Sermons on The Games People Play:

Playing Favorites Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 9, 2024

Main Idea: Favoritism goes against God's heart for His creation. We are challenged to see people as God sees them and to live out our faith through acts of love and service, especially towards those society often overlooks.

Hey guys, today we're going to talk about something we all see around us - favoritism. You know, when someone gets special treatment because of how they look, what they wear, or who they know. It's not cool, right? Well, guess what? God thinks so too. Let's dive into James 2:1-17. James, who was ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-17

Topics: Divine Love, God's Favor, Spiritual Favoritism, Unconditional Love

Get In The Game Series

Contributed by Steven Buhr on Jan 19, 2011

People have different feelings about sports; they either love, hate, don't care, or don't know anything about them. The same feelings can apply when it comes to sharing our faith; we either love to, hate to, don't care to, or don't know how to. We need to get in the game

Get in the game Jan. 9, 2011 • Do you like sports? Are you a sports fanatic? Are you involved in sports? • Playoff time in NFL – Seattle pulls off great upset against last year’s champion NO Saints. The Jets actually win a game that counts and move on… • Hockey – great time to be a Canucks ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

Playing By The Rules Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Nov 2, 2013

the topic of spiritual disciplines doesn't excite many people. Yet if you've ever been worn out, ready to quit, they might just be for you.

“Connected: Playing by the Rules” Is. 30:15-22; Daniel 6:1-16; Matt. 11:28-30 If I had told you last Sunday that this morning we would focus on spiritual disciplines, I doubt I would have seen many of you doing cartwheels or standing and applauding. The concept just doesn’t have ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:15-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Can't Win At The Game Of Sin

Contributed by Ronnie Thrower on Mar 13, 2002

What kind of game are you playing

YOU CAN’T WIN AT THE GAME OF SIN TEXT: II Peter 2:19-21 I. Cain Played A Losing Game. Gen. 4:2-13 A. He worshiped God the wrong way. 4:3-5 Cain followed his own way and not God’s way. II Peter 2:2 "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:19-21

Denomination: Baptist

Power To The People Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Dec 23, 2008

Part 3 in series Slowing Down. This message plays down pastors and spiritual professionals, and plays up the unity and equality of all people who follow Jesus.

Power to the People Slowing Down, part 3 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers October 25, 2008 In last week’s message I posed the question, “How do we pursue God in ways that do not end up doing spiritual/emotional/psychological damage to ourselves and others.” Remember how I answered that ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:27-28

Denomination: Free Methodist

Playing Monopoly With God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 4, 2015

Christ warned about the mindset of Monopoly, but all board games have some way to measure success: determining how you win or lose. How do measure success in how we live for Christ? How do we know whether we've actually stored up treasures in heaven?

Lead-in with the following video: http://discoverychurch.com/messages/actually-win-losing/ (first 24 seconds) How many of you have ever played Monopoly? (ask for a show of hands). Me too. I hate the game. I never win. However, Monopoly is one of the THE most popular games in the world. As I did ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Learning To Play Hurt #2 Series

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 15, 2004

Just think of the examples of sports hero’s that had to play their best games hurt. Well, you may have to learn to keep on even when you are hurt.

LEARNING TO PLAY HURT? (This is part two of a two part series) By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Many of the thoughts and illustrations in this series I adapted from a sermon by Pastor Wayne B. Smith of Lexington, KY. TEXT: John 6:60 THIS IS A HARD SAYING... John 6:66 From that time ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-66

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"Playing Favorites At Church" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Dec 22, 2015

Whether you realize it or not all of us have a list of certain people we like to be with and if were honest we have a list of people we don’t like to be with. There are desirable people and there are undesirable people.

“Playing Favorites at Church” James 2:1-12 Whether you realize it or not all of us have a list of certain people we like to be with and if were honest we have a list of people we don’t like to be with. There are desirable people and there are undesirable people. • Some of ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Learning To Play Hurt#1 Series

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 15, 2004

Just think of the examples of sports hero’s that had to play their best games hurt. Well, you may have to learn to keep on even when you are hurt. Part one.

LEARNING TO PLAY HURT By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Adapted from a lesson by Wayne B. Smith, Lexington, Ky. This is part one of a two part series. TEXT: John 6:60 THIS IS A HARD SAYING... John 6:66 From that time many of the disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. John ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-66

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Thank God He Let Me Play Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 10, 2021

That is the number one basis for Thanksgiving. It is just the fact that God has let you play the game. All of us are only here today because God has let us play the game of life.

William F. Kirk was a columnist who loved baseball, and just before his death he wrote this poem couched in baseball terms to express his thanks for life. "The doctor knows what his trained eyes see, And he says it is the last of the 9th for me; One more swing while the clouds loom dark, And ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-11

Playing By New Rules

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Feb 12, 2001

JESUS’ PEOPLE ARE IDENTIFIED BY JESUS’ LOVE

Playing by New Rules Introduction – How do you tell a Christian? Before I went into full-time ministry, I was an electronics technician at a major corporation for several years. One of the guys I worked with was one of the kindest people I had ever met. In a place where people were usually ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Denomination: Baptist

Life Is Like A Baseball Game

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Sep 1, 2004

1- We’re on a team, so be a team player. 2- We have a coach, so listen to him. 3- We may get hurt, so what? Play anyway.

INTRO.- Everyone should have a goal in life. Goals give motivation to our lives whether it’s the game of baseball or the Christian life. ILL.- A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat: "I’m the greatest ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:14, 1 Timothy 4:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Play Nicely With Others Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Jun 30, 2014

The Lord gives his people instructions for their lives together. They are given in love with the desire that the people of God live abundant, free, and fruitful lives.

Exodus 20:12-16 “Play Nicely with Others” INTRODUCTION Twenty five years ago author Robert Fulghum wrote a book entitled, All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten. It was immediately a smashing success. The book contained observations and rules such as: Share ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:12-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Learning To Play The Harmonica Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 8, 2001

Just how do we "disciple" people?

OPEN: A young American engineer was sent to Ireland for a year. When he left, his fiancé gave him a harmonica. She said, "I want you to learn to play this: it will help to keep your mind off those Irish girls." He wrote to her often and told he her that he was practicing his harmonica every ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Refusing To Play Favorites Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Sep 30, 2012

If you want God's favor, don't treat people with favoritism.

Something very interesting happened on Monday night when people who normally hate on the Packers were suddenly on their side when a blown call by the replacement officials gave the win to the Seahawks. Even Bear fans expressed sympathy to me all week. Well, except for one guy who called me a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Baptist