Sermons on Strain:

On Your Marks, Get Set, Go! A Sermon On Philippians 3 Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Oct 4, 2017

In Philippians 3, Paul describes our Christian life twice by using a race analogy. It is an effective analogy. For like in a race, we have a reason to run (or cause). We keep our eyes on the prize, and we are encouraged along the way.

One night in college, I needed a study break, and I decided to read some online articles. As I was scrolling through, one caught my interest. It was titled: “Top Ten Greatest Canadians.” As I saw the title, I wondered how many people on that list would be hockey related, since it is Canada, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: Lutheran

It's A Wonderful Life When We Discover A Divine Perspective Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 30, 2010

THERE ARE FOUR POWERFUL THINGS ABOUT A DIVINE PERSPECTIVE THAT MAKES IT A WONDERFUL LIFE.

It's A Wonderful Life When We Discover a Divine Perspective December 14th Late in the movie It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey's uncle Billy has lost an $8,000 deposit on the day of the Bank Examiners visit. When it can't be found he despairs, considers suicide and ultimately thinks that the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Understanding Adversity

Contributed by Keith Peters on Jul 7, 2011

This message discusses principles that help us keep problems in perspective.

Understanding Adversity Proverbs 24:10-12 Adversity: Tightness, affliction, tribulation or trouble Adversity can be our greatest motivation for growth, or our deadliest means of discouragement. The difference depends on our understanding of God’s purposes. It is inevitable that each of us ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Signs And Signposts To Heaven?

Contributed by Dove Inspirations on Jul 14, 2023

Many Christian leaders need to place special emphasis on JESUS CHRIST our SAVIOR and point HIS flock to HIM.

Signposts to heaven? John 14:6 We all know the importance of signage. Some signs do not have words just an image that makes the person seeing the sign take precautions or behave in a certain preferred way. On major highways , you find many signs indicating important turns that should be taken in ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Is This A Curve Ball? (Advent 2009)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Dec 1, 2023

This sermon is about being surprised by tbd unexpected things much like Jesus seems to have surprised John the Baptist.

IS THIS A CURVE BALL? Text: Matthew 11:2-11 I read about someone’s recollection of a performance that he (Tom Wright) had been rehearsing for on stage at an earlier time in his life. He mentions that all had been going according to plan most of the time. “We had all rehearsed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: United Methodist

Martha Syndrome Series

Contributed by John Huyser on Nov 29, 2022

Entering into the first Sunday of Advent, hope outshines disappointment. At some point of all of have come down with Martha Syndrome. When our caring and compassion tanks are nearing empty - Watch Out!

It was Junior High in the mid 1980’s when the Wilder family opened up Tokens Video Arcade in my home town of Lansing, IL. Today, you can go to Google Play or the Apple Store to download a pinball game, but it is nothing like the original. The pull of the spring tensioned launch button, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:28-31

"on The Way"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 29, 2020

A sermon about putting Christ first over all things.

“On the Way” Philippians 3:4b-14 The late Fred Craddock told a story about a missionary family in China who were forced to leave the country sometime after the Communists took over. One day a band of soldiers knocked on their door and told the missionary along with his wife and children that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: United Methodist

The Disciple’s Prayer Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Aug 2, 2024

Prayer is a large topic that we cannot cover completely. The disciples knew Jesus as a praying man and they knew that John had taught his disciples to pray. “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1)

Journey With Jesus: The Daily Trek of Discipleship The Disciple’s Prayer Life Introduction Sanders: “Prayer is an amazing paradox. It is a blending of simplicity and profundity. It can be an agony or an ecstasy. It can focus on a single objective, or it can roam the world. It is ‘the simplest form ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Whisper From The Cradle

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 14, 2025

Tonight, we gather in the glow of expectation, and I want to take you back to the most unlikely place God ever spoke—a stable in Bethlehem, where four humble details whisper a message of joy and peace that still echoes across the centuries.

Introduction In the hush of Advent waiting, we strain to hear. We listen for trumpets, for thunder, for the unmistakable voice of God breaking through our chaos. But what if the message we're longing for comes not as a shout, but as a whisper? Not from a throne, but from a cradle? Tonight, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Methodist

The Unexpected Path To Perfection

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 23, 2025

This sermon explains how God purposefully uses the trials of life to refine our faith, produce steadfast endurance, and develop us into spiritually mature believers who are complete in Christ.

If you were to take a survey of every person in this room, and perhaps every person in this city, and ask them, "What is your main goal in life?" you would get a lot of different answers. Some would say to be successful, to provide for their family. Others might say to be healthy, to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Ministers Of Grace

Contributed by Ed Lu on Aug 23, 2020

We have a special role divinely appointed to those who claim to seek His will.

We are going to look at our roles as Christians. As Christians of the Church. Having membership as parts of this body of our Lord Jesus Christ and what we do both inside and outside of the Church. How we uphold the principles of discipleship in our role as a Christian to influence unbelievers with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Free From Condemnation

Contributed by Tim Gibson on Nov 23, 2000

Based on the story of the woman caught in sin this sermon shows the nature of true and false guilt and how Jesus deals with it.

(1) INTRODUCTION: Condemnation comes through being GUILTY. In this story the woman was openly guilty, the Scribes and Pharisees were guilty at heart - Their consciences condemning them (Rom 2:15 cf. Ex 31:18). God uses guilt to save us, Satan abuses guilt to trap and destroy us. Two Types ...read more

Scripture: John 8:3-11, 1 John 3:20-21

Denomination: *other

Triumph Over Trials

Contributed by Victor Nazareth on Mar 24, 2008

Adversity, Trials, Problems, Giants, Goliaths are a constant part of every saint’s life. We need to have a fresh perspective on these.

Introduction: Oswald Chambers writes, "A saint’s life is in the hands of God as a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see; He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says, "I cannot stand any more." But God does not heed; He goes on ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2

Denomination: Charismatic

Naaman's Healing

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 3, 2008

Naaman’s pride almost prevents a healing, but are we that different?

2 Kings 5 Most of us have the trappings of power and privilege: we live in one of the wealthiest countries with one of the highest standards of living. We live in an age our grandparents could never have dreamed of. We are not unlike Naaman in the story in 2 Kings 5. But he had to learn an ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-27

Denomination: Methodist

Never Let Your Guard Down

Contributed by Bala Samson on May 11, 2014

We got to be vigilant and never be complacent! You never know what and how the enemy would plan to spoil the joy, happiness and peace!

Never let your guard down! 1 Corinthians 16:13”Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” We got to be vigilant and never be complacent! You never know what and how the enemy would plan to spoil the joy, happiness and peace! Did you know even small things ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13

Denomination: Pentecostal