Sermons on An Unsuccessful Hunt:

If Children, Then Heirs

Contributed by Alan Smith on Aug 9, 2002

Because Christians are children of God, we have an inheritance to look forward to.

Introduction: The story is told of a young man who was in a movie theater. As the lights dimmed, and he was loaded down with popcorn, cokes and candy, he began to pace up and down the aisle, scanning all the darkened rows. It was obvious he was looking for the people with whom he had come. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Life Is Like A Baseball Game

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 19, 2002

The Cal Ripken Jr. World Series of baseball has invaded Mattoon, IL, and life is somewhat similar to a baseball game.

LIFE IS LIKE A BASEBALL GAME I Cor. 9:25 "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." INTRO.- ILL.- In the popular 1994 movie "Forrest Gump," Forrest with an IQ of 74 said, "Mama ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

First The Test Then The Miracle

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Sep 17, 2002

Revision Of An Earlier Sermon which deals with faith coming through trials and testing by looking at the prophet Elisha.

First The Test, Then The Miracle 7/04/2002 2 Kings 6:24-33 Matthew 14:22-34 There are a lot of people who want to see God do a miracle, but very few are volunteering to be in the circumstances which requires a miracle to take place. Many of us would like to walk on water, but don’t ask ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-34, 2 Kings 6:24-33

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Experiencing Joy While Experiencing Jail Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 27, 2003

Prayer is the most powerful weapon in your life, to meet life’s tests head-on. But for many it lies rusted and unused.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

2003 State Of The Church Address

Contributed by Clyde Grimes on Jan 28, 2003

This is a call to hear what God is doing and calling our particular church to be and do. I submit it as a sample of how one might go about communicating God’s vision to the congregation.

2003 State of the Church Address (Topical) I. God Is Doing a New Thing II. Based on His Eternal Plan III. To Move Us Toward Embracing Our True Identity IV. So, Where Do We Go from Here? A. A commitment to a corporate lifestyle of dependency B. A commitment to becoming healthy C. A commitment to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It Will Be Worth It All

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Dec 22, 2002

The joy of Christmas morning fades, but the joy of Christ’s second Advent will never diminish.

This week, I read an article in USA Today, in which various celebrities were asked to name their most memorable Christmas present. These were A-list celebrities; people with money and fame; people who can have pretty much anything they want. Catherine Zeta-Jones, for example. You may know her as ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Denomination: Baptist

The Challenge Of Criticism Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on Nov 21, 2005

One of the major landmines to seeing your vision fulfilled is handling criticism. This sermon explores the types of criticism Nehemiah faced, and a few keys to moving forward in the face of criticism.

We have been working together on bringing into focus the vision that God has for your life, and for our church. For Nehemiah, it was represented by a wall to be built around the city of Jerusalem. Hopefully, through our first month of exploration you have been able to start to understand the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-22

Denomination: Wesleyan

Failing Forward, Part 3 Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Nov 10, 2003

Do you feel God has placed you on a shelf because of something you’ve done? Never forget that you are serving the God, not only of a second chance, but countless chances.

For some of you, it was all you could do to even come here today. You failed over and over. You had such a bad week or month that you really didn’t even want to show up today. We sometimes want to give up because of · the regularity of our sin (“I just can’t seem to stop!”), · the reproach of ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Turning Points

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Feb 28, 2005

How can we be certain that we are ready to make the right decision when we unexpectedly find ourselves at a fork in the road?

6, February 2005 Dakota Community Church Turning Points Introduction: Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad? Who came to a sign at the fork of the road He looked one way and the other way too The Zoad had to make up his mind what to do - Well, the Zoad scratched his head, And his chin, and ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:11-16

Denomination: Mennonite

I Am Determined

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Oct 16, 2004

Jesus Christ set his face like a flint as He went toward Jerusalem for the final hours.

Luke 9:51 – “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,” l. INTRODUCTION – WILLIAM WILBERFORCE Before the slavery battle was fought in America, it was fought in England, where it was bloodless but it was also long ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51

Denomination: Pentecostal

Cracking The Da Vinci Code

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 22, 2004

The Da Vinci Code is one of the hotest novels on the market today, what should the church’s response be?

(I began this message with a clip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy discovers the Grail) Let’s start by saying that the Da Vinci code focuses on a subject that many of us know little about and that is the Holy Grail, as a matter of fact the sum total of most of our knowledge ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Denomination: Wesleyan

Love And Sacrifice, Part 4

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Mar 10, 2003

Ray Stedman tells about a boy who was in the army. He was a Christian and had formed the habit of praying beside his bed before he went to sleep. He kept up this practice in the army, but he became an object of mockery and ridicule to the entire barracks.

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: Ray Stedman tells about a boy who was in the army. He was a Christian and had formed the habit of praying beside his bed before he went to sleep. He kept up this practice in the army, but he became an object of mockery and ridicule to the entire barracks. One night ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

A Pattern For Faithful Living

Contributed by David Hicks on Nov 16, 2006

Looking at the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, we can learn from the pattern of those who have gone before how to live a life of faith.

A Pattern for Faithful Living Hebrews 11:8-19 Prop: Use a 2 liter bottle filled with water and oil. Shake it up. Some things in this life can never be mixed. Darkness and light, death and life; pride and humility, and faith and doubt cannot be mixed. You either have one or the other. Today I ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-19

Denomination: Holiness

How To Respond When Mistreated

Contributed by Greg Hanson on Apr 14, 2007

When a person mistreats you or performs evil against you, what is a positive way to respond? Why is it important that we respond this way?

Nineteenth century Russia was a nation in turmoil. But that was nothing new. The nation had actually been going through a period of unrest for a couple hundred years. But finally it seemed to be coming to a head. On the one hand, there was the Russian nobility who resisted any change. On the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Denomination: Wesleyan

12 Steps To God's Way Of Living – Part 5

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 27, 2006

Part 5 of a 6 part series on the 12 Steps as a Spiritual Discipline

(Slide 1) Last week was the Super Bowl and those who love the color of black and gold are rejoicing because their beloved Steelers are the champions! The half-time show was tame, (at least by Rolling Stones standards,) and I never thought I would see 60-year-old men rumble up and down a stage as ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18

Denomination: Church Of God