Sermons on Azusa Street:

Playing Follow The Leader

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 20, 2006

Leadership and followship demand truth, grace, and sacrifice to be effective. A story-sermon, reworked from one originally done in 1999.

The desire to be “somebody” is deep within all of us. We want to be distinguished, we need to be acknowledged, we must be somebodies, not nobodies. That desire to be “somebody” can lead us to glorious accomplishment, or it can lead to the depths of degradation. It’s all in what motivates us. Do ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-16

Denomination: Baptist

Discover The Light

Contributed by Mark Green on Jan 25, 2006

To discover the light of the incarnation and how the incarnation challenges us to know Christ, live abundantly and be consumed by Him.

(Begin with all lights in worship center off) Darkness. Have you ever been in a place so dark that it felt as if you could reach out and touch the darkness? I’ve been out in the deep woods after dark and I remember not being able to see my hand in front of my face. That was dark. On Thanksgiving ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Remedy For Rough Times

Contributed by J Bernard Taylor on Oct 28, 2008

Our country is going through hard financial times--maybe you’re going through rough times. But there is a remedy.

A Remedy for Rough Times I hold in my hands a copy of the cover of Time Magazine for October l3th. The heading is “The New Hard Times”. It contains a picture of men lined up at a Soup Kitchen during the days of the depression in the l930’s. I was a young child during the depression. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Is It The Thought That Counts?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 6, 2009

Jesus’ parable of the dishonest but shrewd steward shows us that what people want is something real, not just nice thoughts; and that the use of God’s money is our finest responsibility.

My brother-in-law has a unique ability, a very special talent. He has the ability to go into a men’s clothing store, size up all the merchandise available, and cane out with the very worst, the most atrocious looking stuff that money can buy. What is worse, he does that when he is shopping for me. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Come On Down Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2008

The times, like those of post-Exilic Jerusalem, require us to wait. Will it be passive, impassive, or active waiting? Active waiting means seeing that what God has done He will do again. God will enlist us and shape us to work for His purposes.

“We wait. We are bored. No, don’t protest, we are bored to death, there’s no denying it. … A diversion comes along and what do we do? We let it go to waste . . . .In an instant all will vanish and we’ll be alone once more, in the midst of nothingness!” So speaks one of the characters in Samuel ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Lost In The House

Contributed by Christopher Rainer on Feb 29, 2008

A discussion on how SOMETIMES, it’s not the son who left home who causes the trouble; sometimes, it’s the son who was left at home...

Lost In The House [Part I] Sub Topic: Pouting And Out Of Place Scripture Text: Luke 15:25 – 30 Introduction: The more I study this passage, the more I am apt to believe that the passage centers upon the suggestion that “lostness” is not predicated upon a position as much as it is upon a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

Mapping Out The New Year Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Dec 29, 2009

The scripture is our divine GPS for mapping our lives in order to experience many good days. What does this divine GPS tell us to do? 1- Seek the Lord 2- Follow the Lord 3- Trust the Lord

INTRO.- Have you ever had a bad day? Well, of course. Who hasn’t? But what about a really bad day? Here’s one that tops many I’ve heard. ILL.- The following is seen in a Florida newspaper: A man was working on his motorcycle on his patio and his wife was in the house in the kitchen. The man ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:10-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dissin' The Homeboy Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 9, 2009

When we disrespect our own children, we disempower them, we give evidence that ours is a sick community, and we write off God’s ability to redeem.

The church was plagued with two bad boys, or maybe it was three. The two really bad boys offended nearly everybody in that church. They ran through the hails, rudely bumping those who were in the way. Elderly ladies cringed when they saw them coming. Small children screamed and hid behind their ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Partners In A Heavenly Calling

Contributed by Wes Richard on Jul 28, 2009

As the people of God, we are called to work in partnership with Christ and with each other.

I am always encouraged when people from congregations across Northern Oho can blend their gifts and energy for the good of the entire district and especially when we can worship together. Hebrews 2:12 says, “In the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” And that is what we want to do this ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-14

Denomination: Brethren

You're Going The Wrong Way!

Contributed by Russell M Rillie on Aug 11, 2009

We are all guilty of going the wrong way on the road of life, but we don’t realize is that we can lead our family on the same path and risk crashing into others who are going the right way.

On Sunday, July 26, 2009, while we were IN church, unbeknownst to me and my family, on the same road that I travel twice a day daily, while we were carrying on in the HOLY SPIRIT, there was something happening in the SPIRIT realm. Diane Schuler, drunk and stoned, drove 1.7 miles in the WRONG ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Dr. King--The Mountain Top

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Feb 8, 2010

This is a message given at a chapel service at a Christian High School where the majority of students were white and I'm an African American sharing my experiences.

Dr. King Reflections by Rick Gillespie- Mobley Go Back To The Mountaintop Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Ephesians 6:10-18 Martin Luther King Jr. was first and foremost a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of the images in his messages came from being grounded in the word of God. He used a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Looking For The Savior's Return

Contributed by Gerald Steffy on Sep 12, 2009

A child of God is to be alert and looking for the Savior’s return in a world that does not have time to hear His voice and be prepared for His coming.

-- Philippians 3:17-21 Proposition: A child of God is to be alert and looking for the Savior’s return in a world that does not have time to hear His voice and be prepared for His coming. Objective: My purpose is to challenge people to look for the Savior’s return and be prepared for His ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21

Denomination: Baptist

When You Pray

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 19, 2005

Jesus tells us what to do when we pray.

INTRODUCTION: ILL.- Two men met up on the street. One asked the other: "Hi, how are you?" The other one replied: "I’m fine, thanks." "And how’s your son? Is he still unemployed?" "Yes, he is. But he is meditating now." "Meditating? What’s that?" "I don’t know. But it’s better than sitting ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Looking For Answers

Contributed by Derrick Bunnell on Nov 15, 2005

The topic I believed needed to be addressed was how we get so focused on the problems that we don’t look for solutions. We get so wrapped up in what is wrong with the world, the church and each other that we forget the reason we are here, our purpose, our

When I first began writing the sermon for this week I thought I needed to preach something hard, something that would step on people’s toes, wake us up and challenge us. I began searching the Bible for topics. Believing I found what I was looking for I began trying to write. But I couldn’t get ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 105:1-6

Denomination: Adventist

Answering The Call To Go

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Sep 9, 2007

Run away. Doubt it will work. Embrace God who first embraces us. Three responses to the call to "Go and Make Disciples". This sermon explores how three well-known biblical figures and how they answer God’s call to go.

Sermon for CATM - September 9, 2007 Answering the Call to Go Jonah 1:1-3; John 20: 24-28; Matthew 26:30-33 It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. It was my first week at Evergreen in May of 1985. There was a huge summer team who had signed on for the summer missionary program ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:30-33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational