Sermons on Unusual:

Habits Of Pruning, Part 2: Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) Series

Contributed by James Jackson on Feb 13, 2021

Fasting is probably the least understood of the spiritual disciplines. But it has the potential to be one of the most rewarding.

[I am very grateful to SermonCentral contributor Jim Luthy for his sermon "To Fast or Not to Fast." His opening illustration and structure formed the backbone of this sermon.] Good morning. Please open your Bibles to Matthew 6. How many of you are tea drinkers? I know we are in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18, Jeremiah 14:10-11, Isaiah 58:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Fruit Of Love

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

Love is the highest virtue man is capable of giving or receiving. You cannot give God or man any higher gift than the gift of love. The highest goal of life is to be like Christ. The only way to approach this goal is to be a person filled with love.

Howard Thurman in Disciplines Of The Spirit, tells of one of the most unusual jobs. A large General Hospital hired a high school girl to be there mice petter. Her sole occupation was to take white mice out of their cages several times a day and pet them. They had learned that when mice are made ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Taking Laughter Seriously

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

Solomon was right, for laughter is not enough to give life ultimate meaning. But it is, nevertheless, a vital part of the meaningful life. Solomon is himself one of the key authorities in the Bible for supporting the value of laughter.

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

Love Is Kind Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

Moody learned from experience that kindness was no minor value, but was the key to evangelism, and one of the reasons we do not win many to Christ is because we are not kind to those outside of Christ.

Clovis Chappell, the great Southern preacher, told this story of a Christian man who bought a lovely home in the suburbs in one of the big cities of the South. He had his furniture moved in one day, and the next day he arrived and was out walking over the wide lawn of his new property. His next ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4

The Shepherds Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Nov 8, 2021

God’s grace rests on those who embrace His Son by faith. God makes peace through the cross of His Son. The only people who get the peace are people who grasp God’s grace.

Nothing quite says “Tis the Season” like your favorite Hallmark Christmas movie marathon! If you have never watched a Hallmark Christmas movie, then here are the essential ingredients: • A small-town Christmas festival; • Lots of Christmas decorations; • PG level of romantic flirtation; • Lots of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Mary And Joseph Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Nov 9, 2021

Not everyone experiences a Hallmark Christmas. Some people have problems, and in the moments to come, we'll discover one of the original characters of Christmas has a big problem.

Merry Christmas to your family and you! Christmas is just three days away – are you ready? Is everything wrapped and under the tree? When I stop to think about it, it is still funny eleven years later… …but Virgin Mary gave birth to a 7.7-pound baby Jesus on Christmas Day in Peru eleven years ago. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

New Year, Same God Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Dec 30, 2022

James 1:16-18 teaches us that every good we need in this life is in and from God.

Introduction Today is January 1, 2023. It is also the Lord’s Day. The last time January 1 landed on the Lord’s Day was in 2017. And the next time January 1 will land on the Lord’s Day is in 2033. It is wonderful to start off the New Year on the Lord’s Day. I planned for this day several months ...read more

Scripture: James 1:16-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Search For Truth Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Jan 1, 2023

The further you pursue science in any discipline, you're going to get to Jesus Christ. Because that's where the truth is. If you have an open heart and you pursue science to its fullest, you're going to get to God and you're going to understand more about who God is.

Today we're going to look at the wise men. In order to look at the wise men, we have to go back about 600 years to start our story. The story takes place, I'm going to say, about 600 years before with a man named Belteshazzar. You might not know him. You might know him as Daniel. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Encountering Christ: The Healing Of The Centurion's Servant

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Feb 11, 2023

This is a series on people who encountered Christ.

Title: “Encountering Christ: A Centurion’s Servant is Healed” Script: Lk. 7:1-10/Mt. 8:5-13 Type: Series Where: GNBC 2-12-23 Intro: This morning we heard Jim Schlott one of our elders, recounting his encounter with Christ. Everyone who is a Christian has had to have had an encounter with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Fanning The Flames

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Feb 12, 2023

In the face of great heresy Paul knew Timothy was tiring out so despite his own bleak circumstances Paul wrote the words of encouragement that his son desperately needed to hear to fan the flames of his dedication to the Lord!

Fanning into the Flame 2 Timothy 1 :1-7 Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567 From the dark, dreary, cold underground chamber in Rome’s Mamertine prison apostle Paul puts to pen what would be his very last communication with the outside world. Though he had been in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

‘steps Of Faith’

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Feb 12, 2023

‘Steps of Faith’ - John chapter 4 verses 43-54. – sermon by Gordon Curley (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Ill: • Faith is central to all of life. • For example, you go to a doctor whose name you cannot pronounce. • And whose degrees you have never verified. • He gives you a prescription you cannot read. • You take it to a pharmacist you have never seen before. • He gives you a chemical compound ...read more

Scripture: John 4:43-54

Denomination: Brethren

Freedom From The Burden Of Worry Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 8, 2025

Fear and anxiety are things that can have an unhealthy grip on our lives. In this passage, Jesus teaches his followers how we can be free from the burden of worrty.

In 1988, Bobby McFerrin released a song entitled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” It was inspired by the teachings of an Indian Guru who used to tell his followers “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” McFerrin’s song was quickly written and recorded. It was released as an Adult Contemporary song where it made it to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-34

Denomination: Baptist

Elevate To The Next Level: "Living Miraculously”

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Sep 21, 2025

Satan’s got the church believing it doesn’t need miracles, because we are far more educated than they were in biblical times. But everyone, young and old, sick and not so sick, healthy or not healthy, employed or not employed, persecuted or well liked, needs a miracle.

Elevate to the Next Level “Living Miraculously” Watch on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6k-0fgCE4k Let me begin by saying that we all need a miracle. And that’s because we all have problems, and every miracle starts with a problem. All of us, young and old, sick and not so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 2:1, Philippians 4:6-7, James 5:14-18, Matthew 17:20-21, Daniel 9:3, 1 John 5:14, Isaiah 5:20-25, Isaiah 59:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare

Interpreting The Times Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 22, 2025

In His continuing discussion on having an eternal perspective, Jesus urges His listeners to recognize the times, seek reconciliation through repentance and respond by bearing fruit.

Humanity’s ability to predict the weather has improved over the centuries. Simple observations of general weather patterns and seasonal shifts have evolved into highly technological advancements that allow us to predict or provide some best guesses regarding pending weather events several days in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:20-23, Hebrews 9:27-28, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Romans 6:23, Romans 12:1-2, Acts 3:19-20, Galatians 5:17-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Mephibosheth And Me (2025)

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 10, 2025

The Old Testament story of Mephibosheth is a wonderful story of grace and provision. It is a powerful illustration of what God has done for us through Christ.

Introduction: A. Welcome to Family and Friend Day, we are really thrilled to have so many “friends” visiting with us today. 1. We sincerely hope that you are having an uplifting and inspiring time. B. Let’s talk about funny names for a minute. 1. Many years ago, when we were looking at names for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13, John 3:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ