Sermons on Welcome Stranger:

Welcome To The Family Sermon Iii: Attribute Of Dissemination Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Sep 13, 2020

When everything seems to be falling apart, mature Christians remain calm by living for God so as to disseminate God's love to sinners who need salvation and saints who need encouragement and reassurance.

ATTRIBUTES ASSOCIATED WITH BELONGING TO THE FAMILY OF GOD – DISSEMINATION “With everything around us falling apart, and with the whole world seemingly on the verge of a nervous breakdown, how do you manage to remain calm?” Let me assure you that it’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-11

Welcome To The Family Sermon Vii: Communicating With The Father Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Sep 13, 2020

As children of God and members of the Family of God, our unique privilege of communicating with our Father in Heaven keeps us from despair in times of trouble and gives us hope to carry on despite disease and death.

COMMUNICATING WITH THE FATHER OF OUR FAMILY – THE FAMILY OF GOD Again I say, “Welcome to the Family – the Family of God”! What a fellowship! What a joy divine! What a privilege! How wonderful it is to be a child of God with the gift of discernment . . . distinction ...read more

Does Our Church Welcome The Holy Spirit?

Contributed by John Gaston on Sep 2, 2016

The Holy Spirit does the hands-on work in the Bible: creating, inspiring, empowering, communicating the Word. Jesus left Him to direct the church. Are we ignoring Him or are we seeking Him and cooperating with Him?

DOES OUR CHURCH WELCOME THE HOLY SPIRIT? Mt.3:16; Gen. 1:1-2; 8:8-11 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: THE KNOWLEDGE THEY LACKED 1. Three men, a Texan, a N. Korean, and a New Yorker were standing on a sidewalk when a reporter approached them and said, “Excuse me, could I get your opinion on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jesus, The One Who Welcomes Us Home

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jun 3, 2015

Because we believe that God is sovereign, and because we believe that the risen Christ is living and that the power of the Holy Spirit continues to make all things new, we can affirm that we are being healed again and again.

Back in 1971, Gavin Bryars, one of England's leading musicians and composers, agreed to help his friend Alan Powers with the sound on a film that Powers was making about street people. He was filming in an area around London's Waterloo Station. He filmed various people living on the streets. He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Anglican

Welcoming The Repentant Sinners (September 8, 2013)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 3, 2021

Do we rejoice with God and the angels of heaven every time another sinner repents? In Luke 15 , Jesus tells three parables and all three parables end with a celebration. But, not everyone comes to the celebration.

Luke 15:1-10 GNB One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, (2) the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law started grumbling, "This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them!" (3) So Jesus told them this parable: (4) "Suppose one of you has ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: United Methodist

A Strange Land.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 18, 2022

Strangers and pilgrims in this world.

A STRANGE LAND. Psalm 137. The exile is over (at least for those who chose to return), and Babylon as a world power has fizzled out: her nobles sailed downstream to safety, and the Persian conqueror Cyrus allowed the many misplaced peoples dwelling in Babylon to return to their own lands. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Whoever... Series

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Oct 5, 2009

No qualifications or prerequisites required. All are welcome!

Whoever John 3:16-21 Have you ever felt like you just didn’t get it? Have you ever been left out, rejected, and passed over because you were under qualified or overqualified? Have you ever been excluded because you didn’t have the right looks, training, experience, abilities, etc.? How did that ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Denomination: Church Of God

God's Mercy For The Outsider

Contributed by Jaco Bester on Feb 13, 2013

A reflection on the non-discriminatory mercy of God

GOD’S MERCY FOR THE ‘OUTSIDER’... ISAIAH 56:1-8; MATTHEW 15:21-28; ROMANS 11:25-36 Introduction: The story is told of two university students who got into a bit of a debate about the existence of God... The one student was a fervent atheist and eventually blurted out in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 56:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Making A Rarity Commonplace

Contributed by Monty Newton on Apr 29, 2013

God's desire is that every Christian be an encouraging person... Barnabas is a good example of a good example.

Title: Making a Rarity Commonplace Text: Hebrews 10:23-25 Thesis: God desire is that every Christian be an encouraging person. Introduction When I grew up we often gave our friends nicknames… Bob Hutchins was “Hutch.” Robert Sanden was “Ralph.” His older brother ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus' Last Visit To The Temple

Contributed by James May on Apr 5, 2023

There is no doubt that Jesus' last temple visit was less than positive. It had become a den of thieves. However after he cleansed that temple it once again became a House of Prayer.

After the Triumphal Entry of Jesus through the Eastern Gate, the scripture records that he then left the city of Jerusalem and went to stay the night at the home of his friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Then the next morning he set out once again to go to Jerusalem, about 2 miles away. It was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:13, Matthew 21:14-16, Luke 19:47-48, Luke 21:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Rewards

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jul 11, 2023

A reward is viewed as something received in this life or in the hereafter.

Rewards – Matthew 10: 40 - 42 Intro: William Barclay in his commentary on Matthew writes the following story: There was once a cobbler who very much wanted to be a pastor. But, because of career and family demands, he could not follow his dream. He was asked to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unexpected Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on May 5, 2025

Jesus faced some things that we may see as unexpected as he dined with a Pharisee and welcomed a motley group of followers.

There are a variety of ways in which we set expectations. Sometimes cultural norms - like a handshake or a hug - set certain expectations. Sometimes we have expectations based on tradition - for example how to set a table or what you do on holidays. You may have performance expectations set by ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Radical Hospitality Series

Contributed by Roy Probus on Jul 5, 2012

Radical Hospitality is about planning Hospitality for more than just those who walk in your worship area.

I. Introduction to 5 Practices * Video - Drive Thru Church (found on YouTube) Sometimes we expect the church to bend for our needs rather than us bending for it. Same thing with our youth group. Sometimes we want things to happen that we want rather than what is best for the ministry. We want ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7

Denomination: United Methodist

Radical Hospitality

Contributed by Mari Larson on Feb 19, 2017

Launching from Jesus' call to love our enemies and be perfect, this sermon speaks of love and welcoming.

In 1979, Tim Hansel published a book entitled "When I Relax I feel Guilty". Included in the book is this raw and provocative tidbit. "I would like to buy three dollars’ worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Denomination: Lutheran