In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 23

What We Believe - God Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Sep 14, 2012

The gospel is God’s saving work. It flows from within himself as the revelation of who he is & what he does! In other words, God does what he does because of who he is!

What we Believe # 1 – “God” Intro – 1. ILL – After listening to Chuck Swindoll on the radio, 8 year old Debbie asked her 6 year old brother David, “Do you know about Jesus?” Expecting a new slant on the old story, David replied, “No.” Sister ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical Free

What We Believe - Intro Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Sep 14, 2012

Why a series on theology? Because studying theology can help us overcome our wrong ideas, it can help us to make better decisions, & it can help us grow as Christians!

What We Believe: Intro – “Why a Series on Theology?” Intro – 1. VIDEO – “Why Theology Matters?” by Joshua Harris… 2. The EFCA SOF begins with these words, “The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Follow Me Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Jul 24, 2012

Jesus had been teaching his disciples for about 2 years. He had been preparing his disciples for this private meeting at which he intended to reveal to them what would happen to him at Jerusalem. He had given hints along the way, but now he would explain

The Gospel of Mark #21 – “Follow Me” Mark 8:27-38 Intro – 1. Have you ever been asked a tough question? I mean the type of question that has intense ramifications on your immediate future. The type of questions where you know the wrong answer could have severe ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-38

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Open The Eyes Of My Heart Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Jul 24, 2012

Jesus is dealing with blindness. He deals with both the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees and the disciples as well as the physical blindness of a man from Bethsaida.

The Gospel of Mark #20 – “Open the Eyes of My Heart” Mark 8:1-26 Intro – 1. VIDEO – “Field of Dreams” They really can’t see it… 2. There are some people in this world that cannot see for looking. The evidence could be as clear as the nose on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:1-26

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Faith In Unexpected Places Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Jun 24, 2012

In our text today, Jesus visited 2 predominantly Gentile regions, Tyre and Sidon (vs. 24-30) and the Decapolis (vs. 31-37). There He ministered to a desperate mother and a disabled man.

The Gospel of Mark #19 – “Faith in Unexpected Places” Mark 7:24-37 Intro – 1. We humans are a strange breed, aren’t we? 2. ILL – A pastor was once looking through some old church records of a Norwegian congregation which listed its membership as: “52 souls ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-37

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Clean Hands Or Clean Heart? Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Jun 10, 2012

In this passage, Jesus is dealing with very religious people who allowed their traditions replace the authority of God’s Word. Jesus is not impressed with religious ritual or tradition, rather He is concerned with the condition of our hearts.

The Gospel of Mark #18 – “Clean Hands or Clean Heart?” Mark 7:1-23 Intro – 1. ILL – A man was watching the news one night when it was reported that a car was going the wrong direction on the freeway. The man knew his wife was on that freeway and became very concerned ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Facing Our Fear Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Jun 5, 2012

This is the 2nd time in our study of Mark that we find the disciples in the middle of a storm. In reality, there were two storms brewing that night – one on the sea & the other in the disciple’s hearts! This caused the disciples to be “terrified” (vs. 50)

The Gospel of Mark #17 – “Facing Our Fear” Mark 6:45-56 Intro – 1. What was your greatest fear as a child? Many of the things we feared had no basis in reality. However, some of the things we did not fear – we should have!! 2. ILL – Mrs. Monroe lives in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-56

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Feeding The 5,000 Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on May 27, 2012

This miracle is one of only two recorded in all four gospels. The other is the resurrection of Jesus. As such, this is this miracle is of primary Importance to our understanding of who Jesus is and what His plan includes for each of us individually, for t

The Gospel of Mark #16 – “Feeding the 5,000” Mark 6:30-44 Intro – 1. ILL – A priest was giving his flock a sermon on the Gospel, and he mentioned how with 5 loaves of bread & 2 fish our Savior fed 5,000 people at once; but instead of saying 5,000, he said 500. The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Unbelief Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on May 17, 2012

One of the central themes in this section of Mark's Gospel is the unbelief of people who came into contact with Jesus. God takes unbelief very seriously, and so should we.

The Gospel of Mark #15 – “Unbelief” Mark 6:1-29 Intro – 1. Can anyone guess what my favorite animal is? The Platypus! 2. ILL – Josh McDowell writes, “People refuse to believe that which they don't want to believe, in spite of evidence. When explorers first went ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-29

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Pressing Into Jesus Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on May 14, 2012

In Mark 5, we see Jesus going from one seemingly hopeless situation to another. Our text is a “Markan sandwich” where two stories are pressed together. In it we are introduced to two very different individuals with one thing in common - they were willing

The Gospel of Mark #14 – “Pressing into Jesus” Mark 5:21-43 Intro – 1. ILL – A New Yorker was driving through Texas when he collided with a truck carrying a horse. A few months later he tried to collect damages for his injuries. “How can you now claim to have ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Nude Dude In A Rude Mood Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on May 6, 2012

This is one of the most amazing stories in the Bible!! It is a tremendous picture of the grace of God touching & transforming the most hopeless of men.

The Gospel of Mark #13 – “A Nude Dude in a Rude Mood” Mark 5:1-20 Intro – 1. I love preaching the Bible & all that goes along with it!! I love the study of Homiletics – the art of preaching. I have over 40 books in my library just on this topic alone! 2. 2 Tim. 4:2 ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Safe In The Storm Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Apr 30, 2012

Life is often filled with storms. We must learn to find Christ as our “safety in the storm.”

The Gospel of Mark #12 – “Safe in the Storm” Mark 4:35-41 Intro – 1. ILL – October 1991 a fishing boat named the Andrea Gail sailed from a New England port to fish for swordfish. On their return, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean they faced a hurricane named Grace. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Kingdom Seeds Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Apr 30, 2012

Most Biblical scholars regard the “kingdom of God” as the central theme of Jesus’ message.

The Gospel of Mark #11 – “Kingdom Seeds” Mark 4:21-34 Intro – 1. ILL – In an earlier century, a large boulder laid in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:21-34

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Parable Of The Soils Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Mar 25, 2012

This parable has been often called “the Parable of the Sower” but is probably more accurately described as "The Parable of the Soils." Everyone who hears the Gospel hears it in a different way. Some revile it, some reject it & some receive it. It is the “

The Gospel of Mark #10 – “The Parable of the Soils” Mark 4:1-20 Intro – 1. Don’t you love to hear a good story? I know I do! 2. The Bible is the story of God. (PICTURE – The Story…)To understand the Bible, you need bifocal lenses, because two ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Unpardonable Sin Series

Contributed by Joel Preston on Mar 22, 2012

Jesus clears up some misunderstandings the people of His day had about Him.

The Gospel of Mark # 9 – “The Unpardonable Sin” Mark 3:20-35 Intro – 1. ILL – The following series of advertisements reportedly appeared in a daily newspaper: Monday: "The Rev. A.J. Jones has one color TV set for sale. Telephone 626-1313 after 7 p.m. and ask for Mrs. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Evangelical Free