Sermons on Wrong Focus:

The Other Thief

Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on May 8, 2012

The other thief shifts our focus from the more familiar thief. We know the one that ask Christ for a memorial. But what about the "the other thief" who died insulting the Lord?

The text teaches many lessons. Let’s consider the following thoughts: I. There are Only Two Types of People in the World: believers and unbelievers. II. There is no Salvation in Physical Closeness to Jesus. (The other thief hung next to Christ without accepting Him) He hung next to the "bread of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-41

Denomination: Baptist

Word Play Series

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Dec 10, 2008

While most Nativity plays at our SS Christmas programs focus on Matthew and Luke, this Word Play is found in John. It tells the story of Jesus’ birth from Heaven’s point of view.

WORD PLAY One of the great highlights of the Advent season is watching our Sunday School students re-enact the Nativity. I remember as a child myself how on Christmas Eve we would have our Sunday School program, receive our goodie bags and go home to open presents. The Nativity play was a central ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-5

Denomination: Mennonite

Sacred Altars

Contributed by Allen James on Oct 19, 2009

Often times when we think of a sacred altar we focus more on being in the right place rather than being God’s person who is filled with God’s presence.

Sacred Altars • Ezra 1:1-4, 2:1-2, 3:1-7 OPENING IDEA: Where are your Sacred Spaces in life? WEDDING. SIGN. LIFE EVENT. FOOTBALL STADIUM. CAMP. CEMETERY. We often return to these sacred spaces to revisit and/or sometimes to rebuild or resurrect the memory or even that place in life. Feel like ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Peace With God

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Sep 16, 2012

Five Steps to Peace With God 1. Change Your Attitude 2. Change Your Focus 3. Change Your Diet 4. Change Your Worship 5. Change Your Habits

It took 10 days to get a message to Europe delivered by ship . When the great Atlantic Telegraph Cable was laid it just took moments, the first message flashed Aug 16/1858 "Glory to God in the highest; on earth, peace and good will toward men." (14 words, 69 letters – Twitter allows 140 ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

From Crook To World Changer Series

Contributed by Harry J. Colegrove on Oct 23, 2012

This is the story of the calling of the tax collector Levi. The focus of the message is that no one is beyond the grace of God. Jesus was not so much concerned about what Levi was, but about what Levi could become

Gospel of Luke 5:27-32 - From Crook to World Changer We are in a message series on the Gospel of Luke The word “gospel” literally means “good news” So, you could say that this series is about “The good news of Luke” What exactly is this good news? Simply ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-32

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Important Things

Contributed by Greg Nance on Apr 19, 2013

Trials make us evaluate what matters most. Questions about life and eternity help us center our hearts and minds and focus our hopes in God’s eternal plan.

All of us face trials. The Bible is filled with stories about people undergoing trials and teachings about how to respond when we face trials and troubles in this life. This past week Boston was shaken by a crisis that we all have surely heard about. I selected four slides from photos that were ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Raised With Christ

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Apr 2, 2018

Today we focus on the resurrection; when sadness turned to joy. And since Jesus was raised to life, our sadness can turn to joy because through him, we too are raised to life.

RAISED WITH CHRIST Over the last few weeks we've been looking at the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus. When Jesus announced to his disciples that he would be tortured and killed Peter was pretty upset. Even though Jesus said he would be raised to life Peter didn't want to see him go ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10, Romans 6:1-4, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 3:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Hope Of Advent

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

It is during this season of Advent that we focus on hope and that hope is centered on the Second Coming of Christ. Advent is not just about preparing for the coming of the Christ child. It is also about looking to the Second Coming of Jesus

The Hope of Advent Ephesians 2:1-10 In the 19th century, there was a wave of enthusiasm for prophecies predicting the actual date for the Second Coming of Christ. One such prophecy was an Adventist leader name William Miller. After studying Daniel 8, Miller predicted that Christ would return on ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

Confidence Within The Chaos

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jul 26, 2016

Life is filled with uncertainty. In fact, life can be chaotic at times. It is easy to lose focus and stumble among the chaos. Fortunately, we do not have to succumb to the uncertainties; we can overcome in Christ.

Confidence within the Chaos John 16: 32-33 We have read a passage from one of my favorite sections of Scripture. Beginning in chapter thirteen, and going through chapter seventeen of John, we find an intimate account of the last hours Jesus spent with His disciples prior to His arrest, trial, and ...read more

Scripture: John 16:32-33

Denomination: Baptist

An Exhortation Of Expectation Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Dec 16, 2020

Having shared his heart and burden for the church, Paul now shifts his focus to the lives expected of believers. They were no longer their own, and were expected to live in a way that honored and glorified the Lord.

An Exhortation of Expectation 1 Thessalonians 4: 1-8 In the previous chapter Paul devoted a substantial portion of this letter revealing his heart and desire for ministry. In case there was any doubt, Paul assured them of his love and devotion for the Lord and His church. He presented a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

(Give Me My Flowers While I`m Living )

Contributed by Derrick White Sr on Nov 26, 2017

THE WRITER OF THE TEXT BEFORE US IS KING LEMUEL AND HE FOCUS ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS A VIRTUOUS WOMAN AND THE WORD VIRTURE IN THE TEXT REFERS TO THE MORAL AND MENTAL QUAILITES OF A WOMAN COMBINED WITH A SPRIT OF LOVE

Proverbs 31:10 (KJV) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:29-31 (KJV) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. [30] Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. [31] Give her of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is Great Enough To Sanctify (Part One) Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Nov 6, 2014

Sanctification (becoming like Jesus in our attitudes, desires, and actions) is built on the facts of what God has done for you. The starting point of sanctification is your faith in Christ and your focus on Christ.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> THIS SERMON AVAILABLE WITH POWERPOINT IN RESOURCE DOWNLOAD! If you're interested in knowing more about holiness definition, This truth about holiness is covered more thoroughly at ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4

Denomination: Holiness

The Rest Of The Story

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 2, 2015

This Easter sermon focuses on the resurrection of Jesus and the potential resurrection of his followers which complete the story of Jesus. We often focus on his death, but the empty tomb is good news that requires a response.

1. The Rest of the Story was a Monday-through-Friday radio program originally hosted by Paul Harvey. Beginning as a part of his newscasts during the Second World War and then premiering as its own series on the ABC Radio Networks on May 10, 1976, The Rest of the Story consisted of stories presented ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of The Resurrection Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 5, 2021

The power of the resurrection took histories saddest event-the crucifixion, and changed it into the center of our Christian focus of joy. The cross is now history's greatest symbol of love, forgiveness, and hope.

John Scott Harrison was the only man in the history of our nation who was the son of one president and the father of another. A man of such distinction you would think would be treated with great respect in his death, but the fact was, nobody was safe in 1878 when he died. Body snatching was at a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-16

Queen Of Sheba Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 11, 2021

We want to focus our attention on a woman of the Bible who is probably the most brilliant of them all. We do not know if the Queen of Sheba was beautiful or plain, but the record is clear, she was a brain.

Emma Hart Willard founded the first permanent institution of higher learning for women in America. None of the usual courses for women were even offered. There were no cooking or needle work classes. Instead, she offered zoology, geometry, trigonometry, and other subjects thought to be beyond the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 10:1-13