Sermons on Stephens Preaching:

Dealing With Doctrinal Deviation

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 29, 2010

God charges the church with the responsibility to avoid those who cause division and create obstacles. It is the responsibility of the entire assembly, and not that of the elders alone.

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve.” ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding God's Word, Part 1: The Message Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Aug 18, 2009

This is the first of four messages titled, "Understanding God"s Word." Today, we will see that in order to understand God’s Word, we must have the right message.

I have looked forward to this chapter ever since I started preaching in Ezra, two years ago. When we were in Ezra, we looked at what I consider to be my life-verse. Ezra 7:10 says, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Yuletide Cheer Of John The Baptist Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jan 12, 2010

[John] said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ’We have Abraham as our father.’ F

Last week we welcomed back to the Christmas stage that most unlikely of Yuletide figures - the gaunt and rather unjolly figure of John the Baptist. He emerges from the background shadows of the Nativity scene each year at this time, and last week I focused on just what an unexpected and unwanted ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Unexpected Yuletide Messenger Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jan 12, 2010

n the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesth

Some of you may remember the answer to the question: ’What is green, has four legs, and if it falls on you from a tree and hits you it will kill you?’ The answer, of course, is a billiard table, though some of you may have been wondering whether the answer was ’Christmas’’, which is also green ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-2

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus' Best Joke? Series

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 2, 2010

Luke chapter 18: "Jesus told them another joke", we are told, "and He told this one to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and looked down on others." Did you hear the one about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector who wandered into the

Now I know I’m being a little free with my translation here. I know most translations say that Jesus told them a 'parable' rather than a 'joke', but I'm not the first person to suggest that 'joke' is actually a very good translation. # Did you here the one about the frog and the scorpion who were ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Failure Of The Resurrection! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 10, 2010

There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the

I don't know how many of you were at this year's annual 'Smith Lecture', but it was a good night - highly stimulating and intellectually challenging - and afterwards Ange and I got into a discussion over dinner where she made the comment that the older she got the more impressed she was at how ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Just Do It! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 10, 2010

..."Will any one of you who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat an

I have not always been an Anglican! In my late teens - in the days following my rather dramatic conversion experience - I found myself gravitating naturally towards the more charismatic end of the church. Maybe it was because it was more youthful and energetic. Maybe it was because I felt at home ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Who Hath Believed?

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Mar 12, 2019

Of the many that hear the report of the gospel there are few, very few, that believe it.

WHO HATH BELIEVED? SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53:1 “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” KJV Isaiah 53:1 “Who has believed--trusted in, relied upon and clung to--our message of that which was revealed to us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been ...read more

Scripture: John 4:50, John 20:29, Matthew 8:13, Isaiah 53:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

Helping The Preacher To Become The Best Version Of Himself Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 18, 2015

If the Church is a mother, the preacher should put on the mind of a mother when preaching.

Thursday of 16th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel God revealed Himself on Sinai in smoke and clouds, thunder and lightning, and by doing so reminded the Hebrews that He is transcendent–entirely different from us. He needed to do that to get their attention, and show them that the way ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:10-17

Denomination: Catholic

Ear To God's People Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 22, 2015

The preacher must know what the needs of the listener are.

Thursday of 21st week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel St. Monica day We who minister to the Church are first of all your fellow servants. The parable Jesus is telling His disciples in this Gospel is first of all directed to those who lead the Church. We know this is true because only the chief ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-12

Denomination: Catholic

The Joy Of The Gospel Is Healing Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 17, 2016

"I believe that the secret lies in the way Jesus looked at people, seeing beyond their weaknesses and failings"

Thursday of 15th Week in Course Wisdom is depicted as having a feminine nature; from that the Fathers of the Church applied much of what we read in the Book of Wisdom either to the Blessed Virgin Mary or to the Church. But that has more to do with linguistics than theology. In Greek, the word ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:1-6

Denomination: Catholic

Committed To Promoting The Gospel Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Sep 28, 2016

Even though Paul was in bonds, he rejoiced that the Gospel continued to be preached. He refused to allow his circumstances create despair. We too must seek every opportunity to share our faith, while rejoicing for others who are committed as well.

Committed to Promoting the Gospel Philippians 1: 12-18 As one reads the opening verses of this letter, it is not immediately evident that Paul was bound in prison. His joy and positive attitude conceal the difficulties he faced daily. Although he was not free to move about within society, Paul ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Breath Of Life! Series

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Dec 18, 2015

PROPOSITION: Because Christ willingly went to the cross, you must willingly spread the “breath of life”.

The Breath of Life! Ezekiel 37:1-14 PROPOSITION: Because Christ willingly went to the cross, you must willingly spread the “breath of life”. I. God shows His servants the desperate condition of people. v. 1-3 A. God shows Ezekiel the reality of this situation (1-2). 1. Their ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

"Seven Sins Of The Pulpit"

Contributed by Dr. William D. Poovey on Apr 23, 2015

Paul was determined to know and preach nothing except Christ and Him crucified . Today, it seems we preach everything but Christ and the cross, causing many to live as enemies of the cross..

Matthew 4:1-11 Mark 4:17-22 "Yes or No" You Decide. A few years ago Gloria and I were traveling on one of the freeways our on our way home from vacationing some place in the south, I can't remember exactly where we were coming from. All of a sudden, all I could see ahead of us were braking ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

Denomination: Foursquare

Simple Leadership: Elders Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 28, 2015

The New Testament pattern for church leadership is not personnel committees, democracy, influential families in the church, or hierarchies. It is simply a group of men known as elders who study and seek to follow God’s Word.

Simple Leadership: Elders ( I Timothy 5:17-25) 1. We usually think of authority issues when it comes to parents and teens. 2. One teen recently blogged, “Today, my mom screeched at me about my pillowcase being dirty and finished off one long rant with an irate "Who raised you to be such a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible