Sermons on Thorn In Side:

Half The Truth #5 Series

Contributed by J. Brad Campbell on Nov 6, 2006

This is the 5th sermon in the series "The Spirit of Ishmael" dealing with people that can only hear one side of a story, or half the truth.

Spirit of Ishmael Half the Truth #5 Text: Gen 16:1-4 1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of The Moral Series

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 28, 2004

Jesus’ "parables" brought EVERYDAY experiences along side ETERNAL truths and this is the first sermon in a series that brings NASCAR next to Christian life.

Selected Exposition #108 Series: NASCAR Comes to Church Title: The Story of the Moral Topic: Christian Living Theme: Living according to God’s Pattern Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness calling God’s people in my care to consider his pattern for life in his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Wesleyan

Start Well / Finish First Series

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 30, 2004

This is the second sermon in a series that brings NASCAR along side spiritual truths in order to help us understand God and his PATTERN FOR LIFE.

Bible Text: 2 Timothy 2:15, 20-21 Series: NASCAR Comes To Church Title: Start Well / Finish First Topic: Christian Living Theme: Purpose & Power for Christian Living Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness challenging God’s people in my care to determine to live out God’s purpose in his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15-21

Denomination: Wesleyan

Where Are You God? When The Wicked Prosper And You’re People Suffer? Series

Contributed by Glenn Newton on Feb 17, 2013

How should the Christian compare his life to others around us? Where is God when it feels like we are on the losing side?

Psalm 37: 1-9 1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-9

Denomination: Nazarene

Struggle Of Love With The Powers Of Darkness Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 28, 2012

In the world we struggle with darkness, but we have the power of God's love, expressed in the Incarnate Word, on our side, and the victory is already won.

Monday in the Octave of Christmas 2012 Gaudium et Spes “The Word became flesh, and pitched his tent among us.” This literal translation of the words of John’s hymn to the Logos, the Word of God, sums up the Good News we celebrated this year as we celebrate it in every year. As ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Catholic

Putting It Into Practice

Contributed by Robert Tallent on Aug 16, 2008

there are onlt two sides when you draw a line. God’s word draws a line between living righteous or living unrighteously.

What are you putting into practice? 1 John 2:29 A young man and his wife stopped by his parents house for a visit. His mother noticed that something was bothering her daughter-in-law but she didn’t want to meddle. She couldn’t imagine what ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:29

Denomination: Baptist

Gotcha!

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Nov 8, 2010

When we keep the focus on the central issue the side issues become less tricky. For followers of Jesus the central issue is resurrection life.

Have everyone take the following “quiz.” 1. How many 3-cent stamps in a dozen? a. 3 b. 4 c. 12 d. 6 2. You're the pilot of an airplane that travels from New York to Chicago - a distance of 800 miles. The airplane travels at 200 m.p.h. and makes one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-40

Denomination: *other

Red Letters: We Are The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Tom Davis on Aug 24, 2007

Jesus doesn’t want us to walk on the other side of the road when we’re confronted with the lame and lepers in our world.

How does Jesus expect us to live in the world? How does Jesus see the world? Recently I made a challenge to myself to focus on the “Red Letter” words of the Bible and live them out as best I could. To focus on how Jesus lived his earthly life. When he walked the streets of Jerusalem, Capernaum, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ambition

Contributed by Geoffrey Foot on Apr 4, 2017

James and John wanted to to sit at Christ's side in His kingdom - is this raw ambition? or is there something else here we can learn from?

Ambition Matthew 20:20 - 28 Today we see two of Jesus' closest disciple being ambitious, the request to sit at Christ's side in His kingdom. Ironically in Mark’s gospel it is James and John who actually come to Jesus with this request. In Matthew, today's gospel, it is their mother… ambition. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45

The Judgment Of The Rebellious Series

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Feb 19, 2018

The ungodly have crept into the church (Jude 4). Jesus is coming and they will be judged. All the ungodly will be judged. What side of Judgment are you on?

In 1935, an umpire in his rookie year, named Ralp “Babe” Pinelli once called Babe Ruth out on strikes. When the crowd booed with sharp disapproval at the call, the legendary Ruth turned to the umpire with disdain and said, "There’s 40,000 people here who know that the last pitch was ball, tomato ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:14-19

Denomination: Baptist

Who Is The Good Samaritan? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 8, 2025

"Moved with compassion" is a pretty weak translation of what the Samaritan felt when he saw the mugged man on the side of the road.

Fifteenth Sunday in Course 2025 Many humans, maybe even most of us, call God the Supreme Being. That stimulates the imagination. But we can imagine Zeus, who doesn’t exist, as a supreme, or at least very, very big being. But the true God is not the Supreme Being. God is not A Being at all. God is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 1:15-20, John 8:48, Psalm 19:8-11, Deuteronomy 30:10-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Words Of Importance Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Jun 6, 2005

Expository message on passage

SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH” TEXT: ACTS 18:12-23 TITLE: “WORDS OF IMPORTANCE” INTRODUCTION: A. We live in a society where what we say is not intended to be what we mean 1. Several years ago, this phenomenon was given the title the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:12-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Is A Fly In The Ointment Series

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Jul 29, 2023

This is the 4th sermon in the series on the Seven Churches in Revelation. This one deals with the Church of Thyatira.

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29; Ecclesiastes 10:1; Song of Solomon 2:15 Theme: Tolerance – How Much? Title: The Fly in the Ointment INTRO: Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Simplicity. Keeping things simple, plain and straightforward. Keeping things honest, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Song of Songs 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, 1 John 4:1, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 2:15-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Nazarene

The Neutrals Series

Contributed by Shingirayi Gwete on Nov 21, 2020

Is there a neutral ground when it comes to matters of religion? Is it possible for one to consider themselves as a non-aligned? Can you take the middle ground? Can you sit on the fence? In short, can you be neither on God's side nor the devil’s side? Let us get our answers from the sermon.

Switzerland has not participated in any foreign war ever since 1815 when it established itself as a neutral country. A neutral country is defined as a state which does not take sides of belligerents (warring parties) in a specific war or future conflicts. Such states refuse to even enter into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:30, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Kings 18:21, Matthew 6:24

Denomination: Adventist

Lesson # 1: Salutation Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 30, 2018

Christianity which began with quiet meetings in the humble Jewish homes, or oratory, by the river-side, had spread in Philippi and has by now settled down into a stable and permanent church organization.

Date: 3/15/18 Lesson # 1 Title: Salutation Text: (Philippians 1:1-2) Scripture: (Philippians 1:1-2, NIV) 1 Paul{P1] and Timothy{P2], servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons{P3]: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist