Contributed by Peter Sapp on Jan 16, 2013

Just like the Israelite priests carrying the ark into the Jordan river, Christians must take the first step in faith to move forward with God's plan.

Joshua 3:1-17 Pray Did you ever notice that as people, we’re kind of obsessed with weight? We are always talking about how people in Hollywood are too skinny. She's so skinny she must have to jump around in the shower just to get wet. And even more than being obsessed with being skinny, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First Short-Term Missions Trip Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 29, 2012

Short-term missions is mostly a modern concept, probably because technology and modern transportation makes it easy to do. Even so, it was Jesus who started the practice with his twelve disciples.

Introduction Our missions chairman has made it clear to anyone who gets in earshot of him that he thinks short-term mission trips is one great idea. He likes them because he thinks they are a great means to convert Christians into lifelong missionaries, whether they travel to another land or stay ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:6-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Who Will Be First Off The Mark? What Hypocrite Will Throw The First Stone? Part 2 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 9, 2022

The woman taken in adultery is story that brings out the worst in hypocrisy, judgemental hate and accusation. Yet it is a beautiful account of forgiveness. It has so many lessons to apply to life in this world.

WHO WILL BE FIRST OFF THE MARK? WHAT HYPOCRITE WILL THROW THE FIRST STONE? PART 2 SERIES - THE CHARACTERS OF JOHN’S GOSPEL THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY – John 8 v 1-11 PART 2 [The account of the woman taken in adultery continues. This is Part 2 of the message.] Earlier, I said that adultery ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11, Matthew 19:4-6, 1 John 1:8-10, John 3:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church That Lost Its First Love

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Dec 24, 2003

The aim of this year end sermon is to get us to rexamine ourselves as to the intensity of our first love.

The Church that Lost its First Love December 28, 2003 Revelation 2:1-7 INTRO: A. 2003 was certainly an eventful year; let me briefly take you through it… 1. January began with a month of news talk about the disappearance of Laci Peterson who was last seen on Christmas Eve, 2002. 2. On ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gifted (Part Four) Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jun 4, 2018

In Romans 12:6-8 you see seven, what's known as, motivational gifts of the Spirit. Last week we covered the first three-prophecy, serving and teaching. Today we will focus on encouragement and giving.

GIFTED (part four) The seven gifts listed in Rom. 12:6-8 are: Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, Leading, Mercy. Last week we looked at the first three. Prophecy is receiving and speaking God's message to his people, or in regard to a specific situation, person or culture. Prophets ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:26-28, Acts 11:19-24, Psalm 24:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Giving As An Act Of Worship Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 2, 2003

What are we declaring when we give our weekly offering to God. Powerful insights are given by Solomon to his son. (A couple of families changed their giving practices as a result of this sermon)

OPEN: In 21ST Century Christian Magazine a mother told this story: Our 3 year old daughter was in the habit of giving half of her 2 quarter allowance to God each week. One Sunday we were out of town, so the next Sunday, we gave her an extra quarter to teach her about “making up” our giving when ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Crowns And Rewards

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Oct 20, 2018

When the disciples approach Jesus about spots in his Kingdom, he turns things upside down

A friend of mine this week said something that has resonated with me. She said that in her family, she was the designated worrier. Now, I admit, she has much in her life to be worried about, but that is her story. Our stories are different, but I can’t help but wonder if we have a designated ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 2 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 2:10, Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 20:20-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Facts Concerning Our First Fruits

Contributed by Dr. Scott Caudill on Apr 15, 2002

Are you giving God your very best? Let’s consider the facts concerning our first fruits.

FACTS CONCERNING OUR FIRSTFRUITS Proverbs 3:7-10 As you study your Bible you’ll find that the book of Proverbs is in a section of the Bible knows as, “Wisdom Literature”. The other books that would be included in the section would be the book of Job, the Psalms, the book of Ecclesiastes as ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

People Of The First Christmas: Zacharias And Elisabeth Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 5, 2024

A childless couple received some incredible news! How did they handle it?

(Full disclosure: this message is based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church, Fulton, MO on 12-01-2024. This is not an exact transcription.) Introduction: It’s hard to believe, we’re now in December! There are only 20 or so shopping days until Christmas Day and, we shouldn’t be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:39-45

Denomination: Baptist

The First Three Chapters (Suras) Of The Koran. Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Aug 21, 2015

We enter cautiously into the very unusual world of Islam via the first 3 chapters of its holiest book.

Lesson 14 , More Introductory Matters, and Sura 1 Note: From this point on, all quotations from the Koran are taken from The Generous Qur'an, copyright 2009, used by permission of Usama Dakdok Publishing, LLC. So we enter in. Here in my hand is a Koran. Well, not really. It is very like a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The First Missionary Journey (Part 2) Series

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jul 20, 2002

This sermon demonstrates the great commitment that the apostle Paul had to the great commission and the great commandment and calls all of us to that that same commitment.

The First Missionary Journey (Part 2) Acts 14 July 21, 2002 Intro: A. [NO SCAR? By Amy Carmichael] Hast thou no scar? No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand? I hear thee sung as mighty in the land, I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star, Hast thou no scar? Hast thou no wound? Yet I was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:1-28, 2 Timothy 3:10-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The New Journey Begins

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Feb 10, 2015

The first message for 2015...A call for a "Re-Awakening" and being "ReNewed".

“The (NEW) Journey Begins” Jeremiah 29:11/ Matthew 16:18-19 / Matthew 28:19-20 / John 20:21 / Acts 1:8 • Last week I announced the title of this message might be “A Call to Arms.” Some might say this title is over the top, but when I look around and see our country, ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Baptist

Living In The Spirit Series

Contributed by David Welch on Feb 10, 2015

This is the first of 5 messages exploring what it means to live by the power of the Holy Spirit

Life in the Spirit Page - 1 Chico Alliance Church October 26, 2014 Pastor David Welch Life in the Spirit INTRODUCTION Paul wrote to followers of Jesus in the city of Galatia. They were struggling to understand ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-26

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance