Sermons on Swimming Upstream:

God Makes No Mistakes

Contributed by Philip Makari on Oct 19, 2002

A biblical view of what it means to be chosen by God and be called to his service

“14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Shipwreck Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jul 21, 2025

Worship God in the midst of your shipwreck, thank Him for the good He is doing in your life, and allow it to be an opportunity for great joy!

SHIPWRECK Text: Acts 27:27-44 Introduction 1. Shipwreck Flooded by the wind of doubt Shipwreck It seems there will be no way out Stranded in a wretched place Where is the grace that once could be found? (Shipwreck, Paul Clark). 2. So far, we have talked about God being with us in the storm. But is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:27-44

Denomination: Methodist

"Think About It... You've Been Rescued And Redeemed!"

Contributed by Charles Whitmire on Jan 13, 2008

Sermon one in a series called Resolution Revolution - based on Colossians 1:13-23, and what we have in Christ!

For the next four weeks we are looking at a passage in Colossians that describes Christ. For most of us, as we start this new year, we want to see changes in us... But where does real change come from? Real change/action comes from our deep held beliefs. That’s why they are called “resolutions” - ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

Giving That Gratifies Series

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Nov 29, 2007

God directed giving is fun!

OUT OF THE SALTSHAKER AND INTO THE WORLD Part Four—Giving that Gratifies 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Sunday, August 12, 2007 Pastor Brian Matherlee Key concept: God directed giving is fun! Introduction The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians to remind them about completing a promise to give that they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

Who Pushed Me?

Contributed by Suzan Aturo Mugabi on Aug 2, 2021

Every one of us has been through situations that you wouldn’t have willingly accepted if you had the opportunity to choose, yet they later turned out to work for your greater good.

Like Joseph in the Bible, some of us need an extra push to realize our God given dreams and potentials. A story is told of a rich man who had a beautiful daughter ready for marriage. The father of the young lady organized a contest for his daughter. He sent word to his townsmen inviting all those ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:12-34

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In The Storm? Sound Out!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Aug 30, 2002

there will be storms and trials that pass into our daily walk. No one is exempt from the storms. STORMS WILL PASS!

--- IN THE STORM --- SOUND OUT! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Remember this: IT IS EASY TO SWIM, FAST IF SHARKS ARE BEHIND YOU! TEXT: Matthew 7: 24 --- 27 24: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27, Matthew 14:28-31

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Meeting God In Depression”

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Oct 15, 2001

Depression strikes about 10 million Americans within any six- month period. Some of the most Godly people in the Bible and in Christian history struggled with depression.

Intro: Researchers at Columbia University conducted the study with 199 women at an in vitro fertilization clinic in Korea. Unknown to the patients and their doctors, groups of strangers from the US, Canada, and Australia were asked to pray for their success in getting pregnant. Pictures of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Progressive Nature Of Sin

Contributed by Lee Henry on Nov 15, 2006

James teaches us that big sins begin with small temptations.

The Progressive Nature of Sin James 1:13-15 “Great oaks from little acorns grow.” The mustard seed “is smaller that all other seeds, but when it is full grown...becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” (Matt. 13:31) In this life we can all think of many ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Out Of The Belly Of Hell

Contributed by Timothy Cooley, Sr. on Dec 16, 2006

The last sight lingering in his eyes was a bobbing ship, stormy skies, pelting rain, and the fear-struck faces of the sailors who threw him into the water. Splash! -- His experience as he went to the Bottom and back

Out of the Belly of Hell! Imagine how it might have been with Jonah. I. DOWN The last sight lingering in his eyes was a bobbing ship, stormy skies, pelting rain, and the fear-struck faces of the sailors who threw him into the water. Splash! On the surface it grew strangely calm, but for Jonah the ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 27, 2008

The biggest enemy we have in the church is not the Bible...It is fumbling, insensitive extremists who wave judgmental fingers and presume themselves to be the conscious of God for the world.

Between a rock and a hard place Meaning: To be forced to make a decision between two undesired options or as an another source puts it, “stuck between two opposing forces” (www.goenglish.com) Origin Gary Martin, author of Meanings and Origins provides us with the US origin of the phrase. He traced ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25

Denomination: Salvation Army

Take Another Step

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Mar 22, 2010

There are tremendous blessing waiting for us in God but we must be willing to move out

Somebody needs to tell your neighbor: I’m going somewhere I’m in transition. This river speaks of progression Tell your neighbor: I’m making progress. I’m not everything I want to be but I’m making progress, I’m not where I want to be but thank God I’m not where I used to be. I’m not at z yet, ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1-7, Ezekiel 47:1-12, Ezekiel 47:12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Responses To God Moments Series

Contributed by Mark Elkins on Jan 27, 2011

How do you respond to God moments?

RESPONSES TO GOD MOMENTS 1 Pet 5 I want to share with you a story about a very interesting well-educated Greek philosopher whose name is Dr. Alexander Popaderos. And Dr. Popaderos every summer on the island of Crete taught a class on ethics for two weeks. And this particular summer just as he was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Rags To Riches

Contributed by Paul Redwine on Jan 2, 2004

While the worldly pursue money, wealth and popularity, the servant of God views his time on earth differently; it effects how he handles the trials of life, taking pride in his position of being a servant of Christ.

Rags to Riches, James 1:9-12 Paul Redwine, Northside Christian Church, Sunday, June 29, 2003 Introduction [ILLUS -- JOKE] A millionaire decides to throw a massive party for his fiftieth birthday. During the party he grabs the mic and he announces to his guests that down in the garden of his ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-12, Luke 16:19-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Rules! Just Right! (Life Without The Rulebook) Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

Third in a series on the Bible. This message looks at life without the guidelines found in the Bible. We might think we want a life of complete freedom, but without boundaries we creep into danger.

No rules. Just right. (Life without the rulebook) Purpose: To illustrate life with no rules (living outside the truth presented in God’s Word) 1. Ever play Monopoly? (hold up Monopoly board) What if you had never played Monopoly before, you had never even seen it, and somebody gave you a board, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-32

Denomination: Nazarene

God Who Can Make The Impossible Possible

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Feb 22, 2025

This passage describes an impossible event in which God makes things possible.

Title: The God of the Impossible Theme: God can do the impossible if we believe it is possible. Text: 2 Kings 6:1 - 7 . . . MADE THE IRON FLOAT. — 2 K I N G S 6 : 6 2 Kings 6:1-7 And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-7

Denomination: Church Of God