Sermons on Striving Against Sin:

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

GOD cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep. GOD desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance. True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.

2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15 When Religion Misses the Point William Akehurst, HSWC Reminder: It’s Father’s Day Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24 INTRODUCTION: JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Are Not Strong Enough Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on Jun 15, 2025

The world tells us we must be strong on our own. But God's truth reminds us that His power is perfected in our weakness. We do not need to be strong enough—we need to trust the One who is.

### **Introduction: The Pressure to Be Strong** Video Ill.: Sermon Bumper We live in a culture that bullies weakness. If you cannot handle it on your own, you are labeled as fragile, broken, or useless. Weakness is laughed at, mocked, and quickly dismissed. From childhood, we are told to toughen ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Philippians 4:11-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sun Of Heaven Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

Everything you can learn about the sun--it's power, light, and fire, will increase your love for, and awe of Jesus. Study the sun, and you are studying theology, for it is a symbol of what Jesus will be to us forever.

Isaac Asimov, the most prolific writer of this age, author of over 500 books, has a delightful essay on gold in his book, The Sun Shines Bright. He gives us scientific confirmation of why God would make the New Jerusalem a city of gold. The ancient world considered gold the most noble of metals. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:15-27

The Word Of Life Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Apr 30, 2021

First John 1:1-4 gives us five certainties about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Scripture I am starting a new sermon series on the Letters of John. Most scholars believe that the Apostle John wrote all three letters. They also believe that John wrote the Gospel and the Revelation. John wrote the three letters most likely around the start of the final decade of the first ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Had Much To Teach Abraham About Worship

Contributed by Lee Houston on May 3, 2021

God started where Abraham was and took him to where God wanted Abraham to be. He does that with people of faith.

God Had Much To Teach Abraham About Worship Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19, Matthew 22:32 Central idea: God started where Abraham was and took him to where God wanted Abraham to be. He does that with people of faith. When we attend church, do we always worship God? We sing songs and listen to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19, Matthew 22:32

Too Much Life

Contributed by James May on Mar 26, 2023

Each of us lives in our own Bethany in a manner of speaking. And our Bethany is determined by whether we are allowing Jesus to come in, or we have too much life to give him time to give us even more life.

Too Much Life Sunday, March 26, 2023 Bethany was a little town just about 2 miles from the gates of Jerusalem and during his earthly ministry it became a favorite place for Jesus to stop as he traveled. The name Bethany is interpreted to mean many different things, depending upon which scholar ...read more

Scripture: John 11:5, Isaiah 55:6-7, Matthew 26:6-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Do You Want To Do With Your Life?

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 12, 2023

Peter encourages us to live in hope and joy as we wait for the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

4.16.23 1 Peter 1:3–9 (EHV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 into an inheritance that is undying, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Sermon # 15 - No Turning Back Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Apr 24, 2023

Our Christian life and journey is not always smooth and easy. When things get tough we can either give up or continue on. Let’s learn how to move on and not turn back.

We read in John 21:4, “Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus” (ESV) They failed to recognize Jesus It was indeed an unusual situation on the sea shore that day, as the resurrected Jesus stood on the shore, and his own disciples who ...read more

Scripture: John 21:4, John 21:2-3, Matthew 16:21, Matthew 27:62-63, John 16:33, Proverbs 18:21, Luke 5:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Authentic Servants Of God Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on May 3, 2023

Paul took us on a look at the message of the Gospel, its messengers, ministry and our trust in the Master of the work of the Gospel. He helped us understand the endurance we need, the character and nature of the ministry.

2 Cor 6:3-13 Authentic Servants of God Paul has been writing in answer to his critics and in defence of his ministry. • This was necessary because false teachers had sown discord among them, challenging Paul’s authority, questioning his motive in ministry and casting doubt on his character. • Why ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bad News, Good News

Contributed by Melvin Newland on May 25, 2023

I'm convinced that whenever an innocent, sincere individual is taken advantage of, or has his faith ruined because of our greed or by our example, that God takes that very seriously, too.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK TEXT: 2 Kings 5:1- 27: Philippians 4:8 ILL. Now that Federal Agencies have proclaimed the Covid pandemic is over, there have been several polls taken about changes in church attendance. One poll of 5,872 adults published ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-27, Philippians 4:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"The Foolishness Of Men” Series

Contributed by Peter Kelly on Aug 25, 2021

Series #5. The inability to accept Calvary is the biggest mistake mankind can ever make.

I. Introduction A. The foolishness of God -Last time we looked at man’s view of the message of the cross -To those who trust in mankind’s wisdom it is foolishness. -1 Corinthians 1:18 – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:21-31

Revelation: Looking At Jesus First Series

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Aug 28, 2021

The Revelation begins by pointing us to Jesus in His Glory.

Revelation: Looking At Jesus First Introduction Revelation 1:9-20 Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. John ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

"the World’s Smallest But Largest Troublemaker."

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Aug 30, 2021

"The World’s Smallest but largest Troublemaker." James 3 verses 1-11 – sermon by Gordon Curley (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: (1). Instruction (vs 1-2). (2). Explanation (vs 3-5). (3). Illustrations (vs 3-5). (4). Application (vs 6). (5). Clarification (vs 7-12). SERMON BODY: Ill: • Did you know that the average person spends one-fifth of his or her life talking? • That’s what the statistics say. ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-11

Denomination: Brethren

When God Calls Your Name: Samuel Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Sep 11, 2021

How would you respond if God called your name not once, but twice? In the Bible, God calls plenty of people often by name, but I’ve only found seven times where God calls out someone’s name twice in a row. In each instance, what follows is a life-changing encounter with the God of creation.

When God Calls Your Name… Twice: Samuel Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 8/14/2016 Hearing your name called can evoke different responses depending on the circumstances. For instance, there’s a sense of fear and anxiety when you’re a student and you hear your name called over ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: Christian Church

The Story Of Dr. Luke Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on May 4, 2022

From Dr. Luke we learn to be faithful and resourceful in all we do to build the Kingdom of God.

THE STORY OF DR. LUKE Text: Col. 4:14, Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1-4, 2 Tim. 4:11 Introduction 1. Illustration: When our daughter-in-law, Emily, graduated from nursing school I told her, “Welcome to the family business!” You see, my mother was head nurse in the nursery at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:14, Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 4:11

Denomination: Methodist