Sermons on Two Meanings:

What Are We Going To Do

Contributed by Craig Condon on Apr 23, 2015

We need to be more like the disciple Andrew, who, while he didn't write any of the books in the Bible, led people to Jesus - people like Simon Peter and the boy in the parable of the loaves and fish. Following Jesus is the source of our power to change.

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the traffic light turned yellow just in front of him. The man did the right thing stopping at the crosswalk even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Anglican

The Great Dilemma

Contributed by Hans Krause on Nov 1, 2018

Does our faith permit us to disobey the government or to evade taxes? Are Romans 13 and Acts 5 incompatible? How can we sincerely and creatively live as citizens of two kingdoms? What is the underlying principle that governs our choices?

[Sermon preached on 4 November 2018, 24th Sunday after Pentecost / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] Some years ago, we needed to get a little home renovation done. I asked someone for a quotation. When he had given me the price, he added: “That’s without a receipt. If you want a receipt, I will have to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7, Matthew 17:24-27, Acts 5:29

Denomination: Lutheran

What Does That Cross Mean To You? "I’m Glad You Ask"

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 27, 2011

You see them everywhere, Rappers wear large ones around their necks, Rock stars have tattoos of them on their arms.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. You see them everywhere, Rappers wear large ones around their necks, Rock stars have tattoos of them on their arms. Hollywood movie stars wear them made of gold and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:8

Denomination: Baptist

Matthew 5 - Part 2 - What Do You Mean Bankruptsy Is Ok? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 20, 2009

Who are the "poor in spirit"? Are they rich people with a poverty mentality? Are they poor people who are discouraged? Are they people who don’t have the strength of mind to make it in the world and Jesus wants to take them out?

Matthew 5 - Part 2 - So all of a sudden Bankruptsy is OK? When we lived in the Ukraine for a month, we witnessed incredible poverty. The beautifully ornate Churches over there have domes which are actually covered in gold leaf, but under them are the beggars. Such a contrast. I noticed at one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Exodus 22, 23 - What, You Mean God Is Interested In My Life? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 28, 2009

What these chapters say to me is that there is no part of my life that God is not interested in. He wants to guide my thinking and actions in terms of my relationships with others and with Him.

Exodus 22, 23 - God is interested in my life! My Mum suffered from corns on her foot. She was totally frustrated with this callused patch of hard, thickened skin and could not get relief. One day I invited her to Church and a woman spoke on healing. Invitations were given to come forward but my ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean To Be A Man: Man-Boy Syndrome & A Life Of Greatness

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

What is manhood? What does it mean to be a man? Is it power? Is it strength? Is it having the biggest truck? Or the biggest house? Or the best kept lawn? Is it the family and white picket fence?

What is manhood? What does it mean to be a man? Is it power? Is it strength? Is it having the biggest truck? Or the biggest house? Or the best kept lawn? Is it the family and white picket fence? Is it finding true love in a wife? Is it raising children, and caring for grandchildren, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26, Job 4:17

Denomination: Salvation Army

What Does It Actually Mean To Study To Show Thyself Approved Unto God? Series

Contributed by Bruce Hadley on May 18, 2021

As Christians, we are often told we must study to show ourselves Approved unto God rightly dividing the word of truth. But what if, I don’t read that well, I have bad study habits or I just don't understand what I read? Does that mean I'm not approved by God?

As Christians, we are often told, that we must study to show ourselves Approved unto God as workmen not ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth. But, what if, as the image displays of the little boy reading his Bible, we are unable to understand what we read. What about those who don’t read ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean A Servant Does Not Know His Master’s Secrets?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Aug 10, 2025

The question asked is regarding servants not knowing the master’s secrets. So how do we obtain an understanding to the question given? By directing the verse.

What Does it Mean a Servant Does Not Know His Master’s Secrets? John 15:15 King James Version - Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. The Living ...read more

Scripture: John 15:15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's Favor Does Not Mean A Straight Line Lesson 5 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 24, 2023

Hard times and trials do not mean loss of God’s favor. God’s favor means His presence, His guidance, His work through you, and your inner strength.

A. INTRODUCTION: WHAT GOD’S FAVOR IS NOT 1. Even in prison. “The Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor” (Genesis 39:21). 2. Joseph’s road down: a. Joseph’s favored status with his father. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children” (Genesis 37:3). Favoritism ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:21, Genesis 39:21

Denomination: Baptist

What Does It Mean That God Has Given Us An "inheritance"?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 29, 2025

It's an odd phrase: we have been given an "inheritance" in Christ? What does that mean? It's not like God is going to die! The phrase doesn't actually point us toward death but toward the Exodus. What can we learn from that reference?

WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN? What does Paul mean when he speaks of us having an “inheritance” in the Lord? - Ephesians 1:14; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 3:24. - This is a phrase that has bothered me for a long time and I didn’t really have a great answer to it. There are a few places in his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time- The Real Meaning Of "blessed Are The Poor In Spirit.”

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Dec 22, 2022

The other, more important meaning, is that there will be a coming reversal of circumstances for those who are unfortunate, the marginalized, the abused, those who live in poverty, so these beatitudes are not just virtues to attain in this life.

Dear Abby, the popular advice column in the newspaper still published today with authorship changes, once received a letter that describes the "if only" attitude: "It was Spring, But it was Fall I wanted, the colorful leaves and the cool dry air. It was Fall, but it was Winter I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Catholic

The Most Important Issue In Anyone's Life

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 19, 2015

There are two ways to become miserable, and two ways to become happy.

26th Sunday in Course 2015 What is the most important issue in anybody’s life? What is it that we must have in order to be truly fulfilled? What, to appeal to you Latinists, is the sine qua non of human existence? Some consider it to be pleasure, and an absence of pain. They are the ones ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:38-48

Denomination: Catholic

The Choice For Life

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Mar 5, 2001

Jesus urges his listeners to the Sermon on the Mount to make The Choice for Life in entering the Kingdom of God, in terms of Two Gates, Two Ways, Two Destinations and Two Crowds.

Jesus was a wonderful teacher. He had the knack of making His teaching on the Kingdom of God interesting and easily understood by the use of graphic pictures. There’s a good example of this in two verses in our reading from Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount: "Enter through the narrow ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

A Pharisee And The Sinner

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 24, 2016

Jesus contrasts two men, and two attitudes in prayer.

A PHARISEE AND “THE” SINNER. Luke 18:9-14. Jesus had just told His disciples a parable to encourage them to importunity in prayer (Luke 18:1). Now He turned back to the Pharisees (cf. Luke 17:20-21) to warn them, and those like them, against despising others and approaching God in a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Confession

Contributed by David Cambridge on Jul 17, 2002

What was the ’rock’ that Jesus promised to build His church upon? What does ’the gates of Hell’ mean? These are just two of the questions answered in this exegesis of Matthew 16:13-19.

The Great Confession An Exegesis Of Mathew 16:13-19 Introduction 1. After the miracle of feeding four-thousand people with seven loaves and a few little fish (Matthew 15:32-38), Jesus and His disciples came to Magdala (Matthew 16:39). a. It was in Magdala that the Pharisees and Sadducees asked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ