Sermons on Thorny Ground:

Saul Strikes Again (1 Samuel 26)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Apr 22, 2025

How do we handle our enemies? Let's begin in 1 Samuel 26.

Do we wait on God for justice, or sin by taking revenge? Abigail wisely turned David from evil against Nabal, but did David do right by Saul? Let’s look at 1 Samuel 26. Did Saul break his word and seek to attack David again? People from Ziph came to Saul in Gibeah and informed him, “David is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

First Sunday Of Advent, Year B: Advent Hope

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Nov 5, 2023

Optimism is an assessment. Hope is an act.

A man named John Hakel says his three-year-old daughter looked at a calendar and asked him, "Daddy, how many BE GOOD days until Christmas?" 1 Advent is not a penitential season; it’s a period of devout and expectant delight, yet we intuitively understand that it is not possible ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:33-37

Denomination: Catholic

Free From Slavery (Exodus 14)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 19, 2024

Is the Exodus more than history? Is it also a metaphor for our eternal salvation? Let's look at Exodus 14.

How hard does the devil fight to keep us enslaved to evil? Does it require God’s miraculous intervention to free us? Is the Exodus not just the history of a nation’s salvation but also a metaphor for our eternal salvation? Let’s look at Exodus 14. Was God more concerned that the Egyptians know ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Dressed And Ready

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Aug 22, 2024

Paul teaches us to "dress for battle" against the "wiles of the devil." How do we do that? Why is that so important?

WE HATE CHEATING. WE DON’T LIKE TO GET DUPED, FOOLED, TRICKED, AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY ANYONE. IT SEEMS TO BE ESPECIALLY PAINFUL IF IT INVOLVED TRUSTED FRIENDS OR FAMILY. I READ THAT, “EVIL RARELY LOOKS EVIL UNTIL IT ACCOMPLISHES ITS GOAL; IT GAINS ENTRANCE BY APPEARING ATTRACTIVE, DESIREABLE, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 1 Peter 5:8, Isaiah 59:17

Denomination: Free Methodist

How Come? Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Dec 20, 2017

a study in the book of Genesis 3: 1 – 24

Genesis 3: 1 – 24 How Come? Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

"He Got Up"!

Contributed by Adlai Naidoo on Jan 23, 2002

Understanding our Victory in Christ!

HE GOT UP – Dr. Adlai Naidoo Introduction: French thinker, Auguste Comte, once told Thomas Carlyle that he was going to start a new religion to replace Christianity. “Very good,” replied Carlyle, “all you’ll have to do is to be crucified, rise again on the third day, and get the world to believe ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Parable Of The Talents Series

Contributed by Marty Baker on Mar 10, 2003

The sermon focues on the proper management of resources in a person’s life. It was delivered in a seeker church, but is believer targeted.

The Parable of the Talents Dr. Marty Baker / Matthew 25:14-30/ March 9, 2003 www.stevenscreek.net America is fascinated with talented people. This is evident by the fact that 25 million people watched the 45th Annual Grammy Awards two weeks ago, and an estimated 40 million viewers will tune-in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Church Of God

How To Communicate The Good News Effectively Series

Contributed by Everette Pafford on Apr 9, 2002

The early christians and early church were very effectively in the communication of the gospel. This series investigates the why and how of their effectiveness. Part 1 examines why Paul was so effective.

“How to communicate the good news effectively” One Sunday as they drove home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, there’s something about the preacher’s message this morning that I don’t understand." The mother said, "Oh? What is it?" The little girl replied, "Well, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:7-11, Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Pentecostal

Finding An Approach That Fits Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 31, 2006

There are many ways to do evangelism. The key for success is not only employing the most effective approaches, but employing the ones that best match our own individual personalities and gifts.

Introduction: A. For every task that we face, there are many approaches or methods that we might employ. 1. Some methods are certainly better than others. B. I love the story of the man who was injured on the job and had to provide further explanation of the cause of his injuries for the insurance ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:5-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Walking Where We Have Never Walked Before Series

Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Feb 3, 2006

Strengthening Christian in their daily walk of life

LIFE AT THE HIGHEST PLANE! WALKING WHERE WE HAVE NEVER WALKED BEFORE SERMON #2 Joshua 3:1-6 Psalm 23:4. Jos 3:1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 And it came to ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Deep & Wide

Contributed by Guy Caley on Jun 26, 2006

God’s love for us is so great that it will transform our lives if we can begin to grasp it.

In the frontier days snake oil salesmen would sell potions guaranteed to cure whatever ailed you, from gout to gangrene and warts to weariness. Unfortunately their claims were a tad overblown, but in the passage we looked at today we get a glimpse of a genuine miracle cure. Paul writing from ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Resurrection

Contributed by David Becker on Apr 19, 2006

Resurrection means that our too late is not too late for God. He can resurrect our life vision, future and faith.

RESURRECTION (Too Late is never Too Late) TEXT - John 11:25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. INTRODUCTION Today is Resurrection Sunday; it is a day of tremendous hope and victory for every ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Help, I'm A Parent!

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 10, 2006

Keys to parenting: 1. Prayer 2. Modeling 3. Training

Morgan Freeman narrates the documentary film The March of the Penguins. It follows the epic journey of the Emperor Penguins of Antarctica 70 miles inland to their breeding grounds. It is an arduous walk as they tilt side to side through the ice, snow and natural barriers. The film captures the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:2-4

Denomination: Methodist

Stories Of The Stones

Contributed by Steven Shubert on Sep 30, 2004

Jesus told the Pharisees that, "If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." I wonder, what sort of story would a stone tell us, if it suddenly discovered a voice of its own?

I. Introduction A. This passage has often been misinterpreted that, should the people hold their peace, then the Lord would cause the very stones to begin to praise Him. 1. In Matt. 3:9 and Luke 3:8, we find John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness; he declares “...That God is able of these ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:37-40

Denomination: Pentecostal

When The Wrecking Ball Hits A Home (Part 1)

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Sep 15, 2004

Divorce in the Old Testament and Gospels

1 Corinthians 7:10-16 When The Wrecking Ball Hits A Home (part 1) Introduction “Divorce.” I remember the first time I heard that word. I was 10 years old. Growing up in the late 50’s and early 60’s “divorce” wasn’t part of our vocabulary. But when I was ten, a friend of mine’s parents got ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible