Sermons on Urban:

Ministering In This Age

Contributed by Rita Sims on Feb 17, 2022

This sermon was preached for McMahan Chapel Day in San Augustine, Texas on October 11, 1997. It includes historical information about the first, still in operation, Methodist Church in Texas based on Hebrews 12.

To which generation would I like to live and minister? Would it be during the early to mid-1800s, my great-great-great granddad Col. Sameul Doak McMahan's time? At that time Protestants began moving into Texas, which belonged to Mexico with the approved religion being Catholicism. In the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3, Hebrews 12:12-13

Denomination: United Methodist

Hell Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Jun 11, 2020

What is hell? a) punishment, b) separation from God, c) ruled by evil. Why would God send people to hell? What should we respond to the reality of hell?

HELL—Matthew 25:31-46 Last week, we talked about heaven, and this week, we talk about hell. Why talk about hell? It is not something we talk about with strangers, or even casual acquaintances. Some people—even people we know well—might consider it taboo, worse than talking about politics or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10, 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:11-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Evangelize -- Just Do It!

Contributed by Robert Simmons on Feb 24, 2002

Challenge to congregation to do the work of an evangelist.

Evangelize. It means to share the good news of Christ. We are all commanded to evangelize. We are all evangelists. Look at your neighbor and say "YOU ARE AN EVANGELIST." Now say, "I AM AN EVANGELIST." Not only are Billy Graham, Steve Hill, and other prominent ministers evangelists. We all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:16-20, Acts 16:6-12

Denomination: Church Of God

"Together Is Better”

Contributed by Alvin Hathaway, Sr. on Mar 23, 2009

In spite of dysfunctional relationships, in spite of disunity, in spite of disillusionment, I want you to know that God’s plan suggests that, “Together is Better.”

Sermon Preached at Union Baptist Church on Sunday, October 31, 2004 “Together is Better” Numbers 32:18 “We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his inheritance.” In spite of dysfunctional relationships, in spite of disunity, in spite of disillusionment, I want you to ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 32:18

Denomination: Baptist

Evangelizing The Cities Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 28, 2015

Just as post-Resurrection Judaism created a culture that rejected the Gospel, so modern society tries to make people incapable of receiving Christ. But we must bear witness, especially in the cities.

Thursday of the Second Week in Lent Joy of the Gospel Last Sunday we heard Jesus tell his key disciples not to disclose their vision of Him transfigured until He would rise from the dead. There was a good reason for that. The Jewish mindset, which had been formed by prophets like Jeremiah, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Catholic

Celebrate God's Goodness Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Apr 18, 2019

Brothers and sisters, your heavenly Father does not want or desire for you anxiety and depression. With all the chaos in our world and chaos in our country and chaos in our own lives, we must, we must find the path that leads to the calm and peace that God promises.

Celebrate God’s Goodness Philippians 4:4-5 I. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. II. Rejoice in the Lord’s GOODNESS. III. Rejoice in the Lord’s SOVEREIGNTY. According to the New York Times, Americans are among the most anxious people on earth. One study found that Americans were ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

When Trouble Comes

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 17, 2022

God is always there to assist, offering safety, peace, and refuge. God's power is unending, and He will triumph in the end. Those who love Him will always be saved by Him.

In verses 1-3: The dread of mountains and urban communities out of nowhere disintegrating into the ocean because of an atomic impact frequents numerous individuals today. Yet, the psalmist says that regardless of whether the world ceases, we need not dread. Notwithstanding utter annihilation, he ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Then Jesus Came

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 20, 2021

Can a blind person see what many cannot? Let’s discover what a blind man saw that the disciples could not. Let’s see what happened to the blind son of Timaeus after Jesus came in Mark 10:46-52.

Prelude Can a blind person see what many cannot? Purpose: Let’s discover what a blind man saw that the disciples could not. Plan: Let’s see what happened to the blind son of Timaeus after Jesus came in Mark 10:46-52. Blind Bart Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Baptist

Violent Bands Of Pharisees Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 22, 2020

To convict someone who died in the thirteenth century for actions that were considered heroic and kingly then, but that some people take offense to today is particularly ironic.

Tuesday of the 21st Week in Course 2020 It’s providential that the Church has given us a series of hard-hitting readings during the past month–hard-hitting but full of the Trinity’s love and compassion. It is particularly fitting that in a year when violent bands of Pharisees are roaming the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:23-26, 2 Thessalonians 2:2-17

Denomination: Catholic

Lord Please Free Us From The Machine That Turns Itself Off Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2020

In ways we do not understand, Our Lord will help us and bring to naught the plans of the murder coalition.

Feast of the Holy Innocents 2020 I first saw one of these toys back in the late 1950s when my uncle brought it to Christmas dinner. It’s been re-invented in the last decade and it’s a robot parallel to modern Western society. In its present incarnation, it’s a black plastic box with a switch on ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10, 1 John 2:1-2, Psalm 124:2-8, Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Catholic

Taking Inventory

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 26, 2022

The process of counting what a company has in its inventory is known as taking inventory. Can we apply this same process to our Christian walk?

Taking Inventory of the Church: Paul is discussing a trip with Barnabas. Why did Paul take this second missionary journey and what was the purpose? Why would they want to go? Why should they? What has happened since his last visit? How many have been converted? He wants to go back and check on the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Chicken Little And The Great Church Exodus From The City

Contributed by George Alves on Sep 16, 2003

We can point fingers as much as we want but the state of the city falls squarely on the shoulders of the church. Our retreat from the city has allowed the enemy too much victory. We are not called to success but to faithfulness. The sky isn’t falling!

Do you Remember the story of Chicken Little? The little chicken who became terrified that the sky was falling when an acorn fell from a tree and hit her on the head? Chicken Little convinced Henny Penny, Cocky Locky,and Goosey Poosey that the sky was indeed falling and they should go and report ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:11, Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Brethren

Recognizing The Power Of Place Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on May 30, 2006

Second in a three part series exploring the need for the church to rise up, and go into the city. This message looks at the implications of operating with "strength and courage."

(This sermon launched with the utilization of Google Earth to provide screen shots of the community we are located in. Could be personalized to each church’s community.) Kenneth Scott Latourette writes that from A.D. 500 to 1500 the church did not grow. It merely exchanged real estate. We gave ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Denomination: Wesleyan

Colossians 1:24 (The Sufferings Of Christ)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 16, 2007

Christ still has more sufferings to complete, says St Paul. Really! I thought He died once for all upon the cross, and that was it? Apparently it’s not that simple!...

“And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him” This is Paul, writing in his one and only letter to the Colossians, and it’s all good ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Uptake On The Resurrection

Contributed by Steven Chapman on May 7, 2007

This morning we are going to look at 17 verses that end the book of Luke, and from those verses, we will glean the difference that the Resurrection made in the lives of the disciples then, and can make in the lives of disciples now.

The Uptake On The Resurrection Luke 24:36-53 It’s Resurrection Sunday, and as is typical, we, as Christians, enter into worship with an upbeat spirit. Why is that? Because we know that the uptake on Christianity is found in the Resurrection, we’ve heard the end of the story. However, last month, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:36-53

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ