Sermons on Announcement:

Church Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 18, 2009

What is the purpose of the church? It’s 3 fold: • To magnify the Lord thru worship and the Word. • To move believers to maturity and ministry. • To make Jesus known to our neighbors and the nations. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint

Church Ephesians 3:1-5 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Church.html Now we enter the church age, the “Dispensation of Grace.” What is a dispensation? It is a time period. In the Bible it is a specific period of time during which God administers His rule over the world in a certain way. And over ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Invisible Man

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 27, 2009

As Ralph Ellison helped us see racism as one group treating another as invisible, so today we need to discern who is invisible to us; and we need to see how Jesus is invisible to many until He is connected to the culture and until we make Him visible.

"I am an invisible man." Those words, pecked out on an old typewriter one night in the Vermont hills, began a literary work of unparalleled beauty and power. Ralph Waldo Ellison; encouraged to make music and to write by his father; inspired by the civil rights activism of his mother, began to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Mother's Day: Mary

Contributed by Scott Bayles on May 13, 2009

This is a Mother’s Day message that focuses on Mary. It’s alliterated and expository. PowerPoint and video clip available, just e-mail me.

MOTHER’S DAY: MARY Scott Bayles, pastor First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL Today is a special day because we can come together like this as a family for two primary reasons. One is to honor our Lord Jesus Christ. The other is to honor our mothers. Both are lifetime tasks and neither can be ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Preaching: Antiquated Or Mandated?

Contributed by Matthew Grise on May 14, 2009

2 Timothy 4:1-5. The necessity of preaching the word of God is seen in the ministry of Timothy.

PREACHING: ANTIQUATED OR MANDATED? 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5 INTRODUCTION - Every Sunday morning, millions of people around the world gather together in buildings, huts, houses, or whatever else provides an acceptable meeting place, for the purpose of worshiping Jesus Christ, a man who claimed to be God, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Of Grace Continues Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Mar 27, 2009

sermon 3 in Galatians series

The Gospel of Grace continues… (Galatians 3:1-25) You are saved by grace through faith By faith we accept Jesus death on the Cross (Galatians 3:1) By faith we receive the Spirit (Galatians 3:2) You grow by grace through faith (Galatians 3:3-25) By grace through faith we receive blessings ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spring Into Action

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 29, 2009

Our text tells us that we must "spring" into action for our faith to be meaningful. 1- Be quick to listen 2- Be slow to speak 3- Be slow to anger 4- Be quick to rid 5- Be quick to act

INTRO.- ILL.- On July 2, 1982, Larry Walters, a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective. He went down to the local army surplus store one morning and bought forty-five used weather balloons. That afternoon he strapped himself into a lawn chair, to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Abraham: Justified By Faith Or By Works? Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Apr 22, 2005

Paul turns to Abraham to show that he too was justified before God by faith and not by works.

Scripture When asked about Christianity, actress Sophia Loren was reported as saying several years ago in the USA Today, “I’m not a practicant, but I pray. I read the Bible. It’s the most beautiful book ever written. I should go to heaven; otherwise it’s not nice. I haven’t done anything wrong. My ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:6-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Get Ready For That Day Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Dec 30, 2004

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS (Part 1) As certainly as Jesus came the first time let there be no doubt HE WILL COME AGAIN! The same scriptures which told of His birth also boldly proclaim His Second Coming. Jesus’ first coming some 2,000

INTRODUCTION: Thanksgiving has come and gone. In case you haven’t noticed “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” Of course I think it’s been that way for a long time at the mall; retailers give a whole new meaning to “Christmas in July.” The stores have been ready for Christmas for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Assembly Of God

God Reconciles The World To Himself Through Christ

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Jun 28, 2002

PENTECOST 5(B) - June 23, 2002 - As God is reconciling the world to himself through Christ: This is God’s message to the world and our ministry into the world.

GOD WAS RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 - June 23, 2002 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-21 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:14-21

Denomination: Lutheran

Avoiding Spiritual Amnesia Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 27, 2004

Knowing the Bible helps us remember how to navigate through life issues, how to interpret what is happening in our lives, and how to find hope in bleak times.

At the very end of the longest chapter of the Bible, 176 verses about God’s word, comes this stout declaration, “I do not forget your commandments.” “I do not forget your commandments.” That is a tall order, to promise that you will not forget. How can you promise that you will not forget? ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:167-176

Denomination: Baptist

"The Walk Of Peace" Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Apr 23, 2004

We are not called to be peacekeepers, but peacemakers. (#20 in The Christian Victor series)

“…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…” The footwear of the Roman soldier was of special design. It was a sandal; more specifically, a thick leather sole that was held on by straps. It was also studded on the bottom so the Soldier could better keep his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:15

Denomination: Orthodox

Hell? Yes, It's Real!

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on May 24, 2005

Hell is the eternal destination for those who have not placed their faith in Jesus.

Hell? Yes, it’s real! Luke 16.19-31 NASB April 24, 2005 Chester FBC, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker Introduction: A Daniel Meyers speaks about a book written by a cardiologist at the University of Tennessee that corroborates an important aspect of the biblical ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Applause Of Christmas

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Dec 22, 2004

Ultimately, the birth of Jesus is about who gets glory. Glory to God!

We haven’t spent too much time thinking about the way things were in the world when Jesus was born. I listened to a talk by speaker Rob Bell this week and I started thinking about what the world was like when Jesus was born. Look at Luke 2:1. In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:14

Denomination: Baptist

Narnia: Encounter The Power Of The Wardrobe Series

Contributed by Chris Regas on Dec 14, 2005

Advent Lessons based on the release of the movie: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent ~ 1) On the FIRST SUNDAY we ENCOUNTERED THE POWER OF THE LION and saw that the Lion of Judah who was PREDICTED in the OT is also Lamb of God who was slain for our sins! As we light the PROMISE CANDLE we are reminded that Jesus is NOT SAFE – BUT HE IS GOOD – AND ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Clearing The Air: Misconceptions About Salvation Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on May 9, 2008

There are many misconceptions about salvation. Many people are confused with the how and who of salvation.

Clearing the Air: Common Misconceptions About Salvation Introduction: I heard about an 83 year old man the other day who had lived his entire life as a bachelor. One day this man gathered his four nephews and announced that he was planning to be married. His nephews were in shock. One spoke up and ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ