Sermons on Ark Of God:

Get A Life- / Group

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 5, 2000

This sermon was preached to introduce our LIFE Groups to the congregation

They were the ultimate church plant. They started with 11, grew to 120, then to 3000. Not bad, as a matter of fact very good. But how did they do it? I guess that question has to be asked by anyone who is even remotely interested in church growth. What was the secret that they had that allowed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Wesleyan

Be An Encourager

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Dec 14, 2000

All Christians need to encourage one another.

BE AN ENCOURAGER Heb. 10:25 “Let us not give us meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” INTRO.- ILL.- Chuck Swindoll in his book Growing Deep in the Christian Life tells about a man getting ready to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25, Acts 4:36-37

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church Growth: To Be Or Not To Be

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 11, 2002

What hinders churches from growing and what causes them to grow?

CHURCH GROWTH: To be or not to be Acts 2:36-41 INTRO.- ILL.- It was their 13th wedding anniversary. The husband was away at a meeting on their special day. He called a florist to send a bouquet of 13 helium balloons with a message of gratitude for the heights to which his wife had inspired ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Outrageous Attitudes Series

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Jan 7, 2002

When personally wronged or injured, respond with an outrageous attitude.

May 20, 2001 Relationships in the Kingdom – Part 5 INTRODUCTION Alexander Dumas’ book, The Count of Monte Cristo, has to be one of the most captivating novels ever written. I first read it when I was in high school. The primary character, Edmond Dantes, is a handsome young man with a promising ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Rude Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 13, 2004

David, Pt. 6 of 15

HOW RUDE (1 SAMUEL 25) Public Agenda, a non-profit group, interviewed more than 2,000 people in its study on civility and manners called “Aggravating Circumstances: A Status Report on Rudeness in America.” The group revealed that eight in 10 Americans said a lack of respect and courtesy is a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 25:1-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

The Labor Of Love Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Apr 27, 2005

Bible Couples, Pt. 4 "Jacob and Rachel"

THE LABOR OF LOVE (GENESIS 29:9-35) One of the best quotes on love I know of comes from Liz Carpenter. She said, “Love is a moment and a lifetime. It is looking at him across a room and feeling that if I don’t send the rest of my life with him, I’ll have missed the boat.” More than 66 percent of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:9-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Legions Lost, Language Loosed Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 9, 2008

If we are captured by a demonic past, then we will try to break our chains and will seem to succeed. But the old demons come back to haunt us, for we have not yet turned to the One who gives permission to send them away.

She drifted into my office on a stormy afternoon, much like those we’ve just gone through. She had no appointment, nor did she even ask if I had time to talk. She just drifted in and hovered over my desk, tears in her eyes, lip quivering. I invited her to sit down and tell me what was wrong. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

How Rude

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 28, 2008

David, Pt. 6

HOW RUDE (1 SAMUEL 25) Public Agenda, a non-profit group, interviewed more than 2,000 people in its study on civility and manners called “Aggravating Circumstances: A Status Report on Rudeness in America.” The group revealed that eight in 10 Americans said a lack of respect and courtesy is a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 25:1-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Triumphant King

Contributed by Brien Sims on Jul 3, 2008

Victory in Jesus through hard times.

With all the bad weather, I can’t imagine that I am the only one who has driven on ice. It can be incredibly frightening to hit a patch of ice. Why? Because you lose control of the car and slide, spin, and even crash into other people and objects. I remember clearly on Tuesday, February 19th, Amy ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Barabbas' Baneful Biography Banished Briskly Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Jul 31, 2007

It is impossible to study the Easter Story without studying Barabas. However, this interesting character deserves careful study on his own. He was all the Bible said he was and more, yet, he serves as a type of every sinner who is set free because Christ

MARK 15:6-15 BARABBAS’ BANEFUL BIOGRAPHY BANISHED BRISKLY I. THE BIOGRAPHY: A. Bitterness. B. Brutality. C. Bonds. II. THE BIZARRNESS: A. Bartering. B. Balancing. C. Biasness. III. THE BLESSINGS: A. Blameless. B. Beginning. C. Beholding. Barabbas has to be the most fortunate ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:6-15

Denomination: Methodist

The Last 42 Months Series

Contributed by Amy Bickel on Aug 8, 2008

Part 16 of a series on the prophecies found in the book of Daniel. Study on Chapter 12.

The Prophecies of Daniel Part 16: The Last 42 Months (Daniel 12) We are now sixteen weeks into our studies on the prophecies found in the Old Testament book of Daniel. We have gone further and covered so much more then I ever thought we would when we started this series back in January. I don’t ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Will You Wait With Me?

Contributed by Jerry Wood on Apr 22, 2008

A first person account of the final week of Jesus from the entrance into Jerusalem through the crucifixion as told by a follower of Jesus.

(Simon comes out through door at back of sanctuary. Sort of stumbling about as though he has just awakened. Walks to the front and drinks some water then turns and is startled.) Oh My! I’m sorry I didn’t realize anyone had come in. A thousand pardons for my rudeness but I had fallen asleep in ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Are You Kidding... Turn The Other Cheek? Series

Contributed by Monty Newton on Feb 26, 2011

We make Christ known by the way we respond to our adversaries.

Title: Are You Kidding… Turn the Other Cheek? Text: Matthew 5:38-48 Thesis: We make Christ known by the way we respond to our adversaries. Epiphany Series: Encountering Christ in Epiphany • On the Seventy Sunday after Epiphany Jesus teaches his followers that one of the ways we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Discover The 12 Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 23, 2011

This message looks at the 12 Apostles, how they lived and how they died.

Discover the 12 What a group. In another time and another place they would have killed one another or at least inflicted grave injury on each other. We know some of their stories and others we only know by name. But we do know who they were and even if we can’t name them all we can name ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:16-19

Denomination: Wesleyan