Sermons on Wishful Thinking:

When Bad Things Happen – God Is Not Allowing It

Contributed by David Leach on Jan 27, 2014

I wish to submit to you that this teaching is doctrinal nonsense, and that there is no such thing as “God’s permissive will”.

When bad things happen – God is not allowing it The Myth: There is a popular Church teaching that God has two wills, which are: 1. A perfect will – meaning what God actually wants; 2. A permissive will – meaning what God allows even if its not His perfect will; I wish to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 54:14-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Do You Want For Christmas?

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Dec 4, 2023

The time has come to quit, wishing for what you don’t have and realize what you have been given!

What do you want for Christmas? Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJ 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” So many people come to ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Plain Truth About Following Jesus Series

Contributed by Sean Lester on Feb 24, 2021

Jesus says plainly that He will be rejected, and so will his followers as they carry out the mission of spreading the Gospel.

The Plain Truth About Following Jesus Mark 8:31-38 RCL Year B 2nd Sunday in Lent Introduction: Following Jesus seems simple enough. Read your Bible. Support your church. Be a law-abiding citizen. Raise a family. Don’t sin. Simple enough. Or, is it? At a moment when Jesus’ experienced ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Pentecostal

What To Do When Trouble Comes

Contributed by S Henriques on Jun 24, 2003

When trouble comes, we sometimes wish we could run away. But Scripture offers us an alternative--and it works!

What To Do When Trouble Comes Psalm 46 S. M. Henriques Have you heard the story of "Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, Not Good, Very Bad Day"? Alexander was a boy about 7 or 8 years old, and he had one of those days when everything went wrong, disasters one right after another. Nothing went ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Minding The Mind SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Oct 28, 2023

Thinking

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a beautiful day that the Lord has made, and we are here to rejoice and be glad in it. We are gathered here today, not by chance, but by divine appointment. We are here to engage our minds, to exercise our thoughts, and to elevate our ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7

Topics: Minding The Mind

Imitate God.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 6, 2021

Our challenge is to be Imitators of God. So let's get on with doing His wishes not just talking about them.

Sermon Title: Be Imitators. Scripture Text: Ephesians 4: 25-5:2   Ephesians 4:25-5:2 NLT 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Has A Plan

Contributed by Allan Kircher on Sep 16, 2013

You and I can make any plans we wish to make, God always has the final say in any matter.

Pastor Allan Kircher Sept 8, 2013 Judges 7:1-23 GOD HAS THE BEST PLAN ***Please note: Sermon is condensed. You need to add in between / spaces. Intro: Read James 4:13-17. James councils men against/foolishness making plans without consideration/will of God/matter. • You and I can make ...read more

Scripture: Judges 7:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Oh, To Be Rich

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 9, 2007

Man thinks of worldly riches but God thinks of heavenly riches.

Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (v. 13). People were always following Jesus; perhaps out of curiosity, perhaps they really believed in what he said, perhaps they were looking for a miracle or healing to take place, or for other ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Christian Church

A Pastoral Anniversary Celebration

Contributed by Dr. Stafford Miller on May 5, 2001

IN their honor I wish to lift up several images of servant/leadership of God in which to acknowledge the marks of character that a Pastor possess.

ANNIVERSARY Sermon for Pastor_______ April 2001. PRAYER . . . MAY THE WORDS OF GOD AND HIS MESSAGES SPOKEN THIS HOUR BE BOTH A WORD OF COMFORT AND CHALLENGE WE PRAY THAT IT WILL CHALLENGE THOSE WHO ARE COMFORTABLE AND COMFORT ALL THOSE WHO ARE BEING CHALLENGED THIS DAY. There has been much ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-33, Acts 4:32-37

Denomination: Methodist

What Do You Have That You Did Not Receive? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 23, 2012

We are far more prone to think too highly of ourselves than to think too poorly of ourselves. Such thinking tends to divide the people of God.

“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” [1] Our contemporaries, and likely we ourselves, esteem the rugged individual. We imagine that we are distinct from everyone else. We are taught in elementary school that there ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:7

Denomination: Baptist

Neighborhater - Pt. 1 - There Goes The Neighborhood Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Sep 8, 2018

Neighbors. There are good ones and then those we wished would move. Have we become Neighborhaters? Can’t we get along?

There Goes The Neighborhood I. Introduction It is one of those fond and nostalgic memories. The sweaters. The shoe change. The trolley. The life lessons. Mr. Rogers’ mild manner often disguised the fact that he was dropping truth bombs on children. In fact, unknown to many until recently as a new ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Pentecostal

Exercise The Gifts You Have Been Given

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 10, 2025

Holiness is available by God’s grace to anyone who wishes to follow Christ, even when our own plans are disrupted.

Feast of St. Anthony of Padua 2025 (with readings from the Franciscan lectionary) Grace is indeed given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. When the Holy Spirit brings us into the Church, He gives us one or more gifts, as St. Paul teaches. They may be obvious, building on our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:15-20, Psalm 40:3-4, Psalm 40:10-11, Psalm 40:17, Ephesians 4:7, Ephesians 4:11-15  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Substance Of Faith Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Oct 8, 2025

Faith is not just a feeling or a wish; it's a firm foundation that gives us confidence in God's promises.

In Hebrews 11:1, we read, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." This verse defines faith as the substance of our hopes and the evidence of things that are not yet visible. Faith is not just a feeling or a wish; it's a firm foundation that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:23

Venus And Mars In The Beginning Series

Contributed by Keith Manry on Mar 2, 2004

Part 1 in a series entitled "Love Sex and Lasting Relationships". Part 2 - "What Women Wish Men Knew About Women"

There are few subjects in life that ignite as much passion and longing within us as our desire for love, our interest in sex, and our hope for lasting relationships. No matter who we are, what background we come from, how intelligent we are, or how old we are, we all long to be loved. Every one of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18

Denomination: Methodist

Neighborhater - Pt. 3 - Skin Deep Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 17, 2019

Neighbors. There are good ones and then those we wished would move. Have we become Neighborhaters? Can’t we get along?

Mr. Rogers Sound Track plays in dark - Lights Come on Pastor Enters from Stage Door and lip syncs to track Skin Deep I. Introduction He put on colorful sweaters. Changed his shoes. Sang a goofy song (Did you know he wrote most of the songs on the show - He was an accomplished pianist and had a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:8, Acts 10:9-16, Galatians 2:11-14

Denomination: Pentecostal