Sermons on Wrong Focus:

Give And Take

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 26, 2023

Givers trust in God, rather than in themselves; they are focused outward. Takers have not learned to trust in God and focus on their own needs.

Anybody remember the televangelist scandals of the 80’s? Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Oral Roberts and his highly publicized plea for - what was it, $8 million? - to keep God from striking him dead. Remember the uproar in all the secular news media and the shame felt by so many evangelicals at being ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:38-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

“i Have Fallen But I Refuse To Stay Down!”

Contributed by James Lee on Dec 16, 2016

The problem for so many of us is we are looking backward in our relationship with Jesus, instead of forward. We tend to focus on the stuff that tripped us up and knocked us down. We focus on what we did that caused us to lose hope and feel abandoned.

“I Have Fallen BUT I Refuse to Stay Down!” Lk 22: 60, 62 & Mth 27: 5 Did you know that EVERY one of the disciples of Jesus fell down? Jesus told them, on the night He shared the “Last Supper” with them in; [Mat 26:31 NIV] “…"This very night you will all fall ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:60-62

Denomination: Baptist

How To Celebrate Thanksgiving

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Nov 20, 2006

Thanksgiving and joy are linked together. When we focus on thanksgiving and praise we enjoy the attitude and spirit of joy in our life.

How to Celebrate Thanksgiving Leviticus 23:34-40 Luke 17:11-19 When I check out the comics in the newspaper I look at two comic strips: Peanuts and Garfield. My top comic strip is Peanuts, written by the late Charles Schulz. Schultz describes the lives and relationships of Charlie Brown, Lucy, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Free Methodist

Unstrained Mercy Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

None of us can forgive the wrongs done to someone else. We can, however, show mercy to anyone who is suffering - whether forgiveness is involved or not.

Every week it seems like there’s another new disaster. The 10 plagues that Moses visited on Egypt to convince Pharoah to free the Israelites almost pale in comparison. Talk about plagues? We hoped that 2021 would see the end of Covic19 but noooooo. And as if that weren’t enough, an earthquake ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Seeking The Savior Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 9, 2004

Today our focus is on two broken-hearted disciples who saw the Savior, and as a result, were never the same again.

This light bulb represents bright hope. It’s full of promising potential. But, like your heart, it’s also very fragile [drop bulb so it shatters]. We’ve all experienced the crash of unmet expectations. Some of us have been gouged by grief that won’t seem to go away. Many of us have been hit with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Baptist

The Partial Kingdom 2 - Three Kings Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 22, 2007

Good leadership is more than just giftedness. It also involves faithfulness to God, a right focus and direction for God’s people.

If you go to the book shop and browse the shelves in the management area, chances are you’ll find a host of books focusing on leadership as the critical factor in the success of a business. And when you think about it, it makes sense. If the person at the top is a good leader then the organisation ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

Paul’s Prayer For Enlightenment - Part 1: To Know Christ Deeply Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jun 3, 2012

Paul's desire was for the Ephesians to know Christ deeply. This sermon emphasizes the need to know CHRIST, not focus on rules, issues and doctrinal minutia.

Paul’s Prayer for Enlightenment - Part 1: To Know Christ Deeply Ephesians - Live Like You Really Are Chuck Sligh June 2, 2012 A PowerPoint presentation of this sermon is available by mailing a request to me at chucksligh@hotmail.com. TEXT: Ephesians 1:15-1:23 – Wherefore I also, after ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Gift Gone Bad Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Nov 1, 2005

Lust craves to use people for our "needs" and desires. It is the exact opposite of the love and focus on the needs of others that Jesus calls us to.

II Samuel 11:1-5, Matthew 5:27-30 “A Good Gift Gone Bad” (Lust) INTRODUCTION We live in a society that panders to lust. Everywhere we look—billboards, magazines, movies and television—we view provocative pictures. The goal of modern clothing fashion is to be alluring. The idea of turning ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Measuring Your Love For God

Contributed by Vinnie Cappetta on Mar 12, 2006

How would you like to get to the end of your life, stand before God and realize that you used the wrong measuring tool to measure your love for Him?

Measuring your Love for God Exodus 20:1-11 During Temple period, these commands were recited before worship. Called ten words, statements, covenant, agreement. A businessman well known for his ruthlessness once announced to writer Mark Twain, “Before I die I mean to make a pilgrimage to the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Remedy For An Unsatisfied Life

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 11, 2016

The abundant Christian life cannot be taken for granted, but must be intentional. The key to the abundant Christian life is a radical focus on Jesus Christ.

The focus today is on the Christian. The whole book of Song of Solomon deals with the Bride of Christ. Nothing in this book has anything at all to do with the non-Christian. Applying anything in this book to the non-Christian is completely wrong. As a Christian, God has things to say to me that the ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Unto You Is Born - A Savior Series

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Dec 3, 2023

There are many stories about people being saved that could be pulled from history today, but I am going focus on just one.

Alba 12-3-2023 UNTO YOU IS BORN – A SAVIOR Luke 2:11 An online Reader's Digest story entitled, “What to do when you’re kidnapped at gunpoint”, updated November 24, 2022 shared the following: Around 9:30 on a cold March morning, a 17-year-old girl was carjacked at gunpoint in Wildwood, New ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11, 2 Timothy 1:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What's Your Pleasure? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 5, 2015

Solomon looked for pleasure in his achievements, his possessions and in his entertainment and yet finds it all to be empty and meaningless. Is there something wrong with seeking pleasure, or is there another problem?

OPEN: It was a 4th of July weekend and the family had gathered for a big meal together. In the kitchen was little 4 year old Johnny… and there on the edge of the cabinet sat the one thing he loved so much. It was a big, round, sure to be juicy, watermelon. He just couldn’t stop staring ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seeking God First Series

Contributed by Deontaye Ford on Nov 23, 2002

This sermon is short but simple. Its main focus is to let people know that they should seek God first in everything.

In order to keep things real with God, you must first be real with your self by knowing that with God, all things are possible but without him you can have nothing. People often say that God does not supply their needs when what they really mean is that he does not give them everything they want. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, John 18:4, Acts 2:38

Denomination: Pentecostal

Extreme Faith Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 21, 2001

A focus on faith and healing. And, just why did Jesus tell the paralytic his sins were forgiven?

OPEN: It was the first day of basketball practice at Wingate High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Coach handed a ball to each player. "Boys," he said, "I want you to practice shooting from the spots you might expect to be in during the game." One of the boys (who was pretty much there as a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seven Things That Don't Fade Away Series

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Feb 5, 2004

Focus on the "incorruptible" things brings a good perspective to life when life just takes your breath away.

SEVEN THINGS THAT DON’T FADE AWAY 3rd part of “Grasping a full life” message series 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21because, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:20-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free