Sermons on Tensions:

The Quest For Tranquility Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 28, 2014

The tension between our quest for tranquility and the pressures of responsibility and loving others is an inexact science, but we must do our best to seek the balance, which may be different for each one of us.

The Quest for Tranquility (Mark 6:45-55) 1. We had a great time in Virginia — suburban Washington DC — at Hannah’s wedding. 2. We love our new son-in-law and got to live next door to Luke and Sarah at hotel. 3. Family came from Chicago, and friends came from Kokomo. It was odd ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-55

Denomination: Independent/Bible

G Vs. E And We Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 21, 2020

In John 1:4-5, the Apostle John is speaking about the tension and struggle and conflict of light and life verses darkness and death. We must choose what side we are on and there is no middle ground.

G VS. E AND WE JOHN 1:4-5 #John1 OPENING ILLUSTRATION… Samurai Jack (p) en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Samurai_Jack Samurai Jack is an American animated action-fantasy science-fiction television series created by animator Genndy Tartakovsky that aired on Cartoon Network from 2001 until 2004. This is one ...read more

Scripture: John 1:4-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ready Or Not – The Second Coming Of Christ

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Feb 26, 2006

READY OR NOT – The Second Coming of Christ Explores the tension between the imminent return of Christ and the delay of His coming; also the signs of His return. View sermons at www.praiseag.org - click on "The Path"

READY OR NOT – The Second Coming of Christ Matthew 24:4-14 INTRODUCTION: A young lady busied herself getting ready for a blind date. This was not just dinner and a movie; her date had planned dinner at an exclusive downtown restaurant with live music and dancing. Wanting to make a good first ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:4-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Oil Of Peace Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Peace is the lubricant that keeps a good thing going. It keeps us in flight, and protects us from the heat of frustration, and the wear and tare of worry and tension that can cause us to lose altitude, and even crash.

Years ago a visitor returning from Dublin told of how he put MacDuncan, the village fool, to the test. He poured the contents of his purse out on the ground, and told him to take any coin he wished. MacDuncan's eyes lit up, and the people of the village gathered around for another ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2

The Holy Spirit In The Life Of A Christian Series

Contributed by Bill Walker on Feb 7, 2017

The tension between the flesh and the Spirit is tremendous. Too often human pride and independence crowd God's Holy Spirit to the margins of daily thought and action. Unity and evangelism should be the hallmark of our churches today.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN Someone has said, “You will never truly know the power of God until you need the power of God.” I think that statement equally applies to God’s Holy Spirit. As we mentioned earlier in this series, too often Christians and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:5-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living The Gospel: Black And White

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 21, 2010

We are prone to reduce tensions by choosing not to live in diversity. But the Gospel calls us to embrace diversity and yet to recognize that all sin, all are worthy, all need the Gospel. Our issue is our own insecurity, which Christ’s death can address.

Takoma Park Baptist Church February 21, 1988 All of us, it seems, have a tendency to choose comfort. All of us appear to prefer to choose a way to live that involves as little tension, as little discomfort as possible. I am not talking just about luxuries and material things; I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

Bringing The Paralytic To Christ: A Witness To Compassion, Faith, Courage

Contributed by Philip Gill on Feb 26, 2003

We pray for a peaceful resolution to the tensions between the US and Iraq and support those working towards that end, but we must consider that for the longer term, military action could be the most compassionate, faithful and courageous response.

Bringing the Paralytic to Christ: a witness to compassion, faith and courage Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:3-4

Denomination: Anglican

Seeking Sinners Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Oct 6, 2014

Jesus associated with sinners because their repentance brings great joy to heaven. The parables’ drama is built on the tension of an attempt to find what is lost. If the lost were important to Jesus, they should be important to His disciples.

LUKE 15: 1-10 [PARABLES IN LUKE] SEEKING SINNERS [Jesus, Friend of Sinners] Why seek sinners? Chapter 15 contains three linked parables that explain why Jesus associates with sinners. Jesus associated with sinners who recognized their need of salvation and because their repentance brings ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Earth Yielding Increase

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 24, 2009

For Worldwide Communion Sunday: How can we, like the Psalmist, be optimistic in the face of international conflict, national dispute, racism, church tension, our personal conflicts? The Cross is God’s reaching out to heal.

It was an awesome ruin. A hulk of stone, a pile of rubble. Smoke stains clearly visible. Jagged edges its roofline. What once had been a magnificent building lay now exposed to the open air, useless, a scar on the horizon. What terrible thing had happened here to create this ugly defacing of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus On Trial

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 25, 2021

Jesus stepped into a maelstrom and was brought before a court that was losing some of its power and was uncertain about its future given Rome’s growing power and the increasing fear and rising tension amongst the Jewish people.

I love the Gospel of Mark … well, I love all the gospels … but Mark reminds me of Joe Friday from the 1950s TV series “Dragnet.” Some of us older folks remember Sargent Friday’s famous signature line: “Just the facts.” Mark’s gospel is terse and to the point. He gives us “just the facts” and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:53-65

Denomination: United Methodist

The Real Absence Of Christ Series

Contributed by Michael Pahls on Jun 6, 2001

Explores the tension in our lives generated by the absence of Christ after his Ascension. There is, however encouragement and hope for us, both in the "already" of our present salvation and in the "not yet" of the coming consummation at Christ’s Return.

The Real Absence of Christ Part #1 For Ascension and Pentecost 2001 Acts 1:1-11 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Embracing The Challenge Of Discipleship

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Feb 26, 2021

The Great Commission and the Great Commandment clearly outline the requirement, the evidence The fruitfulness and the cost of discipleship Yet, the recent pandemics of Covid-19, racial tensions, police brutality, food insecurity and countless other ills exposed the shallowness

The Great Commission and the Great Commandment, along with much of His teaching, Jesus the Christ clearly outlines the requirement of discipleship John8:31, the evidence of discipleship John 13:35; The fruitfulness of discipleship John 15:8 and the cost of discipleship Luke 14:27, 33. Yet, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, John 8:31, Luke 14:27

Denomination: Methodist

Pursuing Peace In Perilous Times

Contributed by Ken Henson on Sep 12, 2020

With demonstrations, riots against injustice around the world, tension among nations, natural disasters, and a global pandemic, we may get caught up in the news to the point that we lose our own peace of mind and heart.

First of all, what is peace? Garret Graff recently published a book providing an oral history of the attacks that took place September 11, 2001. Quoting one young lady, Chloe, who was born September 11, 2001 and had her 19th birthday this weekend: “Every single day since I was born, we haven’t ...read more

Scripture: John 21:19-22

Denomination: *other

#46 The Messiah Parade Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jul 11, 2021

As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, crowds began to follow Him, news spread to Jerusalem of His coming, tension was in the air. As Jesus entered the city, they threw a Messiah Parade…the prelude to conflict with religious authorities and death.

#46 The Messiah Parade Series: Mark Chuck Sigh July 11, 2021 NOTE: PowerPoint presentation is available for this sermon by request at chuckcsligh@gmail.com. Please mention the title of the sermon and the Bible text to help me find the sermon in my archives TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to Mark ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Value Of Tongues, Keeping Perspective In The Church Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Jun 9, 2006

In the church today there is tremendous tension and polarization over the issue of sign gifts, particularly tongues. Divisions and church splits over the charismatic movement have become all too common. Conditions in some of the churches today hardly diff

THE VALUE OF TONGUES Keeping Perspective In The Church 1 Corinthians 14:1-20 INTRODUCTION: in the church today there is tremendous tension and polarization over the issue of sign gifts, particularly tongues. Divisions and church splits over the charismatic movement have become all too common. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Denomination: Baptist