Sermons on Striving:

A Vision Of Purpose

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jan 15, 2017

The church faces many difficulties and obstacles while serving the Lord. While these are unavoidable, we do not have to allow them to defeat us. We must maintain our focus on the Lord and follow the vision He has provided.

A Vision of Purpose Ephesians 3: 20-21 The church at Ephesus was dear to Paul. His ministry among them spanned three years. The church there began with just twelve believers (Acts 19:7), but through faithful effort they experienced amazing growth. Knowing the success in Ephesus, Paul desired them ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

Torn Between Two Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Oct 5, 2016

Although Paul desired to be in the Lord's presence, he knew it was more needful to remain for the church. He was determined to glorify Christ in life or death. We too need to remain committed and faithful to the work the Lord given us.

Torn between Two Philippians 1:19-26 Following his passionate discourse regarding the preaching of the Gospel, Paul continues to bear his heart unto the church at Philippi. Here we find those often quoted verses that reveal Paul being in a strait, betwixt two – having a burning desire to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19-26

Denomination: Baptist

When A Little Guy Meets A Big God

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Nov 6, 2016

Jesus reaches out to the smallest and the evilest among us with a very personal invitation. He calls us by name. He invites himself over. He desires nothing less than a radically changed life, submitted to him, and all for our good!

Luke 19:1-10 When a Little Guy Meets a Big God Today’s passage is a very popular children’s Bible story, but it’s a lot more than that. It reveals the very heart of God: one who pursues each one of us to bring us into a loving personal relationship with him. I want to walk us ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Guided, Guarded, And Guaranteed Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Dec 15, 2016

Paul offers another example for the church to follow, guiding their faith. He offers a word of caution, seeking to guard them from apostasy. Finally he offers a word of comfort regarding the Lord's return, a guarantee for the believer.

Guided, Guarded, and Guaranteed Philippians 3: 17-21 A young boy looked up at his grandfather and wondered aloud, "Grandpa, how do you live for Jesus?" The respected grandfather stooped down and quietly told the boy, "Just watch." As the years went by the grandfather was an example to the boy ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

What Standard? Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on May 13, 2020

Holiness is often misunderstood. It has been abused to try to enforce rules. So, what is Holiness? Is it possible? Why is it so difficult? Why does it seem to be such a mess?

Pt. 1 - What Standard? I. Introduction You can just say the name of the city and most people instantly, without any additional information, recognize what you are talking about. Canton, OH, Springfield, MA, Cooperstown, NY. Hall of Fame for football, basketball and baseball. These special places ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 11:44

Denomination: Pentecostal

"what Is Your Identity?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 8, 2020

A sermon for Baptism of the Lord Sunday.

“What Is Your Identity?” Matthew 3:13-17 In the Upper Room Devotional for this past Wednesday, a woman from Ohio named Lois Wilson writes the following: “On the first day of each community-college art class I taught, I would ask the students to write a brief answer to the question, ‘Who are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Our Lord And Our Land Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 22, 2021

Paul was proud to be a Roman citizen. It was not because the empire was perfect, but because his citizenship gave him rights that were vital to his personal dignity, and to his service for God.

Human rights is a major issue in our world today, but it is not a new issue. Even under the Roman Emperor men had rights and they were precious. The Apostle Paul was unjustly arrested. He was about to be beaten when he calmly asked the Roman Centurion in charge if it was lawful to scourge a man ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:25-29

In Hot Pursuit - What Are You Running After?

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Apr 6, 2021

You can tell a lot about a person by what they are running after and what they are running from. Christians have a godly assignment even in a pandemic. .

Paul, who is the writer of our text, provides instructions for the Philippian Church as they move forward to become the best that they could be for Christ. Rather than be complacent with where they were, they needed to set their sights higher. The Apostle Paul gives this church his personal ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-15

Denomination: Methodist

Drawing Near The Throne Of Grace (2003)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 23, 2021

God's Word is living and active because it reveals who we really are to God in our hearts.

DRAWING NEAR THE THRONE OF GRACE Text: Hebrews 4:12-16 "To better understand the human body, in 1994, researchers made available a new computer tool called "The Visible Man." The Visible Man consists of almost two thousand computer images. "To produce images, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16

Denomination: United Methodist

To Know Him

Contributed by Vicki Williamson on Feb 28, 2022

Do you really know the person closest to you? Know their hearts desires including their successes and failures? Do you know what they think and what motivates 
them with every action? Do you truly know them?

Turn with me to the book of Philippians, a letter written by the Apostle Paul ?to believers in Philippi. This is the Apostle Paul speaking his heart’s desire. Philippians 3:10-11 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, ?and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-11, Philippians 2:5-11, Philippians 4:4

Gods Got This

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Apr 6, 2022

When situations arise especially when they arise for someone else, we are quick to try to give words of encouragement we will often say cheer up God’s got this acting like it is the catch all fix all statement, that is not true according to the Bible.

“God’s Got This” By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - So many times when situations arise especially when they arise for someone else, we are quick to try to give words of encouragement. If a person is depressed, we will often say cheer up God’s got this. If they are facing a sickness ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:8-14

Denomination: Apostolic

Love Beyond Limits Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Dec 8, 2021

Just as it was in Jesus’ day, many have a perception of love, but it is not love as God commands. Much of what we see today described as love does not fit the biblical model for love.

Love beyond Limits Matthew 5: 43-48 As we close out the fifth chapter of Matthew, we are getting close to the midway point of the great sermon Jesus preached. For the past several weeks we have considered various contrasts Jesus made regarding time honored traditions and the reality of what God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Baptist

A God’s-Eye View Of Someone “under The Influence” Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Mar 13, 2016

Living under the influence of the Holy Spirit means living as light.

In 2013, a South Dakota man received his 16th DUI conviction. That means he was found guilty 16 times of driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol—the first conviction was way back in 1977. But from the little research that I did, he isn’t the record holder for DUI arrests ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:3-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Come If Out Of The Wilderness

Contributed by Tamela Walker on Jan 30, 2018

40 years of wondering to a lifetime of eternity.

Come out of the Wilderness? Deuteronomy 2:1-7; 13-15 Often, we spend our days running in circles wondering why, how and what has caused us to face our wilderness experience. Yet while we are in the wilderness hardship we must understand that “HARDSHIP OFTEN PREPARES ORDINARY PEOPLE, FOR AN ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 2:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Guidance For The Saints

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Oct 21, 2018

As believers, we experience complete transformation in salvation, and yet our salvation experience is an on-going process. We are saved wholly of grace, but that does not absolve us from responsibility in our Christian walk.

The Guidance for the Saints 2 Peter 1: 9-11 Our text today is actually a continuation of the conversation we began to consider a few weeks ago. Clearly, Peter is writing to the church – to those saved by grace and added to the body of Christ. While we are not saved by works of the flesh, service ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:9-11

Denomination: Baptist