Sermons on Urban Culture:

The Law Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jan 30, 2018

God wants His people to live a unique life that sets them apart from the surrounding culture

ENGAGE One of the common objections that we hear as Christians is that we claim to take the Bible literally yet we follow some of the rules in the Bible meticulously while we seem to ignore others. The challenge might sound something like this: “You are quick to quote the Bible when it comes to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Is Hell Forever? Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Sep 30, 2015

Although unpopular in today's culture of tolerance religious pluralism, the doctrine of hell is necessary for Christians and non-Christians.

Is Hell Forever? Perhaps an even more relevant question is whether there really is a hell? According to a 2003 survey by Barna research, 76% of Americans believe Heaven exists, 71% of Americans believe Hell exists, but only .005 believe that they will be sent there. So, while many people believe ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon On A Red Door

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 3, 2024

In many cultures and traditions throughout the world, red-painted doors have often symbolized protection and safety.

It was once said: “The kingdom of joy is protected from all evil by a red door.” (Source unknown) Psalm 121:7-8 reminds us: The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” In many cultures and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:8, Matthew 7:7, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 6:19

No Debt. Now What? Series

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Dec 7, 2023

Church leaders in the first three hundred years rebelled against the Greco-Roman culture of abandoning infants.

No Debt. Now What? December 10, 2023 James 1:27 NIV Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Church leaders in the first three hundred years rebelled against the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:27, Proverbs 21:13, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 31:8-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Babbling About Jesus

Contributed by Chuck Brooks on Sep 10, 2020

Today, even in our sophisticated, highly technological culture, men, women, boys and girls worship idols...

Background: Acts 17:1-15 (Acts 17:16 NKJV) Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Athens was home to the most renowned philosophers in history, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who was arguably the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Where Is God When I Hurt? Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

1 Peter is a book about suffering. It’s about how to live in a hostile culture for faith.

A pastor is cutting his front lawn. He looks up from mowing to see a dump truck back out of his neighbor’s driveway. Yet, the large truck backed over his neighbor’s eighteen month old son. The little boy had been squatting behind the truck’s huge tire. The pastor joined the boy’s hysterical mother ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Denomination: Baptist

Ligaments In The Church Series

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Oct 25, 2019

Our culture suffers from profound loneliness, but God calls us into a church family with rich relationships.

You’ve heard me talk about my days of playing basketball years ago. I was never a star, but I had a lot of fun. There could be several reasons that I was never a star. There were a couple of minor problems, like I wasn’t especially good at either shooting or dribbling a ball. But another ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16, Romans 12:16, Galatians 6:2, Romans 12:10, Romans 15:7, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:11  (view more)  (view less)

Meditations For A Quinceañera

Contributed by Adrián Olivas on Apr 27, 2002

This is a sample ceremony for a Christian younglady’s "coming of age" celebration which most hispanic cultures celebrate.

Consecration of a Quinceañera If you cannot find 14 fourteen girls or if you don’t want to have a "court of attendants", it is appropriate to have the quinceañera stand alone with her parents. It is suggested that the following objects be used in the ceremony. 1. A Bible (preferably with a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Sights And Sounds Of Christmas

Contributed by Michael Luke on Dec 27, 2003

A look at the original sights and sounds of Christmas to remind us that our cultural conceptions of Christmas tend to be faulty.

SPECIAL DAY: CHRISTMAS TEXT: LUKE 2:1-20 (Don’t read yet) TITLE: “THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS” INTRODUCTION: A. Steve Malone relates a parody of Luke’s account of the birth of Christ, that really underscores just how far our world has let the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Problem Of Becoming Mature In Many Aspects

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Cultural, personal, or circumstantial obstacles are bound to stand in the way of anyone who wants to become mature in Christ.

Cultural, personal, or circumstantial obstacles are bound to stand in the way of anyone who wants to become mature in Christ. Yet, without maturity we cannot become all that God wants us to be. Neither can we know all that the Lord wants us to understand. Furthermore, we cannot do all that our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jonathan Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Nov 25, 2022

In an era of cancel culture and the quest to remain in power at all cost, the story of Jonathan is worth knowing about.

November 26, 2022 We know virtually nothing about Jonathan. He was the oldest son of Saul and Ahinoam and next in line for the throne of Israel. The Bible does not tell us if he was married, but we are told that he had a son, Mephibosheth, who was 5 years old when Jonathen was killed on Mt. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:3-4, 1 Samuel 23:14-18

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Wer Bin Ich?

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Sep 22, 2006

Christians have a special counter cultural calling - not to live a back biting life but a life close to God.

James 3:13-4:8 The apostle James writes, in his epistle: 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the famous German theologian and pastor, who was imprisoned in 1943 for his ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

The Privileges Of God's People Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 1, 2014

When we know what have in Christ, we'll live what we love.

The Privileges of God’s People 1 Peter 2:4-12 Rev. Brian Bill November 1-2, 2014 An oxymoron is a rhetorical device in which two seemingly contradictory words are used together for effect. Here are some examples. An Actual Reenactment Excruciatingly Joyful – that’s how I felt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Request For Refuge

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 19, 2015

When times are tough its time to fight for your faith, knowing that your times are in His hands.

A Request for Refuge Psalm 31 Rev. Brian Bill July 18-19, 2015 Beth and I celebrated our 30th Anniversary on Monday. When I posted a picture from our wedding day many people complimented Beth. Me, not so much. Here are just a few of the comments: • Look, you have hair • She looks ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Cross The Line

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Jun 19, 2018

Our world has drawn new lines in the sand in an effort to separate us from those who need what only Jesus can give. Our world says – keep your religion to yourself – we don’t want it here. Jesus says cross the line, I'm here for you.

Cross the Line John Chapter 11 Jesus crosses the line and goes back to Judea where his friend Lazarus has died. Sometimes God will call us and ask us to cross the line. To go from a place of relative safety to a place of danger. The last time Jesus was in Judea they tried to kill Him by ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed