Sermons on Surface:

When You've Lost Your Cutting Edge

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 4, 2007

We are quick to ‘fly off the handle’. But God has a way of sharpening dull Christians…and good things ‘surface’ when we return to where we lost our cutting edge and reclaim it! Link included to formatted text, audio & video, & PowerPoint Presentation.

When You’ve Lost Your Cutting Edge II Kings 6:1-7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/CuttingEdge.html We are so quick to ‘fly off the handle’ these days. But God has a way of sharpening dull Christians…and good things will ‘surface’ if we will return to where we lost our cutting edge and reach out ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

"it's Not Fair!" (Part Four)

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jun 10, 2019

The scenarios we've been looking at over the past few weeks seem unfair on the surface but when we examined them we realized that God was not being unfair. As we close out the series, we'll look at Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard.

"IT'S NOT FAIR!" (part four) We looked at Adam and Eve getting kicked out of the garden for one act of disobedience. We looked at the story of Job losing everything despite being upright and blameless. We saw how the prophet suffered death even though he was tricked by a lying ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Jonah 4:1-4, Luke 17:7-10, Deuteronomy 32:3-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Help Me Overcome My Unbelief (Imperfect Faith)

Contributed by Maria Saunders on Sep 4, 2015

As humans it's natural to with struggle, doubt, question, wonder about God’s presence & promises at various times. It's difficult to maintain faith in a Perfect God when warfare surfaces. Yet, we must have faith in God when imperfection is all around us.

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.’” Mark 9:24 NIV “No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, ‘Then I believe. Help me with my doubts.’” Mark 9:24 MSG The theme of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Denomination: Baptist

Five Sticky Fingers

Contributed by Scott Ridout on Oct 21, 2009

Where did that come from? That horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t expect - that thing is just so “unlike” you. Did you know those words are just a reflection of what lurks beneath the surface? The sca

Everything we think, say and do flows out of our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 The second big monster is GREED. Greed says, “I owe me”. Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Hidden Chamber Series

Contributed by Chad Moore on Oct 21, 2009

Where did that come from? That horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t expect - that thing is just so “unlike” you. Did you know those words are just a reflection of what lurks beneath the surface? The sca

What Lies Beneath The Hidden Chamber Matthew 15:16-20; Proverbs 4:23 What is the difference between a moralist and a Christian? A moralist follows rules. A Christian follows Jesus. 16"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17"Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:16-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Shadows Series

Contributed by Chad Moore on Oct 21, 2009

Where did that come from? That horrible, sinking feeling you have when something comes out of your mouth that you didn’t expect - that thing is just so “unlike” you. Did you know those words are just a reflection of what lurks beneath the surface? The sca

What Lies Beneath The Shadows 1 John 1:5-10; James 5:16 Everything we think, say and do flows out of our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 The first big monster is GUILT. Guilt says, “I owe you”. 5This is the message we have heard from ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Your Treasure Lies

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Aug 14, 2025

But Jesus, with divine wisdom, sees beyond the surface conflict to the heart issue that threatens both brothers: greed. In response, He tells one of His most sobering parables, a story that cuts through our material obsessions and calls us to examine where we place our trust and hope.

The scene opens with a dispute over inheritance - a matter as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago. But Jesus, with divine wisdom, sees beyond the surface conflict to the heart issue that threatens both brothers: greed. In response, He tells one of His most sobering parables, a story ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Methodist

The Challenge Course

Contributed by Bret Bone on Nov 6, 2012

I wonder how each of us would score if there were a test available that could reveal … how devoted we were as a Christian… You see, on the surface most of the time it appears that things are going well & display that we’re doing a pretty good job of b

I wonder how each of us would score if there were a test available that could reveal … how devoted we were as a Christian… You see, on the surface most of the time it appears that things are going well & display that we’re doing a pretty good job of being a Christian. In ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5

Do You See? Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 29, 2009

When we look through the eyes of God at the people around us, we don’t see the surface. We don’t see the socially acceptable or expected. We don’t see just the past and the mistakes. We see a lost child of God, and we see an opportunity to share a stor

Do You See? Breaking Boundaries 4 Feb 8, 2009 Luke 7:36-50 Intro: Charlie chaplin face illusion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_vtZXELRK8&eurl=http://www.moillusions.com/2006/06/charlie-chaplin-hollow-face-illusion.html&feature=player_embedded The British guy narrating the clip makes a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Baptist

Superficial Reconciliation Vs Genuine Restoration Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 7, 2025

2 Samuel 14 reminds us that peace is not the absence of tension, but the presence of truth and reconciliation.

SUPERFICIAL RECONCILIATION VS GENUINE RESTORATION By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: 2 Samuel 14:1-33 Supporting Texts: Matthew 5:23-24, Luke 15:17-24, Proverbs 28:13, Isaiah 1:18, Colossians 3:13 INTRODUCTION: 2 Samuel 14 reveals a situation where appearance was prioritised over heart ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 14:1-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Excellence In Integrity, Part 3 Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Oct 14, 2003

On the surface of life, we demonstrate integrity. We return money that’s not ours. We pay our bills on time. We work hard at our jobs. We volunteer at church. But if someone were to write a story about your life, would we really want him or her to write e

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: In the book Strengthening Your Grip, Charles Swindoll tells the following story about integrity. “Some time ago, I heard about a fellow in Long Beach who went into a fried chicken franchise to get some chicken for himself and the young lady with him. She waited in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:1-22

Personal Integrity - Life Of David, Part 3 Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on May 5, 2006

On the surface of life, we demonstrate integrity. We return money that’s not ours. We pay our bills on time. We work hard at our jobs. We volunteer at church. But if someone were to write a story about your life, would we really want him or her to write e

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: In the book Strengthening Your Grip, Charles Swindoll tells the following story about integrity. “Some time ago, I heard about a fellow in Long Beach who went into a fried chicken franchise to get some chicken for himself and the young lady with him. She waited in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:1-24

The Walk Of Faith

Contributed by Chris Manning on Jun 28, 2004

When most of us think about how we are doing spiritually, we think about surface things. We zero in on behavior patterns, such as have we been gossiping, have we been staying true to our marriage, have we been reading our Bibles, have we been tithing? We

Genesis 12:1-4 KJV Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (3) ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4

Denomination: Apostolic

The Root Of Our Spiritual Problems

Contributed by Mark Stevens on Jan 8, 2017

Bitterness can cause the most devout Christian to become ineffective, don't be bitter,,,,be BETTER

Bitterness is known in the Bible as spiritual poison and a means by which many are defiled (Hebrews 12:15). It is the source of countless spiritual and physical problems in millions of lives today. The Bible tells us that MANY are defiled by the means of bitterness. Bitterness can be tricky to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:15

Denomination: Pentecostal

Swimming Lessons - How To Stop Treading Water During The Storms Of Life

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Jan 29, 2022

A message on growing in trust of God

I have always enjoyed being at (and in!) a lake, a swimming pool, a river, or the ocean because it has such a soothing and invigorating effect on me. As a child, swimming became second nature. One of the techniques used to teach children to swim first emerged during my youth. The premise was that ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3, Matthew 6:25, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 43:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational