Sermons on Up Is Down:

Down 'n Dirty

Contributed by Brian Buriff on Jun 24, 2006

Wrestle with God – just do it! You’ll walk away with a new identity, a new walk (a limp) and a new relationship that will empower you.

I. WRESTLING MATCH BETWEEN GOD & JACOB – EACH OF US COULD VISUALIZE OURSELVES IN THE WRESTLING RING WITH GOD A. Many Of You Are Fighters – Strong Willed 1. Fight God in his will - ask lots & lots of questions – questioning 2. Arguing with God, reasoning, bargaining, wrestling B. Jacob Was A ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

Denomination: Church Of God

Put Down The Rocks

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 5, 2000

A look at the woman caught in Adultery and how it applies to our lives

Her mind refused to accept what had happening. It had to be a nightmare, it couldn’t be reality. She squeezed her eyes shut knowing that when she opened them everything would be all right and she’d wake up from this horrible dream. On the count of three. One, two, three, she opened her eyes and ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

Hand-Me Downs

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jul 25, 2003

Jesus has given us some godly clothes that we are supposed to wear at church and all the time. Wearing these clothes will make us look more like Jesus.

June 8, 2003 Colossians 3:12-17 “Hand-me downs” INTRODUCTION When I was growing up, my family wasn’t exactly poor, but we weren’t well off either. One of the results of our financial condition was that I rarely got new clothes. New clothes were reserved for Christmas and Easter. I ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Sit Down And Be Counted

Contributed by Martin Odom on Dec 25, 2006

Men are always so busy doing things that we seldom stop to allow God to minister in our lives. This sermon encourages men to surrender themselves to Jesus so we may gain more than expected. This is a Men’s Day sermon I preached at my church.

SIT DOWN AND BE COUNTED JOHN 6: 1 -13 The gospel according to St. John is vastly different than all of the other gospels. While the other three are called the synoptic gospels, which simply means that they give a synopsis or summary of Jesus’ life, John is after something different. John ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

An Upside-Down World Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Jan 8, 2009

This continues in my expository series through the book of Acts.

What is it about the bad that seems much more tantalizing to us than the good? Mark Twain said that a lie could travel halfway around the world while the truth was still putting on its shoes. And the old maxim is that while good news travels, bad news travels fast. The mainstream media has been ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Putting Down Roots

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jul 30, 2013

My destiny is determined by my delight.

During last year’s monsoon, our neighbor’s mesquite tree was blown over by a wind gust that accompanied one of our summer thunderstorms. Before that storm, that tree appeared to be strong and healthy, but the winds of the storm revealed that large tree actually had very shallow roots. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Olympic Or Smack Down

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Feb 17, 2005

Is your prayer life real or just an exaggerated production?

Genesis 32: 22-32 Olympic or Smack Down? Prosper CRC: Falmouth, MI April 8, 2001 PM On a Thursday night not to long ago I caught a few minutes of WWF Smack Down, trying to get a current picture of what comes to mind when the word wrestling is mentioned. It has been quite a few years since I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Laying Down Our Will

Contributed by Jeff Budzinski on Jun 29, 2007

In order to grow in the things of God and to be used in a powerful way for Jesus, we must lay down our will. In order for God’s life (His will) to be expressed through us, we must lay our life (our will) down. God’s will for our life overrides the plans

Introduction · In order to grow in the things of God and to be used in a powerful way for Jesus, we must lay down our will. · In order for God’s life (His will) to be expressed through us, we must lay our life (our will) down. · God’s will for our life overrides the plans, purposes and pursuits ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-36

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Upside Down Kingdom

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Apr 9, 2001

Four characteristics of God’s upside down Kingdom to remind ourselves of on Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday is the Christian community’s celebration of Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. It’s a time when we reflect on Jesus as our King. But sometimes we talk about Jesus as our king without pausing to think about just what kind of Kingdom it is that Jesus is king ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A World Upside Down

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 13, 2004

This is an advent sermon.

Imagine with me, if you would. You are an employee at a store. The store has had an incredible year; profits are through the roof. The store is having the best year ever. The CEO of the company announces a visit for next week. You are thrilled because you are going to get the recognition you ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, Isaiah 61:8-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

Visiting Down Under

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 1, 2011

The book of Revelation offers great insight for understanding martyrdom and persecution.

“Visiting Down Under” Rev. 6:9-11 If only we would read the book of Revelation as a message of comfort rather than a calendar of events, if only we would see Revelation as an opportunity for encouragement rather than a platform for debate, if only we would preach and teach it from a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:9-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Casting Down Imaginations

Contributed by Gbemisola Fafowora on Oct 11, 2021

In the world we are living today there is a lot of things going on that brings into our mind vain imaginations.

We are living in a world that is rapidly changing and as the world is going through a process of change, we the body of Christ need to put on the whole armour God according to Ephesians 6: 11 - 18 that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 1 Peter 5:8 Records this amazing word ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, 2 Timothy 1:7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Blessed Are The Upside-Down Series

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jun 29, 2025

Jesus opens His Kingdom manifesto not with rules but with congratulations. He blesses the weak, the weeping, and the overlooked. These “blessings” are grace-filled announcements that reorient how we see God, ourselves, and the world.

Sermon Title: Blessed Are the Upside-Down Series Title: Kingdom Culture: Living the Sermon on the Mount Text: Matthew 5:1–12 Big Idea: Jesus opens His Kingdom manifesto not with rules but with congratulations. He blesses the weak, the weeping, and the overlooked. These “blessings” are grace-filled ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Breaking Down The Walls

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Aug 8, 2019

Just as the Apostle Paul had to deal with separations between Jewish and Gentile Christians in his day, we need to deal with separations between white and black churches (and many other ethnicities as well) today.

(This sermon was preached in 1997 and needs updated examples) There was once a subway car, almost empty, except for a Chinese man and a Jewish man, who sat in their seats, silently, holding their newspapers high as they read. Suddenly the Jewish man stood up, rolled up his newspaper, walked over ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Passing Down The Faith

Contributed by Greg Nance on Apr 26, 2010

1 John seems to reveal a generation gap for the first time in Christian experience. How do we handle this? John’s message is helpful here.

(The audio version of this is longer and more complete) How do we pass on the truth to the next generation? How keep from losing our children to the world? Every generation has a choice to make. The gospel and letters of John may have been written to address this very subject. John writes to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-29, 1 John 2:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ