Sermons on Thorny Places:

Taking No Chances

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 24, 2023

Incomplete obedience is disobedience. And yet, many fellow Christians attempt to serve God while living for the world. We need to discover the will of the Lord and courageously do that will.

“In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 15:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Exodus Part 8 (Nasb)

Contributed by Steven W. Satterfield on Jan 12, 2025

Israel's obedience of Yahweh's instructions; the offering of the materials and the recognition of the artisans (c/o Word Biblical Commentary)

The Tabernacle Underwritten 36 “Now Bezalel, Oholiab, and every [a]skillful person in whom the Lord has put [b]skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work [c]in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with everything that the Lord has commanded.” 2 Then Moses ...read more

Denomination: Vineyard

Sermon On A Round Peg In A Square Hole

Contributed by William Meakin on Mar 14, 2025

The idiom and literal definition of “A round peg in a square hole” suggests a person who is unsuited or lacks congruence or affinity for a particular job, situation, or environment.

Steve Jobs, the California-born former CEO of Apple once remarked: “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-2, Ephesians 4:29, Romans 12:2, John 3:16

Parables Of The Kingdom – The First - The Sower Or Rather The Soil – Part 3 Of 5 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 31, 2025

We continue the Sower, considering the seed that fell into rocky ground, the shallow soil, with a warning. Temptation plus affliction and persecution will in time burn and kill off any mere profession. These hearers are only temporary. Then we begin the seed choked in the thorny soil.

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE FIRST - THE SOWER OR RATHER THE SOIL – Part 3 of 5 Last time we finished thinking about the good seed that was wasted on the barren pathways and beside the roadway. There was nothing wrong with the seed, but the reception was nil because men closed their hearts to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:5-6, Matthew 13:20-21, Mark 4:17, Luke 8:6, Luke 8:13, Luke 8:14, Matthew 13:7, Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:18-19, Genesis 3:17-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parables Of The Kingdom. Conditions Of The Heart. Matthew 13.1-23 Part 1 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on May 24, 2025

Using the Parable of the Sower, Jesus teaches that the condition of your heart determines the fruitfulness of your life in response to God's Word.

2025.05.25.Sermon Notes. Parables of the Kingdom. Conditions of the Heart. The Heart of the Matter_Matthew 13.1-23 PART 1 William Akehurst, HSWC Scriptures: Matthew 13:1-23, Isaiah 6:9-10, Galatians 6:7-8, Jeremiah 4:3, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalms 1:1-2, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Isaiah 55:6-7 Big Idea: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Isaiah 6:9-10, Galatians 6:7-8, Jeremiah 4:3, Colossians 2:6-7, Psalm 1:1-2, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Isaiah 55:6-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

We Are Farmers

Contributed by Larry Turner on Jan 15, 2015

Looking at the four types of spiritual hearts and our role as farmers in sowing God's word.

A New York City businessman moved to the country and bought a piece of land. He went to the local feed and livestock store and talked to the proprietor about how he was going to take up chicken farming. He then asked to buy 100 chicks. "That’s a lot of chicks," commented the proprietor. "I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:5-15

Denomination: Foursquare

What Dreams Are Made Of

Contributed by Bob Briggs on Dec 14, 2000

Following the example of Joseph we can see how a dream becomes a reality

I believe each one of us has a dream placed in our hearts, not the kind of dream like winning the lottery which is really the desire to escape our present circumstances. I am talking about a vision deep down inside that speaks to the very soul. The thing we were born to do, that draws from ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Meaning Of The Empty Tomb Of Jesus.

Contributed by Phil Dyar on Apr 14, 2003

I AM SO GLAD THAT THE TOMB OF JESUS IS EMPTY; HE"S A LIVE; HE"S ALIVE, PRAISE GOD HE"S ALIVE. THE MEANING OF THE EMPTY TOMB OF JESUS? NEW"S FLASH A EMPTY TOMB WAS SPOTTED IN JERUSALEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE BIBLE SAYS IN LUKE 24:39 BEHOLD MY HANDS AND MY FEET THAT IT IS MYSELF’"KJV. THE BIBLE SAYS IN MATTHEW 28:6 HE IS NOT HERE FOR HE IS RISEN AS HE SAID COME SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD LAY. KJV. TITLE THE MEANING OF THE EMPTY TOMB OF JESUS? IAM SO GLAD WE HAVE A LIVING GOD;JESUS AROSE JUST ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:39

That I May Dwell Among Them Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 4, 2008

The Tabernacle is a wonderful picture book, full of object lessons...a graphic, vivid experience of God’s presence with man! The MEANS, the MATERIALS, the MEN, and the MEETING. Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

That I May Dwell Among Them Exodus 25:1-9 Special ’fly by’ video, PowerPoint, & 3D Tabernacle links can be found for free at: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DwellAmongThem.html In Genesis 1 & 2 we read about God’s creation. And right in the middle of that account, the Bible refers to God creating ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 25:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

It's Time To Move

Contributed by Keith Maynard on Feb 17, 2009

This was a turning point message for the church I’ve been Pastoring for 6 months. It’s time to move on with God.

IT’S TIME TO MOVE I SAMUEL 16:1-13 • GOD HAS PLACES • GOD SOVEREIGNLY SELECTS SCENES AND SETTINGS IN ORDER TO INSTITUTE AND INITIATE HIS WILL • GOD IS GEOGRAPHICALLY STRATEGIC • HE CONNECTS HIMSELF TO MAN NOT ONLY THROUGH HISTORY, BUT ALSO THROUGH GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY • PLACES HOWEVER DO NOT ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Church Of God

God Demonstrates His Love Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Aug 15, 2011

Christian hope is based upon the solid foundation of God's reconciling love for us. This love is seen in Jesus' death on the Cross and the shedding of His blood on our behalf.

ROMANS 5: 6-11 GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS LOVE To save us from eternal death, God had to give the very life of His Son Jesus. God sent His Son to earth as a human baby too weak to lift up His own head. He learned how to crawl, how to stand, how to run. When He had grown into a man, He ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

Dropping In

Contributed by Matthew Blau on Sep 13, 2018

Zacchaeus was in the right place at the right time! So are we!

Dropping In Zacchaeus was a small man. No I am not talking about his height. He may have been a short of stature, but in character, he was tiny. Let me explain. In Jesus’ day, the Roman empire had conquered most of the known world. He was born in Bethlehem because the Caesar Augustus decided ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

James 6 Right Attitudes Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 28, 2018

We put faith in action when we approach life with a right attitude about God’s will, life and work. The other truth I see in our texts today is where we live matters to God too and all this seems rooted in our attitude with God.

Series: James – Let’s do it! Thesis of Book: The message of the book is “Let’s do it – live the faith – put it into action! The half-brother of Jesus is speaking to the scattered Jewish Christians across the nations – they were scattered right after Stephen was killed. James tells these ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17, James 5:1-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Some Things I Want You To Know Before I’m Gone”

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Apr 15, 2018

Three things to remember.

“Some Things I want You to Know Before I’m Gone” April 15, 2018 3 John 1-4 “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Holiness