Sermons on Swimming Upstream:

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

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

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

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

"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

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

Going All The Way! Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 10, 2001

As we study the early part of the book of Joshua today - I want us each to consider what it means for us to cross over ‘our’ spiritual Jordan AND go ALL the way with God (Real People - True Stories - part six)

"Joshua, Going All The Way...." Real People - TRUE Stories Part 6 TEXT: JOSHUA 1-4 [1:1-9] I am sure that most of us have heard the expression that Almost only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. To almost hit your target with a grenade or to almost get a ringer, sometimes is good ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Myth Of Heaven Part 1 Series

Contributed by Ted Mulder on Mar 24, 2007

Heaven isn’t a myth, but what most people even Christians believe about heaven is. Part 1 we find out why it is important to debunk the myth

Urban Legends, Tall Tales, Myths, Hoaxs, Have you ever received these emails? 1)Email Beta Test - Microsoft will pay for every email you send. 2)Nigerian needs you to allow 30 million dollars to be put into your account from his father’s to be placed into your account from a confidential ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:2-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reluctant Recruits

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jan 1, 2018

Jesus did not present a rosy, unrealistic picture of the Christian life. In Luke 9 we encounter 3 potential recruits. Jesus appraises their resolve, exposes their excuses, and urges them to consider the cost of discipleship

It’s Career Day at the high school and a small crowd is gathered at the Army’s booth. A Recruiter tells the students about field duty in the winter, eating MRE’s, family separations, grueling physical exercise, frequent moves, and the likelihood of war…and pretty soon he’s standing alone. The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Congregational