Sermons on Wrong Focus:

Acts Of Desperation

Contributed by Perry Greene on Oct 17, 2017

Acts shows desperate prayers and their impact.

In 1857, NYC, business man, Jeremiah Lanphier became a missionary for the Dutch Reformed Church in downtown NYC. America had been prosperous and did not feel the need for God. However, a massive financial blow occurred and sent the country into a panic. Burdened so by the need, Jeremiah Lanphier ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When A Person's World Is Right

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Oct 26, 2017

We cannot change the world. But we can change the world of a person.

One Saturday morning a minister was busily trying to prepare his sermon under the most difficult conditions. It was a rainy day, and his young son was restless and bored, with little to do. Finally, in desperation, the minister picked up an old magazine and thumbed through it until he came to a ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-3, Numbers 13:17-20, John 1:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Are Christians So Pro Life? Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Nov 11, 2024

I want to equip our church family in speaking intelligently and compassionately about abortion. I don’t have a Republican agenda here today as much as I have a kingdom of God agenda.

Today, I want to talk about the sanctity of human life and, specifically abortion. This morning, I want you to join with me in a celebration of life. There is a widespread divide regarding the issue of abortion … people are not indifferent regarding this contested issue. Even now, bringing the very ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Servant Who Hears God's Voice (Isaiah 50:4-11) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 13, 2025

Sermon's focus is on listening to God. The servant is part of the group of disciples who hear God's voice. The servant suffers, but is confident that he suffers innocently, and that God will vindicate him.

Our passage today is commonly called the third of the four servant songs in Isaiah 40-55. The other three, famously, are in Isaiah 42, 49, and 53. I've said before that over a century ago, a scholar named Bernard Duhm split off these four songs from the rest of Isaiah 40-55, and treated ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-11

Redirecting A Rebel Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 9, 2004

This morning our focus in on one last appearance, though this one took place after the Ascension, as Jesus radically redirects a rebel named Paul (also known as Saul – his Hebrew name).

Today we’re wrapping up our series called, “Beyond the Tomb,” during which we’ve studied the various appearances Jesus made between His Resurrection and His ascension into Heaven. This morning our focus in on one last appearance, though this one took place after the Ascension, as Jesus radically ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Where My Help Comes From Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Feb 4, 2021

This sermon is part of a series on the Psalms of Assent. The focus of this sermon is assurance that we are not alone on our spiritual journey; that in spite of our sufferings the "maker of heaven and earth " walks beside us.

Good morning. We are continuing this series called The Psalms of Ascents. They are short songs for long journeys. The Psalms of Ascents were believed to be travel songs. They were songs that would be sung by the Jewish pilgrims as they ascended up the mountain towards Jerusalem and towards the ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Been There, Done That, Got The T-Shirt

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 9, 2001

This sermon was done while peeling off T-shirts, one by one. The focus is that the presence of the Lord in our lives, as an active participant, drives out cynicism and preserves our joy.

I wish I had bought stock in the T-shirt industry. Of the making of souvenir T-shirts there is no end. People are using T-shirts to send all sorts of messages. Some T-shirts advertise products. Some T-shirts identify the work places. Some focus on the club memberships. And then some T-shirts ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Anatomy Of A Worshipper Series

Contributed by Stuart Blount on Aug 10, 2005

Our focus in these messages is to explore the exercise of worship. A book on my shelves is entitled …..’Worship is a verb’….and its title summarizes my aims. Worship is not a passive thing, it is an activity.

Our focus in these messages is to explore the exercise of worship. A book on my shelves is entitled …..’Worship is a verb’….and its title summarizes my aims. Worship is not a passive thing, it is an activity. I want to use David as a guide to illustrate this truth. David was not only a musician ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:18-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

The End Times - Signs Or Salvation Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Apr 22, 2005

Jesus gives His disciples some signs to look for in the end times - but not so they would focus on the signs, but so that they wouldn’t panic and would do the Master’s will instead

Today we’re going to study the end times. No, I’m not going to set a date for Jesus’ return. No, I’m not going to answer all questions about the Tribulation or the Rapture. But what we are going to see is what Jesus tells us to think about the last days. And it might actually surprise you. 1 As ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-27

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Maintain Your Priorities Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on May 26, 2005

Our priorities are defined by where we focus our eyes and our hearts and by what he hold on to as most dear. Christ-followers should set their priorities on the eternal and not the temporary.

(adapted from Southeast Christian Church’s series: “Living a Life of Integrity”) SERIES: “WORDS OF WISDOM FOR KINGDOM LIVING” TEXT: MATTHEW 6:19-24 TITLE: “MAINTAIN YOUR PRIORITIES” INTRODUCTION: A. A husband and wife were attending a county fair where, for twenty dollars a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What To Do When Your Eyes Are On Canaan, But Your Mind Is In Egypt Series

Contributed by Wm. Darryl Scott Sr D.d. on Nov 23, 2002

We often miss the real message in the trials of this life, because we are too busy focusing and thinking about the negative. But the real battlefield is in our minds! Where is your focus?

What To Do When Your Eyes Are On Canaan But Your Mind Is in Egypt? Exodus 16:1-3 We gratefully welcome God’s visitation, but this day we greatly seek His habitation of our praises! AS WE CONTINUE TO MATURE AND GROW IN LIFE, I HAVE LEARNED THAT IN ORDER TO ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

A Light In The Darkness

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2002

Peter stressed that we "pay attention" to the words of the prophets. But why? What did Peter think was so important about Scripture that we needed to give it such a focus of our attention?

OPEN: I have a quiz for you this morning. I’m going to give you 10 different quotes and then ask you if the phrase if from the Bible or not 1. "To the victor go the spoils." (False—This was written by William Learned Marcy in his Life of Jackson.) 2. "Can a leopard change his spots?" (True—See ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christian A&p 101: Carrying Out The Will & Directives Of The Head Series

Contributed by Johann Neethling on Oct 5, 2005

Sermon 4 in a series of 4 sermons reflecting on Paul’s favorite description of the Church as the Body of Christ. In this message we focus on the body’s responsibility to carry out the will of the Head.

CHRISTIAN A & P 101: CARRYING OUT THE WILL & DIRECTIVES OF THE HEAD Colossians 1:15-20 1. Over the past three Sundays we have been examining the Apostle Paul’s favorite description of the Church as the Body of Christ and have reflected thus far on three lessons we learn from our human anatomy and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

Denomination: United Methodist

The Economics Of War

Contributed by Ron Hietsch on Oct 10, 2005

We are at war against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. To win a war it is necessary for all to sacrifice and focus effort and resources on winning the war.

Text 2 Corinthians 8: 1-5 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Denomination: Lutheran

Facing The Sorrow Of Death With Hope In The Ressurrection

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Dec 15, 2003

This Sermon was preached on November 8, 2003 in memory of Sis. Emily White, a valiant soldier of God. The objective is to keep the believer’s mind focus on the resurrection during times of death.

The Apostle Paul addresses the question concerning the state of those who die in the Lord. The Thessalonians knew that Jesus had risen and they believe that his return was imminent. But they were confused concerning those who were dead already. They thought that somehow their deceased love ones ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist