Sermons on Stark Choices:

Life Is A Series Of Choices (Numbers 14:1-38) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 3, 2025

The fathers of Israel have to make a choice about if they will listen to the voices with faith, or the voices who fear. They make the wrong choice, and now they and their sons will miss God's best.

Last week, we read the story about how Moses, at God's command, sent 12 men into the promised land to explore it. Before Moses sent them, he specifically asked them to bring back a report about the people living there-- are they strong, or weak, are they few, or many? Are their cities ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:1-38, 1 Corinthians 11:30, 1 Corinthians 7:14, James 5:20

I Met Him When I Had No Choice Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 28, 2021

Jesus stands before Pilate. It seems that Jesus is being swept away by the events surrounding Him but the TRUTH is that Jesus is the only one in control. It is Pilate and the Jewish leaders who are being swept up in a battle that they cannot see or control.

Governor Pilate stood on the balcony of the praetorium, his headquarters, and looked down at the mobs milling around in the streets below. “Ugh!” he thought. Jewish pilgrims, priests, vendors, thieves, rebels, beggars, prostitutes … rabble! … all crammed into Jerusalem’s narrow streets … and it ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-40, Luke 23:13-15

Denomination: United Methodist

Grumbling Before A Gracious God Series

Contributed by Monty Newton on Mar 27, 2011

Our impatience stands in stark contrast to the patience of God who gently woos us to live in anticipation of his grace.

Title: Grumbling Before a Gracious God Text: Exodus 17:1-7 Thesis: Our impatience stands in stark contrast to the patience of God who gently woos us to live in anticipation of his grace. Lenten Series: Reflecting, Repenting and Returning to God The Lenten Season is a time for reflection, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 7:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tree By Stream

Contributed by Bramwell Hayes on Feb 3, 2005

A comparison of the effects of trusting in man and trusting in God based on Jeremiah 17:5-8.

Introduction In academic circles a favourite type of question to ask in an exam or an essay starts with the words ‘compare and contrast’. The task is to discuss the differences and similarities between two different ideas or situations, to show where they are the same and where they are different. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8

Denomination: Salvation Army

Job: Victim Or Victor

Contributed by Brandon Robards on Aug 25, 2004

Victimhood is a choice, but not the right choice.

Job: Victim or Victor? When I was 12 years old I tried out for my first basketball team. It was my sixth grade year, and I was struggling to make new friends. Two elementary schools fed into the middle school, and my sixth grade class had over 250 students. Of those 250 students, only 20 came ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:13-22

Denomination: Baptist

Psalm 135 - How Great Thou Art Series

Contributed by Peter Fisher on Mar 18, 2014

The construction and uses of the Psalm

Preached at Christ Church, Billericay 16 March 2014 at 8am Introduction This is quite a different Psalm from psalm 23, that I spoke on last month. Psalm 23 has a very personal element that Psalm 135 seems to lack, although even here there are some personal statements. This psalm is like a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 135:1-21

Denomination: Anglican

Christian Accountability

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Apr 11, 2018

The stark reality of Scripture is that every person, Christian and non-Christian, is accountable before a sovereign God, and will one day have to bow before Christ.

CHRISTIAN ACCOUNTABILITY Study Text: Romans 14: 9 - 13 Introduction: - The stark reality of Scripture is that every person, Christian and non-Christian, is accountable before a sovereign God (Rom. 3:9-19), and will one day have to bow before Christ (Phil. 2:9-11). - Jesus said, “From everyone who ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:9-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Throne Of Judgment; Altar Of Grace"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on May 23, 2005

God’s holiness reveals man’s sin; His grace forgives. But first the man must come to a stark realization.

It is the aim of the enemy of our souls and therefore the way of this passing world, to blur the lines. To fade black and darken white until all is gray and diluted and washed out. To render truth a matter of irrelevance and to diminish personal identity until the individual is measured as ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-7

Denomination: Orthodox

Jesus And The Resurrection: A Funeral Sermon

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Oct 25, 2023

It is at the time of death of a loved one that we must come to grips with our own mortality.

Because He preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection (Acts 17:18) ? When we come to death, we have to grope with its consequences. The philosophers at Athens had groped in the dark to try and find meaning in life. When we have to face death at this place, we are forced to deal with the ultimate ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:18, Revelation 14:13, Philippians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Matthew 6:34, Malachi 3:2, 2 Corinthians 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Choose Wisely

Contributed by Jeremy Dunn on Aug 25, 2015

Israel was given a choice between life and death. They chose poorly. That same choice is offered to us. Life or death? Blessing or curse? The choice is ours to make. Choose wisely.

So often in scripture the thundering voice of judgment is followed by the loving voice of hope. Israel did forsake the Lord for idols and the Lord did bring upon his people judgements stated in his covenant. Israel had a choice, and they chose poorly. But interestingly enough, no nation in history ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

Denomination: Church Of God

The Antidote To The ‘kindly Grandfather’ God Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 16, 2024

This passage is a stark contrast to the "kindly grandfather" image of God that many had. What are the specific ways that shows up here?

JUDGMENT-FREE ZONE: Many people like to think of God as a kindly grandfather. - Ezekiel 5:1. - There is a popular conception of God as a kindly (and slightly senile) grandfather in the sky. He’s not going to rebuke you for anything you’re doing. He’s going to ask if everyone had a good time. And ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 5:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Choose Right - Choose Life

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on May 3, 2023

It is God’s gift to us that we have the ability to make choices. However, the choices we make also have consequences and let us learn how we can choose right and choose life.

We read in Deuteronomy 30:19, I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. (GNB) These were the words of Moses to the people of Israel as he admonished them to choose ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19, Matthew 27:2, Luke 23:4, John 19:12, Matthew 27:24, Romans 8:38-39, Mark 14:43, John 12:6, Matthew 27:3, Luke 22:6, Matthew 26:48, Matthew 26:39, John 18:6, Matthew 26:53  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Gossip V Grace

Contributed by Steve Pearman on Jan 22, 2025

Gossip -that little chatter that can sadden, hurt, even destroy someone. Today we'll look at how it stands in stark contrast to grace

1. Introduction Hey everyone! Today, I want to talk about something we all encounter in our daily lives – gossip. You know that little chatter that can sadden, hurt, even destroy someone. And we’ll look at how it stands in stark contrast to grace. So, let’s dive in! Imagine a church community ...read more

Scripture: James 3:3-12, Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 16:28, Proverbs 18:21

Bad Tenants

Contributed by Neil Richardson on Mar 12, 2008

The Master provides, sends and punishes; the tenants rebel and are destroyed; what about us?

Talk: The Bad Tenants Intro • Homicide, parricide, matricide, fratricide, suicide, genocide… • Deicide "I feel like a walking abomination. I feel like I am the closest thing to Lucifer on this planet, and I feel like that all the time. I feel that things that go wrong (in) my life are a personal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Baptist

Living On The Edge

Contributed by Samuel Chandar on Sep 28, 2014

Christian Character is both built and brought out when your life is on the edge - Discover God's amazing provision for you and me in this journey....

Living on the Edge: The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy - Martin Luther King Jr. If your true worth is to be assessed using your character as a yardstick; where do you stand? Who is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:1-22

Denomination: Methodist