Sermons on A Sacrificial Heart:

What Is God Like? The Prodigal

Contributed by Jeffrey Samelson on Mar 23, 2004

The Parable of the Prodigal is not really about the younger son; Jesus told it to illustrate what God is like, not what sinners are like.

Fourth Sunday in Lent — March 21, 2004 Christ Lutheran Church, Columbia, MD Pastor Jeff Samelson Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 What Is God Like? The Prodigal R________ (Rejected) R________ (Running) R________ (Restoring) W ________ (Waiting) prod·i·gal adj 1. recklessly extravagant, spendthrift 2. giving ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Luke 15:1-3

Denomination: Lutheran

Hill Religion

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Apr 2, 2004

This message challenges the faithful to take seriously faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone but looking past certain Hills that are in view.

My Friends, WE NEED TO TALK! I want to highlight this headline in our little chat. I want to discuss with you: “HILL RELIGION.” The Text I have tagged and targeted for teaching is Psalms 121:1-2. It reads in the New King James Version: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills- From whence comes my ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-2, Psalm 121:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Stills The Storm Series

Contributed by John Hamby on May 6, 2004

Twelfth in a series on "The Miracles of Jesus"

The Miracles of Jesus Miracle # 12 “Jesus Stills the Storm” (Mark 4:35-41, Matt 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25) In 1976 Gordon Lightfoot recorded a haunting ballad entitled “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” [1976, Moose Music, Ltd.] The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Analysis Of Confusion

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on May 7, 2004

God does not sustain what He has not ordained so all the lack of intimacy with God is a symptom of confusion.

There is a powerful spirit known as the spirit of confusion, and because it is sometimes neglected and nobody prays seriously against it, gives room to have many confused women and men in the market square of life. Some just find themselves in the world, with no good idea of what they come to do. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 48:13-18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Schism With The Scribes And Factions With The Family

Contributed by Michael Bird on Jul 13, 2002

This sermon describes the opposition Jesus faced from both his own family and from the Scribes. It attempts to highlight how Christians today can face similar accounts of rejection by both the world and from family.

Schisms with the Scribes and Factions in the Family Introduction I would like set before you a couple of stories in order to illuminate the background to this passage. Scene 1: A Carpenter Shop in Nazareth The road for Sepphoris to Nazareth consisted mostly of rolling hillsides. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:20-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What The Church Should Be

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jul 13, 2002

The apostle Paul describes what the church should be in the book of I Thessalonians.

WHAT THE CHURCH SHOULD BE INTRO.- ILL.- The sermon was longer than usual on this particular Sunday morning. Little Johnny was getting more restless by the minute. Finally, in what was supposed to be a whisper, Johnny blurted out, "IF WE GIVE HIM THE MONEY NOW WILL HE LET US LEAVE!" ILL.- That’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Facing Opposition Series

Contributed by Robert Robb on Jul 22, 2002

Further opposition to be faced before the inheritance is gained

Study 13 Chapter 10&11 Introduction I suppose, like me, many of you have turned your hand to a little bit of decorating at some time or another. Maybe you decided it was about time that your living room was freshened up a bit and so you got your tins of paint, your emulsion for the ceiling and ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When You're At The End Of Your Rope

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

Elijah and the widow teach us what to do when everything is going wrong.

Introduction: The story is told of a man who was walking across the road when he was hit by a car. The impact knocked him on his head which caused him to be in a coma for a couple of days before he finally regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes, his loving wife was there beside his bed ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Faith Of The Doubter

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

We know Thomas as "the Doubter," but he had great faith.

Introduction: When I watch movies, I find myself asking, "Is that a good guy or a bad guy?" You see, Hollywood generally portrays its characters as either good guys or bad guys, and you have to understand which character is which if you’re going to understand the story line. The good guys ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Plan For A Healthy Church Series

Contributed by Dale Johnsen on Aug 22, 2002

God uses the local church to grow baby Christians into mature Christians.

God has designed His church to function like a loving family that you can invite people into. Church is not a place to issue edicts; church is a place to nurture growth. Church is a place for shepherds, not generals. Church is a place that exists for the purpose of helping people grow and mature ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Looking For A City

Contributed by Stephan Brown on Aug 26, 2002

Shows how we who are called to follow Christ can and should treat this world as temporary. A lot of illustrations in this sermon.

“Looking for a City…” Hebrews 11:8-10 Hebrews 11:8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. God called Abraham to leave his home, to leave everything he knew, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:18-20, Hebrews 11:8-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Community Of Grace

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Aug 30, 2002

We are called to live in and develop a community of grace

Romans 12:9-21 – A Community of Grace The Soap Maker • A minister and a soap maker went for a walk together. The soap maker said, "what good is Christianity? Look at all the trouble and misery of the world! Still there, even after years--thousands of years--of teaching about goodness and truth and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Christian Church

Family Troubles: How Did I Get In This Pit?

Contributed by Chris Talton on Jan 22, 2002

Our natural tendency when we get into a problem is to blame other people. Joseph could’ve blamed others for his problems, but he chose not to.

Genesis 37 October 24, 1999 Family troubles: How did I get in this pit? INTRODUCTION Have you ever asked yourself this question: “How in the world did I get in this mess?” Maybe the mess that you find yourself in is your marriage. You fight constantly, you never seem to see things from one ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-36

Denomination: Baptist

Communicating Christ Effectively

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 4, 2002

Paul had four qualities that enabled him to effectively communicate Christ which we also need.

COMMUNICATING CHRIST EFFECTIVELY Acts 17:16-34 INTRO.- ILL.- A stranger entered the church in the middle of the sermon and seated himself in the back pew. After a while he began to fidget. Leaning over to a white-haired man at his side, evidently an old member of the congregation, he whispered: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"God Speaking"

Contributed by Steven Kellett on Mar 10, 2002

Ananias hears God’s call - how he recognizes and reacts to God’s instructions.

10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:10-19

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance