Sermons on Try Harder:

The Good Shepherd And How To Get More Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Apr 22, 2017

Pray especially for holy priests, brothers and sisters. Pray for those who are preparing for or struggling in marriage. And pray for those who have chosen to remain unmarried in a celibate state, and for those who are trying to run from the divine call.

For many decades this day has rightly been called “Good Shepherd Sunday,” because both of our New Testament readings speak of Jesus as Shepherd of our souls, Shepherd of the One Flock, the Church. Both of these precious proclamations have Old Testament roots. Let’s start with the story of Abraham ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-16

Denomination: Catholic

The Stirring At Bethesda

Contributed by John Gaston on Nov 16, 2016

We see the lame man waiting on & trying to sense the supernatural. He desires to yield to God and is expecting the miraculous. God answered his faith & healed him. Do we have that kind of open attitude toward the supernatural?

THE STIRRING AT BETHESDA John 5:1-9 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: MALE’S KEEN OBSERVATION 1. Jason was out shopping at the Woodlands Mall with his wife Latisha, but he wasn’t enjoying it. For over 45 minutes, he'd been 'stuck' with Latisha in the ladies department of the Forever 21 store. And ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9

Denomination: Assembly Of God

One Is The Loveliest Number

Contributed by David Roth on Mar 2, 2015

Proper 18 (a) By nature we focus on ourselves, trying to be the greatest, to be Number One. But that leads to separation and loneliness. Christ has redeemed us, that we may be united with the Father and with each other. Therefore we live in love.

J. J. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. “One is the loveliest number” Our gospel reading today is in three parts. It opens with the disciples asking Jesus, yet again, who will be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Discerning Genuine From Counterfeit Christianity Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Mar 10, 2015

What is Genuine Christianity and what does it look like? Is there such a thing as Counterfeit Christianity? And how can we recognize the difference, in our own life and for our own protection in the lives of those who try to influence and lead us?

Discerning Genuine from Counterfeit Christianity Genuine Christianity produces Courage Counterfeit Christianity produces Insecurity Genuine Christians are focused on Christ Counterfeit Christians are focused on Self Genuine Christianity results in Joy Counterfeit Christianity results in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:2-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mercy In Judgement

Contributed by Martin Ellgar on Dec 14, 2014

A perspective on John 3: 14-21. Impatience is the symptom of not trusting God to fulfil his promises to us. As a result, we try to make our own plans, go our own way, and hopefully avoid the 'snakes' on the way.

John 3: 14-21 Mercy in Judgement Vs. 14, 15. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. The people of Israel, the chosen ones became impatient with God during their wilderness experience and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Sailing The Storm: Having Hope In Dark Times

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Mar 7, 2016

An evangelistic message that has spiritualized Acts 27 - showing that in many ways we are like sailors trying to survive the next storm looking for clearer days until we sail to heavenly shores, but outside of Jesus there is no hope for salvation

Sailing the Storm: Hope in Dark Times Introduction: A man approached a little league baseball game one afternoon. He asked a boy in the dug out what the score was. The boy responded, “18-0, we are behind.” then the man said “Oh boy! I bet your discouraged.” “Why ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:1-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Dawned On Me

Contributed by Steve Wilson on Mar 16, 2016

Have you ever thought what it might have been like for the disciples to experience the death of the One they gave up everything to follow? Try to visualize one of those disciples coming to meet with us here on Resurrection Day.

Introduction Read Luke 24:1-9 Easter! What a glorious day for Christians. It means everything to us. In fact we worship on the first day of the week, Sunday, every week because Jesus came out of the tomb on that day. I hope none of us takes for granted what Christ’s resurrection means. I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Recycling Our Pain Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Jun 8, 2015

Listen. God never wastes a hurt. What good is a trial if something good doesn’t come from it? Let’s look at the first of two questions I want us to try to answer.

“Recycling our Pain” Matthew 5:10 In my personal study of the gospels one of the things I have noticed is that some of the teachings of Jesus are just very difficult for us to follow. At times when we read them they don’t even make sense. For instance, Jesus said: • If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10

Denomination: Baptist

The Human Chameleon.

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jun 8, 2020

Again Paul writes in, Ephesians 4:2TPT With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience.

The Human Chameleon. Ephesians 4:1-3, 14-16 In a world of smart phones, text messages, Facebook, and e-dating, many are creating virtual relationships which mask a person’s true identity in an attempt to protect themselves from the reality of real relationship. They want to avoid the possible ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3, Ephesians 4:14-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Persistence In Prayer Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

We fail in prayer as we do in every other area of life, and we are often frustrated, but Jesus says that we are to never give up, but keep trying and keep learning. Persistence will make you a winner in the long run.

A fisherman's experiment is described in a tract. It tells of how he caught a large black bass and instead of putting it in the frying pan he put it in a glass tank. Each morning he would bring a minnow to the tank and drop it in. The bass would make a dash for the minnow and soon finish him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Let's Talk About The Weather

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Aug 27, 2023

So many people are worried about the carbon footprint, worried about how we are causing climate change and greenhouse gases affecting the atmosphere. Let’s talk about how God is trying to tell us something.

Let’s Talk about the Weather By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. SCRIPTURE: - Genesis 8:2 says, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease”. Job 37:9–14 says, “Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: And cold out of the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 8:2, Job 37:9-14, Luke 12:48, Isaiah 26:9, Deuteronomy 29:23-27, 2 Peter 3:3-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Apostolic

Too Late: Decisions Which Cannot Be Undone Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 3, 2022

Many decisions are major crossroads, others less but sill significant; trying to reverse them only may make matters worse in the long run. Therefore, we need to ponder our decisions, using God-honoring caution.

Too Late: Decisions Which Cannot Be Undone (Numbers 14:20-45) 1. We make small decisions all the time, and they can affect the direction of our lives. Take this true story: “When I was a kid, my mom, my cousin, my sister, and I were all about to go to my great grandma's house from my ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:20-45, Hebrews 6:4-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Abides In Small Places

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jan 21, 2022

When trying to start a new church, we often think we should send church planters to the largest populated areas. However, both John the Baptist and Jesus preached in the wilderness, and people came to them where they were!

I have entitled our message for this evening, “God Abides in Small Places.” Abide means, to dwell and to continue in a place. The Lord can be found abiding – and alive and well – in small places; and it is very important for us to be reminded of this fact because of America’s belief that “bigger ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-6, Matthew 4:23-25

Denomination: Baptist

Watchman What Of The Night

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Sep 17, 2024

Dark times have always been a part of history. There have been wars, famines, uprising, persecutions, tribulations, and trying times. The Bible reads with many of them and how God delivers His people through them all.

Watchman What of the Night By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - Dark times have always been a part of history. There have been wars, famines, uprising, persecutions, tribulations, and trying times. The Bible reads with many of them and how God delivers His people through them all. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 21:11-12

Denomination: Apostolic

As Sheep In The Midst Of Wolves

Contributed by Phillip Smith on Nov 22, 2024

We are told many times over, we are to go and preach/teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but has anyone warned you of the possible situations you might be caught in trying to preach Christ and his crucifixion to a heathen world?

Mt. 28:19-20, we know Jesus ordained the ‘Great Commission’. He said, ‘19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-37

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ