Sermons on Always Near:

Running From Your Baptism

Contributed by Carla Powell on Mar 2, 2002

Exploration of traditions of adult/infant baptism, and discussion of how we respond to our baptism. Do we run from it? Or do we turn toward God who is always turning toward us?

Baptism of our Lord (A), January 13, 2002 "Running from Your Baptism" Today we hear about Jesus’ baptism as an adult. This baptism was the beginning of his official ministry, sort of his inauguration or commissioning as it were. John was baptizing people at the Jordan River as a symbol of washing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Lutheran

A Closer Look At Faith Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Feb 23, 2004

We always need to be advancing and growing in our faith, but we cannot do anything without faith. Today all things have to make sense and it is not easy to trust God, but faith can move mountains.

“A Closer Look: Faith” Introduction: We live in a world in which it is hard to have faith. People expect everything to make sense logically and faith very rarely fits into people’s equations. We as the church are supposed to be based and founded on faith. Faith is what keeps us going and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A New Year A New You Part I

Contributed by Chris Carroll on Jan 14, 2008

New Years is always the perfect opportunity for us to reflect on the past to recommit to the present and to plan for the future. The great intellectual giant Socrates once said “an unexamined life is not worth living.” And so at the end of 2007 and the

A New Year, A New You. Part I Well Christmas came upon us so fast and now it has passed. And now comes the season of Deck the Halls with piles and piles of bills to help us remember what we did this Christmas season. Maybe you heard the story of the young college student and she came running in ...read more

Scripture: James 4:14

Denomination: Baptist

Clearing The Landscape (Lesson 3 In Revival Series) Series

Contributed by Glenn Newton on Jan 24, 2008

Before a building project begins, there is always the process of clearing the landscape. You wouldn’t want to lay a foundation on land with debris, would you? In the process of building towards revival, what debris is on your landscape?

• Throwing things away is not my strong point. My wife and my mother can attest to this. I remember when I was a teenager Mom used to come in my room and ask, "Glenn, are you in there?" Of course she was being sarcastic (At least I think she was). • When we moved I decided I would throw away ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 23:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living A Godly Life In An Ungodly World

Contributed by James Julian on Sep 23, 2004

Our decision to live for Christ and mature in Him was never promised to us as an easy job. There will always be things (and people) in life who will try to ruin our testimony or prevent us from "running the race."

JOHN 8:1-11 LIVING A GODLY LIFE IS TROUBLESOME BECAUSE OF THE WORLD WE LIVE IN (v.1-6) -world will attack your beliefs -world will attack you -because of the world, we need EACH OTHER (event was not about the woman or her sin... the used her to try and trap JESUS LIVING A GODLY ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Forcing Ourselves On God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 14, 2007

There’s only one way to get to heaven... but people always seem to be trying to force God to do things their way. What types of things do people do to force their will on God’s Word?

OPEN: A school teacher injured his back and had to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. It fit under his shirt and was not noticeable at all. On the first day of the term, still with the cast under his shirt, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in school. Walking ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:16-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

All For One And One For All

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Mar 7, 2007

We Christians are on the same side. We serve the same God. We fight the same enemy. Yet, we can’t always get along because of what Charles Swindoll calls the "Me Mentality".

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL (Gleaned from writings by Charles Swindoll) A. Philippians 2:1-11 (READ) B. One lesson that should be SCREAMING out at us from Paul’s description of the church as being the “BODY OF CHRIST,” is that WE are to be UNITED--WE are in this TOGETHER! 1. Not too many years ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Samson: Sidelined By Sin; Pt. 2 By Dr. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Aug 4, 2004

If you want to know where your life is headed then take a look at those you associate with. Samson ignored the warning signs. The cost of low living is always high, let’s see why.

Introduction More often than not, many are so short sighted in their walk with the Lord that they are looking only as far as their next fleshly pleasure. The cost of low living is high! We have the best example of this in the life of Samson. He failed to heed the warning signs. He could of ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:7

Denomination: Baptist

How God Deals With Rebellion

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 19, 2004

The marvel of God’s Word is the fact that it is always relevant to the needs of people, regardless of the time in which they live. Jonah is a book that is one of the most relevant books in the Bible for the present time. It speaks to us the twenty-fir

The Book of Jonah Introduction The marvel of God’s Word is the fact that it is always relevant to the needs of people, regardless of the time in which they live. I want us to turn our attention this afternoon to the book of Jonah. A book that is one of the most relevant books in the Bible for ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Semper Paratus Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 2, 2007

The inbreak of God, whether now or in the day of His return, is both judgment and blessing. But if we are always prepared, we can handle the judgment without being destroyed and can receive blessings even though disguised.

If we prepare, we can handle just about anything. Preparation allows us to handle both negatives and positives. If we are ready, we can take the negatives and deal with the blows that fall on us. And if we are ready, we can also enjoy the positives and receive the blessings. When I was growing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Baptist

The Horrors Of Hell

Contributed by Mark Roper on Nov 20, 2007

Hell is filled with people we love, and our neighbors and friends, who give to Charities, always there to lend a helping hand, people who we would say were GOOD people if they were judged by their works!

The Horrors of Hell Luke 16:19-31 As beautiful as Heaven is! That is how Horrifying HELL is! The Horror of HELL is NOT only for those who are the Mass murderers, or Hitler, or the really EVIL of this world! But Hell is filled with people we love, and our neighbors and friends, who give ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Church Of God

Worship: How? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 4, 2003

Worship is done in many ways. But it must always have freshness and not mere form; it must be in community and not merely individual; it must have joy and not mere instruction at the bottom line; and it must spill into the streets, not confined to the sa

In your mind’s eye, take a tour with me. In your imagination, let’s go into some very special rooms. First, we go to a spacious room, dark, slightly musty, with nooks and crannies in which you could hide if you wanted to. And, indeed, in this room, there are a number of people who appear to be ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 149:1-9, 2 Chronicles 15:12

Denomination: Baptist

You Will Bear A Son

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Dec 19, 2002

It is immaterial how old a person is, how shattered, how poor or rich; no one is locked up in the past. One could always and everywhere follow the voice of his or her angel and start a new life.

Jim’s parents regarded him as dull and unintelligent. He performed poorly in his studies. His bad performance in the school confirmed the opinion of his parents. During a summer camp, he learned to play chess and defeated all his campmates. In a declamation contest, he stood first. There Jim ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Catholic

Seven Sacred Solitaires

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Sep 17, 2003

Paul lists seven wonderful truths declaring that each is “one of a kind”. The whole body of our Christian doctrine is embodied in these seven sacred pillars. In each of the supporting scriptural references the subject is always referred to in the singul

SEVEN SACRED SOLITAIRES "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:4-6 (NKJV) Paul lists seven wonderful truths declaring that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6

Denomination: Baptist

What Are You Up To Now

Contributed by Craig Hale on Sep 26, 2003

Forgiveness is God’s precious gift. We may at times think that we wont be forgiven, but no matter what we do He will always leave a light on and He takes us back with open arms.

Introduction: Hosea highlights the parallels between his relationship with Gomer and God’s relationship of Israel. Although Israel made a covenant with the one true God, she sought after other false gods. In the same way Hosea married Gomer knowing a haed of time she would leave him. Hosea ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist