Sermons on The Soil With Thorns:

Purpose Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Nov 22, 2020

You can either accept your trials and they will become heavenly blessings or you can fight your trials and they will become heavy burdens.

Over the past three weeks, we’ve been taking a Biblical look at hardship … what the Bible says it is … why we experience hardship … and how we should respond to the trials and challenges of life from a Biblical perspective. God uses the trials and hardships of life to teach us … to help us grow ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Denomination: United Methodist

From His Hands And Feet Series

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 4, 2025

This is a sermon series for the six Sundays of Lent. I am using a wooden "Tau" cross on the platform and some examples of the instruments of torture the Romans used - large spike, scourge/cat of 9 tails, spear, and crown of thorns. There is a teaching sheet below the sermon.

Series: Jesus’ Blood for Me “From His Hands and Feet” Exodus 12:21-28 Pastor John Bright Exodus 12 “21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 And you shall take a bunch of ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:21-28, Leviticus 16:14, Hebrews 9:22, Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:33, John 19:18, Genesis 4:11, Exodus 12:46, James 4:8, Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 103:17, Titus 2:11-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

From Jesus' Back Series

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

This is a sermon series for the six Sundays of Lent. I am using a wooden "Tau" cross on the platform and some examples of the instruments of torture the Romans used - a large spike, scourge/cat of 9 tails, spear, and crown of thorns. There is a teaching sheet below the sermon.

Series: Jesus’ Blood for Me “From Jesus’ Back” Isaiah 53:4-6 A sermon for 3/16/25 – Second Sunday of Lent Pastor John Bright Laurel Hill Global Methodist Church Isaiah 53 “4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:15, Matthew 27:26, Isaiah 53:4-6, Galatians 4:4, 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 10:19-23, Leviticus 17:11, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Matthew 9:2, Joel 2:25-26, James 5:14-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

From Jesus' Side Series

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 6, 2025

This is a sermon series for the six Sundays of Lent. I am using a wooden "Tau" cross on the platform and some examples of the instruments of torture the Romans used - a large spike, scourge/cat of 9 tails, spear, and crown of thorns. There is a teaching sheet below the sermon.

Series: Jesus’ Blood for Me “From Jesus’ Side” Romans 5:12-14, 18-19 Pastor John Bright Romans 5 “12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-14, Romans 5:18-19, Mark 15:44, John 19:33-34, Isaiah 53:5, Romans 5:19, Proverbs 6:16-19, Exodus 12:7, Mark 9:23-24  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

From His Brow Series

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 17, 2025

This is a sermon series for the six Sundays of Lent. I am using a wooden "Tau" cross on the platform and some examples of the instruments of torture the Romans used - a large spike, scourge/cat of 9 tails, spear, and crown of thorns. There is a teaching sheet below the sermon.

Series: Jesus’ Blood for Me “From Jesus’ Brow” Luke 22:39-44 Pastor John Bright Luke 22 “39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-44, Isaiah 53:4-6, Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 23:4

Denomination: Methodist

From His Bruises Series

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 17, 2025

This is a sermon series for the six Sundays of Lent. I am using a wooden "Tau" cross on the platform and some examples of the instruments of torture the Romans used - a large spike, scourge/cat of 9 tails, spear, and crown of thorns. There is a teaching sheet below the sermon.

Series: Jesus’ Blood for Me “From His Bruises” Titus 2:11-14 Pastor John Bright Titus 2 “11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14, Mark 14:65, John 19:3, Matthew 5:21-22, Matthew 5:27-28, Isaiah 43:1, 2 Timothy 2:19, 1 John 1:5-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Contentment Or Sour Grapes

Contributed by Monte Brown on Jan 25, 2007

You can hang figs on a thorn bush and grapes on briers and pick from them, but you can’t make them a natural product of these plants. You can play the part of a Christian and go through the motions, but you’re not a Christian unless you’re connected to

Luke 6:43-45 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:43-45

Denomination: Baptist

Eternal Life From The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Jesus is the Good Samaritan. He stepped into our cesspool of sin. He stooped down, soiling His hands to pick you up. He brings you to the inn of the Church, where the innkeepers, His pastors, look to your eternal needs.

Intro “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” So asked a Pharisee, a lawyer, to Jesus. The Pharisee was a man who had spent his life studying the Old Testament. And to him, Jesus was cheapening the Law, the Torah, making it into nothing. Now, all the wrong people were thronging to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Lutheran

5 Ways To Speak Without Regret Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Sep 11, 2024

Words spread easily. Kudzu was introduced from Asia for soil erosion control. But the problem with Kudzu is it easily spreads and suffocates native plants and even trees. Knowing that your words can spread so easily, think before you speak.

I want to speak to you about 5 Ways to Speak without Regret. Let’s talk about the power of your words for the next few minutes. We continue a series entitled Give Me THAT Attitude. Often, we tell our children, “Don’t you give me that attitude.” This is the exact opposite. These are attitudes we ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 18:14, Proverbs 15:28, Proverbs 15:1

Denomination: Baptist

Step #3: Tap Into God's Grace Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Sep 1, 2004

When life hands you puzzle pieces you can’t figure out, what do you do? How can we handle it? Let’s examine how Paul dealt with his "thorn in the flesh", and learn some lessons for us! *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

Tap Into God’s Grace (OR Bitter or Better OR Let it Change You) 2 Cor. 12:7-10 - 2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Holiness

Series: Recovering Stolen Identity & Reclaiming Misplaced Destiny: Part 4a: God Can Use Detours To Get You To Your Destiny (Significance Of Detours To Joseph’s Destiny)

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 10, 2020

Looking at some people's past, they should have never produced a Joseph. In our society, most people with Joseph's backgrounds are killers, jail birds, drunks, addicts, etc. But God’s Destiny on your life can be fulfilled even in the midst of thorns.

SERIES: RECOVERING STOLEN IDENTITY & RECLAIMING MISPLACED DESTINY: PART 4A: GOD CAN USE DETOURS TO GET YOU TO YOUR DESTINY - SIGNIFICANCE OF DETOURS TO JOSEPH’S DESTINY 1. Genesis 35:18: Rachel died while giving birth to the son. Before dying, she named the boy Benoni. But Jacob called him ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:18, Genesis 37:18-28

Denomination: Charismatic

Laying It On The Altar Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 15, 2009

Exodus tells us the Altar of Sacrifice was made of wood. But wouldn’t that burn up? Find out why it didn’t... and why this was one of only two wooden altars ever known to man.

OPEN: A few years ago, USA Today conducted a survey and asked Americans in the top 1% income bracket how much they would be willing to spend on three intangible items: Great intellect, true love, and a place in heaven. They found that the super wealthy would be willing to spend an average of ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 27:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reaping And Sowing In The Ruins Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Jul 9, 2020

This sermon looks at the hope and promise of sowing God's Word. It deals with the failures, but also the joys that we can experience with this! It goes through Jesus' parable of the sower. A special thanks to Rev. Bob Holst for the inspiration and idea

Are you an optimist, or are you a pessimist? Are you a glass half-empty person, or are you a glass half-full person? Do you complain that rose bushes have thorns, or do you rejoice because thorns have roses? Do you see the storm clouds, or do you see the silver lining? There are various ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:10-13, Matthew 13:1-9, Matthew 13:18-23, Galatians 5:21-22

Denomination: Lutheran

Finding God's Forgiveness

Contributed by Steve Pearman on Jan 9, 2023

I used this sermon before our first communion of the New Year. It concluded a visual aid for everyone. Small bags filled with soil were put out around the seating of the church. These were available to pick up in the sermon, and then bring to a cross near the front

What are you guilty of? A guy was found guilty of overusing commas. The judge warned him to expect a really long sentence. Forgiveness We all carry with us: Guilt – • Guilt at something done • Guilt at some bad words said to someone • Guilt at deliberately going against what God wants. • Guilt ...read more

Don't Get Offended Because Of Me Series

Contributed by Ethel Lamazon on Jun 20, 2024

Sometimes life doesn't always go as we plan. We sometimes think that when we're serving God life is going to be a flower bed of ease and we soon learn that life is not a bed of flowers but a bed of roses with thorns in it, but God still has a plan

BLESSED ARE THOSES WHO ARE NOT OFFENDED BECAUSE OF ME---MATTHEW 11 VS 2-6 2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he [a]sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-6, Ephesians 4:2