Sermons on Two Coats:

What Does It Mean To "make Every Effort" To Enter The Kingdom? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 10, 2025

This passage has two troubling phrases: "make every effort" and "try . . . and not be able." What are we to do with those? And do they mean that God is setting up difficult barriers to get into the Kingdom?

WHAT DOES "MAKE EVERY EFFORT" MEAN? It doesn’t mean that it’s nearly impossible but that you should focus your attention. - Luke 13:22-24a. - Jesus is asked an important question: “[A]re only a few people going to be saved?” (v. 23). - That's a great question. What is the nature of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Baptist

Gold, Frankincense And Myrrh: A View Through The Song Of Songs

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 31, 2025

In this story of the visit of the three Magi, there are at least two references to the prophecies contained in the OT. Jesus, and all of the Christian story we see in the NT, is the fulfillment of the promises made over three thousand years and chronicled in the Hebrew Bible.

Solemnity of the Epiphany 2026 Gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh are brought to Mary and Jesus, the newborn king of the Jews. Lots of ink has been poured out trying to help Christians understand the mystery of the Incarnation revealed in these costly presents. Most popularly, gold is a gift ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-6, Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 54:4

Denomination: Catholic

What God Has Predestined For Your Life In 2003-Shall Be! Series

Contributed by Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks on Oct 26, 2002

The last two years have brought a lot of pain and devastation to the lives of many Christians and non-believers. Many ask the question, "Why Me?" This sermon is designed to answer those hard questions and yet offer hope for tomorrow!

Evangelist Carolyn Malaika Foster-Brooks The Ministry of S.A.R.A.H. Lyons, Georgia PRAYER: Lord, once again I want to praise Your Holy name and tell you thank You! For you have brought me through the fire and the rain, the calm and the storms of life; though sickness, good health, heartache, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 6:10-12, Psalm 32:8

Denomination: Baptist

The Dark Places Of The Earth

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 2, 2002

Our Lord said, “Go into all the world & preach the good news to every creature.” What is that good news? I think it consists of two things that need to be proclaimed - that would really be “good news” to the world today.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2017) TEXT: Psalm 74:20 A. The scripture passage that I want us to consider this morning is found in the 74th Psalm. It is a beautiful &, at the same time, a tragic psalm. In it the Psalmist is speaking to the people of ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17, Psalm 74:20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding Joy: Easter, 2003

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Apr 28, 2003

Do you ever feel like this? Emptiness? Exhaustion? Feeling trapped? We’ll meet two people in the Bible who felt this way. But because they met the Risen Jesus, they found joy. And you can, too!

(I used several ideas from Rick Warren’s Easter messages over the last few years for this message. Thanks, Rick! 1980 people attended our services and 63 people prayed to recieve Christ at CVCC this Easter!) * * * I’ve lived in NE Ohio 17 years and I’ve personally talked to hundreds of people ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist

Putting First Things First Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 21, 2003

In chapter 8, Ezra and Nehemiah comfort the afflicted. In chapter 9, the comfortable are afflicted. Joy and grief are two sides of the same coin. After a thrilling encounter with God, which causes them to break into celebration, the believers now come

Putting First Things First Earlier this week I was sitting in my office when I received an email from my youngest sister. She and her husband have been attending a church for a while and have become interested in spiritual things. We’ve been praying for both of them for quite some time and have ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:1-37, Nehemiah 9:2-36, Nehemiah 9:37-38

Denomination: Baptist

The Eyes Opened To The Law Of God

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on May 28, 2003

The term ‘law’ is used in various senses in the Bible. Sometimes it means that which was written on the two tables of stone; sometimes the ceremonial law given to Israel by God through Moses; sometimes the five books of Moses in distinction from the books

THE EYES OPENED TO THE LAW OF GOD “Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.” Psalm 119:18. In this discourse I shall show — I. IN WHAT SENSE THE TERM LAW IS USED IN THE TEXT. II. THE MEANING OF THE REQUEST — “OPEN THOU MINE EYES.” III. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN MAKING THE ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fear And Love God Series

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Aug 21, 2003

We see two completely different pictures of God at Mt. Sinai. How can we fit them into our hearts? Don’t bother reading this if you’re looking for cute stories and illustrations for your entertainment.

August 24, 2003 Exodus 19, 20, 24 How do you FEEL about that? As a Lutheran, a German, and a male that question and that focus has nearly driven me nuts throughout the past years. It just isn’t natural or easy for me or most males to be “sensitive” or “emotional”. But the fact of the ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Be Careful What You Pray For, You Might Get It Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 15, 2002

There are only two motives for prayer: fear and hope. If you pray and live in fear, you will live a lie and deny God, and you will become destructive. But if you pray and live in fear, you will find satisfaction and will become a life-giver.

God answers prayer. Let there be no doubt about that. God answers prayer. God responds to what His people ask. So it has often been said that you had better be careful what you pray for, because you just might get it! There is something awesome, something even dangerous about prayer. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-16, Psalm 106:15

Denomination: Baptist

The Best Ways To Use God's Christmas Gift Part 3 Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Dec 13, 2003

The third part of a Christmas series looking at how best to use God’s Christmas gift to us -- IE: Jesus Christ. This message explores another two "uses" -- duplicating the gift and sharing our "insights" about the gift

THE BEST WAYS TO USE GOD’S CHRISTMAS GIFT Part 3 Acts 13:1-3 Acts 13:1-3 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Stop And Listen

Contributed by Jim Twamley on Mar 25, 2003

Listening is a very important skill. That’s why God gave you two ears and only one mouth.If you want God’s best for you life you’ve got to be a spiritual listener.

After listening restlessly to a long and tedious sermon, a 6-year-old boy asked his father what the preacher did the rest of the week. "Oh, he’s a very busy man," the father replied. "He takes care of church business, visits the sick, ministers to the poor.... And then he has to have time to rest ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:21-26

Denomination: Pentecostal

God's Evidence Of Truth Series

Contributed by Donald Carpenter on Jan 11, 2003

It is a well-documented truth in the Old Testament that a truth is established when two or three different witnesses present evidence. As John wraps up his treatise on the vital signs of the believer, he touches upon a foundational truth of the Gosp

God’s Evidence of The Truth 1 John 5:6-9 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:6-9

Denomination: Baptist

Thirsty Souls

Contributed by Alan Hughes on Oct 22, 2004

Have you ever been homesick? As the deer thirsts for flowing streams in times of drought, so the psalmist longed for the living God, who never fails to satisfy. While these two psalms are separate, they make up a single poem.

Thirsty Souls Psalms 42:1-43:5 October 20, 2004 PM Introduction: Have you ever been homesick? While these two psalms are separate, they make up a single poem. The poet was a person of deep faith who was living in exile at the headwaters of the Jordan River near snow capped Mount Hermon, north of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Inheriting The Promises Of God Like Us Series

Contributed by Jerry Gatson on Nov 23, 2004

Hebrews 4:1-2 tells that there are two types of people in every congregation; those of us who profit from the word of God and those of them who do not. We determine whether we will be us or them.

INHERITING THE PROMISES (part 3) “Inheriting the Promises Like Us” SERIES TEXT – Hebrews 6:12 TEXT – Hebrews 4:1-2 Hebrews 4   4:1 Let US therefore fear, lest, a promise being left US of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 4:2 For unto US was the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-2

Denomination: Charismatic

Contrast

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Dec 10, 2004

If you want to know the heart of the Bible, and the central truth about world history from God’s point of view, you only need to know two people. This section of Scripture shows a contrast between Adam and Christ.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: Several years ago Billy Graham preached in St. Petersburg, Russia. During the crusade a very brilliant architect, an atheist, came to hear him. Night after night he listened to the preaching of the gospel. He didn’t make a decision during the crusade. As he thought ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21

Denomination: Baptist