Sermons on Unhealthy Relationships:

The Cross Has Two Beams

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Sep 4, 2009

Ordinary Proper 18: What is the relationship between saving faith and works of righteousness? Sometimes an inability to distinguish can create confusion. But we look to Saint James to answer the question!

There are vocations that endeavor to deal in certainty. Take engineering: I’m not certain that I would feel comfortable driving over a bridge designed by a person who simply ‘felt’ that their design would have integrity. I want somebody who will crunch the numbers and who understands beam and ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-18

Denomination: Lutheran

I Think She's Asleep Now

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 13, 2009

Christ has interpreted the seventh commandment by the tenth to reflect the purity expected of those who are part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Marriage for a Christian is meant to reflect the relationship of Christ and His people.

“I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”[1] The people of Newburyport, Massachusetts were scandalized in the summer of 2004 when their mayor, Mary Anne Clancy, admitted to an affair with a married gym teacher. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:28

Denomination: Baptist

A Changed Person

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Mar 1, 2010

We are all called to repentance; we are called to change. Change we see in our mind, our will, our affection, our attitude and our relationship with God the Father.

A Changed Person 09/21/08 AM Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Introduction Last Lord’s day our lesson covered change we must believe in, the change preached by John the Baptist, Jesus, the Apostles, and Disciples down through the last two thousand years: Repent! We know that there are only two paths to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christ Reconciled You To Present You As Holy

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Aug 9, 2010

Enemies of God. That's what we once were. How could justice be satisfied to reconcile us to God? How can we keep our new relationship with him?

Text: Colossians 1:21-23 Theme: Christ Reconciled You to Present You As Holy A. How severe our alienation was! B. How costly his sacrifice! C. How vital to stand firm on the Gospel! Season: Pentecost 9c Date: July 25, 2010 Web page: ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:21-23

Denomination: Lutheran

I Want To Be A Sheep? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 23, 2011

Max Lucado once noted that sheep are dumb, defenseless and boring. Why would we want to be a sheep? The answer to that question says a lot about us and our relationship to God.

OPEN: During Summer camp I remember hearing the following song: “I wanna be a sheep, baa baa I wanna be a sheep, baa baa I wanna be a sheep, baa baa I wanna be a sheep, baa baa” It went on to say “I don’t want to be a hypocrite… because they’re not hip with it” “I don’t want to be a Pharisee… ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Whole Lotta Achan Goin' On!"

Contributed by Rick Finitzer on Nov 18, 2014

Rahab trusts in the God of Heaven and Earth and as a Canaanite is set free and rescued while Achan a member of the Covenant Community with a relationship with God displeases God, acts like a Canaanite and is judged!

Cornerstone Church November 16, 2014 “Whole Lotta Achan Goin' On!” Joshua 7 “How’s That Again? The following ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26

Denomination: Evangelical Free

How Not To Do

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 19, 2015

Talk about the results, the relationship, and the rewards of fearing the Lord (Material adapted from Bob Deffinbaugh at: https://bible.org/seriespage/5-psalm-34-fear-lord)

HoHum: One man said, “I fell off a 6 foot ladder last summer. It was the most spectacular SPLAT ever. Talk about a perfect way to teach how not to do something! No roll. No slap. Just a flail, a yelp and a splat. Thankfully I didn't get hurt.” Reminds me of AFV where we are shown how ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:11-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Learning To Pray Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Oct 1, 2015

Everyone can and should learn to pray as Jesus taught. We will take a look at what Jesus taught about prayer and apply those truths to our own relationship with God.

Learning to Pray Matthew 6:7-15 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Empty Or Full?

Contributed by Andrew Corbett on Mar 11, 2016

The believer's relationship to their local church depends upon whether they see their church service as the place where they arrive empty and expect to leave full, or arrive full and expect to leave empty.

Empty Or Full? The Believer’s Relationship To Church by Dr. Andrew Corbett There are some places where it is good to turn up empty and leave full. If you’re a customer, this includes the supermarket, the gas station, or a restaurant. There are other places where it is good to turn up ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Signs, Signs,everywhere A Sign

Contributed by Horace Wimpey on Aug 15, 2015

God gave the nation of Israel a sign of their commitment to him with circumcision. The people thought that the sign was their salvation. Not their relationship with God. Many who profess Christian faith do the same with baptism.

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign Genesis 17: 9-13 (NLT) Intro: Back in the seventies, there was a one hit wonder band called the five man electrical band. There one mega hit was called “Signs”. . The chorus went like this: . Signs, Signs, Everywhere there's signs. Blocking out the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

Testing God Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Apr 20, 2016

Testing God is the recurring theme as the psalmist recounts the waywardness of the Israelites. Three times it is mentioned, each time presenting insight into the different perspectives between them and God about their relationship.

Psalm 78:17-20, 40-41, 56-58 Testing God 12/27/09 D. Marion Clark Introduction You are familiar with the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. Satan presents three temptations, all of which Jesus refutes, each time by quoting Scripture. For one of the temptations Satan sets Jesus on the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:17-58

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Prays (Week 1 Of 4): Father And Son Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 8, 2021

The main thoughts for us today center around the Father-Son relationship that existed between God and Jesus. Glory to God the Father. Glory to Jesus the Son. The Purpose of Eternal Life.

JESUS PRAYS (WEEK 1 OF 4): FATHER AND SON John 17:1-5 #JesusPrays INTRODUCTION… https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/g28397/like-father-like-son/?slide=1 I’d like to start out with a bit of fun this morning. Many times fathers and sons look alike. I found some pictures of famous fathers and ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Aspects Of Endurance

Contributed by Lucy Paynter on Oct 21, 2023

If we lived a life of constant health, wealth, and happiness we would become a weak and ineffective Christians: assuming we were somehow capable of maintaining our relationship with Jesus.

Aspects of Endurance Of course, the need for enduring does not mean we adopt a persecuted-prophet perspective or conduct ourselves so zealously that we induce hardships. It does one no good to manufacture hardships so that they can practice endurance. The endurance Christ repeatedly urges ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Thessalonians # 9

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 6, 2022

Since Paul now is switching from the relationship between himself and the Thessalonian Christians to giving instruction on conduct, “walk,” the word “ethics” comes up since this has to do with conduct.

The word “ethics” is one of the most important words in the English language. Of the ten most IMPORTANT WORDS in the English language, “ethics” should be ranked toward the top of the list! It is a word that every SCHOOL TEACHER should DRILL into the minds of students. It is a word every SUNDAY ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Blights To Be Reckoned With Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 3, 2016

Our personal struggles and weaknesses have great bearing upon our relationships. We all have blights that plague us, and today we are going to look at three of them.

Blights to Be Reckoned With (Ecclesiastes 11:4, 9:18, 9:11b) 1. UPI recently ran an article about a man and his trash: “NEW YORK, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A man has promised to wear a clear plastic suit containing every piece of garbage he produces for 30 days. A film crew will follow Rob ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible