Sermons on Asserting Self:

When Life Turns Sour Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 15, 2009

When life turns sour, tell yourself the truth, complain to God, and He will deliver. Message focuses on Dylan Thomas’ poem, "Do not go gentle into that good night; rage, rage against the dying of the light."

On a warm spring evening in 1952, at his home in Swansea in Wales, David John Thomas lay on his deathbed. Once a soldier who had fought in the Second World War, later an English teacher, Thomas had become very frail in his later years. There was no doubt that he would die soon. There was no ...read more

Scripture: Job 10:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

When God Wrestles With Family Tensions

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 16, 2009

We use avoidance, anger, anxiety, and aloneness to manage family tensions. We even use self-centered prayer. But when we let God wrestle with us, we are changed and we accept vulnerability in family life.

The most critical issue in family life is not anger or argument. It is avoidance. What plagues most families is not that they are embroiled in fighting or torn by argument. What destroys families is that people drift apart from one another; they avoid one another. You see, if you fight with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Robbed By Relationships Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on May 17, 2009

Discusses how seeking fulfillment in human relationships can rob us of our identity in who God created us to be and talks about how we can have our identity restored and protected.

Identity Theft Is your Identity at Risk of being… Robbed by Relationships We risk Identity Theft when we… …Seek fulfillment through Human relationships We recover and protect ourselves from Identity theft when we… …Enter a relationship with Jesus Christ …Forgive those in relationships who have ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Secrets To God's Blessings

Contributed by Paul Fritz on May 12, 2005

Many people needlessly spend too much effort worrying, working and wrestling with things without the blessings of God. In nine points Haggai’s message to the people taught them how to get their priorities straight. He gave them a word from God that rever

Secrets to God’s Blessings (Haggai 1:1-3:23) Many people needlessly spend too much effort worrying, working and wrestling with things without the blessings of God. Haggai’s message to the people taught them how to get their priorities straight. He gave them a word from God that reversed their ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 3:23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Am I Series

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Apr 16, 2009

Who are we as Christians?

Topical March 22nd, 2009 Who Am I? A wise man once told me: there are two kinds of people in this world; the people who liked high school and the people who hated it, and generally the people who hated it did so because of the people who liked it. This statement resonated with my life because I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27

Denomination: *other

Answers, Not Appeasement

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 19, 2010

When our needs are real, we want genuine answers, not just appeasements. Look to self-esteem, look to the resources already present, and look to the Lord of victory for real answers.

When you need something, and you ask for it, what do you expect? Do you expect an answer or an appeasement? Do you expect a clear-cut, usable answer to your request, or are you satisfied if you are just told, well, have a nice day? When you need something, and you ask for it, which really satisfies ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 17:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Life Of Discipline Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Mar 9, 2010

The empty tomb means that we are freed from the power of sin over our lives and we can live the kind of lives God originally intended right now in the present.

A Life of Discipline: Lent week 3 March 7, 2010 Intro: The season of Lent can sometimes feel like the opposite of the season of Advent, don’t you think? Advent, our preparation for Christmas, seems to be full of excitement and anticipation and joy and merriness, as we prepare to gather ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Fearing Fear

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 15, 2010

Delivered 1986. Fear is often a self-fulfilling prophecy, based on our image of a vengeful God. But challenging God is faith-filled, and His response is Jesus, who experiences all that we experience.

The trouble with preparing sermons in a series that lasts several weeks is that I am never quite sure whether I am the only one who knows where we are in that series. I am never quite sure whether you see just four sermons, or maybe you only attend two of the four weeks, or whether you sit with ...read more

Scripture: Job 3:20-26

Denomination: Baptist

In And For The World

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 15, 2011

God calls us to follow the example He set in loving the world, not simply reproaching it; and it loving it with self-giving and the intent to redeem.

Initially preached at Central Baptist Church, Lexington, KY, June 9, 1968; subsequently, with minor variations, at Capton Baptist Church, Campton, KY, August 18, 1968; Reid Village Baptist Church, Mt. Sterling, KY, March 1, 1970; Campbellsville BSU Retreat, Sept. 1970; Berea BSU Missions Banquet, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Gluttony And Temperance Series

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 13, 2012

We can live in moderation or overindulge...which isn't about the stomache, but a matter of the heart.

Here are two headlines found on the front cover of a Family Circle magazine: “Ten Ways to Curb Your Cravings,” followed by “Irresistible Chocolate Desserts”…definitely mixed messages! A foreign visitor described America as a land where people are as big as houses, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-21

Denomination: Congregational

Why Aren't More Of Us Dying?

Contributed by Terry Frazier on Mar 10, 2012

The Church needs to learn to die to self more collectively but it begins on an individual basis first. Like Jesus said, "Not My Will But Your Will Be Done!

Why Aren’t More Of Us Dying? When you read the Title in the Bulletin this morning, did it make you think “what is the preacher going to preach about today”? I hope that he doesn’t want us to die! I want to tell you today that yes; I really do want all of you to die today. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26

Denomination: Baptist

A Different Drummer Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 13, 2012

Not much is said about self-denial and sacrifice in today's church and society, but it is central to the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Mark 8:31-38 “A Different Drummer” INTRODUCTION Selective hearing is a curious human phenomenon. We have the ability to hear only what we want to hear. Teenagers can hear the word “food,” but they have trouble hearing, “Do your homework,” or “Take ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Lutheran

Knowing Man: Seeing God;the Pure In Heart. Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 23, 2011

Who are the pure in heart and where do they see God? While we are at it why don’t all see God?

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the Pure in heart! Hi as you know we’ve been wandering through the beatitudes, well today’s beatitude or the blessing that Jesus talks about is “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.” There’s been an interesting discovery this week in the science world and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Denomination: Salvation Army

Choices Series

Contributed by Chris Mccall on Oct 21, 2011

As we see from our scriptures this morning, letting our flesh control us will lead us to choices that will produce death; letting the Spirit lead us will bring us life & peace.

“Choices” Romans 8:6-8 NLT There are a lot of things we try to get around & avoid in our life; but there is one that we will never escape. Choices will make a demand on our life as long as we are breathing. As we see from our scriptures this morning, letting our flesh control us will ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:6-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Selfcontrol: The Discipline Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 25, 2012

We are told that we are more than victorius through Christ. If that is so then why do so many Christ followers seem to have defeat and not victory. Because the only place victory comes before work is in the dictionary. A forgotten or ignored fruit of t

Intro: Have you ever looked for victory in your spiritual life but had it vanish like a mist of fog? Are you searching for what it means to be more than a conqueror but feel conquered most of the time? Do you sing victory in Jesus and really don’t believe that it’s possible. If you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Baptist