Sermons on Taking Advantage:

Don’t Take The Bait Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Jun 16, 2022

Don't take the bait.I'm doing a great work and I cannot come down. I'm going to focus on the great work that God has given to me.

Each time we have new members come into GraceWay we like to acknowledge them. And we have a couple that has joined us here at GraceWay. That couple is my wife, Carrie, and me. So congratulations. So we are officially members here at GraceWay. I just want to tell you, things are going very well and ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Taking Control Your Tongues Series

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jun 21, 2022

Man has the power to subdue the largest, strongest, and wildest beasts in nature, yet he has not the power to subdue his tongue. All that he can do, is to put on it the bridle (James 1.26) and be slow speak, swift to hear and slowness to wrath.

Sermon - Control Your Tongues to Work God's Way Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32 “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32, Proverbs 18:21, Psalm 19:14, Ephesians 4:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

What It Takes To Please God

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 4, 2022

One of the things that many Pastors enjoy doing is reading of great churches across this land that are reaching the lost for Christ.

But the fact is, you can visit these wonderful soul winning churches to see how they do it, and come back and implement the same things they are doing in your church, and not get the same results, if any results at all. Why? Because what might work for one church might not work for another. That ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Take Up Your Cross Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on Mar 14, 2022

What does it look like to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus?

[IMAGE] Philippine Passion Play - practice of literally crucifying people (voluntarily). The practice began in 1962 after a popular play about Jesus’ death. One man, Ruben Enaje, (as of 2019) had been hung on a cross 33 times. Many men and women have voluntarily submitted to temporary crucifixion ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Will It Take? (2 Of 2)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 16, 2022

Ministers collect most of their knowledge from two places.

(1) THEY LEARN A LOT FROM BIBLE COLLEGES AND SEMINARIES When young pastors graduate from Bible College or Seminary, they are excited about preaching and teaching all the things they have learned from God’s Word. But as much as they might learn in Bible College and Seminary, also- (2) THEY LEARN ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

What Will It Take? (1 Of 2)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 16, 2022

The title of this sermon is, “WHAT WILL IT TAKE?” You are probably wondering what direction I plan to take in a sermon with such a title.

I want to show you by asking a question, “WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET YOU TO LOVE GOD AND SERVE HIM AS YOU SHOULD?” Illus: When I think of this question, I think of the atheist school teacher who was thinking, “WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO CONVERT THIS CLASS OF YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS OVER TO ATHEISM?” She ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

In The Lord I Take Refuge

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Jan 12, 2021

Psalm 11 reminds us that even though the situation around us seems to be out of control, chaotic, very dangerous, and scary, God, whose throne is in heaven, sees everyone and everything, is still in control. Therefore, we can trust in Him and make Him our security and our refuge.

Opening: Last Sunday, we have learned six things from Ephesians 5:15-20 that God wants to do this year and in the rest of our lives: 1) To be careful in spending our time 2) To be productive 3) To be wise 4) To be filled by the Spirit 5) To praise God 6) To be thankful in all circumstances. Today, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20, 2 Peter 3:10, Colossians 1:16-17, Matthew 10:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 23, 2021

As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Let’s look at Jesus’ countercultural instructions in Mark 8:31-38.

Prelude As people run headlong into a world going nowhere, escaping reality in their hedonistic lifestyles, are we ashamed of Jesus and His words? Are we ashamed of suffering as Christians? Purpose Let’s see the value of taking up our cross and denying ourselves. Plan Let’s look at Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Baptist

When God Takes Over

Contributed by Wilson Oshorakpor on Feb 27, 2021

When God intervenes in the life of his children, he takes complete charge and provides solutions man may think impossible.

TEXT: Acts 12:5-7 "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:5-7, Exodus 15:9-10, Psalm 70:3

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

Take Up Your Cross Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 8, 2023

This sermon explores the concept of metaphorically taking up our cross as Jesus did, understanding that it signifies enduring difficulties in life, and seeking strength from God to persevere.

Good morning church, it’s great to see you all again as we continue in our series ALL-IN. Last week we kicked things off talking about the first of Jesus’ 3 commandments in our main passage from Matthew 16:24. To “deny yourselves” is the first command. And today, we’re going to take it one step ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24, John 16:33

Topics: Cross Bearing, Perseverance, Self-Denial

Sermon Series: All In

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