Sermons on Taken Up:

When We've Given Up On God Coming Through For Us

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 10, 2013

As time passes by, we lose our hope that God is going to fulfill the promises He's made. This message looks at why God delays and how we can maintain solid faith in the face of the waiting.

[This is a long outline that might be better suited to a Wednesday evening Bible study.] WHY WOULD YOU LAUGH AT GOD? We laugh because we’ve given up hope. - Genesis 18:11-12. - The way verse 12 is phrased makes it obvious that she once harbored real hope that this would happen. The problem is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15, Genesis 18:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Lift Up Your Heads, Because Your Redemption Draws Near! (Hix)

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Jul 27, 2013

We need sometimes to remember what God has done for us in the past, so that we will be thankful in the present!!

Two guys on the street corner and one man asks the other man, "How was church last Sunday?" The other man said, "I don’t know - I was kind of bored. I think I slept through half the sermon." The first man looked shocked and said, "How could you do that - you’re the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Sixteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time, B--Letting Your Soul Catch Up.

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jun 24, 2024

“Would the person who brought Senator X into this room as their personal guest please take him out?"

In the deep jungles of Africa a traveler was making a long trek. He had hired some local people to help carry some of his camp gear. The first day they made good time and they went very far, much farther than he anticipated. This traveler had high hopes that the journey could be completed quicker ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:31

Denomination: Catholic

Our Families, Our Church Need Meed Who Will Stand Up For Jesus Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Jun 16, 2021

I want to look at what God has to say to the men of this church about their relationship with God by looking at the life of Caleb.

Introduction You all are probably familiar with the story I am about to tell you that comes from the Old Testament. The Israelites were nearing the Promise Land and Moses send, at the Lord's instruction, twelve men, one from each tribe, into the land to check it out. They came back with the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:24

Denomination: Baptist

Fed Up With Attack Politics? Take Our Country Back With Our Words

Contributed by Lee Houston on Jul 3, 2025

As an old man, I remember a time when Americans, no matter their party, prayed for the leaders we elected. Whether we voted for him, her or not, we wanted him or her to succeed. Why? Because we understood that when a leader succeeds, the nation succeeds.

Fed up with attack politics? Take Our Country Back with Our Words As an old man, I remember a time when Americans, no matter their party, prayed for the leaders we elected. Whether we voted for him, her or not, we wanted him or her to succeed. Why? Because we understood that when a leader ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1

Look Out, Look In, Look Up - James 1:17-18 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 26, 2021

What does the Bible tell us to do about our evil desires? This passage describes three attributes of God that, if we understand them, can repair evil desires.

James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-18

Wild Waves Of The Sea Casting Up Their Own Shame – Jude 1:13 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 24, 2022

Have you ever seen a wild sea with wild waves casting up from the sea floor filth and debris and putrid things? That is the next image Jude uses to describe false teachers. That is what their doctrines and behaviour are like. We then look at wild waves in scripture.

WILD WAVES OF THE SEA CASTING UP THEIR OWN SHAME – Jude 1:13 Jude has been decrying false teachers and using quite stunning metaphors to describe them. In previous messages we did these and saw that each one paralleled what Peter also wrote, for he too, addressed those bring havoc into the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:13, Isaiah 57:20, Matthew 23:15, Revelation 16:11, Revelation 20:14, Jeremiah 51:42, 2 Samuel 22:1-7, 2 Samuel 22:5, Psalm 42:7, Psalm 107:23-29, Psalm 65:7, Matthew 8:23-27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Will You Take God Up On His Test? (Exodus 15:22-27) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 21, 2022

If you're actually/fully obeying God, will He heal you?

I apparently needed a break from Exodus, which I didn't expect (did Psalm 9-12). But I'm learning to not fight it, and just go with it. [And I'm hoping this is the Spirit leading me, somehow]. This week, I felt like I was maybe ready to try Exodus again. Let's start by ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27, James 5:14-16, John 9:30-33

Love Builds Up, And Focuses On The Other (1 Corinthians 8:1-13) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Mar 7, 2022

The Corinthians are focused on knowledge, and their rights. In doing this, they've lost track of what's more important-- the church, and building the body.

In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul switches topics. So we find ourselves done thinking and talking about singleness, and marriage, and touching, and sexual immorality. The Corinthians have another question that they want Paul to answer. That question is something like this: "Is it okay to go to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

The Way Of The Messiah: Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross, And Follow Me Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jul 26, 2023

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Have you ever seen a star being born? Here we see a picture from the James Webb Space Telescope, of just such an event. From the STSI: “NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is celebrating the first anniversary of its start of science operations with this image of a star-forming region in the Rho ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:1-13

Denomination: Salvation Army

Living Up To The Name (Seventh Sunday After Pentecost, July 24, 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jul 23, 2022

Paul reminds us that we are to be rooted and built up in Christ so that we live up to the name of what it means to be a Christian within and influential in our witness of Christ to others on the outside.

LIVING UP TO THE NAME Text: Colossians 2:6 – 19 Colossians 2:6-19? As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ?(7)? rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ? (8)? See to it ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-19

Denomination: United Methodist

Finding The Faith Of Our Heroes - Part 9: Never Give Up On God! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 21, 2023

Never give up on God because... 1. He can break giant barriers down (vs. 30). 2. He can turn sinners into saints (vs. 31). 3. He can turn us into godly heroes (vs. 32-35a). 4. He gives us strength when we suffer (vs. 35b-38). 5. He promises us a perfect ending (vs. 39-40).

Finding the Faith of Our Heroes Part 9: Never Give Up on God! Hebrews 11:30-40; Joshua 2:1-13; Joshua 5:13-15; Joshua 6:1-5 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared October 21, 2023) BACKGROUND: *We have been going through Hebrews 11 to study the faith of our Old Testament heroes. And through them all, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:30-40, Joshua 2:1-13, Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua 6:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Visionary View: As Sparks Fly Up (5 November Bonfire Night Sermon) Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Oct 31, 2023

Job 5:7 is our guiding scripture and it contains a truth that resonates with the sparks that will fly in the sky during Bonfire Night celebrations.

Visionary View: As sparks fly up On this 5th of November, a date celebrated in the United Kingdom for historical reasons, we gather in God’s presence, seeking wisdom and understanding from His Word. May our time together be blessed and may God grant us insight into the message He has given us ...read more

Scripture: Job 5:7, Psalm 34:19, James 1:2-4, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 32:7, Romans 8:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Pleading Passenger/Purchased Pardon Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on May 3, 2008

Jonah makes a plea, Take me up....get me out of here, his solution to the terrible mess he made. This is true for today’s throwaway society. Yet, Jesus prayed similarly, "Take me up,", but He pled for our forgivness as He offered Himself.

JONAH 1:12 PLEADING PASSENGER/PURCHASED PARDON I. PERSONAL PLEA: A. Perceptive. B. Pathetic. C. Plausible. II. PETULANT PLEA: A. Paradoxical. B. Perfidious. C. Polarizing. III. PROTOTYPICAL PLEA: A. Pliable. B. Purchased. C. Progressive. In answer to the sailors’ question as to ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:10-12

Denomination: Methodist

Time In The Trenches Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 19, 2009

What does it mean for us to "take up your cross" and deny ourselves. I signed up for the benefits! I didn’t sign up to die.

OPEN: I recently read the true story about a preacher who was standing at the door shaking hands as the congregation departed. He grabbed one man by the hand and pulled him aside. The preacher said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!" The man replied, "I’m already in the Army of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ