Sermons on Thorny Ground:

Solitude Is Delicious

Contributed by Bala Samson on Mar 10, 2022

There are moments when loneliness thankfully becomes solitude and solitude deliciously transforms into creativity. This was the divine purpose of God for my solitude!

WILDERNESS – DAY 3 Matthew 3: “Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Ministry of John the Baptist starts in the wilderness; isolation was inevitable for John because he was going to deal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Two Trees

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Mar 15, 2022

Dealing with the tree of knowledge and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What is the difference?

The Two Trees Theme: To show that there are two trees we chose from: 1) tree of life or 2) tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What is the difference? Text: Genesis 1 - 3 Genesis 2:4-9 This is the history [3] of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-9

Denomination: Church Of God

A Candidate For An Extreme Makeover

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on May 17, 2022

In his misguided thinking, Saul thought that he was fighting for God. We need an extreme makeover when our actions are fighting against God and innocent people, yet we think we are fighting for God.

Sermon: A Candidate For An Extreme Makeover Scripture Lesson: Acts 9:1-19 “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19, Hosea 4:6

Denomination: Methodist

The Sad, Sad Decision Of Cain, The Firstborn Of Adam And Eve (Expanded) – Genesis Chapter 4; Jude 1:12 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 16, 2022

When Jude deals with the ravenous wolves of the false teachers, his thoughts go to three vile people in the Old Testament. Today I am doing only one of those even though we touched on it in the past. Cain is the disobedient and murderous one. We will examine the story in more detail.

THE SAD, SAD DECISION OF CAIN, THE FIRSTBORN OF ADAM AND EVE (EXPANDED) – GENESIS CHAPTER 4 Jude 1:12 There was an earlier massage that contained Cain and Korah together. Now Cain alone is expanded. Today we look at Cain. {{Jude 1 v 11 “Woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain, and for ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:11, John 8:44, Genesis 4:2-10, 1 John 3:12, Genesis 9:1-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Learning From God's Providence

Contributed by Charles Scott on Jun 22, 2017

Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. Similarly, St. Paul learned from the Christ that he had persecuted, the things he would suffer as He followed the Christ. Living the Christ life, we will see how suffering aids in redemption.

Trinity 2 2017 Learning from God’s Providence The Collect O LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 3:13, Luke 14:6

Denomination: Anglican

Anxiety Is A Downer

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Nov 14, 2016

Last week I shared Prov. 12:25, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." As I focused on the later part of the verse last week, today I want to focus on the beginning part of the verse. So, let's look at the subject of anxiety.

ANXIETY IS A DOWNER INTRODUCTION: Last week I shared Prov. 12:25, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." in regards to shining our light. Light warms and so therefore a kind word warms a person's heart. As I focused on the later part of the verse last week, today I ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Aug 22, 2016

This message is about how we can get so caught up looking at and desiring something that someone else has that we fail to walk in the blessings that God has already given us.

Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You Scriptures: Psalm 1:1-3 Introduction The title of my message this morning is “Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You!” Some of you are old enough to remember the song with this title. Let me read the first verse of this song to you: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stand And Strive Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Paul said to put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Without this weapon of endurance we will not stand but fall wounded from his fiery darts of affliction.

William Lloyd Garrison was born in 1805 and when he became a man he had the audacity to think he could remove a mountain and altar the flow the river of history. Slavery was that mountain, and what a mountain it was. Slavery had existed from the dawn of civilization, and it was one of the most ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:6

Avoiding False Teachers

Contributed by Kelvin Mckisic on Oct 1, 2024

As we continue in our series on Jesus' letters to the seven churches, we find ourselves looking at the words Jesus has to say to the church in Thyatira, how they have some good things, but they tolerate false teachings in the church.

Good morning, beloved congregation! It's a joy to be here with you, standing on the solid ground of God's truth, ready to open His Word together. We are not here by accident, but by divine appointment. And we are not here to hear the words of a man, but to hear from the God who fashioned ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29, 2 Timothy 4:2-4, John 16:13, Matthew 5:27-28, 2 Timothy 2:24-26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sermon 8 - Finding An Approach That Fits Series

Contributed by David Owens on Apr 28, 2025

The key for evangelistic success is not only employing the most effective approaches, but employing the ones that best match our own 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 like 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, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Compassionate To The Fallen Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 30, 2021

You cannot lead someone to Christ through criticism, shame or correction. It starts with the kindness of God, as you show forth the compassion and forgiveness of Jesus. “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

In Romans 2:4, the apostle Paul declared that “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” (NIV). If showing forth the kindness of God can lead a person to repentance, then on the opposite side, sharing judgment and condemnation will lead an individual to hardening his heart against the ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Counting The Blessing Of Hope

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Nov 29, 2025

This sermon is about the blessing of hope in times of trouble and despair on this side of grave and the hope that inspires us after death. What does Jeremiah 29:11 actually mean in its context.

Counting Every Blessing: The Blessing of Hope Jeremiah 29:1-13 and 1 Peter 1:3-5 We are in part 4 of the series Counting Every Blessing. I have been assigned the Blessing of hope. Hope is a very strange word in the English language because it has so many different levels of confidence ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-13, 1 Peter 1:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What's That In Your Hand?

Contributed by James Wilson on Oct 18, 2000

Motivate members to become ministers.

What's in your Hand Exodus 4:1-4 NASB Then Moses answered and said, "What if they will not believe me, or listen to what I say? For they may say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you.' " [2] And the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" And he said, "A staff." [3] Then He said, "Throw it ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Shrink Back

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Sep 19, 2002

Like God’s people to whom Isaiah spoke in Ch. 55, we can grow to think our circumstances are insurmountable. We can suffer a crisis of faith. Isaiah reassures God’s people of every age that there’s no reason to shrink back from carrying out the work and

Pentecost 18 A Isaiah 55:6-9 Don’t Shrink Back 09/22/02 Professor William Muehl once visited a fine ancestral home in Virginia. He followed the aged owner, the last of a distinguished colonial family, as she proudly showed him through her home. An ancient rifle above the fireplace intrigued him, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Anatomy Of Destruction - Satans Corporate Agenda

Contributed by Bob Groves on May 20, 2002

A look at how satan goes about weakening churches.

Today – Change gears to a CORPORATE FOCUS A Church Like Ours The Devil Does NOT LIKE YOU/ME...FAM! What would satan do to hamper us? Weaken us? Where would he show up if possible? How would he go about his business? 2 Passages Is. 14:12-15 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:11-19

Denomination: Pentecostal