Sermons on Admiration:

Success Is Never About Defeating Giants [*]

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 2, 2024

Fighting and winning one battle does not define your life, any more than fighting and losing one battle defines who you are.

1 SAMUEL 17:34-37 SUCCESS IS NEVER ABOUT DEFEATING GIANTS “David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:34-37

Denomination: Baptist

The Rabble Among Us

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 23, 2023

Association with a church does not translate to identification with Christ.

“The rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:4-6

Denomination: Baptist

Being Light Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Aug 14, 2023

The Beatitudes teach the qualities that God works in the character of Christ's disciples. Then in Matthew 5:13-16 the emphasis turns to the influence Christians are to have in the world around them. The point of our text is that we let our light shine.

Intro Immediately following the Beatitudes, Jesus uses two metaphors to declare the task given to his followers in the world. Those two metaphors are salt and light. We have examined the first one. Now we want to learn from the second metaphor, light. Our text today is Matt 5:14-16: "You are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-16, Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:27-29, 2 Timothy 4:7, John 1:1-9, 1 John 1:1-9, Matthew 28:19-20, John 13:34-35, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 19:10, John 12:46  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Just Ring The Bell!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Apr 1, 2022

You can quit the struggle to finish the course. If you do, the impact of your life will be insignificant. If you stand firm, the impact of what you do now for Christ will yield eternal results.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” [1] Becoming a United States Navy Seal is arguably among the most difficult ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiveness For The Foremost Sinner

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 21, 2022

Can God forgive you of the worst sin you've ever committed? The message explores the grace of God, not to excuse our sin, but to encourage us to look to God for grace as we turn from our sin to walk with Him.

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

What Kind Of Person Do You Want To Be? (James 1:1-12) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on May 19, 2022

James encourages us to be all-in for God, responding "in faith" to testings, and steadfastly live in faithfulness toward God and people.

Who do you want to be? (James 1:1-12) Today, we begin a new series on the letter of James. The sort of weird thing about teaching on James, from my perspective, is that I've done this before. Maybe 10 years ago, I preached through James in two little churches in Kulm and Medina. I'm ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Jesus "i Am" The Good Shepherd! Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 25, 2021

: Jesus is the Good Shepherd because he laid down his life to save the sheep. He lead’s the sheep to safety, security, pasture and the good life but not to slaughter or harm. Jesus guards, encourages, supports and protects His sheep because He loves them.

I am playing these videos to get your mindset focused on Shepherding – agriculture lifestyles – a common sight in the time and teaching of Jesus – not so much today – as a matter of fact you would be hard pressed to find many sheep farms in this area of Illinois! Opening Video Transition (2 ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-42, John 10:11, John 10:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Be Afraid To Wear The Coat - Genesis 37:1-4 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Jul 25, 2021

God gave him dreams and as these dreams kind of guided him in the beginning, later on he gets thrown in a cistern and he’s taken off to Egypt.

Well I’m excited today because today we get to start the story of Joseph. Now the story of Joseph is a story that takes up a quarter of the book of Genesis from chapter 37 all the way to the end. More than a quarter of the whole book. So we’re going to spend some time learning about Joseph. We ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A No Win Situation

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Aug 24, 2018

A study in the book of 2 Samuel 2: 1 – 32

2 Samuel 2: 1 – 32 A no win situation 2 It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 2:1

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

David, A Hero Who Defeated His Giant Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Sep 25, 2018

As we unpack the very familiar story of David defeating the giant Goliath - we will uncover several keys that will enable us to defeat the giants in our life as well.

David, A Hero Who Defeated His Giant #heroes Hebrews 12:1 says, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. UNDERSTAND – that is ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Life’s Ups And Downs - Part 3 Of 3 Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 27, 2019

The Lord is close to all that call upon Him in sincerity, and is abundantly generous to them, and has promised to help and save them.

17 Let me not be ashamed , O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed , and let them be silent in the grave. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord The petition is the same as in verse 1; “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.” ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

You Did Good, But

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Oct 25, 2018

A study in the book of 2 Kings 10: 1 – 36

2 Kings 10: 1 – 36 You did good, but 10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who reared Ahab’s sons, saying: 2 Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 10:1

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

On The Death Of Heroes

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 9, 2019

The message is a call for men to be manly, despite knowing the cost that may be required of a man.

“David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said: “‘Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:17-27

Denomination: Baptist

Against The Tide: Pushing Back Against The Moral Climate

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 18, 2012

Christians are called to be holy. However, we are not always certain what it means to be holy or how to achieve that status.

1 PETER 1:13-25 AGAINST THE TIDE (PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE MORAL CLIMATE) “Preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25

Denomination: Baptist

Vida En El Pacto: Los Súbditos Del Pacto

Contributed by Wilbur Madera Rivas on Jan 14, 2023

El pacto provee a los súbditos identidad, historia y estilo de vida.

Algunos de nosotros un día, hace poco o hace mucho, dijimos ante una pregunta expresa de que si aceptábamos, respondimos: “Sí acepto”. Ese día estábamos haciendo un pacto que originalmente es de por vida. Quizá ese día no entendíamos a qué nos ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:5-9, 1 Peter 2:9-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed