Sermons on Up The Wrong Tree:

Reflection C.1 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? Two Wrong Goblets

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 23, 2020

There is a danger of prematurely imagining that we are in ‘End Times’. There is also a danger of failing to recognize ‘End Times’ when they are on us.

There’s a great family film called ‘The Princess Bride’. It’s definitely worth watching if you enjoy a romance with lots of action and humour. A farmhand, Westley, is in love with a beautiful young woman called Buttercup. A Sicilian named Vizzini kidnaps Buttercup; Westley, wearing a mask, goes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:4

Denomination: Baptist

Eagle's Wing Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 7, 2022

God, grant me the courage to change the things I can.

[This the second sermon that is based on Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer/poem "The Serenity Prayer." This sermon is about asking God to grant us the courage to change the things that we can.] Once upon a time, a caterpillar crawled inside a hare’s house when the hare was away and set ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15, Isaiah 40:25-31, Jonah 1:2, Jonah 1:12, Jonah 1:17, Romans 8:28-31, Jonah 2:2, Jonah 3:4, Jonah 4:2, Jonah 4:6-11, Jonah 3:9-10, Isaiah 40:31, 1 Samuel 17:46, Numbers 14:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Sing Praises (Psalm 81)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Feb 12, 2026

Is singing praise choruses somehow wrong?

Are praises just for certain churches or are we all encouraged to sing praises? Do we praise the idols of the world or God? Let’s look at Psalm 81. For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph. (WEB) Are tambourines, wind and various stringed instruments appropriate? Sing praises ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Cross Training Series

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 19, 2010

Is it possible to be technically correct but biblically wrong?

Cross Training 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 Cascades Fellowship CRC, JX MI February 1, 2009 Series: The Church in Crisis The seminary environment is one that fosters discussion as part of the learning process. Part of the reason I recall my seminary days with such fondness is in large part due to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Fate, Failure And Fig Trees (And Why Bad Things Happen To Good People)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 17, 2007

It’s the age-old theological question - why do bad things happen to good people? Jesus, as ever, doesn’t give us the response we expect.

They say that philosophy deals with two sorts of questions: * Questions to which everybody knows the answer (eg. Do I really exist?). * Questions to which nobody knows the answer (eg. Why do I exist?). Religious teachers tend to deal the same sorts of questions, perhaps particularly questions ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Matthew 5 – Part 17 – What Is So Wrong With Swearing? Everyone Does It! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 7, 2010

Why is the F*** word and and the Sh** word used so freely today? Jesus doesn’t directly include this in what He says about oaths in Matthew 5 but it is there by way of application and other passages enlarge on this area of sin, so I am taking a detour.

Matthew 5 – Part 17 – WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH SWEARING? EVERYONE DOES IT! Why is the F*** word and and the Sh** word used so freely today? Jesus doesn’t directly include this in what He says about oaths in Matthew 5 but it is there by way of application and other passages enlarge on this. Is it a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Hang Up Your Harp

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Oct 19, 2022

3 Keys to not hanging up your harp: 1.By not letting circumstances circumvent your praise. 2. Don’t let the fact that you are in foreign land cause praise to become foreign to you. 3. By Not Letting the fact you are a captive, hold your praise captive.

Don’t Hang Up Your Harp PPT 1 Series title PPT 2 Message Title PPT 3 Text Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion. Psalms 137:2 Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps. Psalms 137:3 For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

Will The Real Christ Please Stand Up? (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Eyriche Cortez on Nov 7, 2009

How we view Jesus Christ determines how we value Him.

What we think about a person determines how we treat that person. When we think a person is “masungit,”[1] we feel like walking on eggshells when we are with that person. When we think a person is “mabait,”[2] we are more comfortable when we are with him. Our response to that person depends upon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Genesis 7 - Imagine How Many Trees Noah Cut Down To Make The Ark! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 16, 2009

Don’t get sidetracked. Noah was saved from the coming judgment by coming into the ark. We can be saved from the coming judgment by coming to Christ and believing in Him. Come under His authority and trust Him today.

Genesis 7 - Imagine how many trees Noah cut down to build the Ark. Methuselah, whose name we have seen means "When he dies, judgment" was on his deathbed. God’s grace in giving man time to repent was drawing to a close. In Genesis 7 the entire earth is flooded. This isn’t a local flood. This is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 7:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Desiring Eternal Growth Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 21, 2013

Birth must be followed by nurture. Just as a natural baby requires milk in order to be nourished & to grow, so must a spiritual baby have the milk of God¡¯s Word in order to be nourished and to grow up in Christ.

1 PETER 2: 1-3 [Renewing Hope Series] DESIRING ETERNAL GROWTH [Philippians 3:7-14] God's imperishable Word stands forever. This imperishable Word was the content of Peter's preaching (1:12, 25). He preached the Word for God's Word has life. He preached the Word for God's Word gives life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3, 1 Peter 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Love Is The Mission

Contributed by Lynn Sims on Feb 19, 2025

Searching for Love in All the Wrong Places

Love is the Mission Let’s read our Church Mission Statement: Our Mission: To Live by Faith, To be a Voice of Hope, To be Known by Love, And a Place of Healing. Key Verse: John 13:34-35 (NKJV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35, 1 John 3:16

Denomination: Other

Have You Felt Like Giving Up Lately?

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Dec 14, 2000

We sometimes feel like giving up in life. There is help available.

HAVE YOU FELT LIKE GIVING UP LATELY? INTRO.- ILL.- The backwoods preacher found a small boy all alone, playing in the dirt. “Where’s your father?” the preacher asked. The boy said, “He was hanged last week.” “Where’s your mother?” “She run off.” “Where’s your sister?” “She’s in jail.” “Is ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Problems With The Person Joshua! Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Apr 11, 2016

Did Joshua do anything wrong?

Remember the story of the Israelites? God chose a people and gave them a promise of a land filled with milk and honey. God took the Israelites out from the slavery in Egypt. God stopped Pharaoh and his soldiers from killing the Israelites. God led and provided for the Israelites as they wandered ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Your Reaction Is Showing Part 2

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jul 16, 2003

How Jesus reacted to the wrongs of a friend.

Your reaction is showing part II. John 18:1 -- 11. This morning we mentioned that the true test of your character is not found in your actions but your reactions. We are looking at how Jesus reacted in some certain situations. We looked this morning at how Jesus reacted to the wrongs of a ...read more

Scripture: John 18:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

When People Trick You Lesson 9 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 5, 2024

Two wrongs never make a right.

A. THE GIBEONITES TRICK ISRAEL: JOSHUA 9:1-27 “When the six kings of great nations in the land heard about the destruction of Jericho and Ai, plus God stopping up the Jordan River, they made a covenant to fight together against Israel. The nation of Gibeon decided not to join the covenant but to ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 9:1-27

Denomination: Baptist