Sermons on Substantial:

When Paul Got One-Star Reviews

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 30, 2019

The Corinthians criticize Paul's preaching. What can we learn from this conflict?

[First half of church fight story from Andy Stanley about his Dad - this can be found at the start of Andy Stanley's book Deep and Wide] TRASHING PAUL: It is both stunning and comforting that Paul got some negative reviews. - 2 Corinthians 10:1, 9-10. - We usually think of Paul as the great ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-2, 2 Corinthians 10:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Holy Disturbances And Easter Grace

Contributed by Mary Erickson on May 7, 2019

Jesus' grace transforms us

May 5, 2019 Pastor Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Acts 9:1-6; John 21:1-19 Holy Disturbances and Easter Grace Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. If you head down Highway 93 south of Eleva, you’ll run into the town of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-6, John 21:1-19

Denomination: Lutheran

The Law Of Love: How Compassion Can Change Your Life

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Jul 18, 2019

The Parable of the Good Samaritan offers the unique opportunity to see compassion at work outside of Israel. Compassion can change our lives, our churches, and our world.

The Law of Love: How Compassion Can Change Your Life By The Rev. Rian Adams Have you ever wondered how to spot a hypocrite? It’s possible to spot them in their natural habitat… hiding behind religious rules instead of living the law of love. That happened in today's Gospel lesson. It ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Episcopal

Forsaken Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 10, 2018

Jesus experienced being forsaken by God to unite us with Him.

1. Matthew 27.45-49 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-49

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Name Of Jesus

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on May 21, 2018

What is it about the Name of Jesus that makes it so special? Why are we to pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus and what did he promise His disciples when they prayed in this way?

The Name of Jesus “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the Name of Jesus that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

The Ongoing Mockery Of Christ

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 28, 2017

This passage describes the mockery of Jesus. Are there ways that we mock Him today?

SUCH SELF-CONTROL: Jesus shows remarkable restraint in the face of ugly mockery. - Mark 15:16-20. a. The mockery. - The scene is hard-breaking: the sinless Son of God being mocked by the Roman soldiers. - We see injustice in the world today and it pierces our heart. We deeply know that the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:16-20

Denomination: Baptist

Codebreakers Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Mar 26, 2014

The kingdom of God changed how the people of God pray. The challenge and call to pray

Code Breakers Matt 6:9-15 8/4/2013 An Enigma machine was any of a family of related electro-mechanical rotor cipher machines used for the encryption and decryption of secret messages. Enigma was invented by the German engineer Arthur Scherbius at the end of World War I. The early models were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Family Faith Quiet Times Series

Contributed by Dan Proctor on Mar 27, 2013

Every family needs an anchor of peace. That anchor is consistent family faith time.

Peacemakers of the Heart Family Faith Quiet Times Introduction: 1. Many believers live crazy, stressed-out lives and believe that it is normal. Yet we have learned that a life of stress is not how we were meant to live. 2. God’s Word is clear that it is God’s will for us to live lives ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15

Denomination: Bible Church

Transforming Devastation Into Confident Dependence Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 27, 2020

During bleak, devastating times, God is Rock we can lean on. He is more than a listening ear, though He is that; He can bring new life to demoralized souls.

Transforming Devastation into Confident Dependence (Psalm 6) 1. July 24 (UPI) -- A British police department said officers responding to a report of a "large apex predator" -- a black panther -- in a public park arrived to find the supposed dangerous animal was only a stuffed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 6:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Knowing The Shepherd’s Voice

Contributed by Norman Bernad on Oct 1, 2020

President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Apparently, sometime after being president for a very long time, he got tired of smiling that trade-mark Roosevelt smile and saying the trade-mark Roosevelt things at all those White House receptions.

Knowing the shepherd’s Voice 1. 1 Samuel. 3: 1-3 2. John 10: 1-10 3. Ps: 23 Illustration President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Apparently, sometime after being president for a very long time, he got tired of smiling that trade-mark Roosevelt smile and saying the trade-mark Roosevelt things at all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-3, John 10:1-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Being A Christian Is About Being For Something, Not Just Against Something

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Oct 29, 2017

A Reformation sermon focussing on Martin Luther's great discovery that God is for something, being a graceful and merciful God and not just against people and things.

A question I would like us to think about as God’s church today How do the people you mix with view Christianity today? How does the media view Christianity today? Do they see Christians as ambassadors of God bearing His grace and being generous with His love? or do they see Christianity as ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23-28, John 3:16-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Uncommon Love: Ruth Series

Contributed by Seth Alexander on Feb 17, 2015

We must live Uncoomon Lives. See how Ruth lived with uncommon love.

Uncommon Love: Ruth Ruth 1:1-22 Live an uncommon life. Jesus Prayed for us: John 17:15-18 NIV My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On Advocate Or Protagonist?

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 15, 2022

Caterpillars are defined as the larval stage of members of the Lepidoptera family which is an insect order comprising butterflies and moths.

Steven James, a Wisconsin-born American author once remarked: “Think of a caterpillar entering a cocoon. Once he does so, one of two things will happen: He will either transform into a butterfly, or he will die. But no matter what else happens, he will never climb out of the cocoon as a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1, 1 John 2:1, Acts 19:19, Luke 16:26

Jesus, Our Confidence In The Lord.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 2, 2022

My strength is in Him.

JESUS, OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD. Psalm 27:1, Psalm 27:4-9. 1. We look first at the ground of David's confidence in this Psalm: “the LORD.” When the moniker “the LORD” is used in English translations of the Old Testament, it is a device that stands for the unspoken name of the true and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1, Psalm 27:4-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Exercising Authority Is Powerless Without Enforcing Our Identity In Christ.

Contributed by Patrick Usifo on Mar 24, 2021

Because without knowing and having a recognized identity, we are powerless to use our authority over the things in the heavens and on earth.

When I started my new life in Christ, one of the first things I noticed among believers in the Church was the level of humility and unblemished morality displayed even in troublesome times. But as time progresses, I began to question every form of the appearance of the outward display of humility: ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:23-24, Acts 19:14-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational