Sermons on The Heart:

Why Did Jesus Teach In Parables?

Contributed by William Mouser on Jul 24, 2005

By teaching in parables, Jesus simultaneously revealed truths to his disciples, and concealed truth about himself from those whose hardened hearts had already rejected it.

Isaiah 6:1-10, Romans 11:1-11, Matt. 13:1-3, 10-16 Why Parables? In preparation for today’s homily, I went to Amazon on the internet and punched up all the titles they had with the word “parable” in them. I got about a thousand hits. Next, I requested a listing of all the titles they had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:10-16

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Passionate Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Dec 8, 2005

Let’s get rid of some misconceptions of God. What if you knew that God really loves you? What will happen if you let that touch your heart?

God gets bad press. And I’m not so much talking about in Newsweek or in the PD or on NBC, ABC, or CBS. I’m talking about in your mind… and mine. Some of us think that God admits us begrudgingly into his Kingdom. That Christ found a loophole in the law. That He did some fancy plea-bargaining ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17

Denomination: Baptist

"Unclean, Unclean"!

Contributed by Darrell Jones on Jun 3, 2005

Leprosy is a picture of the sinful heart, it is said that some of the Jewish Rabbi’s translated the words "Unclean, Unclean" as, "Avoid, Avoid." We look at the parallel of leprosy and sin.

Leprosy It’s Origins: (A) Leprosy would start out small in it’s beginning. It would lie concealed in the blood where human eye could not see it. There may be no visible signs or symptoms. Isn’t that also like sin, which lies dormant in our lives until it begins to bear it’s ugly fruit. Chapter ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 13:45

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How To Show Our Thankfulness To God

Contributed by Doug Warren on Nov 25, 2006

To show our thanfulness to God, we should Ponder His Greatness, Prepare our hearts for His entrance, Practice His Teachings, and Proclaim His messaage to others.

Intro: At a Thanksgiving dinner table, the youngest member of the group (age 4) volunteered to say the blessing. It went as follows: "God is great, God is good...LET US THANK HIM! Amen." While some would argue that she forgot part of the blessing, the impact of that prayer penetrated the hearts ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Transformed Life Of A Disciple

Contributed by Byron Maynard on Apr 22, 2005

Jesus never hid from his disciples what it would cost to follow him. To follow Jesus we need a transformed mind, a transformed heart, and a transformed lifestyle.

Sermon preached 4/05 THE TRANSFORMED LIFE OF A DISCIPLE by Pastor Byron K. Maynard Jesus never hid from his disciples what it would cost to follow him. The Apostle Paul also testified of this when he said, What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Travelers In The Fog

Contributed by James May on Apr 20, 2001

When we walk in our own understanding, without the leading of the Spirit, we are walking in a fog. We must allow the Day Star to arise within our hearts.

Travelers in the Fog A few days ago, I drove out of my driveway headed to work. It was about 6 AM and those of you who are up and about at that time of the morning will know that it is still dark outside. I immediately noticed that not only was it still dark but that there was also a thick fog. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Crippling Effects Of Envy

Contributed by Darren Ethier on Jul 11, 2001

If you have envy in your heart it will cripple your life in so many ways. The Bible illuminates the ways that envy cripples and why God hates it so much.

THE CRIPPLING EFFECTS OF ENVY  (JAMES 4:1-10) INTRODUCTION: Envy… I’d like begin today by reading to you a couple of interesting stories I picked up while surfing the Internet a few weeks ago. Story #1: "The Ann Arbor News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in Ypisalanti, ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10, James 3:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Dwelling Place For God

Contributed by Steven Oltz on Jul 6, 2002

God desires a Dwelling place among us. In all that we do, even in His name, do we create a dwelling place for God in our hearts and lives?

A Dwelling Place for God (Exodus 25:8) If you were invited to house-sit you could not make any substantial changes in the house while you were there because the house would not belong to you. Even if you found the color of the paint highly objectionable and didn’t like the floor plan or the way ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 25:8

Denomination: Pentecostal

"The Prodigal Sons" Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 11, 2002

Sometimes the worst thing God can do is to give us what we want. the prodigal leaves for a "far country", a place which exists first in our hearts.

"The Prodigal Sons", Luke 15:11-32 Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts Outline: Restlessness> vss 1- 11-12 Rebellion> vss 13-16 Repentance> vss 17-19 Reconciliation> vss 20-24 Resentment> vss 25-32 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Congregational

In My Right Mind? Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Sep 26, 2005

The renewing of our minds will transform how we live. Our daily walk in the christian life says a lot about what we feed our minds and hearts with

Who am I?...In my Right Mind! Romans 12 verses 1-8 What do you think of yourself? In his book ‘When Men Think Private Thoughts’ Gordon MacDonald has two men playing a game at midnight. These two men are from completely different ends of the economic and social spectrum. One is a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Beyond Strict Morality

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Apr 3, 2007

Morality is more than "strict" or "lax". It begins in the heart, develops moral principles and guidlines, and ultimately is in the context of a relationship with God who cares

Beyond Strict Mark 2:23-3:6 Illus: I placed signs on the wall on either side of the platform: "strict" and "lax", moving back and forth toward one or the other at appropriate times. How strict should you be? How strict should you be with your kids? How strict should you be ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Standing At The Edge Of The Promised Land

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 30, 2005

This message looks at three key choices we need to make (where’s our vision, our heart, and our confidence?) and the choice God has to make in response.

Three Choices For Us As We Stand At The Edge Of The Promised Land: 1. OUR VISION: Objective or Obstacles? A. Objective. - 13:1-2. - note the balance of “spy out” (what Israel did) and “giving” (what God did). - also: 13:17-20 - careful investigation. B. Obstacles. - 13:28-29. - not that ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Treasure In Heaven Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 10, 2005

Jesus warned: 1. Don’t store up treasure. 2. Guard your heart. 3. Focus your eye. 4. Have only one Master

I read a recent magazine article about a pastor and his encounter with some unbelievers while having breakfast. Here is how he tells the story: “My wife and I were vacationing in Estes Park, Colorado, and had breakfast in a coffee shop. It was empty except for four men at another table. One was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Methodist

Are You Living Or Existing

Contributed by Darrin Fish on Oct 3, 2009

For those of us who have already given our hearts to Jesus, We must ask ourselves Are we truly allowing Him to be the Lord of our daily lives.

Are you living or existing? It seems like a lot of times in our lives We are simply existing instead really living life for all its worth. We get up, go to work or school, or we begin our daily routine, Whatever it may be and we simply go through the motions. One day seems to blend into the ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1

Denomination: Christian Church

Hide And Seek

Contributed by William Akehurst on Sep 3, 2008

The World’s First Ever Game of Hide and Seek But what is it that we are supposed to hide? What is it we are supposed to seek? HIDE the WORD in your hearts and SEEK HIM!

8.31.2008 SERMON. Hide and Seek By William Akehurst, HSWC Hide and Seek Peek-a-boo Where are you? There you are! A simple game of hide and seek. One hides while the other closes their eyes and counts to 10 Then, the counter must seek out the hider. Simple enough isn’t it. When was the last ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational