Sermons on The Straight Gate:

Crisis: Dangerous Opportunity

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 14, 2001

Jesus precipitated a crisis for others around Him: for Judas, for the disciples, for Peter. Their reactions are like ours -- confused -- but Jesus knows who He is in the midst of the crisis.

I’m sure that you have heard many times now that the Chinese character that is usually translated by the English word “crisis” is actually made up of two components – one character that means “dangerous” and the other that means “opportunity.” Put “dangerous” and “opportunity” together, and you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-46

Denomination: Baptist

Psalm 107

Contributed by Dan Cormie on May 8, 2006

A breakdown of Psalm 107 looking at four types of people the Lord rescues in their distress.

May 7, 2006 200% Sunday Psalm 107 Have someone read Psalm 107:1-32 Every now and then we need to be reminded of where we come from, and of the unconditional love God showed us in that place. It keeps us humble, or it should, and it prevents us from looking down our noses at those who have not ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 107:1-32, Psalm 107:26-30

Denomination: Mennonite

Kingdom Values And Our Values: Challenges To A Contemorary Way Of Life

Contributed by Philip Gill on Oct 3, 2007

As the lives of the rich man and Lazarus are reversed by their experience of the Kingdom so our contemorary values are challenged by the call to discipleship.

In the gospel passage this morning there is a great reversal of fortunes for the rich man and Lazarus the poor beggar. Lazarus, after enduring great suffering is taken into heaven, into the bosom of Abraham. This end suggests that he led a faithful life while the rich man is depicted in typical ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Anglican

Unusual Places God Can Take You!

Contributed by Tony Abram on Nov 6, 2007

THIS SERMON SUGGESTS THAT SOMETIMES GOD WILL LEAD US INTO PLACES THAT HE MAY GET THE GLORY. SOMETIMES GOD BRINGS US TO OUR PLACE OF TESTING. My wife and I have been in many unusual places ourselves as for the past 45 years we have traveled and ministered

Unusual Places God can take you! THIS SERMON SUGGESTS THAT SOMETIMES GOD WILL LEAD US INTO PLACES THAT HE MAY GET THE GLORY. SOMETIMES GOD BRINGS US TO OUR PLACE OF TESTING. My wife and I have been in many unusual places ourselves as for the past 45 years we have traveled and ministered ...read more

When The Beast Gets Loose Series

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Nov 29, 2007

Part 3 in a series on temptation. This deals with last 3 of seven deadly sins.

KILL OR BE KILLED Part 3-When the Beast Gets Loose Romans 7:14-20 October 21, 2007 Pastor Brian Matherlee Read Romans 7:14-20 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. Ro 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

A New Way Of Life Series

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Sep 23, 2004

Christ gives us a new life.

Ephesians 2:1-10 A New Way of Life Introduction A. In Ephesians 1 Paul showed how God worked through Christ to accomplish His purpose. In chapter 2 he discussed what it means to be a Christian and to be a part of God’s purpose. The difference between an unbelieving sinner and a saved believer ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Step By Step

Contributed by Matt Zurowski on Apr 3, 2006

A sermon preached to the staff of a Bible camp preparing for their summer ministry

(Walk back and forth) We do it everyday… we do it while doing many other things like talking on our cell phone, reading a book, talking and laughing, looking at the stars, holding hands with someone, etc. I am doing it right now! What am I doing? (WALKING!) Webster defines walk as: to proceed ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-5, Ephesians 4:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Success In God Series

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Sep 3, 2009

Just as Paul experienced in Acts, we can have success in God no matter where life takes us.

Are We There Yet? How we can experience success in God’s will. Have you ever thought “Will we ever get there?” Do you feel successful? Or do you feel like a failure? Paul is a prisoner for Christ. He had some tough days. The book of Acts with Paul getting to Rome as God had told him. How ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:11-30

Denomination: Pentecostal

Paradise Lost... Paradise Regained Series

Contributed by John Brooks on Nov 18, 2018

#7 out of 2 Peter. In 2 Peter 10-13, Peter instructs the believer that a day is coming when Paradise Lost will be Regained.

PARADISE LOST…PARADISE REGAINED “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:10-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon On A Round Peg In A Square Hole

Contributed by William Meakin on Mar 14, 2025

The idiom and literal definition of “A round peg in a square hole” suggests a person who is unsuited or lacks congruence or affinity for a particular job, situation, or environment.

Steve Jobs, the California-born former CEO of Apple once remarked: “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-2, Ephesians 4:29, Romans 12:2, John 3:16

Love And Marriage

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 24, 2023

4 essential truths about the afterlife (Material adapted from a Bible study from Insight for Living, Chuck Swindoll)

This is a complex question. What about this teaching that brothers must marry their brother’s widow? This is the concept of the kinsman redeemer. “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-39, Deuteronomy 25:5-10, Ephesians 5:31-32, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Genesis 1:27-28, Exodus 3:6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"was I There?"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Apr 11, 2022

A sermon for Good Friday.

“Was I There?” John 18:1-19:42 With the death of Jesus on Calvary, we witness, amid the noise of soldiers and criminals, gawkers and passers-by, what looks like the final triumph of evil. All the ugliness and violence we can imagine takes place in the events that lead-up to the six hours during ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-42

Denomination: United Methodist

Bearing Your Cross

Contributed by Bo Dunford on Oct 19, 2013

Life doesn't come with no crosses to bear.

MATTHEW 27:32 “BEARING YOUR CROSS” A) As we gather tonight in this auditorium, we all come from different backgrounds! * We all have different levels of education – Social orders – Training for jobs – Lot of differences I’m saying in our lives. * But then ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:32

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord Builds His Church

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Oct 17, 2022

The Lord builds his church on Christ the Cornerstone. The Lord joins his church together with the Holy Scriptures.

THE LORD BUILDS HIS CHURCH (Outline) September 18, 2022 – Pentecost 15 – EPHESIANS 2:19-22 INTRO: Without the Lord nothing is possible. With the Lord all things are possible. Even the impossible. "If the LORD does not build the house, it is useless for the builders to work hard over it. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Denomination: Lutheran

10 Things Satan Attacks First When God Is About To Lift You Series

Contributed by Rudolf E. Y. Mensah on Nov 20, 2025

When God is about to lift you, Satan cannot stop the blessing—but he will fiercely attack 10 key areas of your life. Discover these 10 battle zones, with Scriptures and prophetic insights, so you can discern warfare as a sign that your elevation is near.

10 THINGS SATAN ATTACKS FIRST WHEN GOD IS ABOUT TO LIFT YOU When a divine elevation is near, the realm of darkness becomes unusually restless. Satan cannot stop God from blessing you, so he attempts to disconnect you from the conditions that birth the blessing. These are the first areas he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7, Luke 18:1, Proverbs 27:27, 1 Peter 1:16, Nehemiah 8:10, John 10:10, James 1:8, Romans 1:17, Matthew 5:8, Isaiah 12:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic