Sermons on Stumbling Block:

Cross Purposes 1: Embodying God's Love Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Dec 13, 2019

The cross is God's love in action. Because of the cross, we can "know and rely on the love of God."

CROSS PURPOSES 1: EMBODYING GOD’S LOVE Of all the religions of the world, the one with the strangest symbol of faith is one you are probably familiar with. The primary symbol of that religion can be troubling, scandalous, even abhorrent. In fact, in parts of the world, it is divisive and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:8-10, 1 John 4:14-16, Hosea 11:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"the Freedom Christ Gives

Contributed by David Nolte on Jul 4, 2020

Most people don't understand freedom

Everybody on earth desires freedom. I do, and if I were a betting man, I’d gamble that you do, too! But many people don’t understand what freedom is or what freedom is not. Unfortunately, some people’s idea of, and quest for, freedom actually enslaves and imprisons them. Jude advises us “For ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith's Response To God's Will Series

Contributed by David Welch on Aug 4, 2018

Message 21 in our study of James. This message deals with the need to include a passion for God's will over my own when making plans for the future.

Chico Alliance Church Pastor David Welch “Faith’s Response to God’s Will” The book of James is all about living our life with genuine faith in God. James describes the kind of life the one who claims to live by faith lives. I. Faith’s response to trials 1:2-27 Joyfully endure – continued ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17, Ecclesiastes 1:8-11, Deuteronomy 8:11-19

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Discerning The Will Of God Pt 2 Series

Contributed by David Welch on Aug 23, 2018

This message continues the discussion of discerning God's will from Message 22 with a focus on elements of discovering God's will.

Chico Alliance Church Pastor David Welch “Discerning God's Will” Part 2 REVIEW Our encounter with James instruction to consider God’s will in every aspect of your life because life is short lead us into a deeper discussion of the nature and discernment of God’s will. WHAT IS GOD’S WILL? The ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Paradoxical Saying Of Jesus: To Be Great, Be The Least Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Jul 27, 2018

Jesus said many counter-intuitive, counter-cultural and against-common sense statements which emphasize the difference between worldly values and Kingdom priorities. This series examines how these very challenging statements applies to our lives

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus To Be Great, Be the Least Selected Passages To be truly great in life, seek to be the least! This has to be one of the most incredible, unbelievable, counter-intuitive, counter-cultural statements of all time. Essentially it is a statement that the way up in life ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5, Luke 22:24-27, Mark 9:33-37, Luke 9:46-48

Denomination: Bible Church

The Message Of The Cross

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 1, 2021

This sermon explores how Christians cannot avoid carrying their crosses.

THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS Text: Mark 8:31 - 38 Mark 8:31-38  Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.  (32)  He said all this ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: United Methodist

How To Be A Successful Husband Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

We commit ourselves in marriage for better or for worse because both our equally possible. Conflict is just as real a potential as cooperation.

The question was asked of a class of Catholic girls-"What is matrimony?" One girl confidently stood and said, "Matrimony is a state of terrible torment which those who enter are compelled to undergo for a time to fit them for heaven." "No, no," said the priest, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

The Power Of Weakness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The paradox that Paul proclaims here is that a handicap can be a help. A painful problem can be a powerful promoter of what is good. A weakness can be an asset and a strength

One of the most incredible biographies ever written is that of Robert Babcock. As a young boy he made a bomb out of some powder he found in his father's barn. He had a hard time getting it to go off, but when it finally did, it blew up in his face and he was instantly blinded, and remained so ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

The Spirituality Trap

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Feb 24, 2023

We have a tendency to see the shining mountaintop moments or the depths of despair as being the most spiritually significant. But genuine spirituality surfaces - and matures - in the daily decision to forgive, to tell the truth, to resist a temptation or to hold our tongues.

My mom tells me that when we were little she could dress my sister and me up for church in starched white petticoats and send us out to play in the yard until time to leave for church and be absolutely certain that we wouldn’t have a spot on us. We LOVED to dress up. There was no way we were going ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36, Exodus 34:29-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Condition Critical

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 4, 2023

When Jesus said “Do not judge, or you too will be judged,” he did not absolve us from the responsibility to discern between good and evil.

An interesting thing happened during the opening worship of the 213th General Assembly. As the service began, the congregation stood to sing the first anthem. A great parade of banners, each representing one of our presbyteries, made its way down the center aisle. As the procession reached the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5, 2 Samuel 12:2-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Condition Critical

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 1, 2023

The differences between us - you and me - and the brothers and sisters we find it so easy to criticize - shrinks to nothing at all when we look, instead, at the difference between ourselves and Jesus.

A few years ago I had an interesting talk with my mother about the nature of friendship. At one point I made the comment that the only bottom line requirement I had for a friend was that I needed to know I’d be forgiven for my mistakes. Her response was telling. She said that I had unrealistically ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Wisdom We Need Series

Contributed by Jonathan Lee on Sep 27, 2022

What's the most important wisdom we all need and how does the suffering of Job relate with the wisdom of Proverbs and the wisdom demonstrated by Jesus Christ?

[The following sermon was given as a part of a church message series titled "What We Need" for Gracepoint Ministries (gracepointonline.org) in 2021] INTRODUCTION We’re now in the 21st century and we’ve increased in knowledge and understanding, from the intricate inner workings of the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-5, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Job 28:12, Job 28:28, Job 1:1, Job 2:9-10, Job 38:4, Job 38:16-18, Job 39:1, 1 Peter 2:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:22-24, Proverbs 13:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Where Does God Live? Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on May 3, 2015

Stephen's Acts 7 defense before the Jewish leaders is a masterful theological treatise on the presence of God. But it was a message with ominous implications to these power-hungry leaders. Stephen's message has applications to us today 2000 years later.

Where Does God Live? Series: Acts Chuck Sligh May 3, 2015 TEXT: Turn to Acts 7 INTRODUCTION Have you ever heard a church referred to as “God’s house?” I’ve often used this term myself, speaking of the importance of being faithful to “God’s house” by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-60

Denomination: Baptist

My Older Brother Is My Hero Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Jun 9, 2015

Attitudes, Compassion, Our Relationships, Jesus

GROWN UP CHRISTIANS – My Older Brother is My Hero Philippians 2:1-11 (pg. 819) June 14, 2015 Introduction: I am a fighter... I can’t help it... it’s part of my nature... I’m not completely sure if it’s taught or caught... whether it’s part of my DNA ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why The Cross Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 20, 2015

Only God can stand against the evil that humans beings have brought into his world. he's done this by sending Jesus to become one of us, taking our place, becoming our substitute in facing God's anger and allowing humanity to be remade in God's image.

Why the Cross A Sermon series based on the book of the same name by Dr Leon Morris I trust no-one here would doubt that the cross is central to the Christian faith. Without the cross Christianity becomes just another religion, emptied of its power. The cross is central to our life together; central ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-18

Denomination: Anglican