In Sermons: showing 121-135 of 234

A Look Back At Life

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

What a privelege, to take a look back at life through the eyes of the world’s wisest man, who knew now what really mattered.

Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 Intro: There is a museum in Deadwood, SD, to the American West. 1. Inscription left by one prospector: 2. “I lost my gun. I lost my horse. I am out of food. The Indians are after me. But I’ve got all the gold I can carry.” 3. King Solomon had a lot, too. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Sin's Slippery Slope

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

A look at the causes that resulted in Solomon’s slow slide down sin’s slippery slope.

Passage: 1 Kings 11:1-13 Intro: The collapse of the bridge in Minnesota has everyone scrambling for the “why?” 1. happens every time there is a disaster. PP) Challenger disaster. 2. leak in a fuel tank caused by cold weather at launch. 3. we are a little less concerned about disasters ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 11:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Incredible Confidence

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

David’s response when confronted with his terrible sin was to run to the very one he had offended.

Passage: Psalm 51 Intro: It’s hard to imagine a believer who had messed up worse than David. 1) life filled w/ God’s grace, David blew it. 2) lusted after and committed adultery with a good friend’s wife, Bathsheba, who got pregnant. 3) lured Uriah home to explain pregnancy, but Uriah ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Grace Attitudes

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

This tender scene in 2 Samuel lets us look into the heart of a person who understands God as He has revealed Himself to be.

Passage: 2 Samuel 7:18-29 Intro: Those who believe that God exists are divided generally into three categories. 1. first, those who see God as a angry tyrant whose anger might be calmed through good works. His love must be earned. Il) Islam fits this picture for the most part. 2. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Extreme Makeover: Old Testament Edition

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

We have a wonderful picture of grace here; the story of an obscure man with a name not only hard to pronounce, but with a terrible meaning.

Passage: 2 Samuel 9:1-13 Intro: Back in the 50’s, there was a TV show called “Queen for a Day.” PP Show the picture of it. 1. today it is “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”, where people get a new house. 2. these gifts are given for people in terrific need, and it is great. 3. it is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Overcoming The Fear Factor

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

There is an "x" factor thorughout history, and in our lives, whose presence is the difference between success and failure, blessing and cursing, life and death.

Passage: 1 Samuel 17:1-58 Intro: A favorite sermon style at this church is when PJ does math!! 1. don’t worry, I checked it all out with the coach of the State champion Math Counts team. 2. going to look at this familiar story of David and Goliath, but add this mathematical twist. 3. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Denomination: Evangelical Free

God's Grace In Our Mess

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

We can make a huge mess of things, but God’s grace is sufficient not only to save us, but to use us for His glory

Passage: 1 Samuel 12:1-24 Intro: One of the most persistent misconceptions in the Christian life is that God’s grace is tied to our behavior. 1. quite simple. If we behave, then God is gracious to us. 2. if we misbehave, God’s grace stops. Il) we sometimes say when something good ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 12:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Road Of Disobedience

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

We might think we are on the right road, but there are signs that we are really heading down a disobdient pathway.

Passage: 1 Samuel 15:1-35 Intro: A few weeks ago we picked up Tom at the airport, returning from college. 1. on the way up the 101, had seen traffic backing up southbound. 2. so I was smart, took the 143 south to I-10 PP) trace the whole route on Google Earth photo. 3. what seemed like such a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-35

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Results

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

When we make decisions according to a results model, we will find we have walked away from God’s plan and are lumbering down the path of ultimate destruction.

Passage: 1 Samuel 8:1-22 Intro: Wouldn’t it be nice to know for certain the results of every decision we made, before we made it?! 1. college choice, career path, stock purchase, marriage partner, location, etc. 2. we are obsessed with results, and the marketing community knows this. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Moving Off Dead Center

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

The nation of Israel was like many of us, kind of stuck. But there are ways we can get out of this rut, and move on to greater effectiveness.

Passage: 1 Samuel 7:2-11 Intro: It’s amazing when an event that took place more than 3000 years ago is so relevant to us. 1. for over 3 centuries, the people of Israel had turned their backs on God. 2. they had suffered terribly, but hadn’t put their condition together with their behavior. 3. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 7:2-11

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Faith's Results

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Sep 28, 2007

There she was, a barren woman being battered by her opponent. And in her desperation, we responded with faith; faith that changed the course of Israel.

Passage: 1 Samuel 2:1-11 Intro: Faith is exercising trust in God without knowing the result. 1. isn’t that what it says in Hebrews PP Hebrews 11:1-2 2. let’s take a look at one of those ancients today as we start a summer series from the OT titled: “Believe Him or Not” 3. we’ll ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Character Of A Servant

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jun 7, 2007

Here at the end of the book of Acts, we find Paul under house arrest, but still acting as a servant. What are the characteristics of such a servant?

Passage: Acts 28:17-31 Intro: I heard on the radio the other day that Acts is not a book of theology, but rather a book of history. 1. I agree to a point. It is the record of the early church and what they did. 2. but at the same time, it is a record of the works of God, and so we can ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:17-31

Denomination: Evangelical Free

God Succeeds When Our Plan Fails

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jun 7, 2007

Stranded on a foreign beach, dripping wet and freezing cold, Paul’s plan was definitely on hold. But watch how this man of God continues to be effectively used in the middle of failure.

Passage: Acts 28:1-16 Intro: Standing on the beach of an unknown island, freezing cold with both seawater and rainwater dripping off his nose, I wonder if Paul was a little puzzled. 1. his plan had been to go to Rome and have an audience with the highest powers of his world. 2. and instead he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 28:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free

God In The Storm

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jun 7, 2007

We have the hardest time finding God in the middle of the storms, but that is when He is most evidently at work in our lives.

Passage: Acts 27:1-44 Intro: When we are in the middle of trouble, it is hard to see the hand of God. 1. this is when we tend to say, “what is God doing? Where is He?” 2. a great sign of maturity in a believer is when we can experience trouble and continue to trust God. 3. as we have gone ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:1-44

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Paul's Testimony Is Our Testimony

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jun 7, 2007

Here is Paul, on trial for his life, giving a beautiful witness to the life-changing power of God. But it is not his testimony alone, but the same one that each believer might be able to give.

Passage: Acts 25-26 Intro: It’s easy to compare ourselves to the Apostle Paul and feel inferior. 1. in sheer determination and self- sacrifice, his example seems unattainable. 2. so we sigh, our shoulders slump, and we continue living with the vague thought that there should be more. 3. I ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free