Sermons on Taking Hold:

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

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

Taking Action Through Faith SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 11, 2023

Trust is Faith in ACTION!!! It is the manifestation of our faith in our thoughts and actions. It is far easier to have faith in God; there are unbelievers who have this. It is a lot harder to exercise trust in Him...

Today, we will explore the topic of trust and how it relates to our faith in God. Trust is not the same as faith; it is the active expression of our faith through our thoughts and actions. While it may be easier to have faith in God, it is much harder to exercise trust in Him. Trust requires us to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Topics: Faith, Trust In God

Take Up Your Cross Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 4, 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

Taking Control Of Negative Thoughts Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Aug 12, 2024

As Christians, we have the power to take control of our thoughts, replacing them with truth and positivity. In this sermon, we'll explore biblical strategies for managing negative thoughts.

Taking Control of Negative Thoughts Negative thoughts can be overwhelming, leading to anxiety, depression, and a distorted view of reality. As Christians, we have the power to take control of our thoughts, replacing them with truth and positivity. In this sermon, we'll explore biblical ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24, Philippians 4:8, Isaiah 26:3

Taking God At His Word

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Sep 2, 2023

There is only one thing we can believe without hesitation - God's Word. This message is about how the testimony of my brother at his burial reminded everyone of this truth.

In John 17:16, Jesus says of His disciples "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” It reminded me of a song we sang years ago in church. ¶ This world is not my home. I'm just passing through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon ...read more

Scripture: John 17:16, Revelation 3:5, Psalm 138:2, Genesis 12:1, Hebrews 11:8-10, John 17:14, John 14:6, 1 John 1:5, Isaiah 8:11-12, Acts 5:29  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Sin Of Taking Advantage Of Others Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Feb 13, 2024

Taking advantage of others is like draining their soul, leaving them empty and dry. It may fill our pockets, but it drains our humanity.

In the Bible, God teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to treat others the way we want to be treated. But sadly, there are those who choose to exploit and manipulate others for their own gain. In Leviticus 19:13, God says, "Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:13, Matthew 18:23-35

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

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

Part 16 - Matthew 10:21-42 - Got To Get A Message To You. Hold On, Hold On! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 22, 2010

Matthew 10:23 says "I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel." Reminds me of that song by the Bee Gees in 1968 "I've Gotta Get a Message to You. Hold on! Hold on!"

Part 16 - Matthew 10:21-42 - GOT TO GET A MESSAGE TO YOU. HOLD ON, HOLD ON! I recently read of a teenager in Florida in America who fled for her life from her Muslim family after she converted to Christianity. Fathima Rifqa Bary says her family will murder her in what is known as an "HONOUR ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:21-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational