Sermons on Taking Advantage Of Opportunities:

Take Time Under The Tree

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jun 11, 2021

Reflecting on the mustard seed, we look at Paul's encouragement for the Colossians in their growth in grace.

6.13.21 Colossians 1:6 The gospel is bearing fruit and growing in the entire world, just as it also has been doing among you from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth. Throughout the Old Testament God warned the Israelites to withhold from worshiping the gods of the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:6

Denomination: Lutheran

God Will Take Care Of You

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 23, 2021

Will God take care of us? What about cancer, catastrophe or death? Let’s learn the truth about God’s control over life’s trials. Let’s look at John’s version of the feeding the 5000 and Jesus walking on water in John 6:1-21.

Prelude Will God take care of us? What about cancer, catastrophe or death? Purpose: Let’s learn the truth about God’s control over life’s trials. Plan: Let’s look at John’s version of the feeding the 5000 and Jesus walking on water in John 6:1-21. 1 The Setting John 6:1 After these things Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

It Doesn’t Take A Village Series

Contributed by Peter Kelly on Aug 25, 2021

Series #14. This message takes a look at how Paul parents the church at Corinth.

A group of expectant fathers were in a waiting room, while their wives were in the process of delivering babies. A nurse came in and announced to one man that his wife had just given birth to twins. "That's quite a coincidence" he responded, "I play for the Minnesota ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Taking The Right Road To Peace.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Dec 16, 2022

“If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.” The good news is that you don’t have to choose, because righteousness and peace always travel together! Righteousness produces peace.

Taking The Right Road To Peace. Isaiah 32:17–18 Theodore Roosevelt said, “If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.” The good news is that you don’t have to choose, because righteousness and peace always travel together! Righteousness produces peace. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 32:17-18, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Cross We Take Up Series

Contributed by Mike Lewis on Dec 27, 2022

These men had taken up their cross to follow Jesus. And that is the title of our sermon this morning. The Cross We Take Up.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION THROUGH THE GATES OF SPLENDOR It was the summer of 1950 when Jim Elliot learned of the Auca Indians and many of the Quichua tribes living throughout the jungles of Ecuador. He was asked to consider a calling to preach the Gospel to these people. After learning their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-25, Romans 12:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Taking Christ Out Of Christmas

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 2, 2023

If Christmas has become a "cultural" holiday, This message looks at what happens when we try and take out all of the religious elements.

Have you noticed that every year, people seem more intent on secularizing Christmas? They wish you a “Happy Holiday” or “Seasons Greetings” and then have presentations at school that make no mention of the Manger or the Wise Men, let alone the Christ Child. Now, I may be a little overly sensitive, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 11, 2025

Jim Eliot, once famously wrote in his diary on 28th October 1949: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose” . And Jesus says something similar in this morning's Gospel reading

Lk 14:25-33 Take up your cross and follow me Jim Eliot, an American missionary who was killed on 8th January 1956 taking the Gospel to the Waodani people in Ecuador - once famously wrote in his diary on 28th October 1949: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep To gain that which he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Anglican

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 12, 2025

Jesus wasn’t offering comfort or bling, but blood — a cross that kills self and births love, the heartbeat of true discipleship.

Prologue — The Little Athens of Palestine They had followed Him north — away from the dust and clamor of Galilee, away from the familiar crowds pressing for healing — into a region strange and foreign. The road climbed toward the foothills of Mount Hermon, where the air cooled and new sounds ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-34, Matthew 16:24-26, Luke 9:23-26, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 3:7-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

When Gratitude Takes Over

Contributed by Brian Williams on Oct 20, 2025

How is it possible in an over-stressed, over-busy, and over-distracted society, to be overtaken with gratitude? How does that change our outlook on life?

We live in an over-stressed, over-busy, and over-distracted society, which have overtaken our daily lives, as a result we often forget what truly matters. There are some things we want to forget — the painful, the awkward, the disappointing — but there are also things we want to remember: the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are We Taking God Seriously?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 6, 2025

How many Christians do not treat their faith in a serious manner or take it for granted? Many get up and go to work or school, but they did not find time to talk to God?

How many Christians do not treat their faith in a serious manner or take it for granted? Many get up and go to work or school, but they did not find time to talk to God? Undoubtedly, many Christians have some type of insurance (life, home, auto, medical, dental, etc.), but they see their spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Job 28:28

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Take Every Thought Captive Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Nov 24, 2024

As Christians, we are called to live a life that is surrendered to Christ, including our thoughts and imaginations.

As Christians, we are called to live a life that is surrendered to Christ, including our thoughts and imaginations. Our minds are a battlefield, and the enemy seeks to control our thoughts and lead us astray. However, we have the power to take every thought captive and make it obedient to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 12:2

Why Is Revenge For The Lord To Take?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 6, 2025

Is it right for us to take revenge on something or is it the Lord's job to deal with it?

Why Is Revenge for the Lord to Take? Romans 12:19 Why is this such a difficult idea for Christians to do, let alone from the rest of the people in the world? This sounds so impossible for anyone to do, with all the constant cries for legal rights and lawsuits that are continually spreading ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Love Takes The Stand

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 11, 2025

(A Reflection on the Father’s Heart in the Final Judgment.) God’s judgment reveals His heart — justice fulfilled. Of

Introduction — The Courtroom of Grace Picture it quietly. The courtroom of heaven is not built of marble or gold but of light — pure, living light that exposes everything yet shames nothing. There is no jury box, no polished oak bench, no clatter of papers. Just a throne, and from it, a presence ...read more

Scripture: John 5:22, Revelation 5:12, 1 John 2:1, Romans 8:1, John 8:10-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Take Up Your Cross PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 21, 2024

Explores the depth of commitment to Christ, emphasizing self-denial, divine direction, and determined discipleship as paths to true life.

Beloved congregation, I stand before you today, warmed by the familiar faces of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I am filled with a profound sense of joy and anticipation. We are gathered here, united in faith, bound by love, and driven by a shared desire to draw closer to our Heavenly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Topics: Following Jesus

Take Up Your Cross Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Jesus calls us to take up our cross, which means embracing the pain, loneliness, and partnership that comes with following Him. The journey may be difficult, but the reward is worth it.

Today, we're gonna talk about something taking up our crosses, and I've got a cool object lesson to help us understand it better. But first, let's dive into the message. You know, life can be pretty hard sometimes, right? Jesus actually told us that we'd face some tough times. Check out what He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24, John 16:33

Topics: Discipleship, Spiritual Sacrifice, Divine Love, Redemption