Sermons on African Story:

Responding To God’s Leadership

Contributed by John Lowe on Aug 27, 2014

There are five human traits that can be seen in the interaction between the angel and Mary. They will help us understand what it means to respond to God’s leadership; they are listening, learning, questioning, submitting and affirming.

12-16-04 Title: Responding to God’s Leadership Text: “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38) Bible Reading: Luke 1:26-38, 41-45 Our message is found in the first chapter of Luke. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Ruth And Naomi

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 10, 2014

I believe Naomi must have learned something; that even in the midst of the greatest suffering and adversity; God is good, and kind, and full of mercy.

1-25-05 Title: Ruth and Naomi Theme: Messages from the Book of Ruth. Text: But Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth I: 16). ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Celebrate: What A Difference Easter Makes

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Mar 28, 2016

Christians have a reason to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, because it is the defining moment of Christianity.

Celebrate: What A Difference Easter Makes 3/27/2016 Luke 24:1-12 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Our video reminds us that the heart of Christianity is not on Good Friday, but on the Sunday that is coming. We all need Jesus Christ to die for our sins on the cross, but the resurrection of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Nicodemus' Choice

Contributed by Jamie Bogaard on Mar 30, 2016

Does Nicodemus believe Jesus is the Messiah. In this first person narrative listen to his story

Nicodemus Based Nicodemus encounters with Jesus in John 3, 7 & 19 This is a first person narrative. Feel free to get into costume. I simply came out in jeans, sweatshirt and baseball cap because I didn’t want to be recognized. Read this first – The Pharisee, Nicodemus, is mentioned ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Denomination: Friends

The Creation Psalm Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Dec 22, 2022

The creation account is not limited to Genesis. The purpose of Psalm 8 is to praise God for creating the heavens, but even more for creating man. The introduction says a Psalm of David upon the harp.

This Psalm is sometimes referred to as the creation story of Genesis set to music. It was a Psalm of David that emphasizes the greatness of God, the revealed greatness of God, the glory of God in creation. Psalm 8 is truly the astronomical Psalm. The Psalm is full of praising God. There is praise ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Strong Men (And Women Too)

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 31, 2004

For Black History Month; using the poetry of Sterling A. Brown, "Strong Men", to illuminate the African-American experience and to connect with Paul’s analysis of the source of strength.

Bill Cosby has a routine about little old ladies who stand around looking cool. He says that if you mess with one of these harmless-looking, gray-haired little old ladies, don’t imagine that you can take them on and win. Says Cosby, you ought never to mess with a little old lady standing around ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Snake That Saves Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Apr 2, 2023

The venom of the African black mamba is one of the deadliest poisons. Within minutes of a bite, the central nervous system begins to shut down culminating in convulsions, paralysis, and a suffocating death.

The venom of the African black mamba is one of the deadliest poisons. Within minutes of a bite, the central nervous system begins to shut down culminating in convulsions, paralysis, and a suffocating death. Researchers have discovered that this deadly venom also contains a potent painkiller known ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

The River Euphrates: Foolish Fashions Shrink Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 20, 2009

A great people learn to balance foolish pride and destructive shame, and learn to be themselves rather than selecting the worst habits of the majority. Cling to what has supported the African-American for years.

Those who have planned our observance of Black History Month this year selected the theme, "New Currents, Ancient Rivers". Many of you will recognize that the words, "Ancient Rivers" are drawn from a well-known poem by Langston Hughes. The phrase "New Currents, Ancient Rivers" suggests to me that ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 13:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Fighting Racism And Prejudice Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jul 18, 2021

Racism and prejudice are essentially pride in our accomplishments, in my family, and in my tribe. How do you get rid of this kind of prejudice against other classes of people and generations of people? You must humble yourself.

I was but a high school student when President Ronald Reagan gave one of the most famous Cold War speeches against the backdrop of the Berlin Wall. For those who may not know the story, the Berlin Wall was erected more than a decade after the conclusion of World War II in Berlin. Essentially the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

Go Back Up The Mountain

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jan 24, 2008

This is a personal message preached on Dr. king’s Sunday, in which I challenge us, especially African Americans as to recapture the dream by going back up the mountain to see the promised land.

Dr. King Reflections by Rick Gillespie- Mobley Go Back To The Mountaintop Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Ephesians 6:10-18 Martin Luther King Jr. was first and foremost a preacher of the gospel. Much of his imagery in his messages came from being grounded in the word of God. He uses a lot of the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Eulogy Douglas Thomas

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Feb 6, 2016

This is a eulogy for a Christian who loved his family, served his church, and invested himself in the lives of others. Doug was an African American, born in 1943 in a small town in West Va.

In May of 1943, the world was at war and freedom and justice was at stake. In Poland the Germans had crushed the last of the Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising killing thousands of Jews and sending the rest to the Triblinka concentration camp to die. Meanwhile in Alaska, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Black History Month: Don't Sit Down And Die, Get Up And Try!

Contributed by Wayne Solomon on Feb 3, 2020

Just as Moses and Jonah came out of the water with a message from God. The peoples of African descent came out of the waters on slave ships and have a message from God, for the World.

Don’t sit down and die but get up and try! 2 King 7:3 Why sit we here until we die? 2 Kings 6:24-30 and 7:1-16 24 And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:3, 2 Kings 6:24-30, 2 Kings 7:1-16

Denomination: Church Of God

The Loveliest Lynchee Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 4, 2001

The poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks, recently deceased African-American poet, illustrates how a commitment to justice begins with hope, turns to a sense of responsiblity, rises to act, but also acknowledges the depth of human sin.

The dateline was to be Little Rock, Arkansas, September 1957. The story was to be about the vicious hatred of a city whose people were resisting justice and terrifying school children. Little Rock, Arkansas, where Governor Orval Faubus had become the symbol of massive resistance, and where an ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-40

Denomination: Baptist

Palm Sunday - Almost!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 19, 2001

Pilate is not the only one who has played the game of "almost." Most of us have played that game, too.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK Revised: 2015) ILL. On the southern border of the empire of Cyrus, there lived a great chieftain named Cagular who tore to shreds & completely defeated the various detachments of Cyrus’ army sent to subdue him. Finally the emperor, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:13-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

White Unto Harvest Series

Contributed by Richard Mc Quinn on Feb 4, 2012

The Women at the Well served as an evangelist. Jesus loves all of us no matter who we are, what color we are and no matter with what traditions we were raised with.

WHITE UNTO HARVEST 2-5-12 New Liberty Christian Church, Veedersburg, IN with Rich McQuinn, Minister TEXT; JOHN 4:5-35 INTRODUCTION; We have just finished our Christmas celebrations and many folks are still paying on the presents that they bought for loved ones, In a number of weeks we will ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-35

Denomination: Christian Church