Sermons on Thorny Soil:

Envy Series

Contributed by Aneel Aranha on Jan 20, 2021

Proverbs 4:30 says "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones”. What's the condition of our bones?

History tells of a statue that was erected to Theogenes, a celebrated victor in the Greek public games. The erection of this statue so excited the envious hatred of one of his rivals that he went every night and strove to throw the statue over by repeated blows. Ultimately he succeeded, but alas, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Vine And The Branches

Contributed by John Gaston on Apr 27, 2021

Divine life only flows in those people who are in intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ. We must spend quality time at Jesus' feet hearing His word. Like the moon has no light of its own, nor do we, but we can shine bright with the light of the Sun of Righteousness!

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES John 15:1-8 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. A man was speeding down a Texas highway, feeling secure in a column of cars all traveling at the same speed. However, as they passed a speed trap, he got nailed with an infrared speed detector and was pulled over. 2. When the officer ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Introduction To The Fruit Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

People who eat only fruit are called fruitarians. In this series on the Fruits of the Spirit we are going to be Biblical fruitarians, and strive to consume all God has revealed about spiritual fruit.

A doctor, an engineer, and an attorney were debating whose profession was the oldest. The doctor said, " it's obvious the medical profession was the first. The Bible refers to God creating Eve from Adam's rib, and that is surgical procedure." But the engineer said, "No! ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-24

Bitter Or Better

Contributed by Dean Meadows on May 17, 2022

This is a 2 part sermon that deals with our attitude when thing don't go as planed.

Bitter or Better How many of you have had someone that has done something to you at one time or another and you now don’t like them? Have you ever had a situation where you feel like you were treated unfair and you became bitter about it? Passed over for a promotion. You have a couple of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-19

Denomination: *other

Why People See Christians As Weak Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Boasting or bragging is excluded because it elevates you to the pinnacle of importance. It’s sad to say this, but religion is a great place to do just this – to brag about one’s morality

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Denomination: Baptist

Keep Growing

Contributed by Bright Adeyeye on Mar 10, 2020

Are you growing? We should examine ourselves daily to see if we're really growing.

KEEP GROWING "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Luke 2:40. The Lord Jesus is our role model. Notice the four areas in which He grew: 1. Intellectually (wisdom) 2. Physically (stature) 3. Spiritually (favour with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:40, Ephesians 4:14-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Am I My Brother's Keeper? Series

Contributed by David Spiegel on Mar 28, 2018

God approached Cain with the question, "Where is your brother?". This question was for Cain to be brought back to the truth of his situation! Cain’s response was a lie and he knew it. “I don’t know” and "Am I My Brother's Keeper"? Do we tell these lies?

This morning we will be continuing the series I’m calling “Questions” • We are looking at several famous questions that were asked in the Bible and what we can learn from them. • Last week we discussed one of the very first questions in the Bible, “Did God Really Say…?” • Just like us, once Satan ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:6-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Right Reactions To Suffering

Contributed by Efren V. Narido on Apr 5, 2018

Christians are not exempted from sufferings. But, how could we react properly and different from the people in this world who are not believers?

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him — you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-8

Denomination: Baptist

How To Endure Hardship

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Jul 10, 2014

The apostle Paul charges Timothy to endure hardship like a 1) Good Soldier 2) Striving Athlete & 3) Hard-working Farmer. And at the end of it all there will be a crown and a harvest if we do not give up.

How to Endure Hardship 2 Timothy 2:3-6 Introduction: Ill. The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parable Of The Talents: Well Done Good And Faithful Servant! Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Aug 17, 2022

Our Parable today occurs in the book of Matthew in the 25th chapter, just before our parable from last week, the parable of the sheep and the goats.

"Time is the inexplicable raw material of everything. With it, all is possible; without it, nothing. The supply of time is truly a daily miracle, an affair genuinely astonishing when one examines it. You wake up in the morning, and lo! your purse is magically filled with twenty-four hours of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:26-30, Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Salvation Army

Witness: Integrity #8 Series

Contributed by Robert Butler on Oct 24, 2019

Witness requires integrity before the world

We began a conversation a number of weeks ago with a question: what gives us meaning in this life? I suggested that the question is actually a mute point for those who call themselves Christian because if we believe that Christ came, died and rose again then we must also live out this reality. To ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are You Hiding? Rachel's Hidden Idols Genesis 31

Contributed by William Akehurst on Aug 19, 2024

From the 10 Commandments...Thou Shalt Have No other gods before ME. And yet, Jacob’s love, Rachel, stole her father’s idols, and hid them from her father. What are you holding onto from your past, and trying to hide from YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER?

2024.08.18.Sermon Notes. Jacob Flees Laban and is Pursued, Rachel's hidden idols Genesis 31 William Akehurst, HSWC SCRIPTURES: Genesis 31:1-3, Genesis 31:17-55, Isaiah 26:3-4, Isaiah 6:8-10, Exodus 20:3-6, John 10:27-29, Matthew 13:18-23 BIG IDEA: What Are You Hiding? From the 10 ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:1-3, Genesis 31:17-55, Isaiah 26:3-4, Isaiah 6:8-10, Exodus 20:3-6, John 10:27-29, Matthew 13:18-23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon: God’s Instructions For Fulfilling Our Potential

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Sep 3, 2024

We can expect to be productive for the Lord and fully appreciate all we have in Him if we choose to walk Him and His faith Community on a consistent basis.

Sermon: God’s Instructions For Fulfilling Our Potential Scripture Lesson: Hebrews 10:22-25, “let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:22-25, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Methodist

Not Enough, Just Enough, Or More Than Enough

Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 4, 2023

There are 3 conditions the people of God find themselves in when they meet a crisis: Not Enough, Just Enough, and More Than Enough. This is a message about spiritual poverty or spiritual abundance.

NOT ENOUGH, JUST ENOUGH, or MORE THAN ENOUGH INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Lacking a Little 1. A man went on a ski trip and was knocked unconscious by the chairlift. He called his insurance company from the hospital, but they refused to cover his injury. 2. He asked them, "Why is the injury not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:19-20, Matthew 25:1-13, 2 Kings 4:1-7

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Whose Fault Is It?

Contributed by Victor Yap on Mar 17, 2025

John 19

WHOSE FAULT IS IT? (JOHN 19:1-15) In the days of the Civil War, it was illegal to trade in cotton; but many unscrupulous speculators tried to buy cotton in the South, run it through the Union lines, and sell it at great profit in the North. One of these speculators approached a Mississippi ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible