Sermons on Stay Close:

"Finding Joy In The Season Of Christmas"

Contributed by Rich Anderson on Dec 12, 2010

Especially at Christmas we are reminded how important it is to find joy in our lives.

Finding Joy in the Season of Christmas Back in 1975 I learned a valuable lesson about joy and time, and I learned how many hours are in a week. I also learned about the power of prayer and leaning on God to endure, finding joy in all things. As a naive and much too enthusiastic youth director ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11

Denomination: Christian Church

Pit To The Palace Series

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Aug 17, 2017

A series on the life application lessons we can learn from Joseph.

Life of Joseph Series; Trials Genesis chapter 37 Introduction- This morning we start a series called the life of Joseph. Most people know little about Joseph, they don’t know how many different things happened to him, both good and bad and how and why he became the person who saves a nation ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:12-36

Denomination: Nazarene

Self-Control Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Feb 18, 2022

We must learn to exercise self-control in various areas of our life.

INTRODUCTION • Have you ever wanted to do something new, or have you tried to make some changes in your life that you know would improve your life? • Were you successful in implementing the changes you sought? IF so, why were you successful? • If you failed, do you know why? • Today we will ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Call For Passionate People Series

Contributed by Terry Stivers on Aug 18, 2003

What are you passionate about? Mark 2:1-5 gives us a great example of what passion looks like. Studies in the Gospel of Mark

A CALL FOR PASSIONATE PEOPLE Mark 2:1-5 INTRO: Truth or Fiction? There is a tale told of that great English actor Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: “I wish you would explain to me something.” “Well, what is it? I don’t know that I can explain anything to a preacher.” “What is the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5

Denomination: Wesleyan

Following From A Distance

Contributed by Mike Turner on Mar 9, 2005

In this sermon we look at what happens to Peter, and what will happen to us when we follow the Lord from a distance

Following From A Distance Luke 22:54-62 You look at the life of Peter, and you see a roller coaster experience. He is up and down more times than the Great American Scream Machine. He is at times is over-confidence, and half-cocked. At one point he’s ready to die for the Lord, and hours later, he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-62

Denomination: Baptist

How To Pray Inappropriate Prayers Without Really Trying!

Contributed by David Wilson on Jan 5, 2004

This message explores ways that we as believers sometimes approach God in an inappropriate manner in our prayer lives. Issues dealt with: Praying for the ears of men, praying for length,praying in pride, and praying to manipulate God to do our will rather

How to Pray Wrong Prayers without Really Meaning to Do So! Matthew 6:6-10 1. PRAYERS MEANT FOR THE EARS OF MEN ARE INAPPROPRIATE PRAYERS! Jesus warned against praying in the streets, etc. so that others could see you praying and hear your prayers. His warning was that we are not to put on a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6-11, Luke 18:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

Mind

Contributed by Bala Samson on Sep 1, 2019

God is not interested in busy-bees but He is looking for people who are Kingdom-minded.

MIND Mathew 16:23”…for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." WORLDLY-MINDED: Jesus rebuked Peter and told him not to set his mind on the things of man, but to upgrade his thinking on God’s interests. Amen. Worldly people are unable to comprehend the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:2

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ruth; Faithfulness In Family Life PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 26, 2023

Highlight the power of faithful family ties, using the example of Ruth's unwavering loyalty and faithfulness to Naomi, and to encourage us to model such faithfulness in our own family relationships.

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters, and welcome to our service today. As we come together in fellowship, I'm excited to share with you a message about the power of faithful family ties, rooted in the inspiring example of Ruth. John Stott once said, "Faith is a reasoning trust, a trust which ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Topics: Faithfulness, Examples

Dealing With Stress - The Pace Car And The Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Cameron Bottema on Jun 4, 2013

3 Similarities between the Pace Car of the Indy 500 and the Holy Spirit.

Last week we began talking about discovering and using our resources in our series on Dealing with Stress. We examined how God is primary resource for dealing with and eliminating stress. We looked together are two primary passages, Psalm 61:1-3 and Psalm 62:5-8. Both of these passages speak of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:25

Denomination: Friends

No Secrets

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Dec 30, 2005

The danger of holding secret areas of sin in your life.

No Secrets When I was 15 I got a summer job working for this rich family that lived in this mansion in the country, near Barrington Illinois. I remember I was making $1.50 an hour. I was doing yard work, raking, cleaning their garage, things like that, and I worked for them for the whole ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Calls You By Name

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 30, 2025

John’s resurrection account reveals a quiet but profound truth: belonging comes before understanding. This message invites weary believers to release the pressure to prove their faith and rediscover a resurrection life rooted in being known, named, and kept—while still on the road.

Introduction John tells us that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. That detail matters. Not because it is poetic, but because it is honest. This is not the hour of confidence or clarity. This is the hour when grief wakes before reason does. The hour when the body ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18, Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 131:1-3, Romans 8:15-17, 2 Timothy 1:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

God, Are You Really There?

Contributed by Keith Davis on May 5, 2003

This lesson discovers the comfort of Jesus for a troubled heart.

Title: God, Are You Really There? Text: John 14 Introduction: How many times in our life do we face this question head on? If you say, "I never have wondered that", you probably haven’t lived a hard enough life or haven’t experienced enough of life yet. Our attempt tonight is to see that God ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Loving The Church Our Lord Jesus Christ Loved

Contributed by Tony Maramara on Aug 25, 2004

If we believed that this church is the Lord’s church, and if we really believed that our Lord Jesus Christ loves this church, then we believers (members) should love it too.

Title: Loving the Church our Lord Jesus Christ Loved Text: Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” Introduction: Our Lord Jesus Christ loved the church that He gave His own life for it. He purchased it with His Own blood – Acts ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25

Denomination: Baptist

Ruth

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Sep 29, 2022

Let's look at Ruth and Boaz, and how Boaz was a type of Christ the redeemer.

In examining Ruth it is essential to discuss one difficulty before we begin, the earlier prohibition against Moabites. “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation.” (Deuteronomy 23:3 NIV) Note that the prohibition does ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Come Closer, Pass Me Not

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 26, 2025

We have a standing invitation: COME UNTO ME! If we will draw nigh to Jesus ---- He will draw nigh to us. Come and go with me to my Father's House.

COME CLOSER, THE INVITATION. By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) Two parts Fodder for this lesson comes from Dick Van Huss, Winchester, Ky. THERE IS A PROMISE IF WE WILL --- GOD WILL. WILL WE HEAR THE EXHORTATION THAT GOD DESIRES US TO COME CLOSER TO ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7, Matthew 11:28-29, Mark 10:49

Denomination: Assembly Of God