Sermons on straight and narrow:

Are You Seeking, Or Striving? Series

Contributed by Clark Sneed on Oct 14, 2005

Jesus tells us to strive to enter the narrow gate, while many will seek to enter when it is too late. The difference between seeking and striving for the kingdom of God.

Please turn in your Bibles to Luke 13 and follow along as I read verses 22-24: “And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-24

Denomination: Baptist

What The Disciples Discovered In Christ

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Oct 16, 2008

This is a message that will help identify Jesus.

Text: When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” (Matthew 16:13). This is an excellent question for us today. If Jesus were here and ask us that very question, what would be our response? What would we say? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Christian Church

Jesus The Author Of Faith Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Apr 18, 2009

This is the last in a series on the Heroes of Faith from Hebrews 11. It looks at Jesus as author and perfecter of our faith. It is expository.

Conclusion Jesus Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. — Hebrews 12:2 NCV Do you know who holds the record as the world’s best free-throw shooter? If you’re thinking Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Larry Bird—you’re way off. It’s probably not a fair ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Christian Church

How We Got In This Mess Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 4, 2001

Only the good news of Jesus Christ can overcome the moral mess of our culture.

Our world is a mess. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in ethics to realize that our world has become a dangerous and messed up place to live. Here in American in the last forty years violent crime has increased 280% (Bennett 15). Every year 20,000 people in our nation are murdered, half by people they ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Self-Righteousness Leads To Disillusionment

Contributed by Paul Apple on Oct 18, 2000

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO DISILLUSIONMENT BECAUSE IT BLURS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED TOO GOOD TO SEE STRAIGHT 1.

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO DISILLUSIONMENT BECAUSE IT BLURS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED TOO GOOD TO SEE STRAIGHT 1. THE CAUSE OF DISILLUSIONMENT = SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS (3:13-15) the people were blind to their own sin -- they were too good to see straight Context: You ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:13-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Being Good And Angry Series

Contributed by Jason Freeman on Feb 19, 2005

Anger is a misunderstood emotion. In Ephesians 4 God gives us the straight scoop on anger and how to deal with it in healthy ways.

Growing up one of my favorite TV shows was the, "The Incredible Hulk." The main character was a scientist named Dr. David Banner. Most of the time he was a nice guy. But when he become angry he would repeat those famous words, “Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I am angry.” And if ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Preparing For Easter

Contributed by James Tetley on Apr 5, 2006

To prepare for Easter we must not go straight to the cross and the resurrection but remember that the battle for Easter was fought and won in the Garden of Gethsemane

Preparing for Easter (Matthew 26:36-46) If Easter were to have a logo – it would be most associated with bunny rabbits, and chocolate eggs, chocolate coins, in fact chocolate anything. And for many chocoholics after 4 months of famine since the Christmas gluttony, Easter comes as a welcome ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Advent Prayer For The Thessalonians

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Nov 28, 2003

reflection on a part of Paul’s prayer for his Thessalonian congregation. Nothing flashy here, just straight forward stuff.

November 30, 2003 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Whenever you go through a death in the family, it is obviously a difficult time. Within the past two weeks I’ve had more emotions run through me than trains at Grand Central Station. But as I look back at the two past weeks, I wouldn’t trade those ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Seek His Presence, Not His Presents

Contributed by Joel Jacob on May 14, 2019

Why do we seek God? Is it the presence of the Almighty or the little presents he gives us? Are our priorities straight?

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there was a boy named Francis. His birthday was approaching, and his father called him aside and asked him, You’re birthday is approaching and what if I threw a birthday party and just cut one cake and everyone went home? How many of your friends do you ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:12-17

Serve One Another Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jul 22, 2021

Whether it is serving someone in dire straights or simply serving others as we have opportunity - servitude is the mindset of the Christian life.

Building Up One Another Serve One Another Galatians 5:13 Introduction John Wesley wrote, “One of the principal rules of religion is, to lose no occasion of serving God. And, since he is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve him in our neighbor; which he receives as if done to himself in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Safety First? Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 29, 2007

In a safety and security conscience culture, does the narrow way of Jesus offer such a radical departure that we have missed the danger of the Kingdom?

Series on the Mount Safety First? Matthew 7:13-14 October 28, 2007 We live in a safety first culture. When I was a kid, we didn’t wear helmets when riding our bikes except on the BMX track. I turned out ok. Today we wear seatbelts, have car seats, and heaven forbid that the kids might actually ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Denomination: Church Of God

Rising To The Challenge

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jun 7, 2010

“Christians who persist in proclaiming Christ as Truth-Incarnate risk being tarred with the brush of narrow-mindedness or even bigotry.”(Chan)

Sermon Topic: Rising to the Challenge Sermon Text: Acts 17:16-34 (to be read during sermon) Rosa De Burca, former employee of UNICEF (1994-2003). As the Child Protection Officer she traveled with a colleague to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1997 in an effort to help refugees who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Salvation Army

3 Against 1

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Jan 8, 2025

A different view of the Parable of the Sower. There are three ways of evil and one to righteousness. The path is narrow therefore becoming like Jesus is imperative

Three Against One Luke 8:4-15 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 4 Now when a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: United Methodist

Sign, Bread, Wine = Body, Blood

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Mar 19, 2001

A Maundy Thursday sermon about Holy Communion

Maundy Thursday Luke 22:7-20 Sign, Bread, Wine = Body & Blood   The following is adapted from the book Iowa Parables by Jerry Schmalenberger. "In August of 1900 more than 250 hobos, tramps and freeloaders came by train to a little northwest Iowa town for their first annual National Hobo ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:7-20

Denomination: Lutheran

"Death In The Pot"

Contributed by Ray Scott on Feb 18, 2004

This is an illustrative sermon, which, while preparing the pottage, shows the picture of the ingredients, and how the blood of Jesus is the only thing that can destroy the poison of sin.

“Death In The Pot” 2 Kings 4:38-41 INTRODUCTION: Read 2 Kings 4:38-41 The prophet Elisha is meeting with his Bible School students … the “sons of the prophets”. There is a famine in the land, so Elisha has one of his servants go out and pick vegetables for a stew. If we look closely, we can ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:38-41

Denomination: Baptist