Sermons on Usual:

Why Did The Angels Announce The Birth To Shepherds?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 6, 2017

A message about the choice to proclaim the news of Christ's birth to the lowly shepherds. The sermon looks at how the shepherds were a foreshadowing of who the ministry of Jesus would focus on.

OF COURSE IT WAS SHEPHERDS: We act like this was an inevitable part of the story, but it wasn’t. - Luke 2:8-12. - The Christmas story is so familiar that we presume that each part had to happen that way. “Of course the shepherds heard from the angels. It had to be like that.” Only it didn’t. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Moses Lesson 10 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Mar 28, 2019

The accomplishments of Moses.

A. THE GRANDFATHER MOSES Grandfather – Moses – Lawgiver. Father – Gershom – Undistinguished. Good son – Jonathan – Prodigal priest. “Then the children of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan ...read more

Scripture: Judges 18:30

Denomination: Baptist

Expending Patience Wisely

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 4, 2016

Patience is difficult for us all, but if we develop certain good habits, it makes a big difference. Often times patience simply means delaying anger or refusing to rush to a conclusion or action.

Expending Patience Wisely 1. Someone has contrasted the good and bad of patience, “Patience: The quality you admire in the driver behind you but can’t stand in the driver who’s in front of you.” 2. Someone else illustrated patience this way: “When you're being yelled ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Fighting On The Front Lines

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on May 26, 2015

God has seen his family through many plights great and small. He is a God of war; power and wrath---a Mighty God on the battlefield. In modern times, calling on the Name of Jesus must be second nature and as easy to do as taking in a fresh breath of air.

FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (May 26, 2015) “When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: And the rest of the people he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 10:1-19

Denomination: Friends

One Cul-De-Sac After Another Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 13, 2017

If you had everything you wanted, your life would be meaningless. The answer is found in surrender to God and freedom to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

One Cul-de-sac After Another (Ecclesiastes 2:1-26) 1. Human beings are different from animals in many ways. Animals don’t worry about purpose in life, leaving a permanent mark on society. The quest for meaning should lead us to God, but, unfortunately, we try to find meaning somewhere ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sermon On Lust

Contributed by William Meakin on Jan 25, 2021

Lust probably stems right back to the original story of Adam and Eve

Anne Fortier, the Danish-Canadian writer once remarked: “There is lust and then there is love. They are related, but still very different things. To indulge in one requires little but honeyed speech and a change of clothes; to obtain the other, by contrast, a man must give up his rib. In return, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12, Proverbs 6:25, James 1:14-15

Never Lose Hope, Never Give Up

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Oct 14, 2019

no matter what happens to you, remember that God is always there

NEVER LOSE HOPE, NEVER GIVE UP Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-7

Denomination: Episcopal

Sermon On Presence

Contributed by William Meakin on Jul 31, 2022

Presence is defined as the state or fact of existing, occurring or being present. It may also refer to an existence that is present, but is not seen.

Tara Brach, an American psychologist and author once remarked: “In any moment, no matter how lost we feel, we can take refuge in presence and love. We need only pause, breathe, and open to the experience of aliveness within us. In that wakeful openness, we come home to the peace and freedom of our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10-12, John 14:17-20, Psalm 31:19-21, Hebrews 10:36

Sermon On The Challenges Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 22, 2021

Amongst the many interpretations, the challenges of life have been defined as "The situation of being faced with something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person's ability."

Roy T. Bennett, the author of “The Light in the Heart” once remarked: “Every challenge you face today makes you stronger tomorrow. The challenge of life is intended to make you better, not bitter.” James 1:2-4 reminds us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10, Isaiah 41:13, Philippians 4:13

Sermon On A Moral Compass

Contributed by William Meakin on Dec 18, 2021

A moral compass is defined as a person's ability to ascertain the difference between right and wrong and act accordingly.

Ian Anthony Dale, an American actor, once remarked: “A lot of the time, a moral compass is all that separates a hero from being a villain; otherwise, the two are very much the same. Both are generally the richest and most complex characters, and they get to have all the fun. I guess it's those ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-21, 2 Timothy 2:15, Mark 7:20-23, Romans 2:15

Sermon On Goals & Dreams

Contributed by William Meakin on Oct 11, 2022

Goals are defined as the object of a person’s ambition or effort.

Robert Edward Turner III, otherwise known as Ted Turner, an American entrepreneur, television producer, media proprietor, and philanthropist once remarked: “You should set goals beyond your reach so you always have something to live for.” Philippians 3:13-14 reminds us: “Brothers, I do not consider ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25, Jeremiah 29:11, Acts 2:17, Ecclesiastes 5:7

Sermon On Tolerance

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 28, 2023

Tolerance is defined as the ability or willingness to accept the existence of opinions or behavior that one dislikes or disagrees with.

Linda Diane Thompson, an American songwriter and former actress once remarked: Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience molds us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Exodus 14:14, Colossians 3:12-13

Advent Angels (Advent 4 Sermon After Christmas Cantata)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Dec 14, 2022

The Bible tells us a lot about what the angels do, but not much about what they look like. Let’s imagine their appearance and explore their performance.

ADVENT ANGELS Text: Matthew 2:13-15 Matthew 2:13-15  Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15

Denomination: United Methodist

Do I Bear The Marks?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 21, 2022

The world is loaded with temptations. We are faced every day with both inconspicuous social tensions and open propaganda. We are continually bombarded with worldly enticements. How much do the interests of this world truly have influence on us?

Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Galatia. Its purpose was to discredit the Judaizers, the individuals who instructed that the Gentile adherents should comply with the Jewish law to be saved, and to call all Christians to believe and have faith in Christ and the freedom that he brings. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:14-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sermon On The Daydreams Of Life

Contributed by William Meakin on Aug 21, 2023

Daydreaming is defined as the activity of thinking about pleasant things that one would like to do or have happen to them, instead of thinking about the present.

Daniel Levitin, an American-Canadian psychologist once remarked: “That daydreaming mode turns out to be restorative. It's like hitting the reset button in your brain. And you don't get in that daydreaming mode typically by texting and Facebooking. You get in it by disengaging.” Colossians ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:5, Philippians 4:8, Luke 14:11, Jeremiah 29:11-13