Sermon Central
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Fortifying The Foundations
Contributed by Richard Tow on Oct 27, 2003 (message contributor)
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1. What Happened To The Crowd
Contributed on Oct 27, 2003
This sermon examines the crowds reaction to Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5000 and his teaching that followed. Their transition from an "excited" crowd to a "grumbling" crowd to an "offended" crowd is traced.
What Happened to the Crowd? Fortifying the Foundations #15 John 6:14-70(1) In John 6 a large number of people begin a journey with Jesus. They have experienced His goodness. They are among the 5000 men plus women and children who enjoy loaves and fishes courtesy of the King of Kings. Can ...read more
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2. A Glorious Decline
Contributed on Oct 27, 2003
The nobility of John the Baptist submission to God’s plan for his life is contrasted with Lucifer’s ambitions for prominence. The value of a healthy appreciation for the sovereignty of God is considered.
A Glorious Decline Fortifying the Foundations # 8 John 3:22-36 Intro: When we say the word “down”, what kind of thoughts go through your mind?—down and out, down under, down hearted, a downer. By and large “down” is considered negative. In contrast, “up” sounds real good.—up and coming, ...read more
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3. Following God's Plan
Contributed on Oct 27, 2003
This sermon examines characteristics of genuine faith as depicted in Jesus’ life. Real faith does not take presumptuous risks, it submits to God’s timing and it challenges the status quo.
Following God’s Plan Fortifying the Foundations #16 John 7:1-13 9-21-03 Intro John 7:1-13 7:1After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3Jesus’ ...read more
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4. Guilty Or Not Guilty
Contributed on Nov 17, 2003
This sermon uses a non-traditional style to expound the text. A court proceeding is set up and narrated to communicate Jesus’ confrontation with religious leaders of His day. It was fun to preach!
Guilty or Not Guilty Fortifying the Foundations # 13 John 5:16-47[1] 8-3-03 Intro: I want you to come with me to a courtroom this morning. There with the prosecution at this table[2] are a number of well-dressed men. They are well known in the community, experts in the law and highly ...read more
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5. Real Belief In The Real Jesus
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
Faith in Christ is the key to eternal life. But the Jesus we put our faith in must be the Christ revealed in scripture not some substitute Jesus we have fabricated in our own minds.
Real Belief in the Real Jesus John 1:1-3 and 20:30-31 2-9-03 John 1:1-5 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was ...read more
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6. Responding To The Real Jesus
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
To see Jesus for who He really is opens the door to eternal possibilities. But that revelation also requires a response to either reject Him or serve Him as Lord of all.
Responding to the Real Jesus Fortifying the Foundations #2 John 1:1-18 3-9-03 Intro: John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has ...read more
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7. John's Testimony
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
What does true greatness look like? We see it pictured in John the Baptist as he answers those who asked him who he was. His exhaltation of Christ is exemplary for us all.
John’s Testimony Fortifying the Foundations #3 John 1:19-34 3-16-03 Intro: This morning I want to share with you the third message in a series from the Gospel of John. As God has opened this book to us I have become more and more convinced of the importance of foundational doctrine in ...read more
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8. Coming To Jesus
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
Andrew’s witness to Peter and Philip’s witness to Nathanael provide rich lessons for effective evangelism.
Coming to Jesus Fortifying the Foundations #4 John 1:35-52 3-21-03 Intro: We come to a passage this morning that is full of instruction on coming to Jesus and leading others to Christ. How do we interact with people so that they can come to the Lord? How does the Lord deal with us and ...read more
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9. Miracle Cpr
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
Jesus’ first miracle was at a jubilant wedding at Cana. From the circumstances and process of the miracle we learn much about the way our Lord operates as well as the appropriate response to Him.
Miracle CPR Fortifying the Foundations #5 John 2:1-11 3-30-03 Intro: This morning our text is found in John 2:1-11. As you recall from Chapter 1 Jesus has been identified as the Messiah in John the Baptist’s meetings. The first day Jesus was there John recognized Him in the crowd and ...read more
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10. The Real Jesus Takes Charge
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
The cleansing of the temple gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ character that is often overlooked or even denied. We see the Real Jesus in his confrontation with the money changers just as surely as in His compassion toward the weak.
The Real Jesus Takes Charge Fortifying the Foundations # 6 John 2:12-22 4-6-03 Intro: Please turn in your Bible to John 2:12. This morning we come the amazing story of Jesus cleansing the temple—driving out the moneychangers and those who were selling sacrificial animals in the Court of ...read more
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11. How Can This Be?
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
When Jesus talked about the new birth Nicodemus asked "How can this be?" Jesus’ answer is full of spiritual instruction.
How Can This Be? Fortifying the Foundations # 7 John 2:23-3:21 4-27-03 Intro: This morning we are introduced to a man named Nicodemus and his struggle to understand the kingdom of God. We will hear Jesus’ explanation to him concerning new birth and from that become better equipped to ...read more
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12. Transformation Of A Scarlet Woman
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
Three aspects of this woman’s encounter with Jesus were crucial to her transformation. These same 3 elements are vital to every conversion. 1- Acceptance 2- Convictaion 3- Revelation
Transformation of a Scarlet Woman Fortifying the Foundations # 9 John 4:1-30 5-25-03 Intro: Read John 4:1-30 (For text in NIV go to end of this manuscript). Sang “Fill My Cup” with verse taken from this text. In text we see a Radical Change occurring in this woman’s life as she ...read more
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13. Seeing Physically And Spiritually
Contributed on Dec 8, 2003
Sermon uses clips from classic movie, The Miracle Worker, to help communicate the experience of blindnessand the experience of receiving sight.
Seeing Physically & Spiritually Fortifying the Foundations # 22 John 9[1] 12-7-03 Intro: We don’t know this beggar’s name. Few people knew his name at the time of our story. But many had seen him as they approached the temple in Jerusalem. Pharisees had dropped him a coin or two as they ...read more
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14. God, Why Don't You Do Something
Contributed on Feb 16, 2004
This sermon examines Jesus’ delay in coming to the aid of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In it we see Martha’s struggle with disappointment culminating in a powerful expression of faith. A video clip from "The Greatest Story Ever Told" is used to help communic
God, Why Don’t You Do Something? Fortifying the Foundations # 25 John 11:1-37[1] 12-28-03 There were obviously a lot of people who wondered why Jesus hadn’t done something to help his friend, Lazarus. Verse 37 “But some of them said, ‘could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man ...read more
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15. A Genuine Miracle
Contributed on Feb 16, 2004
Sermon contrasts the characteristics of this miracle with magical phenomena in much of the popular media of today such as "Harry Potter" "Crossing Over" etc...
A Genuine Miracle Fortifying the Foundations # 26 John 11:38-54 1-4-04 At the beginning of the service we read our text in John 11:38-54[1]. It is the story of Jesus’ last great miracle before his crucifixion: The resurrection of Lazarus. Miracles play a central role in John’s gospel. ...read more
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16. Dying To Self
Contributed on Feb 16, 2004
Life is to be lived for the glory of God. When a person lives out of a motive of self interest he is operating just as the world operates and experiences life accordingly. But for those who will deny the self-centered desires of their fallen nature and pu
Dying to Self Fortifying the Foundations # 28 John 12:12-36[1] 2-15-04 Intro Video Clip “The Greatest Story Ever Told” [Ch. 22 (2:07: 47) to Ch. 23 (2:10: 36)] Does Christianity really work? Is there something to be experienced in a walk with God that is not experienced by the ...read more
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17. Satisfaction Guaranteed
Contributed on Feb 23, 2004
Insight on how to experience a satisfying life is drawn from Jesus’ interaction with His disciples in this text.
Satisfaction Guaranteed Fortifying the Foundations # 10 John 4:27-42 6-22-03 Please follow with me as we read John 4:27-42 27Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" ...read more
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18. A Father's Faith
Contributed on Feb 23, 2004
The development of faith in Christ is examined in the light of this father’s experience. His feeble faith moved to firm faith and full faith through this crisis.
A Father’s Faith Fortifying the Foundations #11 John 4:43-54 6-29-03 Our text this morning is from John 4:43-5:1 43After the two days he left for Galilee. 44(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans ...read more
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19. Getting Well & Staying Well
Contributed on Feb 23, 2004
The answer to this crippled man’s need is not in the troubled water but faith in the person, Jesus Christ. His struggles and decisions are not unlike our own as we respond to God.
Getting Well and Staying Well Fortifying the Foundations #12 John 5:1-15 7-13-03 Intro: As we read our text this morning I will touch on a couple of technical matters that are helpful to understand but not necessary to the flow of the message. John 5:1-15 5:1Some time later, This is ...read more
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20. Problem Solved
Contributed on Feb 23, 2004
As we watch Jesus lead the disciples through the process of solving the problem of a hungry crowd we learn important truths about how God would lead us into solutions to our own problems.
Problem Solved Fortifying the Foundations # 14 John 6:1-15 8-10-03 Intro: We take our text this morning from John 6:1-15 6:1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is,the Sea of Tiberias),John refers to the Sea of Galilee as the Sea of Tiberias ...read more
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21. Calloused Hearts Of Unbelief
Contributed on Apr 12, 2004
Why do people not believe in Christ even in the face of overwhelming evidence? As a person resists the Holy Spirit his heart becomes calloused and his sensitivity to God diminished. The interaction of human will and divine judgement is examined in the lig
Calloused Hearts of Unbelief Fortifying the Foundations # 29 John 12:37-50[1] 2-29-04 This morning in our study of the gospel of John we stand at the end of Jesus’ public ministry. In chapters 13-17 Jesus is alone with his disciples before his arrest. He has much to say to them. There is ...read more
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22. Betrayed But Not Bitter
Contributed on Apr 12, 2004
The three stages of betrayal are examined by discussing Judas’ behavior. It is not only important that we guard our hearts so that we do not become betrayers; but it is also important to respond correctly when we are betrayed. Jesus provides an example fo
Betrayed But Not Bitter Fortifying the Foundations # 31 John 13:18-38[1] 3-28-04 Intro Our text this morning in John 13 deals with the issue of betrayal. With a kiss, Judas betrayed Jesus. The thing that makes betrayal so painful is that by its very nature it comes from someone you ...read more