Sermons on Straight Thinking:

The Emperor’s New Grove

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 9, 2022

The Disney movie "The Emperor's New Groove" sounds like its straight out of the Bible; a story where a king, along with his evil female advisor, desire a new plot of ground. This sermon addresses the slippery slope of envy and coveting.

In Disney’s thirty-ninth animated film, “The Emperor’s New Groove,” self-proclaimed “King of the World” Kuzco (COOS-coh), who had an evil female advisor named Yzma (EEZ-muh), made plans to demolish an entire village to build a new water park. At the highest point of the village he planned on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

What Makes God Smile?

Contributed by Joseph Stapleton on Feb 17, 2009

A sermon designed to mak us think of ways to please Our God and Father in heaven.

WHAT MAKES GOD SMILE? (All my sermons use illustrations from Sermon Central and scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted) Have you ever wondered if by something you said, or by your actions, you have made God smile? I know as a parent there are things that my children do and say that make me ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bondage / In Christ You Are Free Indeed

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 26, 2013

What binds you? What binds me? What prevents us from standing up straight in a spiritual sense? What is holding us back from being transformed into the image of Christ? What is holding us back from being able to enjoy life fully?

On the night of December 16th 1773 .... a small group of men banded together, ...... boarded three merchant ships in Boston Harbor ...... and dumped 342 chests of tea into the bay. This group of men, .... who called themselves the Sons of Liberty, ...... took this action .... because of the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:13-14, Luke 13:10-21

Denomination: Anglican

Amos And God's Plumb Line

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jul 26, 2008

Again, the plumb line symbolizes God’s word! God’s word is always straight, perfect and pure! God’s word represents total soundness and integrity! The wall in Greek means ’heart.’ Could God be watching men’s heart? O course!

Amos and God’s Plumb Line Text: Amos 7:7-8 Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. 8 And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” then the Lord said: “ Behold, I am setting a ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Christianity Uncensored: Anger Uncensored Series

Contributed by Jud Wilhite on Jun 27, 2007

We’ve been in this series called Christianity uncensored. We’ve been looking through the book of James. James was the half brother of Jesus. James brings a lot of really powerful and straight up teaching. He’s just peeling the facade back and laying out w

Series: Christianity Uncensored Message #5: Anger Uncensored By: Jud Wilhite Anger can be a reality in our lives. There is a term for anger on the road and it’s road rage. There is a Web site called roadragers.com that gives some interesting statistics. It says that when you are on the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It’s Time To Grow Up Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Mar 19, 2015

Peter gives us some straight-forward advice about living for Christ by removing the things which put us in opposition of one another. He also reminds us of our spiritual birth, and shows us that it's time to grow up and move onto maturity in Christ!

“It’s time to grow up” 1 Peter Sermon Series, Part 4 1 Peter 2:1-3 Introduction - (v22) THEREFORE! … We have been purified by obeying the truth -- We’ve cast off the things we desire to fully accept what He has for us -- Why? Because of our sincere love for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Need A God I Can't Understand

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Oct 18, 2000

If you think you have God figured out, then your God is much too small.

I NEED A GOD I CAN’T UNDERSTAND A. Do you think you have God FIGURED OUT? ILLUSTRATION: In a heated discussion some years ago over a CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, this individual arrogantly said, “I know what the TRUTH is on this matter, and God doesn’t ACCEPT anybody who believes DIFFERENTLY.” Doesn’t ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith's Hall Of Fame: Forward Thinkers Series

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Dec 11, 2003

What all of these men and women of faith had in common was their ability to trust in the promises of God. They did not let the thinking of man come between their ability to think forward to the promises of a better land.

Hebrews 11:20—40 INTRODUCTION “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” (Heb. 11:1 – 2). Continuing our walk through Faith’s Hall of Fame, we come across a myriad of portraits of like-minded people. Their names ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:20-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Tell The Devil To Go To Hell

Contributed by Richard White on Sep 3, 2003

There is only one who wants us to think we have nothing to offer. There is only one who wants us to think we are insignificant. Time to tell the Devil to go to Hell

Tell the Devil to go to Hell! JN 6:1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:4, John 6:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where The Bible Speaks... Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 23, 2007

Does it matter if matter if we change Bible terminology? If we add to God’s thinking because we think we can "improve" upon His Word? Consider these thoughts.

OPEN: A man once told of purchasing his first pickup truck. And he also bought a book on gasoline engines because he was afraid of being ripped off at the service station. He wrote: “The first time I took the truck in for repairs, I smugly wrote down what the problem was and what needed to be ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Amazing Grace

Contributed by Greg Carr on Sep 26, 2007

Does God really have a better plan for our lives than what we think? Too often we think that our plans are better than God’s plans.

Does God really have a better plan for our lives than what we think? Too often we think that our plans are better than God’s plans. The Word of God tells us in Jeremiah 29 that God does have a better plan for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Christmas Messengers

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Dec 10, 2010

When we think of the Christmas story, we often think of Christ, of Mary and Joseph, of the shepherds and the wise men. But this message is dedicated to the most overlooked character(s) of the Nativity (Angels) and to their message!

When we think of the Christmas story, we often think of Christ, of Mary and Joseph, of the shepherds and the wise men. But this post is dedicated to the most overlooked character(s) of the Nativity: Gabriel and the angels. Angels appeared at least six times in the few months surrounding the birth ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Who Do Men Say I Am? Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 15, 2012

It is interesting to poll the crowd to see what others think of Jesus (Yeshua). What matters, though is what YOU think of him. Understanding Jesus (Yeshua) impacts the actions of our lives.

1. St. John’s University is apparently known for being a theological school where intellectualism is highly regarded. Someone wrote the following graffiti on one of the walls there: Jesus said unto them: “Who do you say that I am?” And they replied: “You are the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living The Life Given Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Sep 26, 2012

We like to think about what life would be like if only our conditions changed. What we need to be thinking about is how to live well with the conditions already given.

Introduction What would you change about your condition if you could? You know that if you changed, then you would be able to get closer to God and to serve him better. Would it be your job? Getting out of school? Perhaps you would like to change your very body – be taller or shorter, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do We Desire Tomatoes Or Oak Trees? Patience?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 12, 2019

Let us study persistence and patience. One of the problems in the church is impatience. Russia thinks in terms of decades. China thinks in terms of centuries. The church expects instant gratification and overnight success.

DO WE WANT TOMATOES OR OAK TREES… GET UP AND TRY AGAIN?! A GOOD TEAM: PERSISTENCE AND PATIENCE. By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com You can have tomatoes in one season. A mighty oak is just a nut that stood its ground for decades! TEXT: Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:11, Luke 21:19, Romans 8:25

Denomination: Assembly Of God