In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 469

The Rejection Tour

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Jun 30, 2022

The Christian has to face rejection if he is serious about following Jesus. Oftentime, this rejection comes from family and friends.

The Rejection Tour Luke 9:51-62 No one likes rejection. This is especially true when your purpose is to be helpful. Rejection from your enemies is bad enough. at least you can rationalize that this is your enemy; therefore, it is a badge of honor rather than shame. Rejection can come in many ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Gadarene Demoniac

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Jun 18, 2022

Little did the man who was possessed of a legion of demons realize that his life was going to be radically transformed.

The Gadarene Demoniac Luke 8:26-39 The man Jesus meets in the tomb would make a good subject for a horror movie. Here was a troubled and violent man. One can only imagine what fear the local populations must have had. they could not even bind him with chains. One can think of the terror which a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Making The Jail House Rock

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 25, 2022

God needs to shake things up in the church and free us from our self-imprisonment.

Making the Jail House Rock Acts 16:16-34 The text we read this morning has been a popular one for Vacation Bible Schools for many years. The cardboard props of the wall of the jail house and the barred windows has “imprisoned” many a child or saint in the skit. someone pulls the string, and the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Give You My Peace

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 19, 2022

True peace only comes from Jesus and only to those who believe on Him. This is a peace that allows us to have peace in the midst of trials.

I Give You MY Peace John 14:23-29 It was a confusing time. Jesus with the disciples had come to Jerusalem. They had seen the joyous crowds a few days earlier on Palm Sunday, Their expectations of the disciples that Jesus would immediately take charge and set up the Messianic Kingdom and take the ...read more

Scripture: John 14:23-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

We Must Obey God Rather Than Men

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 16, 2022

Where does obedience to the command of men stop and obedience to God begin?

We must obey God rather than Men Acts 5:26-33 Sometimes, the Scripture seems to put us in quite a dilemma. Peter’s response in the passage we just read shows that Peter’s response to the High Priest’s charge that the Apostles had disobeyed the strict prohibition of the Sanhedrin that they should ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:26-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Gospel Cannot Be Locked Down

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 9, 2022

No matter how hard they try, or by what means they use, the Gospel of Christ will continue to be proclaimed.

The Gospel Cannot be Locked Down Acts 5:17-25 In last week’s text, we saw the great signs and wonders which were performed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles in Jesus’ name. Huge numbers of those who were healed or had demons cast out must have been overjoyed just like the crowds who were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:17-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Continuing The Works Of Jesus: An Exposition Of Acts 5:12-16

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 7, 2022

Great signs and wonders happened during the times of the Apostles. What do they mean? Are they for today?

Scripture: Acts 5:12-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

He Shall Wipe Away Every Tear

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on May 3, 2022

How many of us remember our parents wiping away our tears? The Lord shall show this personal care for us at the end of time.

He shall Wipe Away Every Tear Revelation 7:9-17 We are now come to the 4th Sunday of Easter this morning. As this is the Easter season (Eastertide), we reflect during this time the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and its implications. Last week we looked at the text from Revelation 5. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Apr 30, 2022

The spectacular worship of Jesus our Lord which will happen in heaven is not to be missed.

Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain Revelation 5:11-14 Who is this Jesus who rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning? The answer to this question means everything. Some see the resurrection as being a spiritual event. For some, this is something short of a literal resurrection. These might say ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:11-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

An Exposition Of 1 Peter, Part 15: Christ As The Example Of Submission And Suffering

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Apr 16, 2022

Jesus is the ultimate example of how to be a suffering servant. Let us follow His example

An Exposition of 1 Peter, part 15: Christ as the Example of Submission and Suffering 1 Peter 2:21-25 Introduction In the last study, Peter told those who were slaves how they should respond to unfair suffering because they were Christians. Slaves were supposed to adopt the religion of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

O Grave! Where Is Thy Victory

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Mar 26, 2022

The bodily resurrection of Jesus means everything!

O Grave! where is thy Victory? 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 When Paul heard of what was going on in the Church at Corinth which he had founded, he must have wondered whether he had just wasted a year and a half of his life establishing the church. The church was divided into factions. Some held to Paul, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Kingdom Is Not Of This World

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Mar 24, 2022

What is the significance of Maundy Thursday?

My Kingdom is not of This World John 18:36-38 We come to this Maundy Thursday in a very troubled world. There are wars in Ukraine, Yemen, South Sudan, and other places. We have suffered lockdowns and other restrictions from a “pandemic.” The global financial situation is perilous, and inflation is ...read more

Scripture: John 18:36-38

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Women Who Supported Jesus' Ministry

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Mar 13, 2022

God does not play favorites, not does He consider what societal norms are when He chooses His ministers.

The Women who Supported Jesus' Ministry Luke 8:1-3 Sometimes, a passage of Scripture gets overlooked because it is seen as simple background information to the narrative. This is true of the passage we read this morning. At first it seems to act as a transition from the story of Simon the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

An Exposition Of 1 Peter, Part 14: Christianity And Slavery

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Jan 29, 2022

How does a church consisting of people who have been freed in Christ deal with slavery?

Christianity and Slavery 1 Peter 2:18-20 Introduction In the last study, we discussed the obligation to submit to lawful secular authority at all levels from the king on down. The Church was not to rebel against this authority as all authority comes from God. We are to model good conduct in a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

An Exposition Of 1 Peter, Part 13: The Christian And Governmental Authority

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Jan 18, 2022

What can Peter teach us about how to live the Christian life when the government persecutes us?

The Christian and Governmental Authority 1 Peter 2:13-17 Introduction In the USA, where I live, there is no more odious word in the English language than “submission.” No one here wants to submit. They don’t want to submit to government. They don’t want to submit to their boss. Women don’t want ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible