Sermons on Thorny Ground:

Counterfeit Christianity

Contributed by Don Bradley on Feb 5, 2011

This sermon stresses the difference of being a genuine believer and a counterfeit one.

COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANITY Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23 Intro: One day Jesus was by the seashore when He became accompanied by multitudes of people. There were so many that He had to go offshore and sit in a boat. He then began to teach the people. What He taught them was the Parable of the Sower, among ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Fear Of God

Contributed by Jim Keegan on Aug 11, 2022

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” as the Book of Proverbs stresses repeatedly. May we seek to live as God-fearing people who humble our hearts in reverence of His glory and live in faithfulness to His will.

The year was 1845. A man named Carl Steinman was fascinated by volcanoes, and going against the advice of his guide, he ventured to the edge of a dormant volcano while visiting Mount Hecla in Iceland. Although it had last erupted over fifty years earlier, the guide noticed there had been ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13

Receiving The Word

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 15, 2017

Let us understand where we find genuine Christianity deeply within people’s hearts.

Intro, Purpose & Plan Are our hearts downtrodden, like a well-worn path? Are our hearts hard, lacking stick-to-it-iveness or thorny, laden down with worldly cares. How can we learn to become like rich soil that receives the word of the kingdom and produces a rich harvest? Let us understand where ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

You Gotta Have Heart Series

Contributed by David Owens on May 8, 2023

In Mark 4, Jesus taught the parable of the sower, and then explained it. The parable challenges us to sow the word of God and to cultivate our hearts so that we can be the good soil that produces a great harvest.

A. Once there was a man who was having serious heart trouble, so he went to the doctor to see what his options were. 1. His doctor recommended that he have a heart transplant. 2. The patient asked if there were any hearts immediately available and told the doctor that he could pay whatever amount ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20, 1 Corinthians 3:7, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs 4:23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Genesis Sermon 4: Origin Of Vegetation

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Nov 20, 2002

This is a sermon about the creation story.

A. INTRODUCTION: GENESIS 1:11-13 "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:11-13

Denomination: Baptist

A Complacent Or Passionate Heart, Which Will It Be?

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Oct 22, 2001

The abundant Christian life is a choice that starts with how we listen and respond to the Word of God.

Intro: There once was a not so bright fellow who saw an advertisement for a cruise. The sign in the travel agency window read “Cruise -- $100 Cash.” I’ve got a hundred dollars, he thought. And I’d like to go on a cruise. So he entered the door and announced his desires. The fellow at the desk ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:5-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Othniel: God Is Might Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 29, 2020

In these troubling times, don’t compromise in your commitment to the Lord; but if you have, cry out to the Lord and count on your Sovereign Savior.

On August 10, 1948, Allen Funt debuted a hidden-camera reality TV show called Candid Camera, which became wildly popular for many years. The genius of the show is that it caught people in the act of being themselves. It produced lots of laughs, but it also offered a fascinating look into human ...read more

Scripture: Judges 3:5-11, Hebrews 2:14-15, Hebrews 7:25, Acts 5:29-31, Revelation 5:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

What The 5 Anointing Spices Teach Us Of Jesus

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Sep 11, 2012

The high priest was anointed with 5 principal spices, each of these teach us something about the suffering's and merits won by Jesus.

What the 5 Anointing Spices Teach us of Jesus Exodus 30:23-25 "Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, [even] two hundred and fifty [shekels], and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty [shekels], And of cassia five ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 30:23-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

Life's Greatest Influences

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jul 16, 2007

This message examines scripture that describes Life’s Greatest Influences. Three influences lead people away from God and one influence leads people to God.

Three Verses One -Life’s Greatest Influences- Matthew 13:18-23 This morning I want to examine scripture that describes Life’s Greatest Influences. I’m titled the message, “Three Verses One.” I want us to look at three influences that lead people away from God and one influence that leads people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:18-23

Denomination: Free Methodist

How To Listen To God: The Good Soil - Mark 4:20-25 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 16, 2023

Why is Scripture hard and why so many different conclusions about Jesus? Because he hid the truth in hard sayings. Why make it so hard? This passage explains.

Mark 4:14 The sower sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. Immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:20-25, Matthew 13:12, Luke 8:16-18

It’s Just Emotion That’s Taking Me Over Series

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Dec 9, 2009

How anger can be good and bad

...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26-27

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jesus Is God's Answer - Sermon I: Jesus Is God's Answer To Life's Supreme Quetions Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Jan 4, 2020

While many folks today simply "add" Jesus to their lives as just another aspect of all that they have going on, mature Christians say "no" to this type of defamation of Jesus and say "yes" to the preeminence of Christ as Lord.

JESUS IS GOD’S ANSWER TO LIFE’S SUPREME QUESTIONS With declining church attendance, a church in Maryland used market research and focus groups to design its weekly services. They did this to determine what type of services people would attend. As a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:6-15, Isaiah 43:1-7, Colossians 1:15-17

Planting The Word

Contributed by Steve Malone on Mar 9, 2004

In this message we will see not only how the Word of God is planted, but we will see the power of the planted Word.

"PLANTING THE WORD" TEXT: LUKE 8:1-56/HEB 4:12 INTRODUCTION In Hebrews 4:12 we read; "THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE. SHARPER THAN ANY DOUBLE EDGED SWORD, IT PENETRATES EVEN TO DIVIDING SOUL AND SPIRIT, JOINTS AND MARROW; IT JUDGES THE THOUGHTS AND ATTITUDES OF THE HEART..." Turn in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-56

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Flower Garden Sermon I: The Yellow Rose - Sunshine In My Soul Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Sep 24, 2019

Christians need to be reminded of the sunshine of salvation in our souls even though gloomy situations surround us and seek to drive us to despair.

GOD’S FLOWER GARDEN I: THE YELLOW ROSE SUNSHINE IN MY SOUL Song of Solomon Showers of spiritual blessings we have received in abundance ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 2:1

Recognizing The Receptive Series

Contributed by David Dewitt on Nov 14, 2007

We are called to reach out those around us with the hope and message of the gospel.

Recognizing the Receptive Series: Spring Life - Identify Matthew 13:1-9, Luke 19:1-10 March 4, 2007 Morning Service This message was prepared using the Springlife materials supplied by the Wesleyan Headquarters. Introduction When I was young, we always planted a garden at my grandmother’s house. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Church Of God