Sermons on Thorn Bushes:

For This Purpose I Have Come Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 1, 2018

The Advent series this year explores the instances when the Master spoke of the purpose in His coming. This is the first message in this Advent series as Jesus spoke of the purpose of His coming.

“‘Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour?” But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven: ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it ...read more

Scripture: John 12:27-36

Denomination: Baptist

Your Stuff, Is Yours. Your Neighbor's, Your Neighbor's (Exodus 22:1-15) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Nov 23, 2022

God expects his people to keep their hands to themselves. And God knows that property rights are part of the bedrock of what makes societies function.

One of the main topics discussed among my coworkers over the past year or two, has been inflation. All of us are constantly feeling the effects of it. Everything costs more. We find that we save a little less every month than we used to. We find ourselves reexamining what we buy, and thinking ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 22:1-15, Acts 5:1-11

Who Am I? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 16, 2021

Moses didn't want to do what God asked. He didn't think he was worthy or capable... and he was right. So what made the difference in his life?

Years ago there was a comedian named Milton Berle who wrote this poem: “I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon # 52 - God's Perfect Timing Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Sep 19, 2025

Often the plans of God may not be obvious to us, but as we move forward with faith, those plans of God will unfold perfectly in His time. May we trust God to make everything beautiful in His time.

For today’s meditation I want to read Micah 5:2, The LORD says, "Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times." (GNB) The birth of the Lord Jesus in the little town of ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1-6, Exodus 4:12-14, Exodus 15:22-24, Matthew 6:8, Luke 22:10-13, 1 Corinthians 2:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Seated At The Table Of Brokenness

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 22, 2019

Is there purpose in my pain? Does God care when I hurt? By examining the life of the Apostle Paul, we can gain an eternal perspective of why God allows us to be broken by the trials of this life.

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Denomination: Baptist

Strength Training Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 28, 2010

How could my weakness be a good thing? Why would this truth be necessary for me to understand God’s will for my life?

OPEN: A work crew had been working at a construction site for about a week when the company hired a new man to replace a man who’d been hurt the day before. He was a broad-shouldered, powerful young man and was a good worker… but he was also annoying. He was always bragging that he was stronger ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Refining Fire Of Testing And Trials Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Oct 20, 2025

The Bible teaches us that trials and tribulations are an inevitable part of the Christian journey.

The Bible teaches us that trials and tribulations are an inevitable part of the Christian journey. It is through these challenges that our faith is tested, refined, and strengthened. As the Bible says, "God will test you with pain, with problems, with patience, struggles, hard days not when ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14, Daniel 6:1-28

The Death Of Deliverance-1(2025)

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Apr 9, 2025

1 of 2. Mark related/described the chain of events surrounding Jesus’ death on the Cross. Certain events transpired in bringing about the death of Deliverance. BUT: ?What causes Deliverance to die? ?How does Deliverance die? 10 delusions ensuring the death of Deliverance.

The DEATH Of DELIVERANCE-I—Mark 15:1-25(15:1-47) *This 'bare-bones' sermon was delivered by 1)focusing on the historical aspects presented thru reading the verses themselves, 2)presenting the bare divisions, & 3)commenting from memory in the moment.* Need: To examine the historical ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:1-25, Mark 15:1-47

Denomination: Baptist

The Ultimate Christian Attainment: Union With God Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 19, 2024

We do not easily submit to all this burning up of dross within us. We do not want to be buried with Christ in his cross and alive with Christ in His resurrection. We naturally resist the death of self. Yet God helps us submit to the refiner's fire.

Many great saints I’ve known, even in the Salvation army, many are retiring now, and they say that when they retire, they are grateful that God did not show them the entire path all the ups and downs because they would not have been able to handle the thought of it. But step by step, along the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:7, John 6:63, 1 Peter 1:7

Denomination: Salvation Army

Houston, We Have A Problem

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jun 27, 2019

A study in the Gospel of Matthew 27: 27 – 66

Matthew 27: 27 – 66 Houston, we have a problem 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:52

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Tending Your Garden Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 16, 2012

God created man and planted a garden for him in Eden. What lessons can I learn about what God expects of me from what God did for Adam?

Someone once wrote a poem about their garden: "Our radishes are puny things; Our peas and beans are dying; And as for the potatoes, well, those things aren't even trying And that's the way our garden grows - I tell myself, "Who needs it?" But down inside, it hurts to have it bite the hand... ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Parables Of The Kingdom – The First - The Sower Or Rather The Soil – Part 1 Of 7 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 30, 2025

Today we commence a study of the 7 Parables of the Kingdom found in Matthew’s Gospel. The first is the Parable of the Sower (more to the point, “The Parable of the 4 Soils.”). There are 7 parts for this parable and in Part 1 we look at the Parable as a whole. I hope you enjoy.

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE FIRST - THE SOWER OR RATHER THE SOIL – Part 1 of 7 THE INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES We are going to study the seven parables Jesus spoke to the people. Matthew states the setting for these – {{Matthew 13:1-2 “On that day Jesus WENT OUT OF THE HOUSE and was sitting ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-2, Matthew 13:36, Matthew 13:3-4, Matthew 13:5-6, Matthew 13:7, Matthew 13:8-9, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 13:9-11, Luke 8:10, John 3:16, Luke 19:10, John 5:40, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 13:11-15, Matthew 13:14-15, Isaiah 6:9-10, Luke 11:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eternal Death That Sounds So Good

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Nov 25, 2019

Wrong doctrine can sound so good but, if believed, it can lead to the person missing heaven. In this message we see how this plays out in Genesis 3.

There are men and women of the cloth in our country, and countries across the world, who are starting to teach things that are different than what we find in Scripture. It may seem like all of these things that they are teaching is new, and some of that is true. Turn to John 16. We’re hearing ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13, Matthew 24:3-4, 2 Corinthians 11:1-3, Genesis 2:8-9, Genesis 2:15-17, Hebrews 9:23, Ezekiel 28:14, Genesis 3:1-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remaining Free In Christ (Col. 2:8–15) Series

Contributed by Greg Brown on Jan 19, 2015

Exposition of Col. 2:8–15

Remaining Free in Christ “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:8-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Jesus Is "i Am" Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 18, 2020

Jesus said He was the "I AM." What does that mean to us and what can it mean for our lives?

OPEN:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K80pozOfrU&fbclid=IwAR0T8oXzHhv4JoeIWzW6HuZ4lpgU4FNNRs3uyRJEGmyb2JW_7h9f0LDRCYE (thru time-stamp 2:27 “indescribable”) (The script of the video is from the sermon “That's My King” by S.M. Lockridge, which says “The Bible says my King, He's the King ...read more

Scripture: John 8:21-30, John 8:58-59

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ