Sermons on Tensions:

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

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

Mothers Day - Motherhood And Mary

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on May 4, 2020

Even the best mothers are concerned with the conflicting currents flowing through them. I am sure that mothers contend with more of a degree of tension when it comes to being a parent, a mother. Then the Lord brought to mind, Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. This is your special day. But for some reason, when pastors across the country are asked about their Mother’s Day sermon, the largest consensus admits that a Mother’s Day sermon is the hardest of all sermons to put together. I’m not exempt from that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:4-50

Denomination: Baptist

Go! And Remember God Is Real - Titus 1:16 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 30, 2025

There is a sobering reality we must confront: many Christians profess faith in God with their lips but deny Him with their lives. This isn’t a problem exclusive to modern times—it has been a spiritual tension since the early church.

Go! And Remember God Is Real - Titus 1:16 Why Do Christians Often Live As If God Does Not Exist? Titus 1:16 (NLT): "Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good." Introduction: My ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:16, Psalm 10:4, Deuteronomy 8:11, Romans 5:8, Colossians 3:17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

12. Saul's Disobedience: The Cost Of Impatience Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Aug 27, 2025

We’ve all felt the tension—when God’s timing seems too slow, and the pressure to act now feels overwhelming. In those moments, we face a critical choice: Will we wait in faith or rush in fear?

Saul’s Disobedience: The Cost of Impatience May 14, 2024 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship 1 Samuel 13 We’ve all felt the tension—when God’s timing seems too slow, and the pressure to act now feels overwhelming. In those moments, we face a critical choice: Will we wait in faith ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

The Trial Of Our Faith Is More Precious Than Gold

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Nov 1, 2004

This sermon is about our faith which helps us triumph over the circumstances of life and the ways in which our faith can be tried namely 1.TRUST 2.TEST 3.TURN 4.THOUGHTS 5.TURNED DOWN 6.TREAD 7.TENSION

THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD ************************************************ OUTLINE 1.TRUST 2.TEST 3.TURN 4.THOUGHTS 5.TURNED DOWN 6.TREAD 7.TENSION THE MESSAGE THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD ************************************************ Hebrews ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fear Not

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jun 3, 2020

COVID-19 has affected the entire planet economically, socially, and medically. Racial tensions are high in the United States and weather experts are anticipating a very active hurricane season. This is a reminder of who we are and whose we are. Fear not!

Fear Not Introduction Isaiah 43:1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. "Fear not" is an admonition that is found numerous times in Scripture. Some have ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-2, 2 Kings 6:16-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

"I Will Always Have Hope”

Contributed by John Gaston on Jul 19, 2020

There's a desperate need for hope in the world. People have often died because they had no hope. Many people today are hopeless because of Coronavirus, shuttered businesses, and racial and political tensions. Bring them the real Hope!.

“I WILL ALWAYS HAVE HOPE” Ps. 71:14-15 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Three lady-church-attenders saw each other at the store. One said, “Covid-19 has our attendance down to 90 on Sunday mornings!” 2. “That’s nothing,” said the other, “Ours is down to 40!” The third, a single old maid said, “It’s ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:14-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

32. Lord Abner: When Power Shifts And Hearts Are Revealed Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Nov 18, 2025

A man named Abner, who secretly controlled a weak king, manipulated the kingdom for his own power, and almost reshaped the nation from the shadows. This is one of the most politically charged, tension-filled chapters in David’s rise to the throne.

Lord Abner: When Power Shifts and Hearts Are Revealed November 19, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship 2 Samuel 3:1-12 When you look back through history, there are always certain figures who never wear a crown, never win an election, and never sit on a throne — yet somehow, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-17

Denomination: Brethren

Overcoming Canned Christianity Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 6, 2004

Few purposes of the church create more tension in a local body than worship. Churches are struggling to avoid the land mines associated with the Worship Wars. This happens because churches often have an erroneous perception of what God-pleasing worship re

1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Exchange Self-Destructive Tendencies With Spiritual Fruits

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 16, 2003

Do you observe that you tend to get better or worse(bitter, angry and anxious) when difficulties come in to your life? Is your life more characterized by triumphs or turmoil and tension? Irritations have a way of bringing a sense of frustration that leads

Exchange Self-Destructive Tendencies With Spiritually Fruitful Traits (Gal. 5:16-23) Too many people allow themselves to fall into self-destructive practices out of ignorance, neglect or spiritual indiscipline. Some people need to know when to admit mistakes. Take for example what not to put in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Invitation Leads To A Crisis Of Belief Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 21, 2003

Part 5 of a series on Blackaby’s Experiencing God: when God invites into some new truth, the first crisis will be one of personal belief; the second is one of tension between old patterns and new options; and the last comes in the temptation to fall back

There’s an old, old story about the time a crowd had gathered to watch a stunt man perform at Niagara Falls. It seems that the fellow had rigged up a wire from shore to shore, right across the falls, and was wowing the crowd by riding a bicycle along that wire. Back and forth he went, several ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:11-21

Denomination: Baptist

The New Covenant Gospel Preacher

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Oct 12, 2005

This message begins by considering how Paul dealt with the tension between evangelism (Reaching the lost)and pastoral care (looking after those who are now saved)and how we might apply it to ourselves, plus an application of this long Bible passage.

2 Corinthians 2: 12 to end of Chapter 3 Introduction: In this letter to the church in Corinth Paul began by greeting the church, and by praying that Jesus would be kind to them and bless them with peace. He then went on to praise God, and to explain his apparently inconsistent behaviour. ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

God's Promises For Every Need: A Dirty Mind Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Nov 10, 2020

Thread: Aim for the Heart We find the Apostle Paul describing the push and pull and tension and struggle between good and evil and righteousness and unrighteousness that happens inside the mind of each person. Every person who has ever lived deals with the sinful nature.

GOD’S PROMISES FOR EVERY NEED: A DIRTY MIND 2 Timothy 3:1-17 #EveryNeed INTRODUCTION… The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (p) I don’t know what kind of movies you all like, but one of my favorite types of movies are westerns. I like “Sons of Katie Elder.” I like the original “True Grit” and the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Names Of God - Devotion No.2 - El-Roy - The God Who Sees (By Ron Botha) Series

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Jul 10, 2006

The Title “El-Roy” or the God who Sees was given to God by an Egyptian slave woman named Hagar. In Genesis 16:1-13 the familiar story of the tension between Hagar, Abraham’s servant, and Sarah, has all the ingredients of a modern day Hollywood soapie.

NOTE TO THE READER: --------------------- This meditation was written by my ministerial colleague, Ron Botha. Ron is Director of Kingdom Ministries International, a covering body for churches and ministries and is based in Cape Town, South Africa. If you have been blessed by this meditation, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-13

Denomination: Charismatic