Sermons on Vain Thoughts:

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (6 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

John gives us seven tests to take to see if we KNOW the Lord. Today we come to the FIFTH test.

So far we have taken FOUR tests: I. The Attitude Test II. The Action Test III. The Affection Test IV. The Actuality Test Today we want to look at this FIFTH test. V. THE ADULTERY TEST WHAT KIND OF TEST IS THIS? This is a test that deals with our relationship with the world. That ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (7 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

This will be a message about the sixth of the seven tests John proposed Christians take to see if we REALLY KNOW THE LORD.

So far we have taken: I. THE ATTITUDE TEST II. THE ACTION TEST III. THE AFFECTION TEST IV. THE ACTUALITY TEST V. THE ADULTERERS TEST But today we want to look at the SIXTH test which is VI. THE ANTICHRIST TEST These will be men who will claim to know God and some of them even claim to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-23

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (8 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

Today we want to take the seventh test that John gave us to see if we really know the Lord.

So far we have taken: 1. THE ATTITUDE TEST 2. THE ACTION TEXT 3. THE AFFECTION TEST 4. THE ACTUALITY TEST 5. THE ADULTERY TEST 6. THE ANTICHRIST TEST So many folks may say they KNOW THE LORD, but, if they can not pass the tests John gives, they do not really know the Lord. The Lord Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (9 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

Have you ever listened to someone on the radio and wondered what that person looked like.

If you have, you were probably, like most people, surprised when you actually saw that person. Why? Because that person probably did not look at all like you had thought from the way he/she sounded. I want to ask you another question. Have you ever read your Bible and tried to imagine what the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (10 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In this passage of scripture, John deals with something we want to look at very closely and consider in this message.

He deals with the topic of how we are supposed to love one another. Of course much of the Bible deals with this subject, yet it seems to be something we Christians know very little about and those who are not Christians know even less. As we look at our text we want to learn from what it says to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-19

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (11 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

Some of the physical problems we hear much about people having are heart problems. Anyone can be a victim of heart disease or attack.

Illus: A man in Columbia, South Carolina went to a doctor because he was tired most of the time. The doctor examined him and found out he was only getting 20% use of his heart. They did open heart surgery on him, opened up some valves and today he feels like a new man. There are many people in our ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (12 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

We see many differences in God’s church today when we compare it to the New Testament church.

For example, I am sure that if the apostle Paul could come back today and see the excellent buildings we worship in, he would marvel over them and see them as a big improvement compared to what they had worshipped in. But, as big a contrast as that might be, there is a greater difference he would ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (13 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

We have all heard the proverbial expression The proof is in the pudding." For example, someone might say, "This is real good chocolate pudding."

For example, someone might say, And so someone might say, "I really love God!" But, these are only words. They might be true or they might not be. Just saying something does not make it so! In fact anyone can say anything he wants to say, but that does not make it true. In this passage ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Baptist

Provoking Thoughts From 1 John (16 Of 16)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 10, 2022

In a previous message we learned the apostle John had witnessed several undeniable proofs that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, Savior of the world.

. No wonder, when he saw Jesus walking on the shore one day, he said, (John 1:29,34-36), “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world....And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:11-21

Denomination: Baptist

Second Sunday Of Lent, Year A- Transfiguration Thoughts

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 25, 2023

There is no "on the mountain" and "off the mountain" which can be explained by the virtue of equanimity.

Peter was talking, but yielded to the voice from heaven and listened. “Listen to him" we hear from God the Father. Matthew 17:5 A woman named Barb tells about an incident that happened in her granddaughter’s kindergarten class. A boy in the class just wasn’t listening to his teacher. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9, Genesis 12:1-4

Denomination: Catholic

Thoughts On Public Schooling: Should Christians Homeschool Their Children?

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 30, 2021

Many an average American boy or girl will be raised up in the school rooms of public education. I would like to share some thoughts from great minds on education itself, public education, and wisdom. I'd also like to share my personal experiences in the public education system.

“The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals.” ? Martin Luther King Jr. Many ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Denomination: Salvation Army

Nonviolence In Early Christian Thought Through The Fourth Century

Contributed by Daniel Keeran on Apr 3, 2019

If nonviolence is indeed the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament, we would expect to find it in the earliest writings of Christians including and after the apostles and prophets of the Lord. What do we find?

If nonviolence is indeed the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament, we would expect to find it in the earliest writings of Christians including and after the apostles and prophets of the Lord. What do we find? First Century There is no example or teaching in the New Testament that Christians can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Intrusive ,toxic And Negative Thoughts Come From Enemy Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Jul 2, 2025

One of the enemy's most effective strategies is to plant intrusive and negative thoughts in our minds.

As Christians, we are engaged in a spiritual battle that is not always visible to the naked eye. One of the enemy's most effective strategies is to plant intrusive and negative thoughts in our minds. These thoughts can be debilitating, causing us to doubt our faith, our worth, and our ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Why Are We Told To Take No Thought For Our Lives?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on May 6, 2023

We should turn our worries into prayers. While we are in prayer and with thanksgiving in our hearts, we should learn to give it to God and leave it there.

Matthew 6:25-34 closes this piece of the Sermon on the Mount with Jesus teaching about worrying. Indeed, even to the extremely poor, Jesus says not to stress over food or garments. God takes care of the birds and garments the lilies in a beautiful manner, and God’s children are definitely more ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Curious Case Of The Millionaire Who Thought He Was Poor

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Aug 2, 2025

Money is a thorny question and many of us think we are less rich than we are. "Money dysmorphia". In Luke 12:13-21 Jesus challenges us on our attitude.

This sermon was first preached 3rd July 2025 at St Grabriel's Acton. It builds on some of my previous sermons on the topic preached elsewhere especially "Frenchie upsets his dad"; "Baking bigger cakes - wealth creation the Wesley Way" and "Generous Wallet Happy ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21, Mark 10:17-23

Denomination: Anglican