Sermons on Surround:

Praising God In Bad Times

Contributed by Russell (Rusty) Pruitt on Jun 7, 2020

In II Chronicles 20, we read about King Jehoshaphat of Judah. The Moabites, long-time enemies of Judah, had formed a powerful alliance with the Ammonites and other surrounding nations and marched against Jehoshaphat.

The enemy forces were encamped at Ein Gedi. The king and his people were filled with alarm, so Jehoshaphat called a fast and began to seek the Lord as did all the people. In his prayer, Jehoshaphat talked about evil coming upon the nation, in the form of the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:4, 2 Chronicles 20:13-19

Denomination: Baptist

Different Direction (Hix)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Jan 10, 2014

Hearing about birth of Jesus does not produce the same emotion in all that witness the events that surround the birth of baby Jesus. When Herod The King Heard This, He Was Troubled, And All Jerusalem With Him.

Matthew 2:1-12- Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Complexity Of Christmas

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

We often see the first Christmas though rose colored glasses tinted by centuries of tradition. But the plain facts are that Mary and Joseph had a very difficult time with all the events surrounding that first Christmas.

Approaching the Christmas season in 1972, Fred Putman decided to have a evening in front of a cozy fire. He used two boxes of matches, one pint of started fluid, and the Sunday addition of the New York Times, and still could not get the fireplace burning. Bent on romance by fire-light, he decided ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:18-45

Celebrating Christmas When The Grinch Shows Up Series

Contributed by John Gaston on Dec 3, 2018

How can you still celebrate Christmas when you're surrounded by troubles? So were Mary and Joseph at the first Christmas, but Christmas still came and God brought healing to their world!

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS WHEN THE GRINCH SHOWS UP INTRODUCTION A. CHRISTMAS IS ALWAYS A WONDERFUL TIME? 1. This whole month of December we’re looking at Christmas through the eyes of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch. So keep an eye out for his green skin! 2. Have you ever had some major plans disrupted and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-21, Luke 2:4-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Why The Shepherds? Series

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Nov 28, 2015

I would propose to you, though much debate, speculation and misrepresentation surrounds the birth of Christ. There are Biblical truths that must be grasp if one is going fulfill their place in the proclaiming of the birth of Christ, like that of the shepherds.

Why the Shepherds? Introduction: It is that time of the season when there is a desire to observe Christmas, give, show acts of charity and cling to those church traditions of the birth of Christ. Luke 2: gives us a clear truth that God intentionally broke the conjecture of man to bless, call ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mystery Babylon, The Lincoln Affair Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Jul 21, 2015

The facts are documentable. There really is a connection between Rome and the events surrounding the Civil War, including Lincoln's untimely death. Step back and look at history through Biblical eyes, and your view changes considerably...

FORTY-EIGHT: THE LINCOLN AFFAIR So we are now in a time when bloodshed, which is newsworthy and can be reported to generations following, begins to give way to influence, which tends to go unnoticed except by the most observant. As we walk through these years, we walk slowly and deliberately, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 18:24

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Greatest Mission On Earth

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 13, 2025

Take heart from the Scriptures today and know that as we break and share the Bread of Life and take and drink the Cup of Blessing, we are surrounded by each other and a huge throng of witnesses, thousands of years old.

Twentieth Sunday in Course 2025 Cisterns, which date back thousands of years, are holes in the ground meant to collect and store water. Often they are lined on the sides with rocks to slow down leakage into the surrounding soil. At our house we have no cisterns, but we do have rain barrels that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-53, Hebrews 12:1-4, Psalm 40:2-4, Jeremiah 38:4-10, Psalm 40:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

It's Harvest Time! PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 25, 2023

Recognize the lostness around us, understand our surroundings, and feel the urgency to participate in God's work, as illustrated in John 4:27-42, where a Samaritan woman's testimony led many to believe in Jesus.

Good morning, family! You know, it's so easy to get caught up in our own bubbles that we often forget to look at the broader picture. We may forget to see the lostness, to truly know our surroundings, and to feel the urgency of involvement. Today, we're gonna dig into John 4:27-42, and I pray that ...read more

Scripture: John 4:27-42

Topics: Evangelism, Involvement

A Profitable Resolution

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Nov 18, 2002

When his life was in mortal danger, David purposed to call upon the Lord for deliverance from his enemies. The Christian is surrounded by enemies of various nature, and wise we are if we call upon God for deliverance.

A PROFITABLE RESOLUTION “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” II Samuel 22:1-4 I. As was true with David, so with Christians today: our enemies are both numerous and powerful: David lived in continual danger. Saul, king of Israel, who ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Bleakest Of The Bleak Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 20, 2003

The Work Christ accomplished on the Cross is more than we can know, but we can at least understand a few of the most important accomplishments. The events surrounding the crucifixion picture the theology behind this monumental climax of history.

The Bleakest of the Bleak (Matt. 27:45-55, John 19:30, Luke 23:47-48) Intro 1. I am into spot removing and solvents---at least a little bit. 2. Here are some common spot or stain treatments: (show removers, bleach, ammonia, etc.) 3. Some solvents will remove only some stains 4. Sometimes two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-55, John 19:30

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Gifts That Are Not Soon Forgotten"

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jan 3, 2005

The Birth of Christ is about God gift of salvation in the person of Jesus, His only begotten Son. Gifts that we give and receive at Christmas are often forgotten, but the gifts that surround the birth of Jesus are gifts that cannot be forgotten.

“Gifts That Are Not Soon Forgotten” Luke 2:8-20 The Birth of Christ is about God gift of salvation in the person of Jesus, His only begotten Son. Gifts that we give and receive at Christmas are often forgotten, but the gifts that surround the birth of Jesus are gifts that cannot be forgotten. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Free Methodist

Memorial Day - Will They Find Us Faithful?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on May 25, 2007

I believe we are surrounded by a greater cloud of witnesses than we will ever know ... We are the recipients of the faith, testimony & sacrifices made by unnumbered multitudes who have blazed the path before us.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND CCF, SILOAM SPRINGS, AR A. Tomorrow is officially designated as a holiday marked in many communities by a variety of solemn observances. All across the United States people will gather in parks & cemeteries to commemorate what this day symbolizes. Bands will play, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:17-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus The Light Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Dec 2, 2006

Part 1 of 5-part series, Jesus in Isaiah. 1) Light was predicted; 2) Light arrived; 3) Light came surrounded by darkness; and 4) We have a role today in bringing light to the world.

Jesus the Light Jesus in Isaiah Isaiah 9:1-7 December 3, 2006 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers Last week we concluded our series on Emotions in the Psalms. I hope that brief series was enough to get you interested in reading the Psalms. Psalms may be more about you than any other book in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Denomination: Free Methodist

Shaken Series

Contributed by Cesar Verdeflor on Feb 9, 2006

The people surrounding the virgin birth of Jesus were shaken in different fashion—whether they were moved to praise God, or stimulated into humble submission or was agitated or shook up to insecurity, the thing to remember is that around the time of Chris

The whole earth shook not because of an earthquake; nor a meteor at a high speed hit the earth with a loud explosion. The whole earth shook not because of another volcano that’s been asleep for a long time awoke then suddenly erupted. The whole earth and its inhabitants were shaken when the Son of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Unfinished Feast

Contributed by William Mouser on May 16, 2005

Drawing on the traditions surrounding the Seder, this sermon shows the Eucharist to be an unfinished feast which all believers participate in prior to Jesus’ conclusion of this Passover when he drinks the last cup of the Passover observance with his disci

Mark 14:12-26 Maundy Thursday that day in Holy Week when the Church remembers the inauguration of what is its principle act of worship – what we refer to as the Lord’s Table, the Communion, or the Holy Eucharist. It is referred to as “the breaking of bread” in Acts 2:42. And, from the earliest ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:12-26

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican