Sermons on Astonishment:

Close Encounters Of A Third Kind

Contributed by Kenneth Jarman on May 17, 2008

This sermon explains three different types of encounters with Christ

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A THIRD KIND By: Pastor Ken Jarman OPEN DOOR OUTREACH MINISTRIES, NEW BERN, NC 28560 Sunday May 18, 2008 ACTS 9:1 –9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest And asked letters from him to the synagogues of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Four Great Truths Of God Becoming Human Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Apr 30, 2024

1. Jesus became human to show us the path to God. 2. Jesus became human to show us God Himself. 3. Jesus became human to show us grace and truth perfectly during great suffering. 4. Jesus became human to die for our sins.

If you will find the gospel of John with me. The New Testament has four gospels that begin the best-selling book of all time. Each of the four shares a unique perspective on Jesus, while many of the stories overlap. So, if you were reading the gospels, you would read many of the same miracles and ...read more

Scripture: John 20:31, John 1:1, John 1:14-28, John 10:30

Denomination: Baptist

Any Day Now Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 6, 2022

Both Peter and Paul raise the same question: what should we be doing when … not ‘if’ but ‘when’ … the Lord appears? How do you want Him to find you? Vigilant? Full of hope and expectation? Prepared? Ready to greet Him? Or scoffing? Asleep?

[Hold up cell phone.] Yep … we talked a little bit about this handy device last week. More accurately, we talked about one of the apps … the GPS. But there is another little handy app that I use all the time to help me plan my day … The Weather Channel’s Ten Day Weather app which, as the name ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 16:1-3, Matthew 24:29-31, 2 Peter 3:3-4, 2 Peter 3:8-12, Psalm 139:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

The Suffering Servant Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 24, 2024

When your life crashes, bow before Jesus as your Sovereign Lord, believe in Jesus, who was scorned, bank on His substitutionary sacrifice; then benefit from His victory and success.

Marla Kiley, from Denver, Colorado, tells the story of an accounting department of a large insurance company. They were working on year-end reports when their computers crashed. So they put in an emergency call to a systems analyst, who arrived three hours later. He was late, because when he first ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-12, John 1:14, John 12:37-38, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 27:12-14, Romans 5:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Lord's Essential Truths About Everlasting Life Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jan 14, 2023

Here Jesus gives us 3 essential truths about everlasting life... 1. We must believe in God's Word. 2. Then, we will be blessed by God's power. 3. And we will belong to God's family.

The Lord's Essential Truths about Everlasting Life The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 22:23-33 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared January 14, 2023) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to Matthew 22:23. Jesus was in Jerusalem to die on the cross for our sins. The city and surrounding villages were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:23-33

Denomination: Baptist

We Have Lift Off Series

Contributed by Troy Walliser on Apr 19, 2021

The CRITICAL nature of the mission DEMANDS that we give our best to see it accomplished.

We Have Lift Off! Acts 13:1-12 Growing up in central Florida provided a unique opportunity. As a child and even in to my teen years I have fond memories of taking the 2 hour car ride on Interstate 4 from Tampa on the west coast of Florida to Cape Canaveral on the East Coast of Florida to visit the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Pure & The Phony Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Sep 5, 2021

'The Pure & The Phony' Acts chapter 8 verses 1-24 - sermon by Gordon Curley (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: A wrong view of Christians (vs 1-8) A wrong view of self (vs 9-11) A wrong view of salvation (vs 12-13) A wrong view of the Holy Spirit (vs 14-23) A wrong view of sin (vs 22-24) SERMON BODY: Ill: • When architect Sir Christopher Wren. • Designed the interior of Windsor Town Hall ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-24

Denomination: Brethren

Do You Have A Title? Or A Testimony?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 17, 2018

The believer in the Risen Christ has a powerful testimony. We need to be encouraged to use what God has given each of us to the praise of His glory.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [1] The disciples were just like us—they wanted power, especially power over other disciples. They were convinced that if only they ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Evil For Good

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Jun 22, 2019

A study in the book of Jeremiah 18: 1 – 23

Jeremiah 18: 1 – 23 Evil for good 1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:20

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

But They Could Not...

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 13, 2018

Despite the repeated efforts of mankind to duplicate the work of the Lord, His work is unique and man is unable to do what He does. Eventually, those who imagine they can supplant God crash up against reality, and they are revealed to be frauds.

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron, “Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.”’ And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 8:16-19

Denomination: Baptist

Tongues Of Fire Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 4, 2012

In Acts 2:1-13, the harvesting of souls can be seen in 1) The evidence of the Spirit’s Coming (Acts 2:1–4), 2) The Effect of the Spirit’s Coming (Acts 2:5–11), and 3) The Explanation of the Spirit’s Coming (Acts 2:12–13).

The revamped Canadian Wheat Board is starting the first day of the new crop year with a grain-handling deal with one of the country’s largest agribusinesses. Winnipeg-based International Richardson says it will accept grain deliveries from farmers with wheat board contracts at all its ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Denomination: Other

The True Seed Of Abraham - 3:16 & Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 20, 2005

Galatians 3:16 talks about the fact that Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham’s seed? But why did Paul say that and what can it mean to us today?

OPEN: In my files I have list of some unusual laws: · In Birmingham, Alabama, it is illegal to drive a car while blindfolded. · In Detroit it’s unlawful to tie a crocodile to a fire hydrant. · Natchez, Mississippi has a law that forbids giving an elephant beer to drink. · And if you tie your ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"The Ministry Of Availability"

Contributed by Ray Scott on Nov 2, 2004

God will use what we make available to Him. In the passage in Luke 5:1-11, we see that, even with a smelly, old fishing boat and a broken net, Jesus used what Peter made available for Him to use.

“The Ministry Of Availability” INTRODUCTION: God has a ministry for every one of His children … NOT JUST the Pastor. EVERY Christian has a ministry … every one of YOU! Not all will be great soul-winners … BUT … we all have a part in leading others to Christ. We are ALL a link in the chain … ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Promises For Harvesters

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 19, 2006

Faith either moves mountains or tunnels through them. Eight encouraging promises for seed sowers.

Promises for Harvesters (Isa. 54:1-17) Faith either moves mountains or finds a way to tunnel through any challenge. The people of Israel were reeling mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually from a series of hardships. The northern kingdom of Israel suffered under the poor leadership ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 54:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Surprise Series

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Sep 22, 2006

Peter Excapes from jail and execution. Peter and the disciples are surprised, the guards are all surprised.

Surprise Acts 12:1-25 I hope that you are not tiring with our study of acts. It is a book that has all these little stories that have been put together to tell about the early days of the church. Last week we heard about Barnabas and his work @ Antioch. How he brought Saul into the picture. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-25

Denomination: Congregational