Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jul 19, 2004
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Each day the young pastor stopped at a deli-market for fruit juice on the way to work. Each day, with kindness in his voice, he greeted the man behind the counter, a middle-eastern man with Islamic beliefs. On many occasions the young pastor shared his faith in Jesus Christ with the man behind the
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Pentecostal
based on 10 ratings
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Pastor Brian McLaren of Cedar Ridge Community Church notes:
Doubt. It’s like a spiritual drought, a starless night of the soul, a low tide when faith seems to have retreated forever. Nearly all of us experience these dry, dark, difficult times when God doesn’t seem real and it’s hard to keep
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006
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Pastors’ Blessings & Blisters: New Pulpit & Pew research done in cooperation with Duke University and funded by the Lilly Endowment reports that 60% of pastors say “they have never doubted their calling,” and 70% “indicate they have never considered leaving pastoral ministry.” Additional survey
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Contributed by Jay Winters on May 30, 2006
John Donne’s Poem "Holy Sonnet 14" and its meaning for human and divine relationships. I John 4:10. Batter my heart, three-person’d God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me
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Lutheran
Contributed by Nathan Parker on Mar 10, 2007
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Life Examples: Hosea: A Longing for Intimacy (Hos 11:8-9)
Without questioning God, Hosea obeyed Him and took the prostitute Gomer to be his wife. Though she wandered and repeatedly slipped into unfaithfulness, Hosea obeyed the Lord and did not cast her way.
The moving poetry of Hosea reveals the
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Baptist
Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 20, 2007
A lady visiting the Holy Land came upon a sheepfold located high on a hilltop. Her attention was drawn to one poor sheep lying by the side of the road bleating in pain. Looking more closely, she discovered that its leg was injured. She asked the shepherd how it happened.
"I had to break it
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Pentecostal
GOD'S JEALOUS NATURE ILLUSTRATED
Let’s say you come home one day to find a stranger in your living room talking to your teenage daughter. He informs you that he has been chatting with your daughter online and says that he and your fourteen year-old are madly in love. He looks to be about forty. He
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Presbyterian/Reformed
SEPARATE: STAYING IN RANKS
The word "separate" is a military term, and it means to "stay in ranks." My son Jason just graduated from an intensive 9-week school for Drill Sergeants (we Brownworths never seem to finish going to school!). He will now be responsible for training as many as 240 "raw"
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United Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012
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WORKING HARD TO EARN SALVATION
United Methodist Bishop Reuben Job writes,
"If we are just good enough, do enough, deny ourselves enough, we will be forgiven, redeemed, and reconciled to God. Following this path brings no peace, assurance, or sense of companionship with God. Rather than asking
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Methodist
Contributed by Jeffrey Rowe on Dec 29, 2012
Death steals from us in this life by suddenly separating us from the people and things we’ve come to care about. It robs us.
A little while back, our church office building was broken into by thieves who took some of our equipment. Personally I’ve had my car broken into a couple of times. I’m
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Holiness
Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on May 29, 2007
Have you heard the story of the young teenager and his girlfriend who decide to go for a swim in a neighbours pool as they are away for the weekend, as they approach the fence they see a sign that warns them to keep out of the pool, but they climb straight over and ignore the sign. The pool now is
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007
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Dr. Tim Lahaye tells the story (which I have repeated many times, but which perfectly illustrates a point); it’s about a husband who was receiving marital counseling. The obvious truth was that He and His wife were at odds with each other and were in the mode of fault-finding. After giving a
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Contributed by J. B. Hall on Mar 30, 2008
B. Instead of focusing on his own life, and keeping himself in a right, vibrant, relationship with the Lord, he is virtually always concerned with, watching, critiquing, and criticizing those around him.
C. It seems that whoever he is focused on can do no right.
D. If this person is not doing what
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Baptist
Contributed by Jerry Blaxton on Aug 1, 2008
When I was growing up, one of the most famous celebrities alive was Elvis Presley. I loved Elvis Presley. I loved his singing, and a lot of his songs. I watched his movies. I read articles and books about him. I loved Elvis Presley.
But when I think about it—I never saw Elvis Presley, I never
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Denomination:
Baptist