Sermons on Violent Games:

Love? Or Lust?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 13, 2016

Christians must distinguish between love and lust. The message is a study of a young man who failed to distinguish between love and lust, bringing great sorrow upon the nation and ultimately condemning himself to a violent death.

“Absalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Other Side Of The Storm

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 7, 2023

As Christians, we will pass through storms. Sometimes these storms will be violent. Yet, we are assured that when we pass through the storm, Christ will be with us. We shall not be overwhelmed. And on the other side of the storm, all will be at peace.

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Baptist

Liking Life For The Love Of God - Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Mar 13, 2025

Is there any Biblical reason why we should ever watch a movie or a ball game? Or go on vacation or play a game or have some dessert? Or take $2000 that could feed a third world family for a year and spend it on a kitchen remodel? What's the right way to enjoy earthly pleasures?

Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from Him? 26 For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

How The Mighty Have Fallen: Memorial Day 05

Contributed by Joe Harding on May 27, 2005

MEMORIAL DAY IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND MOURN THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR FREEDOM!

HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN: MEMORIAL DAY 05 2 SAMUEL 1: 17-27 MAY 29, 2005 MEMORIAL DAY INTRODUCTION: The Tillman Scandal By Greg Mitchell, Editor & Publisher Posted on May 25, 2005, Printed on May 25, 2005 http://www.alternet.org/story/22089/ Where, in the week after the Great Newsweek Error, is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:17-27

Denomination: Baptist

Hide And Seek

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 18, 2002

From the beginning of history man has played "hide and seek" with God. But God had a different game called "seek and found"

OPENING: What do you think the first game is that a child learns? For my boy Jonathan, his 1st game was "hide and seek." When he was about 1 year old he was sitting with me in the living room and had watched me put his blanket over my head and play "peek a boo." Then with a sly grin he put the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Errors And Home Runs

Contributed by Larry East on Oct 9, 2016

Baseball is a game where players fail more often than they succeed. And sometimes our Christian life can be like baseball.

How many of you are watching the baseball playoffs this week? It's that time of year when the Division winners and wildcard teams are vying for the World Series. Now most of you know that I’m a big baseball fan of the Atlanta Braves and have been since 1966 when the Braves moved from ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Is Fellowship, Fellowship? Series

Contributed by Bob Faulkner on Nov 9, 2015

Is a fellowship supper, fellowship? Is a night out with the Christian guys at a ball game, fellowship? Just what is "Koinonia" in the Scriptures? Are you in fellowship?

The word, a Greek word, is even popular among English-speaking Christians: Koinonia. Partnership. Participation. Translated communication, communion, distribution, fellowship. It is used by Luke, Paul, and John, in 8 Bible books. Have we fully understood and implemented the meaning of this concept? ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Ready Or Not - Here Comes Jesus!

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Mar 8, 2018

Jesus' Resurrection was a Game Changer. And yet the world, his disciples and friends were not ready. Are we ready to meet the Risen Lord?

Scripture: John 20:1-18 Theme: New Creation Title: Ready or Not - Here Comes Jesus! INTRO: Grace and peace from God our Father and from His Son Jesus Christ who came to take away the sin of the world! Growing up, I watched my father worked hard for our family. He not only worked hard, he ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Nazarene

Sermon On The Queen's Gambit

Contributed by William Meakin on Sep 18, 2025

Chess is a two-player, ancient board game of challenge and strategy played on an 8x8 checkered board with 64 squares.

José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera, a Cuban chess player once remarked: "In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else, for whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and the opening must be studied in relation to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Proverbs 16:8-9, Colossians 3:23-24

The Lifted Up Servant Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jun 30, 2008

Our passage teaches us of a violent grace. Though man would cast down the Servant, God would lift Him up and glorify Him. He who man esteemed not, God would magnify.

ISAIAH 52:13 15 - 52:15 THE LIFTED UP SERVANT John 12: 32-33 The text we begin today may be the best know in the Old Testament. The passage is certainly one of the riches and most unmistakable prophecies in the Bible. Our text begins the fourth ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Earthquakes Examined Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 20, 2021

The first thing I learned about earthquakes in the New Testament is that they can be completely positive with no harmful effects. Our text is a case in point. Paul and Silas are delivered from prison by the violent earthquake that opened all the doors.

It was in Santa Clara, California, in the summer of 1988 that Lavonne and I experienced our one and only earthquake. We were in a motel and the bed began to vibrate like it does when you put a quarter in the machine at the side of the bed. It only lasted a few seconds, but even that made ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:22-34

Time Out

Contributed by J Bernard Taylor on Sep 30, 2008

Just as the ball players take time out from the game, we must take time out to spend with God.We take time out for rest and refreshment. We take time out for reflection before we return to the game. We finally take time out to receive our reward.

All of us have seen it many times on our television screens or in person. Ten men rush frantically up and down the basketball court. Suddenly the piercing shriek of a whistle is heard above the roar of the crowd and someone shouts “Time Out”. Or picture a baseball diamond. It is a crucial ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

“simon Says” Or “savior Says”: Whose Salvation “game” Are You Playing?

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Jun 21, 2010

Does Jesus teach that we are saved by works? Not at all! The woman's love for Jesus was not the price of forgiveness. It was the proof of forgiveness...

Kids, I want to play a simple game with you. The game is “Simon Says.” Ready? Simon says, “Touch your nose.” Simon says, “Raise yours hands.” Simon says, “Wave your hands.” Clap your hands! Oops. Simon didn’t say to do that, did he? In this game ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Lutheran

God Of A Second Chance

Contributed by John Johnson on Mar 8, 2005

Sometimes when we make a mistake in life it feels so final, you may think it’s all over for you. The game of life isn’t like a game in which you only have 1 chance to win before it’s over. God will give you a second chance.

The God of a 2nd Chance. John 8:1-10 I wonder, is there any person here who has been in a situation in which you really wanted something to work out but it didn’t? You felt like if I just had a second chance, I know I could make this thing work. (I Wonder am I talking to anybody in here). ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-10, John 8:1-8, John 8:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Gentle Strength Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Aug 13, 2018

Since when has there ever been a cause/effect relationship between being gentle and inheriting the earth? It has always been the brutal, the powerful, the violent who have ruled the earth in this age. But Jesus promises there will be a grand reversal!

The Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus Gentle Strength Matthew 5:5 & Selected Passages This morning I've chosen for our Paradoxical Sayings of Jesus series one of the Beatitudes in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:5: "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Now, I suspect some ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:24-25

Denomination: Bible Church