Sermons on Substantial:

Bumper To Bumper On The Highway Of Holiness

Contributed by Michael Pahls on Apr 9, 2001

Uses the metaphor of driver’s education to explore St. Paul’s understanding of personal holiness as it relates to corporate solidarity and ecclesial unity.

BUMPER TO BUMPER ON THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS Ephesians 4:17-32 INTRO. A COMMON HIGHWAY: DRIVERS EDUCATION FOR CHRISTIANS I was driving to Chicago a couple of weeks ago and I happened to get on the Dan Ryan Expressway just about the time of rush hour was ending. Now I don’t know if you have ever ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

True Love

Contributed by Jason Zahn on Sep 28, 2001

God demonstrates his true love for us in sending his Son to die for us even while we were still sinners.

“My father died today. I do not want to celebrate my father’s life right now. I want to mourn his death, and the dirty trick that was played on him. I do not want to trade sentimental anecdotes or well-intentioned euphemisms to hide from the fact that a terrible thing has happened. We live in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Looking At Adversity

Contributed by C.j. Moffett on Aug 12, 2003

No one in their right mind enjoys pain and hardship, but do they hold a redeptive purpose?

--Nietzche said, "Whatever doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger." --Illus: Kia Jurgenson was a student at a Christian University. A gifted high school basketball player (she was all state), she received a full-ride scholarship and started as a freshmen on the University team. During those ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:3-12, Romans 8:28-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith Is. . . Series

Contributed by Bobby Mcdaniel on Sep 14, 2003

Part 3 of a 3-part series focusing on faith, hope, and love. This message focuses on what faith is as found in Hebrews 11.

Scripture Ref: Hebrews 11:1-40 Romans 5:1-2 1. Introduction a. Part 3 of a 3-part series on faith, hope and love. Last week we discussed hope. We learned that we have a living inheritance of hope. Our hope is not just a pipe dream or a wish, but rather, it is a promise of life eternal with a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40, Romans 5:1-2

"The Testing Of Faith"

Contributed by Dennis Deese on Sep 15, 2003

Our faith will be tested to verify its validity.

"THE TESTING OF FAITH" www.dennisdeese.com JAMES 1:1-18 ETS: James affirms the fact that Christian faith is tested to verify its validity. ESS: Our faith will be tested to verify its validity. (Chapter One - The Examination of Faith) Faith is tested by: I. THE TEST OF TIME (1:1) ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-18

The Ordinarily Extraordinary

Contributed by David Green on Dec 19, 2004

Relating two aspects of the birth of Jesus Christ; the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Intro: -Read John 3:16-18 -Sometimes it is true that we remain insensitive to how much someone else loves us, until we have failed them. Only then, to discover that it makes no difference at all in their love for us. Their love, therefore, becomes a kind of love that is neither deserved nor ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Overcome A Slump

Contributed by David Dewitt on May 4, 2004

The greatest slump that we can experience as Christians is a loss in our love for Christ. This is a message that I prepared for Superbowl Sunday 2004.

How to Overcome a Slump Revelation 2:1-7 February 1, 2004 Morning Service Introduction As everyone knows I really like football and today is one of the greatest days in professional football; its Super bowl Sunday. This is the game that determines who is the champion of the entire league. It is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Church Of God

Waiting On The Lord

Contributed by James Powell on Dec 30, 2006

Wait upon the Lord

ILLUSTRATION: An airliner making its way from New York to San Francisco. One of the engines caught fire. The captain came on the speaker system, calmly reassuring his passengers that the fire would soon be out. Besides, the plane could fly as well with three engines as with four. Unfortunately, a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31

Denomination: Holiness

Zacchaeus The Tax-Collector

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Sep 29, 2009

People sees Zacchaeus as a sinner, Jesus sees him as someone God loves. Zacchaeus seeks the Lord, and finds himself being sought after by Jesus. Only Jesus can transform a life.

A man’s life was changed, from one who people hates to a person who is willing to help others. • He did not attend a moral course or nor a training class. He met a person. He met Jesus. He met the Saviour of his life. • He trusted Christ and experienced His love and the forgiveness of his sin. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Do We Define Faith Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Aug 10, 2009

This message seeks to establish a definition of what our faith should look like.

Most of us confidently believe that we have faith. The problem is that the faith we often display is quite different from what is defined here in Hebrews 11. We have been conditioned to believe that we must see in order to believe. We analyze and reanalyze in order to establish hard evidence to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Are Deacons Needed Today?

Contributed by Chris Layton on Aug 23, 2009

Laying the foundation for the office of deacons and the role they play in the life of the church.

Are Deacons Needed Today? Acts 6:1-7 The age old struggle in the realms of Christianity has been a fierce fight. On one side, seeking to advance the Kingdom of God, we find the Holy Spirit and the Church. On the other side we see Satan and all of the forces of Hell. Satan had been trying to figure ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Pray - Pt. 1 - Intimate Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 22, 2011

Prayer is essential. Prayer is neglected. Why? Why spend the time and effort to pray?

Pray Pt. 1 - Intimate I. Introduction Prayer is one of the foundational elements of Christianity. Folks that don't consider themselves Christian and have no intention of ever embracing Christ know that prayer is a basic tenant of Christianity. And yet, as one man said, "Of all the duties enjoined ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-39

Denomination: Pentecostal

Awaken, America!

Contributed by Perry Greene on Oct 1, 2012

America is in moral, financial, religious, and ethical trouble. The answer to her problems is not found in political manuevering but in God's word.

1. IRS Threat to Churches – “No politicking or we take your tax-exempt status.” They define their threat in that churches are not to be political action committees if they: a. Have a “substantial” part of their activities in trying to influence legislation; b. Having ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Bread, One Body, Many Idols

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 27, 2010

Independence Sunday 1987: We are called to be a distinctive people within American culture, not to follow popular self-centered idolatries.

The trouble with going to Ridgecrest conference center for a week is that you tend to forget how diverse a nation we are. If you were to spend too long at a place like Ridgecrest, you would get to thinking that everybody was Baptist, and Baptist of the southern variety, that everybody gobbled ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:14-31

Denomination: Baptist

Peace In The Midst Of A Storm Series

Contributed by Jonathan Powell on Mar 24, 2009

The only way to find peace in our current culture is Jesus Christ. He and only He, can help you find "Peace in the Midst of Your Storm"

PEACE IN THE MIDST OF A STORM Philippians 4:7 Christmas Series 2008 There are many in this room today that are struggling. Struggling with many different things. It could be worrying over finances, marriages, jobs, church, this that or the other. Some could be struggling with issues that are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:7

Denomination: Baptist