Sermons on Unpleasant:

The Beginning Of… Mankind Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 14, 2010

God humbles and gives great hope to mankind, created in his image.

Scripture Introduction “There are one hundred and ninety-three living species of monkeys and apes. One hundred and ninety-two of them are covered with hair. The exception is the naked ape…homo sapiens.” So wrote Zoologist Desmond Morris in his effort to analyze human behavior through the actions ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Suffering Can Be A Gift Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on May 4, 2010

God stacks up treasures for his people through our suffering for his sake.

Scripture Introduction Jesus calls us blessed when reviled and persecuted on his account. We hear that and probably grit our teeth and determine to bear it should the need arise. The possibility of suffering frightens, and the culture of comfort surrounding us suggests we avoid situations where ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:29-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

But Even If He Doesn't

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Apr 20, 2012

Getting rid of sin, and then choosing not to sin, is by far the best way to live.

But Even If He Doesn’t… Lessons from Exile: Dan 3 Lent week 2 Mar 4, 2012 Intro: How big a deal do you think sin actually is? This is the second Sunday of Lent, and we continue our journey to the cross and the empty tomb together. This is a season of repentance, but with that ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

Perfected Series

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 26, 2012

The disciples saw love perfected in Jesus, were able to live it themselves and now testify how love is perfected in us and describes how it looks in a fallen world.

Perfected 1 John 4:14-21 • It is really one of the most uncomfortable positions a family can be in. • I don’t desire to pull off any memory bandages before wounds heal, but the seriousness of this topic demands it. • We have all visited a family in the hospital who was faced ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Living In Your Will, Not Your Feelings (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 28, 2010

Sermon 2B of the series. In this sermon we continue the theme developed previously. We show why your emotions are an unreliable source of truth. Then we learn that God’s commands and assurances are always directed to our will, not to our feelings. Learn t

What am I Missing Here? Steps to Recovering Your Joy July 18 and 25, August 1, 2010 Calvary Baptist Church Ephesians 5:14 SERMON 2: The Fallacy of Living In Your Feelings NOTE: This sermon is based in part on a sermon by F.B. Meyer entitled, “Where am I Wrong?” This sermon appears as chapter 2 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5

Denomination: Baptist

“nazarene Knights And People Of Valor”

Contributed by Andy Grossman on May 31, 2011

The Mighty Men of Valor had three qualities we all need to be the people God wants us to be.

“Nazarene Knights and People of Valor” June 5th, 2011 1 Chronicles 11:10-25: 10 These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the LORD had promised— 11 this is the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:10-25

Denomination: Holiness

Dissin' The Homeboy Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 9, 2009

When we disrespect our own children, we disempower them, we give evidence that ours is a sick community, and we write off God’s ability to redeem.

The church was plagued with two bad boys, or maybe it was three. The two really bad boys offended nearly everybody in that church. They ran through the hails, rudely bumping those who were in the way. Elderly ladies cringed when they saw them coming. Small children screamed and hid behind their ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

True Repentance

Contributed by Denise Raterta on Oct 14, 2009

Backsliding itself is of course horrendous. But it gets doubly shameful and we’ll end up dishonoring God even more when we repent without fully knowing exactly how we have offended God.

Seeing and hearing the reactions of different people in the midst of the recent calamities in the world, I find myself grieving because most of us, even the supposedly veteran believers, do not fully understand and recognize God’s clear message behind the events. We just hear and do what we like to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Denomination: *other

Moving Beyond Kodak Moments

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Oct 26, 2009

This sermon helps us move beyond clinging to worldly things and helps us grasp eternal truth.

There are incidents in our lives that we do not want to move beyond. Your honeymoon is one such incident. The birth of a baby is a similar incident. Special vacations fall into this category. These and other occasions we make into Kodak moments. Judy and I made a trip to Alaska for our twenty-fifth ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Baptist

Playing The Fool

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 5, 2009

Sarcasm betrays anger at ourselves or at others, but we cannot let it fester. We need to come to the Cross, where there is reconciliation.

Words have power. The things we say to one another have power. Kids may deal with smart-mouths in the schoolyard by chanting, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." But that’s rubbish! Don’t you believe it? Names do hurt. Words hurt. The things we say to each other do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Love Is The Key

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Feb 9, 2009

Love is the key to all we do in the Christian life. It is the key to our ministry; the key to our relationships; and the key to our victory.

Love Is The Key Text: 1 Cor.13: 13 Intro: Have you ever thought about how easy it is for people to misrepresent themselves to others? I suppose a certain amount of that is normal under certain conditions. For instance, I may feel like death warmed over. But if I’m walking through the mall, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Ignorance Is Bliss -- Not!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 14, 2009

First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, MD: We avoid too much information because we know we will have to respond. Some escape into private piety; some escape from knowing themselves. But true bliss comes from knowing how to invest in Kingdom concerns.

You can buy it anywhere in Pennsylvania Dutch country – a banner, an apron, a towel, anything really – and it proclaims, in pidgin German, “Ve get too soon oldt und too late schmart”. Your preacher this morning is a walking example of that ancient truth. Too soon oldt und too late schmart. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 92:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Handling God's Success When We Wanted It For Ourselves Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 29, 2009

Ministry looks impossible, and we want to run the other way. But when we do finally tackle it, and God redeems, then we want the credit. In His grace He assures us that we are not forgotten even though we are inappropriate.

All during this month we’ve worked together on the theme of compassion. Because we are a church which urgently needs to do ministry in this community; because we are a people with much to give and much to share, and with a place to share it, by the time this week is over we will have invested four ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When We Are Called To Those Who Are Hostile

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 15, 2009

After being abused and accused by his fellow Jews, Jeremiah’s counsel was sought and ignored. Modern believers need to take note.

If I hadn’t had a similar, though less lethal, experience, I probably wouldn’t relate to that scene in “The Godfather” where the old Mafioso tells the young boss how the traitor would try to kill him after his death. With me, we were in a nice restaurant in San Francisco (my executive editor and I) ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 37:13-21

Denomination: *other

Seeing Through The Darkness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 22, 2009

This is a time of profound darkness, when many things we have depended on fail. We may be among the curious crowd or the concerned companions, but we will eventually see. Who will be the next converted centurion?

When you are suddenly plunged into darkness, that darkness is profound, and you cannot see anything. But wait a while, let your eyes adjust, and if there is a glimmer of light anywhere, you will begin to see and you will make your way through. The darkness will not be quite as dismal as you first ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:44-49

Denomination: Baptist