Sermons on Strange Territory:

Gideon: The Thresher Gone Thrasher Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 26, 2021

Today’s sermon is about a cowardly hero forced into hiding by organized crime, an angel that is more than an angel, strange fleece ware, a bad dream, being outnumbered 450 to one, and smashed pottery. This is how it happened.

Gideon: The Thresher Gone Thrasher (Judges 6:1-7:25) 1. My sister didn’t do as well on her driver’s-ed test as she’d hoped. It might have had something to do with how she completed this sentence: “When the ______ is dead, the car won’t start.” She wrote: “Driver.” Nathan Hellman, Brooklyn, ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Danger Of Compromise

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 3, 2022

At one time or other all of us have been removed from our usual roles in life and have found ourselves in strange situations. When this happened we did not know quite what to do with ourselves.

All of us have a particular group of people that we are comfortable with. While we know some people are quite versatile and can adapt themselves to any group they associate with, others have a hard time adapting. Illus: For example, we all know there is a proper way to arrange a place setting at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 11:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Extravagant Sacrifice

Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 27, 2022

“Extravagant” means: “strange, curious; exceeding the limits of reason or necessity; unreasonably high in price.” We look at Jesus’ extravagant sacrifice for us, His call for us to make the same sacrifice, & that souls are worth that sacrifice.

EXTRAVAGANT SACRIFICE 1 John 3:1 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Boudreaux had a friend who bet him $5 that he couldn’t eat the man’s 50-pound watermelon. Boudreaux was silent for a few minutes looking at the watermelon. Then he said, “I’ll be back in half an hour.” 2. After that time Boudreaux ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Thou Shall Not Be Violent (6) Series

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Feb 20, 2011

Reading strange stories in the Bible, in search of an answer that will lead us to find some answers in God’s dealing with human despair and suffering. We need to read those stories in the light of the cross - the story of what He has done to set things ri

THOU SHALL NOT BE VIOLENT (Law and Grace - The 6th Commandment) There is something in human nature that is drawn to a spicy scandal or by a violent act. Millions will tune in to exclusive interviews with the criminals or buy best-sellers which give people’s inside stories with the dirty ...read more

Scripture: Judges 19:1-30

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Sweet And Sour Encouragement

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 8, 2016

Two weeks ago I preached on sweet and sour fellowship. Today I want to talk about sweet and sour encouragement. It sounds strange but there are ways in which we can be negatively encouraging. Let’s take a look at how encouragement can be sweet or sour.

SWEET AND SOUR ENCOURAGEMENT A couple of weeks ago I preached on sweet and sour fellowship. Today I want to talk about sweet and sour encouragement. I know it may sound like an oxy-moron but there are ways in which we can be negatively encouraging. Let’s take a look at that so we won’t ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Spirit-Empowered Messiah Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 8, 2011

Jesus had no sin or impure motives that gave Satan legal access to His life. Satan could find nothing in Jesus - not even one square inch of territory - to which he could lay claim and thus gain access to Jesus’ heart. This is the reason why there was pro

Opening illustration: You might not see the literal ‘Red Sea’ miracle in today’s context but will surely see one parallel to it. The issue is, as the Israelites waited before the ‘Red Sea,’ they didn’t contemplate or pursue to build a bridge across it. They waited on God for His Salvation. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:35-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Three Seekers Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 13, 2003

Surely one of the great stories of Christmas is the account of the visit of the Wise Men from the East. This delightful tale of strange men from some faraway land who brought Christmas presents to the baby Jesus is filled with mystery and intrigue.

The Three Seekers In our series that we’re calling Christmas Characters, we looked at Herod two weeks ago: - Herod was preoccupied with power. - Herod was preoccupied with possessions. - Herod was preoccupied with prestige. - Herod was preoccupied with paranoia. Last week we focused on Mary, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

"There" Series

Contributed by Wm. Darryl Scott Sr D.d. on Mar 22, 2003

It is very important that we understand how God positions us for His work as well as His blessings. So often,...blessings come wrapped in strange packages.......so we end up not going "There". Are you "there"?

“THERE” (In producing this proclamation, I was intrinsicaly excited about the implications of that word "there". I gleaned from the interpretations of others, and the insight offered by many to come to the conclusion that there is a real blessing in being positionally ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Satan's War Against God's Creaton Ii Series

Contributed by David Scudder on Feb 16, 2009

If God’s judgments sound strange to us it’s because we do not fully understand the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Man’s purpose for living is to glorify God and every person will ultimately glorify God.

Revelation 6:3-4; 12:3-4a Purpose: To expose the awfulness of sin. Aim: I want the listener to hate sin and forsake it. INTRODUCTION: At first glance, it seems odd to us that the glorious worship of chapters 4 & 5 is immediately followed by the awful judgments that begin in chapter 6. But, the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:3-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Woman’s Witness Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Mar 10, 2008

The text records the effects of Jesus’ witness upon a woman & then through the women upon the Samaritan village. Strangely, it also includes the effect of witnessing upon Jesus. God changes others, the world, & us as we bear witness to Jesus.

JOHN 4: 27-38 THE WOMAN’S WITNESS With Jesus’ declaration that He is the prophesied Messiah the conversation has reached its summit. The recounting of Jesus and the Samaritan woman might have closed with Jesus’ evangelical witness and testimony as it did with ...read more

Scripture: John 4:27-38, John 4:27-54

Denomination: Baptist

Living Sacrifice? Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Aug 30, 2017

Sacrifice can a foreign and strange thing to us. When looking at sacrifice, it is help to look at purpose, place, and presentation. When keeping this in mind, we can apply his point to our lives and see the richness of the imagery and truth.

Sacrifices were important and instrumental to the worship life of believers in the Old Testament. We might be unfamiliar with them, so it can helpful to look at them in detail. When talking about sacrifices, I find it helpful to talk about three things: purpose, place, and presentation. Purpose. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Lutheran

Why Do Choosy Christians Choose Sam?

Contributed by Ray Geide on May 16, 2013

There is a strange phenomenon among choosy Christians. They choose Sam. In other words, Christians prefer to read, learn, quote, talk about, listen to, follow, and promote things written by and thought up by humans rather than Jesus.

Why do Choosy Christians Choose Sam? There is a strange phenomenon among choosy Christians. They choose Sam. (I am using Sam as a fictitious name for an author or speaker who is human and not Jesus Christ.) In other words, Christians prefer to read, learn, quote, talk about, listen to, follow, ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When You Hear The Roar - You Will Roar! Series

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Jul 15, 2019

Message Intro: A Lion roars for several reason, the three we are going to look at today are: 1. To say to its’ enemies this is my territory get out. 2. To strike fear and confusion in its prey. 3. To be a homing beacon for other lions in its pride to return home.

When You Hear the Roar - You Will Roar! Message Intro: A Lion roars for several reason, the three we are going to look at today are: 1. To say to its’ enemies this is my territory get out. 2. To strike fear and confusion in its prey. 3. To be a homing beacon for other lions in its pride to return ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:24

Denomination: Pentecostal

Abimelech, King Of Gerar Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 29, 2022

A few years after this, Abimelech visited Abraham, who had moved southward beyond his territory, and entered into an alliance of peace and friendship with him. This league was the first of which we have any record. A mutual oath confirmed it at Beer-sheba (Genesis 21:22-34).

Tom lowe 1/5/2022 Abimelech, King of Gerar Abimelech means "my father a king" or "father of a king." This is the name of 5 biblical men; 4 were kings. Abimelech was the common name for Philistine kings, as the name "Pharaoh" is for Egyptian kings. Abimelech, the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:22-34

Denomination: Baptist

His Name Is Wonderful! Series

Contributed by Rev. Roberto D. Abella on Nov 26, 2004

The word "wonderful" means "Adapted to excite wonder or admiration; exciting surprise; strange; astonishing." To put it another way, Jesus Christ, in every area of His birth, life, death and resurrection, captured the surprise and wonder of everyone! I wa

His Name Is Wonderful! Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." We find here that one of the names given to the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ