Sermons on Western Civilization:

The Request God Never Turns Down Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 4, 2013

We don't have to look at Jesus's promise "Seek and you shall find" like a disappointed kid at Christmas, but with the light of faith. There's at least one prayer we always get a "yes" to.

Thursday of 27th Week in Course Lumen Fidei Today’s Gospel is written for adults, but the problem is that even in old age we tend to read it like an eight-year-old waiting for Christmas. We read “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13

Denomination: Catholic

Holiness Is Power

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 15, 2018

Church not growing? You're not growing? Church and your life is mundane? Check your definition and implementation of holiness.

1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:15-16, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Goal In Bringing Hardship Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 20, 2020

It's shocking to many that God sometimes is the cause of hardship in our lives. When that happens, what is He hoping to accomplish?

“HE SAID WHAT?!”: Sometimes hardship is from God. - Amos 4:6-12. - This passage might have been shocking to you. “What do you mean God did all these things?” Today we sometimes think of Him exclusively as a kindly grandfather who would never say a cross word to anyone. That, however, is not ...read more

Scripture: Amos 4:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing For Easter-An Outline For 'i Am The Resurrection And The Life'

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 29, 2023

Jesus had received a message that a friend, Lazarus, was sick. He died, but Jesus raised him from the dead. This proved Jesus was "the Resurrection and the Life"!

Introduction: Jesus had raised at least two people from the dead before this event, apparently just a short time before He died on Calvary. Here He proved the reality of resurrection when He raised Lazarus from the dead. The Message Jesus Received (verses 1-16) --Jesus and the disciples weren’t ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Baptist

As A Little Child

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 26, 2020

A call to humility. A warning against stumbling blocks. Lost sheep found.

AS A LITTLE CHILD. Matthew 18:1-14. 1. The disciples came to Jesus, openly and unashamedly asking, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). Jesus’ response was to call a little child to Himself. The child freely and willingly came. Jesus set him in the midst of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Withering Religion

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 21, 2020

Judgment begins at the house of God.

A WITHERING RELIGION. Matthew 21:12-22. Today’s passage brings together two events which are not unrelated to each other: the cleansing of the Temple, and the withering of the fig tree. Both are figurative of the state and changing status of the old Jewish faith at the dawn of the gospel ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lord Please Free Us From The Machine That Turns Itself Off Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 26, 2020

In ways we do not understand, Our Lord will help us and bring to naught the plans of the murder coalition.

Feast of the Holy Innocents 2020 I first saw one of these toys back in the late 1950s when my uncle brought it to Christmas dinner. It’s been re-invented in the last decade and it’s a robot parallel to modern Western society. In its present incarnation, it’s a black plastic box with a switch on ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:5-10, 1 John 2:1-2, Psalm 124:2-8, Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Catholic

Too Young Or Too Old

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 26, 2021

There is unfortunately much ageism in the Body. When I was young, I had to point to Timothy. Now I have to point to Paul the aged in a time when 27 right out of seminary is ideal, but no one over 50 is considered.

Psalms 92:12-15 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To shew ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:9, Psalm 92:12-15, Nehemiah 8:1-3, 1 Kings 12:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Religious Or Not?

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 29, 2024

Jesus, in the Gospel, enumerates the evil we must avoid, or repent of if we haven’t avoided it. It’s like a to-do list from a modern person’s daily schedule, isn’t it?

Twenty-Second Sunday in Course 2024 Those who have known me as a preacher for any length of time also know that I am not a big fan of the clerics who put our Lectionary together. They tend to omit verses and paragraphs to shorten the readings at Mass. And that itself is a kind of insult to the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Deuteronomy 4:6-8, Psalm 15:2-5, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Four Confirmations About Jesus At The Start Of His Ministry Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jun 20, 2023

This passage establishes the beginning of Jesus' ministry. What does it tell us about who He is and what His ministry will be?

ONE ENTERS, ONE EXITS: Jesus’ ministry starts as John the Baptist concludes. - Luke 3:19-20. - Our primary subject this evening is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and some of the signs we are given at this start to give us confidence in Him. - We noted last week at the end of the sermon that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:21-38

Denomination: Baptist

Wanted Dead Or Alive

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Jun 24, 2023

God wants whether were dead or alive.

1. Paul talks about death and living Romans 6:1-11 “Wanted Dead or Alive” • Paul writes How can we who died to sin go on living in it. • We who are baptized are also baptized into his death • Christ was raised from the dead so we also can walk in newness of life • We are united with ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

The Priesthood

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Jun 6, 2002

Only the priests in Israel were qualified to make the sacrifices required from those who approached God. The New Testament teaching that every believer is a priest (1 Peter 2:9) makes these chapters dealing with Israel’s priesthood especially significant.

THE PRIESTHOOD EXODUS 28–30 “I will consecrate… Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests” (Ex. 29:44). Only the priests in Israel were qualified to make the sacrifices required from those who approached God. The New Testament teaching that every believer is a priest (1 Peter 2:9) makes these ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Declaration Of Dependence

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jun 26, 2002

We celebrate our independence from foreign rule on July 4th, but let us also celebrate our dependence upon God!

A Declaration of Dependence Ps 33:10-22 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:10-22

Denomination: Wesleyan

"Can I Trust My Bible?"

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 8, 2002

We can trust Scripture’s claim of inspiration--we have a secure word from God

“Can I Trust My Bible?” Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts A man went to a bookbinder to get a well-used New Testament rebound in leather. He wanted the side binding to read: “The New Testament”. When the job was finished, the binder explained that he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:16-21, 2 Peter 2:16-21

Denomination: Congregational

Gimme That Old-Time Religion

Contributed by Mark White on Aug 1, 2003

Various Cults at work today.

GIMME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION Mark White 1-03-02 Scripture Focus – 2Thessalonians 1-3 Time Magazine calls The New Age is "a combination of spirituality and superstition, fad and farce, about which only one thing is certain, it is not new". Actually its philosophies are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ