Sermons on Thorny Places:

Elim: The Place Of Rest

Contributed by Bright Adeyeye on Jul 13, 2020

When we let go of bitterness, God leads us to a place of emotional healing, rest and refreshment.

ELIM: THE PLACE OF REST "22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27, Psalm 63:1-5, Revelation 14:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Place At His Feet Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Aug 13, 2020

The journey from Moab had been difficult and filled with uncertainty. However, Bethlehem offered great favor and abundance for Ruth and Naomi. Ruth has prepared for a meeting that would changer her life forever. She would have a meeting with one able to redeem.

A Place at His Feet Ruth 3: 7-18 It is impossible to fully understand the emotion and anxiety Ruth must’ve felt at this moment in her life. She had left the devastation of Moab, in search of a new beginning, in a strange and foreign land. We can only imagine what she might have thought in ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

First Place Only Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

It is important to see that our part is to seek and exert the energy in diligent search. It is God's part to see that we find.

Gerald Kennedy in his book The Christian And His America tells of hearing the head of one of the largest airplane companies at a luncheon where he was reporting on the situation facing America in the field of air defense. He described the growth of our air force, and the probable growth of the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 2:4-5

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

Grace In Strange Places

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 17, 2023

God's grace and protection are often in places we really do not want to go and through people we disdain.

Joshua 2 Grace In Wrong Places Jos 2:1  And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.  Joshua (Jehovah-saved) son of Nun ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

#2 A Place Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Robert Malcolm on Jan 8, 2025

Prayer works & prayer changes things and we are that church … a place of prayer

~ Intro: The Journal of Reproductive Medicine reports that researchers at Columbia University conducted a study with 199 women at an in vitro fertilization clinic in Korea. Unknown to the patients and their doctors, groups of strangers from the US, Canada, and Australia were asked to pray for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17, Isaiah 56:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

A Place To Dwell Forever Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 12, 2025

Jesus was born to be called "Immanuel" - to be "God with us". What was it about the Temple that made it a symbol of how Christ intended to be "with us" as Christians?

There was a priest who served in large city, and one cold day in December he discovered that the baby Jesus - that had been his church’s manger had been stolen. He reported it to the police and he explained to them “We’ve just got to find that baby. He’s the only Jesus these people have ever ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 8:9-13, Matthew 1:23, 2 Chronicles 7:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Place For God To Dwell Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 19, 2024

Solomon said that the Temple he built wasn't big enough for God to live in... but we're told God dwelt there anyway. Why would God take up residence in the Temple (and the Tabernacle), and where does He dwell now?

A woman told of going to her Bible study at church and telling her 3-year-old son, Chad, they were going to God’s house. Each time they walked through the quiet sanctuary on their way to the nursery, Chad looked around in awe. It was a beautiful building. One day however, the child asked, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 2:4-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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