Sermons on Ugly:

The Choices That Change Us Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 16, 2023

Message 8 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

The Brule River, which is on the border between Michigan and Wisconsin, flows for roughly 44 miles with clear, sparkling water. It is inhabited by an abundant population of speckled, rainbow, and brown trout. At one point the Iron River, muddy and thick with sediment of ore and clay, merges with ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cries From The Cross Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 17, 2023

This sermon examines the cries of Jesus from the cross as his Father heaped the sins of the world on his back. He was forsaken so that we will never have to be.

Have you ever had a moment or season in life where you felt like God had forsaken you or turned his back on you? Maybe it was when you were young in your faith…or maybe it happened just yesterday. These moments typically happen when our backs are up against the wall and we can’t seem to find the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-51

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Strange Case Of The Snooty Usher Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Mar 18, 2023

Message 4 in a series through James that helps us explore the relationship between faith and works in our lives. James was the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Today in our series, we move to chapter James 2 where James, the little brother of Jesus, and the leader of the Jerusalem Church, is going to teach on the sin of favoritism. So let’s think about that word for just a minute…favoritism. The word favoritism actually means to give preferential ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Closing In On The Cross Of Jesus Christ - Part 4: Wake Up, Christians, Wake Up! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Apr 5, 2023

God wants us to: 1. Wake up to the suffering of our Savior (vs. 36-38). 2. Wake up to the seriousness of our sin (vs. 38-39). 3. Wake up to the strength we need from our Savior (vs. 40-46).

Closing in on the Cross of Jesus Christ Part 4: Wake Up, Christians, Wake Up! The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 26:36-46 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared April 5, 2023) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to Matthew 26. By this time, the Lord and His disciples had finished their last Passover meal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Baptist

Rejoice In The Lord Always!

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Jan 16, 2022

The source of our true rejoicing is found only through a right relationship with God! Everything apart from him is crumbling and disappointing. Yet our God is eternal, glorious, lacks in no way, and never fails. So those who enjoy a living fellowship with Christ are given true gladness of heart.

Are we known as a joyful people? Is that the reputation we have, that we’re often rejoicing? Perhaps not. On first impressions, our worship is pretty sombre. In speaking about our faith, most of us are reserved, and we keep our emotions well in check. Even when we have what we call “the celebration ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4, James 1:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Courageous For Christ Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

It is the awareness that we are in warfare that will bring out the courage of the Christian. It is because we sense no urgency, as those in battle, that we get complacent and indifferent, and feel no call to be bold for Christ.

Max Lucado in his book In The Eye Of The Storm tells the true story of poor Chippie. Chippie was a pet bird just peacefully perched in his cage when all of the sudden life was changed into a living nightmare. It all began when Chippie's owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum cleaner. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19-26

The Battle For Success Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

Paul is convinced that failures can become successes. He knew this for he was one of the most successful failures in history. One of the great themes of literature and the Bible is this theme of success out of failure.

In the 35 years following the Civil War 3 success writers towered high above all others, and they became successful by writing about success. All 3 were ordained men. One of them was Russell Conwell who was the pastor of the Baptist Temple of Philadelphia. He delivered his famous lecture over ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

Taking Laughter Seriously Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

Drain your life of humor, and it is like draining your car of oil. You will not get far before you lose power and lock up the engine. Laughter keeps the engine of life running smooth. It allows us to keep making progress down the road to God's goals.

Tom Mullen begins his book, Laughing Out Loud and Other Religious Experiences with this story. An engineer, a psychologist, and a theologian were hunting in the wilds of Northern Canada. They came across a isolated cabin, and decided to check it out. When no one answered their knocks, they tried ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

The Healing Power Of Forgiveness

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Apr 11, 2021

Today's message looks at the doctrine of forgiveness, what it is and isn't, why we need to forgive, how we go about forgiving, and what then is confession and how that is the beginning of the forgiveness process.

The Healing Power of Forgiveness How many think people in general are weird? Now, how many think others are weirder than you? Now, in my almost 70 years of life, one of the things I’ve learned is that we’re all weird, and a little bit odd at times, or for some, most of the time. And the reason is ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 6:12, Job 5:2

Denomination: Foursquare

The Antics Of Anger - A Multi-Part Message

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Apr 13, 2021

Of all the emotions a human being can experience, the emotion of anger is probably the most challenging and complex of all.

"If you cannot control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls, open to attack." (Prov 25:28 GNB) Of all the emotions a human being can experience, the emotion of anger is probably the most challenging and complex of all. It can be physically, emotionally, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:28, John 2:14-16, Luke 15:28-30, Proverbs 18:19, Proverbs 29:22, James 1:19, Mark 3:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What If Jesus Told A Story About Your Life?

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Apr 20, 2021

1. God recognizes the story of our life (vs. 9-15a). 2. God reveals the story of our life (vs. 9). 3. God wants us to reconsider the story of our life (vs. 15-18). 4. God wants to rewrite the story of our life (vs. 18-19).

What if Jesus Told a Story about Your Life? Luke 20:9-19 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared April 18, 2021) BACKGROUND: *Today we will study one of the Lord's parables. But what is a parable anyway? The best definition I've ever heard is simply this: "A parable is an earthly story ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:9-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Green-Eyed Monster Series

Contributed by David Owens on Apr 26, 2021

God has made us with the ability to feel the emotions of jealousy and envy to enrich our lives, but those emotions can easily lead us into sin. We can counteract jealousy and envy by cultivating gratitude.

A. My friend Dan Williams tells the story about a mission trip to Central American that he was on several years ago. 1. He found himself on a bus with other Americans who were also visiting that part of the world. a. On these kinds of trips, you are often thrown together with fellow travelers, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Hebrews 13:5, Proverbs 14:30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Plan, God's Man Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

You cannot understand the world if you don’t understand this man’s story. Abraham is honored as the father of three “religions of the Book” – Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Today, you can drive by synagogue, mosques, and churches – all of these consider themselves children of Abraham.

Today, we begin a series dedicated to the life of Abraham, the father of the faith (Romans 4:11b). He’s one of the greatest men to have ever lived. You cannot understand the world if you don’t understand this man’s story. Abraham is honored as the father of three “religions of the Book” – Judaism, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Be An Exceptional Wife Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Cosmopolitan can teach you how to win a man to yourself. But only the Scripture can teach you how to win him to God.

This morning I want to talk to women whose need hope. I want to speak to women who are married to men who are not converted to Christ. And Peter has some very unusual counsel for godly women married to ungodly men. He tells them to submit to such men! Talking to women about being gentle, quiet, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Greed Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 9, 2021

Benedictine Monks had rules for just how much each monk was to eat in the monastery. But if one monk takes more than his share of the limited food, another monk goes without dinner lunch.

We are continuing our teaching series around the Seven Deadly Sins of Family. This is the fifth in the series. Our fifth deadly sin for families is greed. The Sin of Greed In the iconic 1987 film, Wall Street, Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas gives an affirming speech in favor of greed. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:15

Denomination: Baptist