Sermons on Thorny Places:

Come To A Lonely Place

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 30, 2024

We tend in our enthusiasm to forget that WE are not the saviors of the world. The world already has one of those, and He is unmatchable.

Saturday of the Fourth Week in Course 2024 Today St. Mark’s Gospel interjects a short story about Jesus counseling His disciples how to be effective missionaries. ‘And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while."’ The great saints advise similar rest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:4-13, Psalm 119:9-14, Mark 6:30-34

Denomination: Catholic

Detour Into A Lonely Place

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Feb 21, 2024

A sermon for the first Sunday in Lent, Year B

February 18, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Mark 1:9-15 Detour into a Lonely Place Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. When I was a child, my grandparents always purchased the Reader’s Digest condensed version of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15

Denomination: Lutheran

All The Wrong Places Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 20, 2023

Message 5 in an overview series through Philippians focusing on the theme that joy is not based on circumstances.

ILLUSTRATION – Doing the brakes on my daughter’s car…lost the lug nut key. After searching for DAYS in the garage, I eventually found it at the end of the driveway 100 yards away… I was looking in all the wrong places. And this illustration is the picture I want to paint this morning of our quest ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Assurance Of The Secret Place

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 9, 2024

Trouble comes into each life, even the life of the Christian. When trouble comes, the child or God will seek a refuge. The Psalmist points to the Lord God as the refuge for all who are redeemed.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? “When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

A Return To The Secret Place Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Mar 6, 2025

Returning to the secret place is essential for anyone who desires a deeper walk with God. It is the place where strength, wisdom, and divine encounters are birthed.

A RETURN TO THE SECRET PLACE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Matthew 6:6 "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Supporting Texts: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6, Psalm 91:1, Mark 1:35, Exodus 33:9-11, Luke 5:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Proper Place Of Tradition

Contributed by Neil Olcott on Mar 31, 2025

Jesus teaches that traditional rules and Laws can't provide salvation and can be dangerous because they can lead to hypocrisy.

We all know the comfort that tradition can bring us. Family traditions over the holidays, birthdays Church traditions - singing hymns, Candlelight Christmas eve services, The way we have always done it. For years after Pat and I were first married - Bowed and/or genuflect - before sitting in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:34-36, Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Wealthiest Place On Earth

Contributed by Neal Gracey on Apr 3, 2024

Where is the wealthiest place on earth? The Cemetery! Why the cemetery? Because in the cemetery are books that were never written, and cures that were never discovered. Money never spent.

Die Empty – R. Neal Gracey May 5, 2019 Where is the wealthiest place on earth? The Cemetery! Why the cemetery? Because in the cemetery are books that were never written, and cures that were never discovered. The graveyard is filled with music, we’ve never heard. The cemetery is filled ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Denomination: Baptist

Friends In Low Places Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Apr 13, 2024

Naaman lived because he reluctantly listened to people who were “beneath” him. He left Syria because of a captured slave who kindly told him where to find healing. He wanted to speak to Israel's king, but it was a prophet’s assistant who told him where to go for healing.

As fall is here, our church family is examining the life of Elisha. Elisha shows us how to remain faithful during challenging times. Our God always leaves His light for us even in the most troubling of times. Elisha’s life is the story of God’s bright light in the darkest of skies. I invite you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-7, 2 Kings 5:15-19

Denomination: Baptist

Heaven, The Place Of No Tears

Contributed by Kelvin Mckisic on Aug 17, 2024

The Christian's hope is not just to live a long life on earth, but to live forever with God in heaven. —J. I. Packer

Good morning, dear friends. I'm so delighted to see each one of you here today. There's a sense of shared joy, shared faith, and shared hope that fills this room and each home online as we gather, and it's a beautiful thing. We are here, not because we are perfect, but because we are ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4, Isaiah 25:8, Romans 12:1-2, John 14:2, James 1:2-6, Hebrews 6:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Knowing Your Place

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Aug 31, 2022

A sermon for the Sunday following Pentecost, Year C, Lectionary 22

August 28, 2022 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church Luke 14:1, 7-14 Knowing Your Place Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. A small commercial plane was carrying only four passengers: a doctor, a trial lawyer, a minister and a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Belonging In A Better Place Series

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Sep 14, 2022

King Saul had just died. David had been anointed king for the second time. Now he looked at the city of Jerusalem (a Jebusite stronghold) and said to himself, "I"m going to take that city. That is where I belong as the King of Israel."

This story unfolds in four main points: 1. David’s Desire for Jerusalem (v. 6a) It’s interesting that the Bible does not say anything about David’s desire to take Jerusalem. Verse 6 simply says, “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites.” However, David was a conqueror, and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 5:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Call To The Market Place Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Sep 27, 2025

When we think of a call, we often think of a full-time vocation. This message looks at what it means to be called to the Marketplace.

When you hear that someone has been called to something or has answered a call on their life, who do you think of? A preacher? A missionary? Maybe a doctor, a nurse or a teacher. There seem to be certain professions that we feel particular folks are called to. For many people, a call means that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Wesleyan

Pure In Secret Places

Contributed by Samuel M on Oct 1, 2025

Living a holy life is a choice. If you decide to live a holy life, God will provide the necessary help needed to overcome the temptation.

Are we pure when no one is watching? Is their purity in our secret places? Are our secret places pure, sacred and Holy? Is it filled with filth and all kinds of evil things? What are you doing when we are in our rooms (or secret places) faced with temptations, when it’s easy to sin, and when no one ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:7-10

The Dwelling Place Of God

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Oct 18, 2025

THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD 1. PRAISES 2. BROKEN HEART 3. PURE HEART 4. WHOLE HEART 5. NEAR 6. CHURCH 7. UNITY

THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD 1. PRAISES 2. BROKEN HEART 3. PURE HEART 4. WHOLE HEART 5. NEAR 6. CHURCH 7. UNITY ******************************* THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD 1. PRAISES Psalm 22 : 3 3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. Psalm 100 : 4 4 Enter into His gates ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:3

Denomination: Pentecostal

No Place Like It!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 18, 2025

By focusing on the first congregation, we can discover how we can transform our own church into the powerful congregation God intends it to be.

“When [the disciples] had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:31-35

Denomination: Baptist