Sermons on True Value:

The Heart Matters Most - Lessons From Matthew 15 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jun 12, 2025

GOD cares more about the condition of your heart than the traditions you keep. GOD desires genuine inner purity and authentic faith, not religious performance. True righteousness comes from a transformed heart, not outward tradition.

2025.06.15.Sermon Notes. The Heart Matters Most – Lessons from Matthew 15 When Religion Misses the Point William Akehurst, HSWC Reminder: It’s Father’s Day Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalms 51:10, Psalms 139:23-24 INTRODUCTION: JESUS confronts the religious leaders for honoring ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Psalm 51:10, Psalm 139:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Measured Against The Plumb Line

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 21, 2021

We are tested every day by the Word of God. Are we continuing upright in the ways of the Lord? Are we inclined toward sin, or are we striving to be true to the Lord? The Word of God tests us, every time that we read it, every time we hear it.

Have you ever seen a plumb line? Simply, it’s a string with a heavy weight tied to one end of it. A bricklayer will hang a plumb line beside a wall that’s under construction, to see if the wall is being built vertical and true. If things are out of kilter, then he’ll be able to see it right away: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11, Amos 2:6-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Celebration Of The King Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 28, 2023

Palm Sunday: This message on "The Triumphal Entry" teaches us some things about worship, concerning what we should be thankful for and what we should celebrate when we find ourselves in the presence of the one true King, Jesus Christ.

One Palm Sunday, a little boy had a sore throat and had to stay home from church with a babysitter. When the rest of the family came home, they were carrying palm branches; and the little boy asked what they were for. His father told him that people waved them in celebration as Jesus passed by. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Dear Dad

Contributed by Antonio Torrence on Jun 7, 2003

The focus of this sermon is the important of young boys and men having positive male roles such as fathers, and uncles actively participating in their lives.

"Dear Dad" Genesis 21:8-21 By Reverend A. LaMar Torrence, Cross of Life Lutheran Church When I read the story of Ishmael, I wonder what he would say to his father Abraham after being cast out of his home. I imaged him as young man who may have one day, sat down and wrote his father a “Dear Dad” ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Servant Leadership Part 12: Foresight Series

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Jun 27, 2011

Servant Leaders are blessed with the ability of learning from the past experiences, realities of the present and the possible consequences of our decisions for future. This is foresight

Servant Leadership Part 12: Foresight I have been talking about Servant Leadership in my many sermons from this pulpit before. However, I keep wondering if we still consider Servant leadership as some thing abstract, some thing utopian, unreal, not practicable? Or is there a reason for us to adapt ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sacrifice Of Fools

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Oct 4, 2017

Eccl 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. What is the sacrifice of fools?

THE SACRIFICE OF FOOLS Ecclesiastes 5:1 Christians have nearly abandoned the word "fool," and replaced it with various synonyms. The reason is found in Matthew 5:22, where Jesus says, "...whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the hell of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:10-13, Proverbs 14:7, Romans 1:21-23, Matthew 23:17, Romans 12:16, Romans 12:3, 1 Samuel 15:1-23, Leviticus 10:9-10, Leviticus 6:13, Leviticus 10:1-3, Genesis 4:3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, Hebrews 13:16, James 1:26-27, Ephesians 5:15-17, Romans 12:1, Ecclesiastes 5:1-20, 1 Corinthians 15:12, Proverbs 29:11, Proverbs 20:3, Proverbs 18:6-7, Proverbs 18:2, Proverbs 15:5, Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 10:18, Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 1:7, Matthew 5:22, Matthew 15:3-9, Isaiah 29:13-14, Isaiah 1:11-15, Proverbs 26:1-5, Ecclesiastes 5:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love Well Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 7, 2022

To be able to love well means I have to embrace the 4 letter word “Love” in its original definition and application – Because that word “Love” has been twisted and distorted by this world – But the true meaning of love goes back to God’s meaning of love!

Video Transition Illustration: Love Boldly Bluefish Tv – Maybe we could call rephrase it “Love Well in 2022” The challenge for 2022 – Are you willing to commit to “Love Well” this new year? Poem: I am the New Year. I am an unspoiled page in your book of time. I am your next chance at the art of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35, John 4:7-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Signs Of New Life Series

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on Apr 14, 2014

What does it mean to live a life worthy of the calling to walk with Christ?

EPHESIANS # 8 Every Christian should know Paul’s letter to the Ephesians well for basics of the Christian life are all right here in these 6 chapters. The letter opens with amazing statements about who we are because Jesus Christ. “I am blessed... with every spiritual ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Appropriating And Defending Our Inheritance Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 9, 2014

The fourth sermon in this series deals with the appropriation of our inheritance by faith, and our need to defend our inheritance so that we can enjoy it and pass it on to others.

Inheritance sermon #4: Appropriating and Defending our Inheritance Intro: It is wonderful to know about our inheritance from God, but knowing about it isn’t all there is to it. There are certain things we need to do with our inheritance in order to make it really ours. Imagine someone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love Well 1 John Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 21, 2022

To be able to love well means I have to embrace the 4 letter word, “Love” in its original definition and its created application – Because that word “Love” has been twisted and distorted by this world – But the true meaning of love goes back to God’s meaning of love!

Video Transition: Love Anthem - Skit Guys Series: Love Well in 2022 Love Well - 2022 series Thesis: To be able to love well means I have to embrace the 4 letter word, “Love” in its original definition and its created application – Because that word “Love” has been twisted and distorted by this ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4, 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ignorance Is Bliss -- Not!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 14, 2009

First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, MD: We avoid too much information because we know we will have to respond. Some escape into private piety; some escape from knowing themselves. But true bliss comes from knowing how to invest in Kingdom concerns.

You can buy it anywhere in Pennsylvania Dutch country – a banner, an apron, a towel, anything really – and it proclaims, in pidgin German, “Ve get too soon oldt und too late schmart”. Your preacher this morning is a walking example of that ancient truth. Too soon oldt und too late schmart. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 92:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Suffocating In Worry

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jan 30, 2022

Worry causes us to feel as though we’re grasping for breath and walking around half-dead. Worry zaps our life and drains our strength. In order to have true life in the Lord, we must place all our cares in the hands of Jesus Christ.

E. Stanley Jones, a missionary to India in the early 1900’s, stated, “I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is grasping for breath - these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely - these are my native ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:22-32

Denomination: Baptist

I Am The Vine, You Are The Branches Series

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Sep 5, 2021

When we are joined to Christ the true vine, we are powerfully connected to his Spirit and his vitality. By faith, we can share in Jesus’s righteous life and his atoning death. It is through his death and resurrection that the branches begin to flourish and bear much fruit.

When we take the time to look at trees, we get a beautiful reminder of how they sustain the life of their branches and leaves. Some of these trees are also able to produce a harvest of fruit that we can enjoy. Scripture talks about this too, the importance of the link from a leaf or branch to the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Therefore, Do Not Worry Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Nov 7, 2023

Worry causes us to feel as though we’re gasping for breath and walking around half-dead. Worry zaps our life and drains our strength. In order to have true life in the Lord, we must place all our cares in the hands of Jesus Christ.

Our primary passage today will be from Matthew chapter 6; but from time to time, I will reference Luke 12:22-32, which is a gospel parallel, or what we might call Luke’s recollection of events. E. Stanley Jones, a missionary to India in the early 1900’s, stated, “I live better by faith and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Baptist

Is It Really Memorial Day Week End?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on May 26, 2023

I titled this sermon IS IT REALLY MEMORIAL DAY WEEK END?

The reason I ask this question is because as I was watching the news recently: • I heard people making plans to travel some place. • I heard about stores advertising their products • I heard about family gatherings But I did not hear anything about the brave men and women who gave their life ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:3-5, Joshua 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist