Sermons on thorns and thistles:

The Warrior Seed & The Way We Live

Contributed by Rodney Fry on May 29, 2022

Do you ever feel like life is a battlefield? Scripture tells us something about the inevitability of struggles in this present world and how to face them with strength and hope.

The Warrior Seed and the Way We Live Scripture: Genesis 3:8–15, especially verse 15 I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel (NLT). Introduction: Do you ever feel like life is a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

Rolling The Dice Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 22, 2018

Question: “Can a Christian Lose their salvation?” “Is a person once saved always saved?” “I understand that once I prayed a salvation prayer I now have a get out of Hell ticket for life no matter what I do.”

Series: You Asked For it! Thesis of Series: Today we are continuing with questions from the survey we passed out a few months back. You had the opportunity to ask questions. Our series is called “You Asked For It!” And you asked us to address these following questions: “Can a Christian Lose their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7, Hebrews 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 1 Timothy 6:20-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Pain? Lesson 4 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Oct 27, 2023

God is not the author of pain or suffering.

A. GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF PAIN OR SUFFERING 1. God created a perfect man and placed Him in a perfect environment. 2. Pain and suffering are the consequences of living in a fallen world. “To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:16-19, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Genesis 50:20

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Sowers

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jul 11, 2008

We are spiritual sowers by our witness for Jesus.

Text: Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, a sower went out to sow” (Matthew 13:3). Why would Jesus use the words “sow and sower”? What does it mean to “sow”? What is a “sower”? What is a parable? Why did Jesus teach in parables? Jesus used the words “sow and sower” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Christian Church

He Became A Curse For Us

Contributed by Steven Cannon on Mar 7, 2006

Jesus was not only crucified but he became a curse for us.

HE BECAME A CURSE The crucifixion was a horrifying experience. It was a method of torture. Beatings, the crushing of bones, tearing of flesh was some of the things that Jesus faced. But Jesus went through something else for us. The bible says he became a curse for us. Gal 3:13 Christ ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Perished Kingdom Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 22, 2007

God’s perfect plan for the world was destroyed because the man and woman failed to trust him to do what he said he’d do and as a result all their relationships were broken.

One of the most exquisite pieces of sculpture created by the great artist, Michelangelo, was the sculpture called the Pieta. It depicts Mary holding a dead Christ in her arms after he was taken down from the cross. Michelangelo carved it from a single slab of marble in less than two years. It stood ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-25

Denomination: Anglican

Taste Testers

Contributed by Horace Wimpey on Feb 21, 2013

Hebrews 6 adresses those who only taste what Jesus has to offer us.

Hebrews 6:4-8 . Intro: On Sunday, August 16,1987, Northwest Airlines flight 225 crashed just after taking off from the Detroit airport. One hundred fifty-five people were killed. One survived: a 4-year-old from Tempe, Arizona, named Cecelia. News accounts say when rescuers found Cecelia they did ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:4-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Ills That Befall

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Sep 5, 2017

"Christians differ from pagans not in the ills that befall them but in what they do with the ills that befall them." - St. Augustine. Christians should respond to tragedy, sickness, and trials in light of who they are in Jesus Christ.

The Ills that Befall September 3, 2017 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: "Christians differ from pagans not in the ills that befall them but in what they do with the ills that befall them." - St. Augustine. Christians should respond to tragedy, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Godliness Is A Lifelong Learning Journey. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Mar 4, 2024

Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, sin has been an “inheritance” for all of their descendants.

According to the Bible, humanity's first parents, Adam and Eve, committed the original sin, which has been passed down to every generation since. In this article, we will explore the biblical basis for this belief.As the apostle Paul writes, "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Hebrews 11:25, Romans 6:12, Philippians 4:11-13, Ezekiel 18:4  (view more)  (view less)

No Turning Back Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Feb 22, 2021

One of the most sobering warnings in all of Scripture is found in Hebrews 6. There is a great, even awful danger of making an irreversible and eternally destructive choice to abandon Christ. This passage stresses why you don't want to go there.

This past year I faced a bit of a dilemma. My high school class, the class of 1970, was planning to celebrate its 50-year class reunion. I was invited. Would I go? That wasn’t the real dilemma. The real dilemma was that my spiritual father was on the organizing committee—yes, the fellow who ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-8, 2 Peter 3:9, John 10:27-30, John 6:37, 1 John 2:19, Romans 8:35, Hebrews 3:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Bible Church

Irritated But Illuminated

Contributed by Christopher Rainer on Mar 5, 2008

A serious discussion on how both THORNS and THEOLOGY help us to more fully understand God’s power and providence at work in each of our lives...

Irritated But Illuminated Scripture Text: II Corinthians 12:7 – 10 Introduction: If there was a mind reading device that would allow me to lend you access to my thoughts, I’m not sure that I would even let my parents touch it because if they read my mind they would probably be repulsed because of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Rejected! Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 27, 2017

Jesus was not just left behind, but hatefully rejected for our good.

Rejected! (Mark 15:1-20) 1. UPI article: “An Indiana man enlisted the help of the American Civil Liberties Union to help win his fight against the state for a custom license plate reading, "ATHE1ST." “Chris Bontrager said a letter from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles did not cite a specific ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:1-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When God Says 'no'

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Jul 22, 2018

Sometimes God says no. When you are weakened by His answer, He will strengthen you by His grace.

The late Chuck Colson of Watergate fame shared his experience when God said NO. The great paradox [of my life] is that every time I walk into a prison and see the faces of men or women who have been transformed by the power of the living God, I realize that the thing God has chosen to use in my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Denomination: Other

Fourteenth Sunday Ordinary Time, B— Thorn Of Paul: His Faith Narrative

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jul 2, 2021

Application about Paul’s teaching about his thorn: He was active in interpreting his life experience to himself and others

Paul Powell said, “Troubles knock a lot of nonsense out of us.” Like Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” from our Second Reading taken from 2 Corinthians, chapter 12 , which he says was given to him by “an angel of Satan.” It was not a sin problem. e.g. Winne-the-Pooh comes downstairs, bump, bump, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Catholic

Labor Pains

Contributed by Antonio Torrence on Nov 25, 2000

This sermon is about viewing the daily pains of our life as a sign of the birth of a new life occurring.

"Labor Pains" - Romans 8:18-28 -Rev. A. L. Torrence Pastor of the Cross of Life Lutheran Church Labor Day Weekend- for most of us, this is a time we attempt to get in that last summer vacation, that last barbecue or picnic, or that last major department store sale. The holiday also signals the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-28

Denomination: Lutheran