Sermons on Suspicious:

God Of Second Chances

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 5, 2022

Jesus' restoring Peter after he denied him shows that he's in the business of giving second chances. He's also given us an example to follow.

BACK STORY In our children’s story we heard about Peter denying Jesus. Peter failed. But Peter shouldn’t have been the one to fail. He was Peter the rock. He was supposed to be the strong one, the solid one. But Peter had brought it on himself. Jesus told his disciples what would happen to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Be Happy Or Blessed Instead Of Miserable

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1A. Blessed are the poor in spirit - Jesus is saying that happiness comes from recognizing that we are humanly sinful, in debt to God for everything, & find our sufficiency only in His grace.

1A. Blessed are the poor in spirit - Jesus is saying that happiness comes from recognizing that we are humanly sinful, in debt to God for everything, & find our sufficiency only in His grace. By admitting that we are dependent on the Lord for everything we are giving Christ His rightful place as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Be An Encourager In A Discouraging Situation

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 19, 2001

Finding encouragement from God and godly friends despite all the discouragement you may be facing

How To Be An Encourager in Discouraging Situations (Acts 11:22-26) Illustration: Thomas Edison said, "If I had not had 230 failures I would never have discovered the right filmanet to invent the electric light bulb. Failure often proceeds success." 1. Have you ever wondered how to encourage ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:22-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Perils Of Abuse Of Power As Convicted By The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. The Holy Spirit convicts leaders of the perils involved with abusing their power.

1. The Holy Spirit convicts leaders of the perils involved with abusing their power. Jesus said, "The Counselor, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." (John 16:7,8) Ask the Lord to help respond to the Spirit’s ...read more

Scripture: John 16:7-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Do Accusers Try To Discredit The People Of God?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. Accusers find pleasure in trying to find fault with someone or their ideas.

1. Accusers find pleasure in trying to find fault with someone or their ideas. In this passage we read about men who tried to discredit Peter and the apostles who had just received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Peter said, "These men are not drunk as you suppose." (Acts 2:15) Ignorant ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:14-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Father, Forgive Them. They Don't Know What They Are Doing!

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 27, 2009

This short talk uses a story I wrote for a school assembly (ages 8 to 16) to help people think about this prayer of Jesus from the cross

Many years ago, long before any of us were born, and long before our great grandparents were born, a young man walked into town. His clothes were old and well worn. His shoes had holes, and he carried all of his possessions in a small, dirty bag. When he first arrived in town he slept under an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:34

Denomination: Anglican

God Wants A Church For Forgiven Sinners Who Get A Jesus Welcome

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Aug 22, 2007

Saul was formerly a ’Preacher of Hate’. He was once a Religious Terrorist! After his dramatic conversion Saul, like us, was a forgiven sinner. He received a Jesus welcome into the Church from Ananias and Barnabas. That’s the Church God wants!

He was once a religious fanatic and a religious terrorist at the same time. He was once a preacher of hate. There was a time when he was “breathing out murderous threats against followers of Jesus” (9:1). Saul! We heard last week that Saul’s conversion was as dramatic as the transformation which ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-31

Denomination: Anglican

Reaction To The Resurrection Of Lazarus Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Nov 5, 2017

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and that miracle brought results. First of all and most important is that many believed on him. There were others that did not believe and they went back to Jerusalem to report this incident to the religious leaders.

Perea to Bethany Lesson: Reaction to the Resurrection of Lazarus John 11:45-54 (John 11:45-46) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-54

Denomination: Baptist

Let's Drop The ‘us Vs. Them’

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Jan 30, 2018

negative political rhetoric only causes dissention and devisiveness

Although we still have four months until the presidential politicking ‘officially’ gets started with the New Hampshire primary, we are already seeing a growing disparity of opinion and a predominance of the ‘us vs. them’ mentality. It often appears that those candidates and supporters who ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal

Crowds And Connections

Contributed by Peter Fisher on Apr 18, 2020

In Covid-19 lockdown, life is all about NOT being in crowds, how can we celebrate Palm Sunday

This is the day … “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Well, I don’t know about you, but it feels more like “how shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land”. That’s from Psalm 137:4 and was the Jews response to being exiled to Babylon. WE/US Let US ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 118:19-24

Denomination: Anglican

Cultural Diversity And The Spread Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 6, 2015

The Holy Spirit drives us to bring all cultures into an appreciation and acceptance of the faith.

Thursday of 10th week in course 2015 Joy of the Gospel Just imagine if from your earliest days you were called by the name “son/daughter of encouragement”? Wouldn’t you just naturally become a very positive person? That was the destiny of our apostle, today. Bar-Nabas, which ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:21-26

Denomination: Catholic

Ministry To The Young And Our Evangelical Mission Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 16, 2015

In our quest to be One Church, we must show forth Goodness, Beauty, and Truth, especially to the young.

Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter 2015 Joy of the Gospel It would not be disrespectful of St. Paul to point out that, even among his great works, he made some monumental personal blunders in his ministry. Last week we heard him trying to preach to the Athenians on a philosophical level. It fell ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Rhoda

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Sep 16, 2012

All prayer is for God to be glorified

Rhoda TV sitcom, starring Valerie Harper, which ran for five seasons, from 1974 to 1978 airing in 109 episodes. The show was a spin-off from The Mary Tyler Moore Show She played Rhoda Morgenstern, between the years 1970 and 1974 As a spunky, weight-conscious, flamboyantly fashioned Jewish neighbor ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

Persecution Can Be Good

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 30, 2021

We grow soft and cold without it. Sometimes it takes the fire of persecution for us to seek the fire of God.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

Three Characteristics Of The Christian Life Philippians 1:1-6

Contributed by Luke Vasicek on Sep 22, 2024

Three Characteristics of the Christian Life Philippians 1:1-6

Three Characteristics of the Christian Life Philippians 1:1-6 V. 1-2 The Christian Life is Characterized by Grace and _Peace_. Grace and Peace Imply Order_, which is why there are two officers mentioned in the N.T. 1 Elders and 2 Deacons. This confuses many people because many denominations and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-6

Denomination: Bible Church