Sermons on Thorn In Side:

Racism, Reconciliation & Healing

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Jun 5, 2020

We are living in turbulent times. There is hatred on every side. How can God's church navigate these challenges and bring hope to a world who has lost her way? In this message Dr. Vorce shares Biblical insights concerning racism, reconciliation and healing.

James 2:1-9 TPT INTRODUCTION As a younger minister I had an older minister (much older) make a statement to me one day that opened my eyes and made me realize that racism does exist in our world today and that I would have to work to heal it throughout my lifetime. The statement was ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-9

Denomination: Church Of God

Looking All Around!

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jun 25, 2020

It is easy to get lost in a strange location. We need to look both ways before crossing when first time visiting a country that drives on the opposite side as your country. Walking with Jesus may require you looking four ways to have the blessings of God.

LOOKING IN EVERY DIRECTION! Psalm 77:12 (KJV) 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. We need to look both ways before crossing when first time visiting a country that drives on the opposite side as your country. Walking with Jesus may require you looking four ways to have ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 77:12, 1 Kings 8:43, Luke 21:28

Fun Is Fundamental Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

If Christianity is not fun it is not pleasing to God nor man. We too often think fun and play is a secular side of life. It is good for a break until we get back to the important and serious stuff of life. This concept is too bad for it leads Christians to not take fun seriously.

Geography students after traveling around the world by books were asked to list what they considered the seven wonders of the world. It was a hard decision but such things as Egypts Great Pyramids, The Taj Mahal, The Grand Canyon, and The Great Wall of China, were getting a lot of votes. The ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 8:1-19

Real Christianity: Clothing, Buildings, Money, & Extravagance

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

There is a lot of stuff out there claiming to be Christian, when it's not really Christian. It's a difficult situation for any real Christ follower. On one side you have a culture and society growing progressively more hostile toward Christian values.

There is a lot of stuff out there claiming to be Christian, when it's not really Christian. It's a difficult situation for any real Christ follower. On one side you have a culture and society growing progressively more hostile toward Christian values. On the other side you've got a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, Romans 1:5, Psalm 34:14

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Dangers Of Deception (Part One) Series

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 22, 2017

The word 'deceive' in its various forms occurs 87 times in the NIV. Deception is a dangerous thing; both in being deceived as well as being the one doing the deceiving. So let's find out how can we avoid the trappings of falling into either side of it.

THE DANGERS OF DECEPTION (part one) A man was standing on the street corner looking pitiful in his dark glasses and shabby clothes, holding a tin cup. A kindly man passed by and dropped a quarter in the cup. As he walked away and turned the corner he instinctively turned to look at the blind ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:13, Psalm 55:12-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Armor Of God: Faith

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Aug 5, 2023

Among Gary Larsen’s “The Far Side” cartoons was one where two deer were standing upright in the forest. One deer is looking at his buddy who clearly has a target on his chest. And the one deer is saying, “Bummer of a birthmark, Hal!”

Alba 7-30-2023 THE ARMOR OF GOD: THE SHIELD OF FAITH Ephesians 6:16 Among Gary Larsen’s “The Far Side” cartoons was one where two deer were standing upright in the forest. One deer is looking at his buddy who clearly has a target on his chest. And the one deer is saying, “Bummer of a birthmark, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:16, Hebrews 11:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Go! And Serve The King - Matthew 25:31-46 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 28, 2025

Every person will stand before Jesus one day. The rich and the poor. The powerful and the weak. The famous and the unknown. No one will escape that moment. And Jesus will separate people into two groups—like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The question is: Which side will you be on?

Go! And Serve the King - Matthew 25:31-46 Introduction: The Final Separation Every person on this earth will stand before Jesus one day. The rich and the poor. The powerful and the weak. The famous and the unknown. No one will escape that moment. And on that day, Jesus will separate people into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:11-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, James 2:17, Proverbs 19:17, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, John 3:36, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-16, Matthew 24:30, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 22:37-38, Matthew 22:39-40, 1 John 4:20, James 1:27, Luke 22:42, Romans 1:24, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 25:21, Matthew 7:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Passionate Pursuit Of Effective Prayer.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Sep 13, 2023

Psalm 3, presents another side of the biblical picture of faith in which the neat, tidy, well ordered theology of Psalm 1 and 2 gives way to a theology that allows for the realities of life– realities that include struggle, injustice, abuse, doubt, fear, and the testing of our faith.

The Passionate Pursuit Of Effective Prayer. Psalm 13:1-6 Jenny and I left our house early to be with our parents for Thanksgiving, 1996. As we left I noticed our next door neighbor’s silver van was parked in his driveway. My neighbor and I had gotten close. I didn’t know that he was a different ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 13:1-6, John 16:33

Denomination: Pentecostal

You Can't Fight Against God

Contributed by John Gaston on Jul 11, 2025

Church, we’re on the winning side! Who can stop what God’s doing? Today we’re looking at how God used an enemy to save the life of the apostles and reveal a great truth about how God’s work cannot fail.

YOU CAN'T FIGHT AGAINST GOD Acts 5:12-42 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: The Devil Provided 1. There was a poor woman who lived next door to an atheist. He often mocked her faith and derided her “imaginary friend.” One day he overheard her praying for some groceries. He went out and bought a couple ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Facing The Perilous Times

Contributed by Pastor Renji George on Mar 7, 2026

The early church faced persecution, imprisonment, and martyrdom—yet they turned the world upside down because they were filled with the Spirit. What is lacking today? The presence of God! Knowledge and human wisdom will not take the Church to the old path. We need the Holy Spirit on our side.

2 Timothy 3:1–5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Romans 8:35-39, Acts 1:8, John 8:31-32, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, Matthew 24:12, Revelation 3:16, Revelation 2:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Standing Between The Living & The Dead

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 20, 2023

The picture in Numbers 16 of Aaron standing between the living and the dead is a picture of the final judgment when the greater High Priest, Jesus Christ, is what separates the living and the dead of all this world's inhabitants. Make sure you're on the right side!

STANDING BETWEEN THE LIVING & THE DEAD Num. 16:41-50 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Repeating the Same Mistakes 1. I visited someone in the hospital and they told me they met a lady in the emergency room who had both ears bandaged. "What happened to you?" 2. "I was ironing some ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 16:41-50

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

If God Is For Us...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Mar 23, 2020

It's nice to know when someone's got your back. It's comforting to know that someone is by your side. In Romans 8, Paul talks about God this way. In today's passage, we'll see what it means to know that God is for us. If God is for us then what?

IF GOD IS FOR US... Rom. 8:28-39 It's nice to know when someone's got your back. It's comforting to know that someone will be by your side. And it helps to know that someone is there for us. In Romans 8, Paul talks about God this way. In today's passage, we'll see what it means ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39, Romans 5:3-4, 1 John 2:1, Romans 8:18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Stand On The Sidelines Series

Contributed by Robert Fox on Jan 19, 2007

Compares being a Christ Follower to being a member of a football team, focus on choosing to follow God, and "holy ground". Student Ministry PowerPoint format.

[Don’t stand on the Sidelines] If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve - and do it today … As for me and my family, we’ll worship God. (Joshua 24:15 MSG) This material was originally presented in PowerPoint format to a student ministry audience. If ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Pillars Of Society: Morality & Religion

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 26, 2021

There is something missing from our republic. It's something obvious, something vital. It brings light to the mind and thoughts of glory into action. Yet it's missing. It's gone somewhere; but where has it gone?

"The great pillars of all government and of social life are virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor... and this alone, that renders us invincible." -Patrick Henry, Letter to Archibald Blair, January 8 1799 There is something missing from our republic. It's something ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Salvation Army