Sermons on Straight Course:

Advent: Repentance And Preparation

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Dec 5, 2009

John the baptiser called for believers to repent. This sermon asks what we need to repent of, reminds us we need to turn back to God, and calls for preparation for what God has for us this next year.

If you were going to describe the time 20 years ago in 1989 when the Churches of the town worked together to plan and produce Festival 89 I wonder what you would say. More specifically, if you were going to date the time and the place and the event without naming the date I wonder what you would ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Denomination: Anglican

Prepare The Way! Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 22, 2020

Advent - preparing the way. At Christmastime, we often prepare the house, the decorations, the food, the gifts—but we forget to prepare ourselves. Make a commitment to spend some time each morning during Advent preparing your heart for the coming of Jesus Christ.

2019.12.1 Prepare for the Way William Akehurst, HSWC BIG IDEA: Advent - preparing the way. At Christmastime, we often prepare the house, the decorations, the food, the gifts—but we forget to prepare ourselves. Make a commitment to spend some time each morning during Advent preparing your heart ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:3, Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 40:3-5, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Jeremiah 4:1-2, James 4:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forget The Past--Reach For What Lies Ahead Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Sep 14, 2021

Credentials won't do. Status won't do. Nothing will suffice our deepest spiritual need: to know God and be known by Him. Paul says it's a constant pursuit.

I. Intro: Backstage at the circus, motivational speaker Jim Donovan noticed that the elephants were kept in place by nothing stronger than a thin rope that tied one leg to a stake in the ground. Puzzled, Donovan asked one of the trainers what prevented these powerful animals from just snapping the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-16

Words And Meditation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 29, 2025

A prayer for guidance.

WORDS AND MEDITATION. Psalm 5:1-8. PSALM 5:1. David longs for a hearing from the LORD: “Give ear to my words, O LORD” (cf. Psalm 54:2; Psalm 55:1). Then he adds, “consider my meditation.” We see the same combination of words and meditation in the well-known quotation from Psalm 19:14. If we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Poor Old Lady Series

Contributed by George Barton on Feb 6, 2006

An outline of the Book of Habakkuk, showing how Habakkuk moves from a type of Pharisaism to an understanding of the grace of God through faith.

THE POOR OLD LADY, I THOUGHT SHE’D DIE This morning I should like to discuss with you the Book of Habakkuk as it applies to the crime and corruption which exist in North America. In order to get us into the feeling of the Book of Habakkuk, I would like for you, for a few ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Consuming Power Of Sin Series

Contributed by Bobby Oliver on Jul 9, 2018

Sin starts with pride, sin wants control, sin is destructive, and sin is deceptive.

The Consuming Power of Sin Exodus 10:1-20 - We’re continuing our study through the book of Exodus. - As we study each passage, we’re asking the question, “What can I learn about honoring God from this text?” - Last week, we looked at the seventh plague, the plague of hail, and how it illustrated ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 10:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Inner State Of Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Ely Lambert on Feb 12, 2003

This is the final lesson of four that finalizes the concept of forgiving others as God would want us to. This is a narrative sermon.

The Inner State of Forgiveness Acts 15:36-41 Preached at the Laurel Church of Christ On January 26 2002 Introduction: I. Divorced Life – Contributed by: Sermon Central Pro A. Divorced life is not being there when your little girl is crying from a bad dream and wants her daddy but you’re not there ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Was God?

Contributed by W Pittendreigh on Sep 13, 2001

Addresses the Attack on America, September 11, 2001

Introduction to Scripture Reading… A few weeks ago we started a series of sermons on Colossians. Today we were to begin to move into the second chapter of that book. But this week we have experienced a tragedy that eclipses anything we could have imagined. Among professors who teach seminary ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are All Divorcees Adulterers? (Mark 10:11-12)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 4, 2007

"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

It seems like we’ve been covering most of my least favourite Bible passages of late, so perhaps I should have expected this one to come along - "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her”. Another winner! And what a good passage to have on the day of a baptism! ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:11-12

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

This Is Not This

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 11, 2008

This is the last area of 7 areas to give up to God’s control (7UP to God) to be a holistic follower of Jesus: fianacial or economic area.

7UP: This is Not This Deuteronomy 15:1-11 November 2, 2008 This is not this. Right? The bottom line (that’s financial jargon, right?) is the question. When it comes to money, when it comes to finances, when it comes to financial security, when it comes to the stock market, your mortgage, your car ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:1-11

Denomination: Church Of God

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like ...

Contributed by Peter Fisher on Nov 15, 2009

Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven - especially the yeast and the Mustard seed

The Kingdom of Heaven is like ... Why Parables Why not just tell it like it is? Why do we always have to wrap everything up in stories? There are a number of possible reasons. The truth is often quite are to convey directly, but by reference to something else, some of the truth can be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-35

Denomination: Anglican

Are You Sold Out For Jesus Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Feb 5, 2012

A study of the Gospel of Mark chapter 1 verses 16 through 20

Mark 1: 16 – 20 Are You Sold Out For Jesus 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

"What To Do In Troublesome Times"

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Feb 5, 2014

Three things you can do when you find yourself in troublesome times.

“What to Do in Troublesome Times” 2-9-14 Matthew 24:1-14 “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

Denomination: Holiness

When Things Haven't Turned Out The Way You Expected

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jul 8, 2010

A look at John the Baptist's astonishing admission of doubt about who Jesus is and why we often have similar doubts.

OUR COMPLAINT: “This is not what I signed up for.” - Matthew 11:2a – John in prison. - I cannot read the mind of John, but I can’t help but believe that a prison cell was the last place he expected to end up. - He is the great prophet of God, the forerunner of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Driving Under The Influence

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 11, 2010

Energy and passion in worship are fine, but they must push us toward authentic living and toward dedicated mission, else they will be destructive.

I could not help noticing this car that morning. It was a tiny little car, one of those that looks like a sardine can on wheels. The rust spots and the dents suggested that it had survived more than its share of bumps and bruises. But that was not all that made me notice this little puddle ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Baptist