Sermons on Ugly:

Waiting On The Lord Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Feb 20, 2022

Now is the time to look back over the past two years of the pandemic and see where God was clearly present and at work. It is also an important time for us to look at ourselves and how we reacted to this time of crisis and testing

Series: If God is For You … Sermon: Waiting on the Lord Scripture: James 5:7-11 [Hold up cell phone.] I think it’s safe to say that most, if not all of you, have one of these and I can also probably say that if you have one of these it has some kind of GPS on it. In fact, it’s pretty ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, James 5:17-20, Hebrews 11:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Be United With One Another Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 8, 2021

Jesus is praying for us to be a community of unity.

One weekend, a pastor was giving a children’s sermon to all the kids in church. A bright-eyed three-year-old girl was listening intently as he explained how God wanted them all to get along and to love one another. She was tracking with her pastor until he said, “God wants us all to be one.” The ...read more

Scripture: John 17:11, John 17:20-23

Denomination: Baptist

A Prayer Of Praise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 18, 2021

The beauty of music, art, literature, science, and all of life is to lead us and others to praise God. Thank God for all which kindles love and appreciation for the Author of life.

The point of interest in this passage is not the fact that Daniel and his friends prayed. This is neither unusual nor surprising under the circumstances. Their lives were at stake unless they had a direct revelation from God. One would be shocked if they did anything else but pray. One does not ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:19-23

While We Suffer (Covid And The Christian) Series

Contributed by Joe Williams on Nov 13, 2020

A word we don't like is submission. We certainly don't like it when we feel as if we're being wronged somehow. “Submission” is the key ingredient that enables a Christian to live a good life among the ungodly!

I’m confident that in the years that follow, there will be plenty of articles and books written about this chapter in world history and in church history. And they will address the question, “what lessons did we learn from all of this?” And I’m confident that much of that will be helpful. Looking ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-25, Romans 13:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Purpose Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Nov 22, 2020

You can either accept your trials and they will become heavenly blessings or you can fight your trials and they will become heavy burdens.

Over the past three weeks, we’ve been taking a Biblical look at hardship … what the Bible says it is … why we experience hardship … and how we should respond to the trials and challenges of life from a Biblical perspective. God uses the trials and hardships of life to teach us … to help us grow ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Denomination: United Methodist

Covid-19: What In Heaven Is God Doing?

Contributed by Tim White on May 25, 2020

It is encouraging to understand what God is up to during a crisis like we have today.

COVID-19, What in Heaven Is God Doing? What may be happening now, all around the world. 2 Chronicles 7:11-15 Other various passages “If my people…” • The Corona Virus 19 had rocked our world. • Has it not shown us that we cannot control our lives? • For control freaks, this has been emotional ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:11-15

Denomination: Baptist

Will You Take God Up On His Test? (Exodus 15:22-27) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 21, 2022

If you're actually/fully obeying God, will He heal you?

I apparently needed a break from Exodus, which I didn't expect (did Psalm 9-12). But I'm learning to not fight it, and just go with it. [And I'm hoping this is the Spirit leading me, somehow]. This week, I felt like I was maybe ready to try Exodus again. Let's start by ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27, James 5:14-16, John 9:30-33

Milk And Meat For Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jul 13, 2023

There are two kinds of Christians that you will find in every church. These two kinds are…

(1) Those who have been saved for many years but they have not grown spiritually one iota! Illus: Do you remember the story of “Peter Pan?” He was a boy who refused to grow up. Growing old is not always synonymous with becoming mature. The tragedy of the church today we have come to accept ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-17

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming A Single-Tongued People (James 3:1-12) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jun 12, 2022

The power of the tongue, the dangers of the tongue, and the necessity of controlling the tongue. If this is hard, asking God for wisdom is the key (James 1:4).

Let's begin today by reading from James 3:1 (and a part of verse 2): (1) Not many of you, teachers, should become, my brothers, knowing that greater/more intense judgment we will receive. (2) For in many ways, we all stumble. One of the highest callings, for the building up of God's ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

What Do You Crave? What Does God Crave? (James 4:1-10) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jul 5, 2022

The verses make best sense through non-Western eyes, in a non-Western church. So talked about an African church plant. Also, on how/when to ask God for money.

Today's passage, James 4:1-10, was a real struggle for me at first. These verses, read as a whole, read as a response to a specific problem within the church, really don't make sense within the context of Western, white, evangelical Christianity. The way we tend to view the church, and ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

One Day, God Will Rescue Us From Fools (Psalm 14:1-7) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jul 5, 2022

There's different kinds of stupid. Defining a "fool," OT style. A psalm of confidence-- God will rescue us one day.

We continue our very sporadic study of the psalms today, by reading Psalm 14. Let's start by reading part of verse 1. (1) Of/for the director. Of/for David. He has said-- a fool-- in his heart/mind, "There is no God." There's lots of kinds of stupid in life. You can act ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1-7, Psalm 74:18-22, 2 Samuel 13:1-14, Romans 3:9-18, 1 Samuel 25:1-31  (view more)  (view less)

Judge Not Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jul 11, 2022

This sermon focuses on the human tendency to judge others and the forms of judgement that have no place within God's Kingdom or his people.

If you want to follow along, we are going to be looking at Matthew 7:1. We will be looking at only five verses today. While you are looking that up, I was looking on the internet this past week for illustrations to open my sermon, and I came across one that I thought was very good. Not only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5, Galatians 6:1-2

Denomination: Christian Church

A Living Hope, A Sure Anchor In Troubled Times Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jul 29, 2022

Peter has some good news for beaten down and discouraged Jesus-followers.

Living Hope A Sure Anchor In Troubled Times Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of The Word

Contributed by Willem Slomp on Aug 2, 2022

The Power of the Tongue It has the power: 1. to direct the course of life; 2. to destroy the circle of life; 3. to heal the source of life.

James 3: 1-12 (NIV84) “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12, Proverbs 18:2-21, Proverbs 26:20-28

The Blessing Of Remembering - Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Jan 13, 2024

It is a strange land when you try to whole on to joy and one another while your hearts are filled with grief. Yet be assured that God will not abandon us because we are in a strange land. There are some keys for thriving in a strange Land.

Subject: The Blessing of Remembering Text: Psalm 137:1-6 “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6, John 14:1-6, Psalm 137:1-6, Psalm 118:5-9

Denomination: Methodist