Sermons on Thorny Soil:

The Kingdom Of God

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jun 14, 2012

Sermon for the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B.

The Kingdom Of God / Mark 4: 26 - 34 Intro: One summer a drought threatened to destroy the crops of the local farmers. On a hot, dry Sunday, the local pastor told his congregation, “There is nothing we can do but pray for rain. Go home, pray, believe, and come back next Sunday ready to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:26-34

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"I'm A Lemon"

Contributed by Brad Henry on Sep 13, 2011

This lesson shows that nothing happens in life by coincidence. Everything is ordained by the Lord.

Have you had a car that was a ”lemon” or one that turned into a” lemon”? Most of you know there are some cars that just seem to have problems and then there are others that all you have to do is put gas and oil in them and they go for 200,000 miles. But usually when ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:16

Hold On! Series

Contributed by Allen James on Sep 29, 2011

Part 6 of 7 in our summer series exploring the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3. Today's message examines the letter to the Church at Philadelphia.

Opening: On the top of your notes... How many doors are in this room/sanctuary portion of the building? Don’t turn and count... just take a guess... write it down. (WB ~ 20/NR ~ 12). How do you know that? I’m told ppl who are bored w/ sermons count all types of things... pews... ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

How To Receive A Blessing

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Oct 15, 2011

God wants to bless us.

God wants to bless his people. God is a giver. He wants to give to us good things in life, but there are times when He withholds His blessing because of our bad attitude. When we are selfish, self-centered, arrogant, thinking we are right all the time, proud, etc. God withholds His blessing ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

True Inculturation And The Liturgy Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 16, 2011

Authentic inculturation means that we Christianize the culture in which we live.

18 July 2011 The Spirit of the Liturgy I recall from grade school days when some particularly hard-hearted kid wanted to get under my skin, he would say “Prove it!” to anything I might advance. We see this in the Hebrews fleeing from Egypt. They trusted Moses until they got into a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-42

Denomination: Catholic

A Call For Faithfulness And Perseverance

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Apr 13, 2011

With great spiritual privileges come great spiritual responsibilities! The Lord never promised an easy-going life for those who would faithfully follow after Him. Rather, He has only guaranteed to be with them who will seek and obey His will.

Intro: Paul, the experienced veteran knew two things Timothy needed: faithfulness and perseverance. II Timothy chapter 2 is Paul’s advice for Timothy to continue in the service God has called him. As servants of God, we too need to listen and obey such words of admonition. It is often humanly easy ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Denomination: *other

Parables? Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Jan 9, 2017

why did jesus speak in parables?

When a person reads a Bible passage, is it always immediately understood by them?? What do you think are reasons why some bible passages cannot be immediately understood?? Since the Bible was written by God the Holy Spirit and people are not God, there will be some difficulty in fully ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Success Or Failure? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 20, 2016

We must realize that the whole of God's plan is greater than the part we play in it.

Thursday of Second Week in Lent 2016 Joy of the Gospel Sometimes I think of irony as God’s invention to help us cope with the effects of original sin. Just consider this rich guy, fat and happy, with what he thinks is everything he ever wanted. He dies, and the Douay-Rheims translation ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic

Open The Doors Of The Church Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 29, 2014

Jesus enjoins us to do the will of the Father, but learning how to do God's will is a lifelong journey.

Thursday of the 1st Week in Advent Joy of the Gospel When I read this passage from the great prophet of Advent, the Hebrew priest Isaiah, my memory goes back almost ten years to our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Both the Old and New Testaments contain a recurring theme, one we see most perfectly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-27

Denomination: Catholic

The Wheat And The Darnel

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 18, 2020

In Church we will often find both wheat and Darnel growing side by side in the pews.Should we try to root the Darnel out and purify the church so we only have wheat (as we of course perceive it)

Mt 13:24-43 I came across this interesting story. I cannot vouch for its authenticity however but it makes a good point. Story: A man was stopped at a traffic light and when the light turned green he was distracted and didn’t budge. The lady in the car behind him started honking her horn again ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Denomination: Anglican

A Withering Religion

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 21, 2020

Judgment begins at the house of God.

A WITHERING RELIGION. Matthew 21:12-22. Today’s passage brings together two events which are not unrelated to each other: the cleansing of the Temple, and the withering of the fig tree. Both are figurative of the state and changing status of the old Jewish faith at the dawn of the gospel ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fruit Of The Spirit: Manifesting God's Transformative Power Galatians 5:22-23 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 2, 2024

In Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul illuminates the characteristics that should be evident in the lives of believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us delve into this passage together and discover how we can manifest the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives.

Fruit of the Spirit: Manifesting God's Transformative Power Galatians 5:22-23 Introduction: Dear brothers and sisters, today we embark on a journey into the heart of God's Word as we explore the transformative power of the fruit of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. In these ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:8-9, John 15:5, John 15:8

Denomination: Pentecostal

The True Purpose Of Pentecost Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 20, 2021

All of us need clear vision, and not just of material things.

Thursday After Pentecost 2021 It has been said, probably ever since humans walked the face of earth, that the “winners write the history.” The winners also endeavor to craft the culture that they live in. So, for example, after the Norman invasion of England in 1066, the Norman princes built ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:30, Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Catholic

Can The Church Be An Obstacle To Discipleship For Jesus?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Dec 5, 2022

The view outside the church can be damaging. Therefore the church must work to rid itself of its media problems.

Can the Church be an Obstacle to Discipleship for Jesus? Mark 4:10-20 You may want to read Mark 4:1-9, This is the actual parable that I am speaking about. [Why parables?] 10 As soon as He was alone, 1His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:10-20

Denomination: United Methodist

Give Thanks Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Sep 6, 2021

The word “Give thanks” this sentence is used five times in this Psalm (Psalm 107:8, 15,21, 31, 32). He repeats the word distress or trouble four times. He has delivered them from their distress (Psalm 107:6,13, 19,28). For his wonderful works, miracles (Psalm 107:21).

Psalm 107 - Give thanks to the Lord (Psalm 107:1 & 43) Introduction: The word “Give thanks” this sentence is used five times in this Psalm (Psalm 107:8, 15,21, 31, 32). He repeats the word distress or trouble four times. He has delivered them from their distress (Psalm 107:6,13, 19,28). For ...read more

Denomination: Methodist