Sermons on Story Behind The Story:

Choices: A Teenage Dream Or A Greater Purpose Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Nov 25, 2020

The Star and Stars of Christmas is a series of messages for Advent. Using the idea of a play on a stage. Each message will look at different characters in the Christmas story. The introduction takes a critical look at how many in our society are portrayed as celebrities—bigger than life.

Many Americans are star struck, enamored with stardom. It is like we idolize celebrities, to include animated and fictional characters. Hollywood stars are put ahead of the heroes of faith, as mentioned in the book of Hebrews. Sport celebrities are stronger figures in our mind than people of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Creativity: Maintaining A Sensitivity To Transcendence Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Nov 25, 2020

The Star and Stars of Christmas is a series of messages for Advent. Using the idea of a play on a stage. Each message will look at different characters in the Christmas story. The introduction takes a critical look at how many in our society are portrayed as celebrities—bigger than life.

Often people are attracted to performances based upon the popularity of the performers, or the authors. (My wife’s father enjoyed David Baldacci, James Patterson, Danielle Steele, etc.). A good writer wants to remove his/her personality and have us to focus on the story. The Gospel according to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Scrooges: Man’s Personal Power To Thwart God’s Plan Series

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Nov 25, 2020

The Star and Stars of Christmas is a series of messages for Advent. Using the idea of a play on a stage. Each message will look at different characters in the Christmas story. The introduction takes a critical look at how many in our society are portrayed as celebrities—bigger than life.

It is amazing how understanding a person and a historical event gives a different way of looking at history. I enjoy reality fiction, especially in movies. For example, “The Man Who Invented Christmas” appears to be a fantasy movie. It is reality fiction. The story tells how Charles Dickens ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter People

Contributed by Jeffrey Dillinger on Apr 13, 2020

We are more than just Easter proclaimers, we are Easter people. Yes, it's important to share Jesus on social media, but it is more important to be people who live out the Easter story every day of our lives.

Easter People (Rom. 6:1-4) Intro: A. There was a truth that was known, yet not believed. Jesus had been very clear to many that he would rise up from the dead on the third day. This truth was known to the religious leaders who hated Jesus so they went to Pilate with a request. Listen to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11, Acts 4:32-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Go Find A Wife: A Christian Approach To Goal-Setting.

Contributed by Jack Brooks on Sep 28, 2020

In Genesis 24, we read the story of the servant's search for a wife for Isaac. There are historical incidentals here that don't apply to us today. But there are timeless principles that apply to discerning and achieving our goals, under the hand of God.

The full video message can be found, starting at about the 210-minute mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOzKvRnUXto&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0EmZatkbKgmzJQfsooE5rApGT4suxEUAGusPAy1oBnuKeP54fcOTeiFho Not everything we read the Bible characters do are rules for Christians in modern ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Jesus Launches The Twelve

Contributed by John Gaston on Jun 29, 2021

In Mark's version of the sending of the 12, he tells us the exciting story of how Jesus chose 12 men and set them apart to go tell others the Good News of faith in Christ. We need to follow their example!

JESUS LAUNCHES THE TWELVE Mark 6:1-13 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: It’s all a matter of how you look at it 1. Four people looked at the same glass of water and saw something different. The Optimist said, “It’s half full.” The Pessimist said, “It’s half empty.” A Hindu looked and said, “The glass in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Bouncing Back (Part One)

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 23, 2021

The term bouncing back comes from having suffered through something but not letting it stop you from continuing on. There are many great bounce back stories in the bible. Today we'll look at the example of Joseph, son of Jacob.

BOUNCING BACK The term bouncing back comes from having suffered through something but not letting it stop you from continuing on. When a boxer has an undefeated streak then suffers his first loss it can be devastating. He's no longer invincible. How will he handle it? Some come back and go on ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:2-23, Genesis 45:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus On Trial Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 3, 2021

Today, the civil phase begins. The story of Jesus’ trek between Gethsemane and Golgotha is known as the Passion. You really cannot truly understand the cross until you understand how Jesus got there and what took place on the day He was crucified.

Johnnie Cochran was the famous defense attorney of OJ Simpson. Many of you will remember his closing arguments in that case, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” He was once asked whom he would have liked to defense. Cochran’s answer is telling: “Jesus is the person I would like to have defended. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Eve Sermon: "Am I 'strong In Spirit'?"

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 5, 2017

A look at Luke 1:80 where it says that John the Baptist "become strong in spirit." This is the verse before the famous Christmas story (Luke 2:1-7). The sermon encourages people to "train themselves in godliness" and become more like Christ.

- Story from Preaching Today of the person pointlessly trying to visit every Starbucks in America. - “Accomplishing” something that really doesn’t amount to much. - What we accomplish with our lives is what v. 80 got me to thinking about. - This verse comes just before that famous Christmas ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Holding The Ropes For The Next Generation

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 13, 2018

Acts records the breathtaking story of Paul's escape from Damascus, being lowered down the city wall in a basket. This aid to a new bold believer by fellow Christians is a symbol of how the church must disciple and aid new believers, missionaries, etc.

HOLDING THE ROPES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION ACTS 9:23-31 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: IDEAS OF RELIEF 1. When their car broke down in the desert, John, Paul, and Tim the Aggie decided to go their separate ways. 2. John took the radiator out of the car so he would have some water for the way. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:23-31

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What Brings A Smile To God's Face?

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Nov 8, 2018

A sermon in the character of an observer who was seeing the events that unfolded in Mark 12:38-44, where he see the difference between the religious rulers and the widow, and we explore not only what this means for us but what this story reveals about God.

I will never forget that day. I was sitting near the back waiting to worship and out of the corner of my eye I could the one everyone was talking about. This is the one who was challenging some of the religious authorities, not with violence but with love and something called grace. And there ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Lutheran

The Good Samaritan Series

Contributed by Stephen Smith on May 24, 2019

The Story of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10 and what it teaches us about the true nature of Sin. In this message we discuss the reasons why we cannot inherit eternal life and why a new spiritual birth is the only way of salvation.

The Nature of Sin The Good Samaritan In this message, we’re going to consider the story of The Good Samaritanand what it tells us about the nature of sin. We begin in verse 25 of Luke chapter 10, when a legal expert tried to put Jesus on the spot! ‘Teacher’, he asked. ‘What must I do to inherit ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 16:9, Isaiah 1:6, 1 Samuel 16:7, Ephesians 2:8, Genesis 2:18, Hebrews 9:27, 2 Thessalonians 1:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

Workers In The Vineyard

Contributed by John Dobbs on Mar 16, 2019

It's the moment that Bruce Willis sees his wedding ring roll across the floor in The Sixth Sense, or when Dorothy wakes up in her own bedroom back in Kansas ... surprise endings make movies and stories memorable.

Introduction It's the moment that Bruce Willis sees his wedding ring roll across the floor in The Sixth Sense, when Charleston Heston looks up at the beach and sees a semi-submerged Statue of Liberty in Planet of the Apes, when a psychotic Norman Bates puts on his dress and wig, or when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why The Resurrection Series

Contributed by Ps Trevor Bartley on Jun 20, 2017

We need to remember that the story doesn’t end with Jesus’ death, His death was the beginning of something great. He is currently in Heaven, in His resurrected body, and one day He will return, and when He does come again, it will not be as a baby!

We need to remember that the story doesn’t end with Jesus’ death, His death was the beginning of something great. He is currently in Heaven, in His resurrected body, and one day He will return, and when He does come again, it will not be as a baby! He will come as king and spiritual ruler. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:12

Denomination: *other

Taxes Paid Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Aug 29, 2017

What we have in this story is an account of Jesus paying tribute money. He is in Capernaum, which is His headquarters, and where he lived most of the time. The “temple tax” was collected annually, from every Jew over twenty, for the support of the templ

-AD 29- Galilee Lesson: Taxes Paid (Exodus 30:11-15) Matthew 17:24-27 Moses is the one who began the practice of collecting taxes. He ordered that a tax should be levied against the Israelites, so much a head, to support the tabernacle. Jesus also paid tribute money, to keep from offending ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 30:11-15, Matthew 17:24-27

Denomination: Baptist