Sermons on The Soil With Thorns:

Choice To Rejoice

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 9, 2010

We are not a victim of the circumstance. We have a choice to rejoice. Updated October 2020.

For Those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are three Scriptures readings prior to the Message. Today's assigned readings are: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-9; and Matthew 11:28-30. What a powerful message ....in the Gospel of Matthew and ....in Paul's letter ...to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, John 11:35, Isaiah 61:10-11, Habakkuk 3:17-19, Philippians 4:4-9, Colossians 3:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Reaching For Grace

Contributed by Paul Norwood on Oct 11, 2010

Describes three aspects of God's grace - saving, sustaining and securing.

“Reaching for Grace” Text: Philippians 3:12-14 I. Welcome II. Introduction A little over a year ago, I preached a sermon by request on “God’s Amazing Grace.” After some conversations with different folks, I see a need to talk a little more about grace & I’ve ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

World Religions - 2 Hinduism Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Nov 13, 2008

All things are not equal. All roads do not lead to the same destination. Our experience bears this out. Who among us would trust our own guesses when traveling on a long road trip of many hundreds of miles rather than trusting a compass and a map? Let

What About Hinduism? Revelation 5:11-13 Introduction A Hindu said to a native missionary, “I am sure if I lead a good life and do what is right, giving up my bad habits, God will be pleased with me and receive me into heaven.” “That is the way most people reason today,” replied the missionary. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:11-13

Denomination: Christian Church

Sin's Aftermath Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 25, 2009

Sin is serious and the church is doing a disservice to people if we of all people, do not take it seriously.

SIN’S AFTERMATH (Genesis 3:14-24) Sin is serious and the church is doing a disservice to people if we of all people, do not take it seriously. Some of the stories about sin may be humorous, but the effects of sin are anything but. Today we are going to see the reality that sin, which often begins ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:14-24

Happy 4th: Faith Hangs On More Than A Thread

Contributed by Matt Hoffmann on Jul 3, 2009

In Ezekiel 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, and Mark 6:1-13 we see how time and time again our future seems to hang on by a thread (like our American History). But in Christ our Future Hangs on a Cross!

Sermon 070509 4th of July Mark 6:1-13; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Ezekiel 2:1-5 Happy 4th of July Weekend. What comes to mind first when you think of the 4th? Fireworks? BBQ? All good stuff. But there is a reason why we celebrate on the 4th and we can’t forget that! It was the day the day the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 2:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Amazing Grace: Verse Three Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jul 18, 2009

This is the third in a 4 sermon series adapted from David Jeremiah’s book, Captured by Grace. Each point is based on a verse of Amazing Grace and tells the story of John Newton. Powerpoint available, just e-mail me.

AMAZING GRACE: VERSE THREE Scott Bayles, pastor Based on David Jeremiah’s Captured by Grace First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL For those of you who haven’t been here or who’ve been asleep in your pew, we’ve spent the last couple for weeks wading our way through John Newton’s timeless ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:9-10

Denomination: Christian Church

Dear God, Why Did You Create Ticks & Other Nasty Things Series

Contributed by John Salley on Jun 18, 2012

This message attempts to answer the question of evil as it exists in creation, contrasting answers from both Naturalistic and Christian viewpoint.

Dear God, Why did You create ticks and other nasty things? Isaiah 11:1-10 , Romans 8: 18-23 When we ask “why did God made ticks and other nasty things?” the only way we can really understand the answer to the “ticks and other nasty things” question, is to at least be ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus, Our Healer

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 19, 2018

Jesus has the power to heal us from every physical and mental disease. But he doesn't always use that power. Often, what we need more is to be healed from our spiritual blindness.

[This sermon was preached on 19 August 2018, 13th Sunday after Pentecost / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] Last Monday I returned to work from my five-week holiday. When I opened my email, there was a pleasant surprise waiting for me. A woman from our congregation wrote me with some very good news. The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15, Acts 3:1-10, John 9:1-7, John 9:39-41

Denomination: Lutheran

Sermon On The Mount - Part 7 Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jun 21, 2019

Part 7 in a 14-part series of studies I call “The Christian Character” as described by Jesus to a crowd of people on a Galilean hillside as he delivered what is more familiarly known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” This part considers blessedness in persecution and insults.

Part 7 - Beatitudes – The Persecuted and Insulted Sermon on the Mount The Christian Character Matthew 5:3 - 7:27 (Cf. Luke 6:20-49) This is Part 7 in a 14-part series of studies I call “The Christian Character” as described by Jesus to a crowd of people on a Galilean hillside as he delivered what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12, 1 Peter 4:15-16, Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1-2, 1 Timothy 1:15, Mark 13:9-13, Mark 13:14-20, Matthew 10:28, 2 Timothy 3:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is Our Part?

Contributed by David Nolte on Jan 20, 2021

Sometimes we presume to play God's part and forget about our part.

Things are not always as we want them to be. Disappointments, disasters, distresses, diseases, dilemmas, discouragement and depression destroy our dreams and desires. Problems seem to be the norm and solutions seem inadequate. Our need is urgent, and we see no light at the end of the tunnel. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do Not Fail Me Series

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Oct 25, 2020

Greetings in the Holy Name of Jesus Yahshuah, My sisters and brothers, we fast forward our thoughts from the Prophet Jeremiah ...

DO NOT FAIL ME by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (October 25, 2020) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11, King James ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 10:16, Job 32:9

Denomination: Friends

The Church In Smyrna Series

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 15, 2020

The Church of Smyrna was commended for its loyalty to Christ even though it cost many their lives. Would we be willing to give up our lives if Christ called us to do so - to be loyal to Him

The Church at Smyrna. Rev 2:8-11 Last Sunday we looked at the first of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse (also known as the Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation) - the Church of Ephesus. Let me just recap for those of you who weren’t with us last week The book of Revelation was written ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11, Mark 8:34-38

Denomination: Anglican

God And I

Contributed by Terry Spriestersbach on Jun 11, 2021

O foolish little acorn, wilt thou be all this? I ask. Yes, God and I, it answers. ‘Parable of the Acorn’ by Lyman Abbot

I may sound a little nasally this morning. The pollen count is up. The grass grows. AND it needs cut. SPEAKING OF GRASS Did you ever notice there are things that hide in the grass? In his ‘Parable of the Acorn’ Lyman Abbot wrote, I pluck an acorn from the greensward and hold it to my ear, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, James 1:22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From The Worst To The Best Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

Paul tells us in verses 13 and 14 that he was always a very religious man, and he was zealous in his commitment to Judaism. Paul becomes a great example of both the danger and value of being religious.

Mary Marrow had just arrived in China as a missionary when the Boxer Rebellion broke out in 1900. The leaders of China blamed the missionaries for the problems of the land, and mobs began to violently persecute the Christians. They were dragged from their homes and forced to stomp on a cross or ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:13

Punished For Me-Life Swap 4 Psalm Sunday

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Mar 26, 2021

This sermon deals with the contrast of changing places with Jesus on Psalm Sunday as opposed to Good Friday. It stresses that Jesus not only died for us, but that He died in our place.

Punished For Me-Life Swap Palm Sunday 3/28/21 Matthew 21:1-11 and Matthew 27:32-54 We are in the fourth message of our series on Life-Swap in which Jesus changes places with us. We have looked at Betrayed For us, Forsaken For Us, Accused For Us. Today we will look at Punished For Us and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11, Matthew 27:32-54

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed