Sermons on The Barna Group:

You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide Series

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 22, 2023

A four part series on Jonah. A good reminder that you can run… but you can’t hide from God! Teaching sheet at the end of the text. Updated September, 2025

“You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide” Jonah 1:1-16 Pastor John Bright Jonah 1 “1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-16, Psalm 32:3-4, Romans 8:12-16, 1 Corinthians 1:27, Psalm 118:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Would You Let Your Kids Go To A Youth Group Run By Jesus?

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 2, 2007

I imagine that, given the types of persons that huddled around Jesus, there would have, at the very least, been a fair bit of flirting going on at those gatherings.

We’re in Luke chapter 15, and Jesus appears to be partying again! Jesus was fond of saying that the Kingdom of God is like a party, and he seemed keen to illustrate that with his lifestyle, wherein he was a frequent guest at dinner parties and a not too infrequent host of spontaneous soirees. And ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Walking With God's Family Series

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Aug 31, 2009

Becoming as devoted to each other as we are to Jesus is what it takes to walk successfully with other Christ-followers. Let’s explore that together.

BIG IDEA: Walking with God’s family involves handling disclosure correctly, exercising discernment and becoming as devoted to each other as we are to Jesus Christ. 1. We Must Handle Disclosure Correctly. What does it mean to disclose something? To disclose something means to reveal it, to make ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:9

Denomination: Baptist

The Antidote For Depression

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Mar 6, 2021

There has been an ever-increasing rise of personal individualism that has led to multiple dysfunctional and destructive trends resulting in people either willingly or unwillingly distancing themselves from others and struggling to make meaningful personal connections.

"Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground. So God created human beings in his own image. In the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27, 1 John 5:18, Psalm 23:6, Ephesians 2:19, Hebrews 10:25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fresh Promise Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Jan 17, 2020

God loves his covenant with his people, and believers are called to reflect this in the covenant of marriage.

Fresh Promise Malachi 2:10-16 God loves his covenant with his people, and believers are called to reflect this in the covenant of marriage. Introduction • Today as we continue with our series from the book of Malachi, Fresh Faith. • God is trying to reach His people who have lost hope, become ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:10-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Definition Of Christianity

Contributed by Andrew Gamblin on Sep 26, 2009

Christians have given themselves a bad name, this sermon challenges us to bring the definition of Christianity back to its original meaning.

In 1996, The Barna Group did a poll on young adults and teens asking whether or not they had a positive image of and respect for Christianity’s role in society. The report showed that 85% of were favorable towards Christians and the part they played in the American society. The Group did the same ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-10, 2 Corinthians 5:11-20

Denomination: Methodist

Ethos #3 Next Generation Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 16, 2019

Effective Faith development is done in the home and augmented by the church

raising up the next generation in the faith and then launching them into the world. No other action has more ability to change the world than teaching a child the faith. Do you remember the person who brought you up in the faith - the person who assisted in nurturing your faith? When I think ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:4-7, 2 Timothy 1:5, Ephesians 6:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The War In Heaven Has Become The War On Earth

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 18, 2022

In April of 2009 the Barna survey of 1,871 they asked questions about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Satan, and demons.

When it comes to asking questions about Satan . Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” Many of these unbelievers tell us the teaching on the existence of satan came from parents who wanted to scare their children into doing good ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 28:11-13

Denomination: Baptist

If Christ Had Not Risen Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Apr 12, 2017

We learn about six consequences if Christ had not risen from the dead.

Scripture It is such a joy to gather on this Resurrection Sunday! Christians throughout the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ every Lord’s Day, but especially on this day. We are hardwired to resist the idea of someone coming back to life from the dead. Lal Bihari is living proof ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Desperate Housewives And Too Many Husbands Series

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Mar 26, 2014

Taking the Leap to something higher this summer will require embracing the hard sayings of Jesus. This week we continue with 2 "Hard Sayings" that deal with love and marriage, lust and divorce.

Desperate Housewives and Too Many Husbands Matt 5:27-32 7/7/2013 Introduction It was another interesting week in national news. The Huntingpost carried a story about a number of actresses. * Jessica Simpson * Scarlett Johansson * Megan Fox * Sarah Jessica Parker * Cameron Diaz * Reese ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-32

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Engaging The Community: It Is Going To Be A Fight

Contributed by Joe Harding on May 21, 2005

Our God has called us to engage the community around us and it will be a fight!

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY: IT IS GOING TO BE A FIGHT EXODUS 17: 1-17 FEBRUARY 20, 2005 INTRODUCTION: BEYOND REDEMPTION? There are about 600 inmates who await execution in the state of California. A dozen of these are women. All of them have committed heinous crimes. But that doesn’t stop Ann Baker, a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-17, Exodus 17:17

Denomination: Baptist

Are Advantages Advantageous? Series

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Nov 26, 2007

This sermon from my series on Preaching Through Romans attempts to deal with some of the arguments that people make against the truth and to the grace of God thereby refusing to take advantage of the offer of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What about the person who is born with the proverbial silver spoon in his or her mouth? Are those advantages advantageous? Are they beneficial, useful, helpful – to your advantage, valuable or profitable? Most of us would answer absolutely “Not” in our day and time. On Entertainment News you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Part 5 - Matthew 11:13-14 - In A Previous Life I Was A Dolphin? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jun 11, 2010

How can John the Baptist be Elijah the prophet? Reincarnation? Malachi 4:5 (NLT) gives a prophecy about Elijah. It says "Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives."

Part 5 - Matthew 11:13-14 - IN A PREVIOUS LIFE I WAS A DOLPHIN? I asked some friends what they thought about REINCARNATION last night and got some funny responses - should have known. One of them said "once, in a previous life, I was a dolphin... lol jk." Another one said "It’s weird to think you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:13-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Casual Christianity

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Jun 9, 2009

A Casual Christian can be described as lukewarm. Casual Christians present a mixed worship, live a mixed lifestyle, and send a mixed message.

CASUAL CHRISTIANITY Revelation 3:14-16 Introduction: George Barna has written a book entitled “The Seven Faith Tribes: Who They Are, What They Believe, and Why They Matter.” In that book Barna describes the seven tribes as Casual Christians, Captive Christians, Mormons, Jews, Pantheists, Muslims ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

If Things Are So Good, Why Do I Feel So Bad?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 5, 2004

A sermon on joy for Indedendence Day July 4, 2004. (Outline adapted from Jack Peters; portions adapted from George Barna)

Sermon for 7/4/2004 If Things Are So Good, Why Do I Feel So Bad? The Joy of the Lord Introduction: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:7-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ