Sermons on Unpleasant:

What Happens Behind Closed Doors Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 21, 2009

In worship God provides a way for us to deal with the lingering dirt in our lives, and offers us a vision of life’s beauty and possibility.

How many househusbands do we have here? Are there any househusbands? Not housewives … we don’t even say that word in these politically correct times! You know what I mean … how many of us men will admit that we get into the housework routine? Come on, I know about some of you! You have a working ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Denomination: Baptist

Hearing From God In Modern Times

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on May 2, 2015

Now is the time for the people of God to be fully equipped to share God's Word in a way that intrigues' people to Biblical truths. Truths to live by in a sin cursed world growing in conflict, confusion and controversy.

Title: Hearing From God in Modern Times Theme: Discerning God's Voice In a Secular Atmosphere Part 1 Introduction: We live in times were people are looking for answers. Now is the time for the people of God to be fully equipped to share God's Word in a way that intrigues' people to Biblical ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Speak In Parables? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 8, 2011

God’s Kingdom advances by seeing and hearing Jesus.

Scripture Introduction Read the Shorter Catechism question and ask the congregation to answer: “How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?” Congregational Response: “That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must apply ourselves to it with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:10-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Venus De Milo: Beautiful But Not Perfect

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 14, 2009

We are not perfect, nor are we beyond redemption. Wake up to correct the inadequacies; strengthen what is worth keeping; and remember the grace of God.

In the best of us there are deep flaws; but in the worst of us there is something worth redeeming. In the best of us there are deep, profound flaws. Every fine and saintly person I have known has been hard to get along with, had blinders on about some issue, or just hung on to some irritating ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Optimism 101

Contributed by Monty Newton on Oct 25, 2010

The challenge is to choose hope for the future rather than learn helplessness from the past.

Title: Optimism 101 Text: Joel 2:23-32 (1:4-13, 12-18) Thesis: The challenge is to choose hope for the future rather than learn helplessness from the past. Introduction Learned Helplessness is a term I came across in my reading this week. It is a technical term originally used in reference to ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:23-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Is God When Life Goes Amok?

Contributed by Monty Newton on Nov 1, 2010

In the midst of trouble and fear, we rest in the fact that God is in his temple and the storyh is not yet complete.

Title: Where Is God When Life Goes Amok? Text: Habakkuk 1:1-4 and 2:1-4 Thesis: In the midst of trouble and fear, we rest in the fact the God is in his temple and the story is not yet complete. Introduction A cyclorama is a panoramic painting on the inside of a cylindrical platform, designed to ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Light, Or Stumbling?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 14, 2010

We choose darkness, but could choose light in our morality and our language. To choose darkness is to injure ourselves and others.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC January 25, 1987 For a number of years I have made it a habit to get up at five o’clock; yes, that’s five in the morning. I’ve made it my habit as a part of my set of personal disciplines, because I find that I can get at a number of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Pray Like You Mean It!

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Oct 31, 2009

Our prayers are affected by the way we understand God. Jesus uses this quirky parable to drive home that God is passionate about humanity and, in particular, your well-being.

Sermon for CATM – November 1, 2009 – “Pray Like You Mean It!” A young man went into a drugstore to buy 3 boxes of chocolate: small, medium, and large. When the pharmacist asked him about the three boxes, he said, “Well, I’m going over to a new girlfriend’s house for supper. Then we’re going out. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Finding The Hope You Need Series

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Nov 19, 2009

You need hope to cope. Where can you find the hope you need in this mixed-up world? Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:15-23.

A Study in Ephesians: WHERE TO FIND THE HOPE YOU NEED Ephesians 1:15-23 ________________________________________ The Ephesians were exhibiting ample amounts of faith and love but were coming up short in hope. Paul praised the Ephesians for their faith and love but prayed for their hope. As a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Baptism?

Contributed by Stephen Sheane on Nov 24, 2009

Baptism is a step of obedience, a public declaration and a personal commitment.

WHAT IS BAPTISM A drunk stumbled along a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeded to walk down into the water and stood next to the Preacher. The minister turned and noticed the old drunk and said, "Mister, Are you ready to find Jesus?" The drunk looks back and says, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Veil Of Ignorance

Contributed by Adeolu Akin-Abraham on Dec 2, 2009

People are managing the affairs they know little or nothing about. For instance, there are teachers who should be students, deliverance ministers who need deliverance, “great men and women of God” who should be learning how to be true followers of Christ.

A tragic story once occurred of a woman and her son walking along a river bank. The woman was in her latter stage of pregnancy and held her toddler son by the hand as they journeyed. Suddenly, the little boy slipped and fell into the river! The woman in her condition could not jump into the river ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:26

Denomination: Pentecostal

When God Intervenes

Contributed by Jofrey Bustamante on Dec 7, 2009

When God intervenes, watch and see!

Sometime in the last decade of twentieth century, a young pastor who was a fresh graduate from a renowned seminary was assigned to shepherd an old church in a remote village. The church was founded and built sometime in the late nineteenth century, and that makes the church about a century ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Broken Speech

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 11, 2011

God doesn't simply forbid swearing falsely, he forbids speaking falsely, which grows out of living falsely.

I’ve been racking my brains all week to find a lead-in to this week’s commandment without referring to politics. But I keep coming back to it like a moth to a candle. At least we’re no longer right in the middle of actual accusations of perjury... but the question of truth vs. ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Fading Vision Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2011

We are never farther from Jesus than when we are satisfied with ourselves, and we are never closer to him than when we have nothing and no one else to rely on

All of you are familiar, I’m sure, h the Hans Christian Andersen story about the Emperor’s new clothes. It begins, “Many, many years ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Facing The Challenges Of 2010!

Contributed by Jofrey Bustamante on Jan 9, 2010

So much for the past year! But, considering the tide of events, it seems we will be facing greater challenges this year. Let’s gear up!

Introduction: Two teenage brothers grew up as hooligans in a slum, making a living as couriers of illegal substances traded in the streets. These egocentric thugs religiously kept their dodgy earnings and shrewdly started their own illicit modus operandi until they became self-made millionaires ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational