Sermons on Wagers:

Open House

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 17, 2023

When God calls people to us, it is our job to gather them in his name and share the joy he provides for all in his house of prayer.

Almost 40 years ago, July or August of 1984, I was at my very first Bible camp. It was the annual women’s retreat for the Northwest Women’s Caucus of the Evangelical Free Church of America, and I was scared to death. Well, maybe that was putting it a little strongly, but I was pretty nervous. You ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 56:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Lion Called Jealousy

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 10, 2002

How do we seek to build unity and stop divisiveness?

A decade ago I was working part-time at an apartment complex where Susan and I lived while I was completing a degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. It was an interesting job and I worked with, and for, some interesting people. In May of 1992 things came to a head at this place. I ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Denomination: Church Of God

Fix Your Purity Series

Contributed by David Salisbury on Jan 16, 2003

Lesson 5 in a series. This sermon focuses on Jesus’s words regarding sexual purity.

Quick Sermons for Permanent Fixes Lesson 5 Fix Your Purity Matthew 5:27-37 Return to series this week. Examine Jesus’s words on adultery, divorce, and keeping your promises. There is a lot of power in these words and Jesus says there is a lot of power in our words. “I do” is a big thing to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-37

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Knocking At Your Door

Contributed by Paul Durbin on Feb 17, 2003

The sins that have entangled other people you know are at your door, and those same sins can entangle you, too.

Read Acts 4:36,37; 5:1-10 A. This is a strange story, yes? B. Why did the two of them die? 1. They tried to deceive men 2. Peter pointed out that they really didn’t lie to men, but to God ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fear And Family

Contributed by Patrick Lane on Dec 20, 2000

Ruth’s story of irony and inclusion is also a reminder of God’s presence in the Christian community

What’s your greatest fear?… Anyone here afraid of spiders? I used to be afraid of spiders. I’m ok with them now, but for a while…. Well I remember once in college I woke up in my old dorm and there was a garden spider on top of my covers, about 10 or so inches from my head. He was looking at me ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Pew Potatoe Syndrome

Contributed by Brad Lewis on Oct 22, 2002

A couch-potato is defined as “a person disinclined to activity or exertion” A pew potato is a Christian who comes to church but is disinclined to Christian activity

INTRODUCTION Every year the folks at Merriam-Webster pour over thousands of publications of all sorts in search of new words or new definitions of old words. And every year they find and include many such words in the latest editions of their dictionaries. In 1982 a new word was added to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:28

Denomination: Pentecostal

Amazing Trust Series

Contributed by David Dewitt on Feb 25, 2008

Elijah lived out a life and ministry of amazing trust in God

Amazing Trust Selected Passages from 1 Kings 16:29-18:46 Essential 100 Series February 24, 2008 Evening Service Introduction Olympic gold medalist Darrel Pace was to give an archery exhibition in New York City’s Central Park, and the event received coverage by all the news stations. Shooting ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

A Loaf Of Bread, A Jug Of Wine, And Laughter

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 3, 2009

Dated 1989. Our faith is not joyless. God uses the simplest of things to bring us support and gladness in the midst of difficult times.

Says the poet, "A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and Thou beside me singing in the wilderness … Wilderness were paradise enow" The very picture of romantic fulfillment. All I need is a chunk of good fragrant bread, a flask full of the vintner’s art, and you whom I love, and I will be fulfilled. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:19

Denomination: Baptist

Nine Fruits: Joy Series

Contributed by Ryan Loyd on Oct 28, 2015

A series on the Fruits of the Spirit: Joy

Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Introduction: How many folks have a dog? I’ve had several dogs in my life... One thing about dogs If ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Samson Syndrome

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on May 6, 2011

There is a lesson we can learn from Samson

INTRODUCTION • SLIDE #1 • Today we are going to take a journey through the life of one of the most interesting Judges of the nation of Israel. • A judge was someone sent by and commissioned by God to more or less clean up Dodge (Israel) after the nation were deteriorate into a cycle of sin. • As we ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Samson: The Final Chapter, Part 2 Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 21, 2020

When these events took place, Samson was in trouble and he knew it. The final chapter of his life concludes with a very significant event. May we learn from Samson: trust God, but don't make the same mistakes he did!

Introduction: When the events of this story took place, Samson is in the Philistine prison in Gaza (16:21); his head was shaved and he was bound in fetters of bronze (brass, KJV). He was sentenced to grind (grain?) in the prison house. Even worse, he was blind—the Philistines had put out his eyes ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:22-31, Genesis 20:3-4, Romans 1:18-32

Denomination: Baptist

Failure Is A Choice

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 11, 2021

This parable tells us that God wants to bless us, bless others and to be fruitful.

FAILURE IS A CHOICE Text: Matthew 25:14 - 30 Matthew 25: 14 -30 14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents,[a] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: United Methodist

How Are The Mighty Fallen

Contributed by Duke Jeffries on Oct 18, 2000

A. INTRODUCTION 1.

A. INTRODUCTION 1. This morning we conclude our study of Samson, the most famous of those who served as judge over Israel during the historical period before the monarchy. God willing, we shall begin a study of that period in the autumn of 1997, beginning with the book of 1 Samuel. a. Nearly ...read more

"Virgin Birth: Does It Matter?" Series

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Dec 24, 2001

To really understand Christmas you have to look closely at the Virgin birth.

Year A – 4th Sunday of Advent - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I heard a reference to our gospel text during my first trip to Wal-Mart last Tuesday. It was in that aisle where they have wrapping paper and bows hopelessly strewn in piles, along with ribbons, and gift bags. I had just ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: *other

Smart Investing Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Make a deliberate investment decision to spend your time, money, effort and attention on the things that last. And what lasts? Loving God, and loving your neighbor.

Last month I had the fun of deciding how to invest the profit of the sale of my New Jersey house. And it was fun, and I think I’ve made good choices. But my track record is nothing to boast about. When I cashed in a chunk of my IRA for the down payment on that same house, I told my broker that I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed