Sermons on 3rd Century:

Why Does Easter Matter

Contributed by Jay Robison on Feb 24, 2009

What difference does Easter make? The sermon looks at "explanations" for Jesus’ death on the cross. But Easter matters because we all have baggage in life, we will die one day, and we need help.

WHY DOES EASTER MATTER? March 23, 2008 Jay Davis Robison MARK 16:1-8 Do you suppose it will make any difference? Augsburg Sermon Book for the year 1985: "I’ve never seen such a crowd in church, the woman exclaimed’. I didn’t know her, but apparently she was impressed by the number of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Restoration! Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 9, 2011

How do we go about "contending for the faith once delivered to the saints"?

Bobby Bowden, (former football coach of Florida State University) said that when he was in college, he played college baseball. During one game he managed to hit a ball right down the right-field line, into the corner. He rounded 1st and looked to the 3rd base coach. He turned at 2nd, was ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preparing For The Adventure Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 15, 2016

Within 3 years of its launch, the early church faced persecution and death. And yet the church not only continued to survive, but thrive. How did it manage to do that?

OPEN: April 11, 1970, 3 men set off on an adventure. They were the Apollo 13 crew, and their adventure was to be the 3rd manned moon-landing. Their spacecraft look like this artists drawing (We put a picture of the spacecraft on the screen). • The main module (the Odyssey) was designed to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Battle For Success Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 6, 2021

Paul is convinced that failures can become successes. He knew this for he was one of the most successful failures in history. One of the great themes of literature and the Bible is this theme of success out of failure.

In the 35 years following the Civil War 3 success writers towered high above all others, and they became successful by writing about success. All 3 were ordained men. One of them was Russell Conwell who was the pastor of the Baptist Temple of Philadelphia. He delivered his famous lecture over ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

The Sign Of The Sabbath Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 12, 2017

Why would Jesus heal a man on the Sabbath and then tell the man (in violation of the Sabbath rules of the Pharisees) to pick up his mat and walk?

OPEN: There’s a story I read once of 3 umpires who were talking about the feeling of power they had on the baseball field. As they talked about what gave them this sense of empowerment, the 1st umpire said – “I call ‘em as I see ‘em.” The 2nd smiled and said, “That ain’t nothing. I call ‘em as ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Gift Of Rest Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Jun 21, 2017

Showing God's Father's heart in making sure His children take time off.

God’s Gift of Rest CCCAG June 18th, 2017 Scripture- Exodus 20:8-11 There was an evangelical pastor who tells a story of a time that he took his family to Israel. They landed in Tel Aviv around 7pm on a Friday night, and got to their hotel about 8:30. After they checked in, they walked down to the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Prayer For Unity Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 7, 2014

As we pray for the unity of the body of Christ, pray for power, for love, and for the fullness of God Himself.

At a wedding rehearsal in Concord, California, the pastor was explaining the symbolism of the unity candle. “After the middle candle is lit,” he said, “blowing out the two side candles means the two become one.” “Oh,” someone in the wedding party exclaimed. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Is Christianity Reasonable? Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 17, 2014

The question of whether Christianity is reasonable all depends on what answer you're looking for. What answers does the world seek and what is it about the answer the cross gives that is better than what many folks want?

OPEN: I once read about a dishonest manager who was wanting to hire someone for his accounting department who thought like he did. He ended up with 3 applicants for the job and he proceeded to interview them the next day. The first applicant came in and sat at the desk and he and the manager ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sending Out The Twelve

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Sep 13, 2014

Sending Out The Twelve (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: (1). The Messengers (vs 1-4) (2). The Assignment (vs 5-6) (3). The Directives (vs 7-15) SERMON BODY: Ill: Hold up a can of Coke. The inventor: • Coca-Cola is one product that has far outgrown its humble beginnings. • It was invented by Dr. John ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-15

Denomination: Brethren

The Trial Of The Ages

Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Mar 24, 2019

A sermon examining the injustice of Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin.

THE TRIAL OF THE AGES MARK 14:53-65 If you are old enough, you probably remember where you were on June 17th, 1994. If you turned your T.V on that afternoon you likely witnessed the infamous police chase involving a white Ford Bronco driven by A.C Cowlings. In that vehicle was an O.J Simpson, a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:53-65

Denomination: Baptist

Leading Under Fire Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Aug 5, 2011

If we want to be effective leaders under fire, then we must be spiritually mature shepherds and overseers, who serve as willing, eager examples for others to follow.

Stuart Briscoe, in his book Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People, tells the story about a fellow pastor who was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The dead man's military friends wanted to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested that the pastor lead them ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Life Of The Party Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 16, 2023

If you want to be fully alive, invite Jesus into your life, turn to Him for help, and do whatever he tells you to do. Then have a good time!

While teaching at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Tony Campolo once turned an ordinary lecture into an unforgettable lesson. He asked an unsuspecting student sitting in the front row, “Young man, how long have you lived?” The student answered his age. Tony responded, “No, no, no. That's how ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, John 10:10, Matthew 5:44, John 1:17

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Devoted To The Apostles' Teaching

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 10, 2023

When the church first began, those first disciples of Jesus devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings. The New Testament contains the apostles' teaching and as followers of Jesus today, we must also devote ourselves to the apostles' teaching.

A. The Bible says that the early church “devoted themselves…” to a number of things. (NIV) 1. Some of the other translations express the phrase “devoted themselves” slightly differently. a. KJV: And they continued steadfastly b. NASV: They were continually devoting themselves 2. Their ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Trinity - What The Early Church Believed Series

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Oct 2, 2001

This study looks at the writings of the church prior to the first church council. Beginning at the apostles and those they discipled, we can see what the church believed from the beginning.

What the early church believed In Part 1 we set the stage for the council. We looked at the fact that these men were Christians who suffered for their faith. Just 14 years earlier, they came out of the last great Roman persecution. They resisted against the attacks from outside the church at the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19, Matthew 24:23-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Of The New Testament - Part 7f Series

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Apr 3, 2018

Part 7f of this series of sermons addresses the function of leadership and overseeing the church as shown in the New Testament by various names - elders, pastors, bishops, overseers, presbyters, and shepherds.

This 13-part series of classes has been many years in the making. About 25 years ago I began in earnest to examine the features, character and characteristics of the church as it existed in its earliest years. As I sometimes do, I kept my notes all along the way, and this series of classes is to a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-13, Acts 1:15-26, Acts 6:1-6, Acts 20:28-31, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:2-7, 1 Timothy 1:3-7  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ