Sermons on Ball Point Pen:

That I May Know Him

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jan 7, 2004

Let us choose to know (ginosko - understand, perceive and experientially learn) more about Christ instead of merely settling for an intellectual knowledge (oida) about the Lord Jesus.

That I May Know Him (Phil. 3:10-14) Today, many people are determined to get a promotion, a higher degree or a better 401 K plan. Many students are determined to get good grades. As the election year heats up we hear about hundreds of politicians who are determined to get elected to important ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ Is The King Of Kings

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jan 8, 2004

Epiphany Sermon - how Solomon described the prerequites of true Kingship

Psalm 72 After our former mayor was forced out of office, it wasn’t too long ago that about twenty to thirty people put their names and pictures in our paper declaring to us their candidacy to be the new mayor of Topeka. In order to apply, they had to write what they would do as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 72:1-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Joys False Or Complete Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 10, 2004

For Epiphany: As Richard Foster wrote about "Money, Sex, and Power", is it possible the Wise Men’s gifts are warnings to Jesus and His family about these things? Complete joy comes from what Jesus did with these issues.

Who we are and what we have are two entirely different things, but we confuse them. We insist on identifying who we are by what we have. Who we are and what we have are not the same thing. We are more by far than the material goods we possess. And yet everywhere we are identified by our stuff. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 2:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Eliezer Alternative Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 12, 2004

God had promised a son, but Abraham had waited so long, he was bewildered, disappointed, and working on a "plan B." The sermon had a powerful impact on people struggling with their faith.

OPEN: A representative of the gas company phoned the owner of an expensive new home to make an appointment for the service man to come in and light the pilot lights and adjust the furnace. The owner said that was OK, but he wanted to make sure he was there, because if he wasn’t the service man ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Everybody Makes A Contribution In The Church Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 14, 2004

The success of the Christmas story, a fortune 500 company, or a church/ministry that grows is the result of a team spirit.

God enjoyed great success that first Christmas 2,000 years ago because He put together a willing team who worked together to get the Christ Child deposited in Bethlehem. He even made sure appropriate birth announcements were given. God used a team of willing servants and unsuspecting individuals to ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

You Can Save One

Contributed by Steven Pace on Jan 16, 2004

This is an updated copy of my sermon on the Pro Life issue. I have revised it and brought it more up to date.

Sanctity of Human Life Psalms 139:11-16 The day started out by waking up early. You see in our house we always decorate the floor with balloons on the kids birthday. I remember getting up early with Becky and blowing up the balloons and scattering them across the floor. After the kids got up I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:11-16, Jeremiah 1:5

Denomination: Baptist

How To Pray For Healing Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 20, 2003

This passage not only gives us some indication of how to pray, but it also helps us determine when we are to pray. There are four distinct times that we’re to come before God. We’re to look to Him…1. When we’re suffering. (13a);2. When we have succes

How to Pray for Healing It’s amazing how many bad things can happen to people. Bill Flick, a columnist for The Pantagraph, compiled some true stories this past week… —In Connecticut, a man driving a stolen car inadvertently stopped a police officer to ask for directions out of the city. —A man ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-16, James 5:17-18, James 5:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Time Out, Time In Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

After vacation -- time out -- it would be ridiculous if there were no "time in", engagement. God calls us to full engagement with Himself, which in turn calls us to live in newness and not in old habits. There is no time for anything that is not a serio

There are certain intense situations in which the best answer, maybe the only answer, is to take a “time out”. Time out, to get perspective; time out, to get emotions under control; time out to back off and take a better look. There are certain serious situations in which your instincts tell you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Pain At The Threshold Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

Interactive sermon on the anxieties involved in sharing our faith and on the power of being prepared, both intellectually and emotionally.

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Closed doors intimidate me. If your door is closed, I want to leave it alone. I don’t like to knock and ask for admission. I want somebody to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Dead Man Walking

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 26, 2003

There is a kind of death in family life today. Jesus offers unconditional compassion, used His authority to give life, and gives us as gifts to one another.

One sweltering afternoon, on the dirty streets of a dangerous section of New Orleans, a man approached a woman with some papers in his hand. He asked Helen if she would agree to write letters to a man on death row at Angola prison. Helen agreed, rather absent-mindedly. She was used to people ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

It's All Yours Series

Contributed by Peter Langerman on May 26, 2003

Learning to give all that we have to God in worship and praise

1 Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Up In The Air Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 4, 2003

Spiritual indecision leads to sickness and ultimately to death. We are scared of taking risks. Black history shows us, however, that without accepting risk there is no progress.

You should be a fly on the wall around our house on Friday evenings. You see, Friday evenings are our night for ourselves. We try not to take on church things on Fridays, and unless you are at the point of death, you can wait for your pastoral call until Saturday morning. The pastor and his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Swallowed Up Or Spewed Out Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 6, 2003

God disciplines us when we turn aside from His will: either we get swallowed up in addictive behavior, churchianity, busy-ness, and controversy; or God spews us out as ill-equipped, unreceptive, divisive. Confess our distress, admit our limitations, and

What parent does not dread this awful experience? In your care is a small child. You turn your back for just an instant –to answer the phone, to get a drink of water – and when you come back to that child, she is coughing and choking, clutching at her throat. Those curious eyes saw something ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1

Denomination: Baptist

In The Nick Of Time Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 8, 2003

Sermon illustrated by Chrismons: Jesus came at the right time, into a world of spiritual hungers, social unrest, devaluation of life. So He comes to our time, when ultimate questions are being asked, when much seduces us, when we are weak. He will be Lo

Infants, not yet born, seem to have a mind of their own. Infants, not yet born, pay very little attention to the doctor’s predictions, the mother’s preferences, or the father’s fears. When they want to arrive, they arrive; and if they don’t want to emerge into this cold, cruel world, they don’t, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Universality Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 11, 2003

Thanks to Constantine’s move, the church gradually began to think of its universality as power rather than as an evangelical mandate. Christ is to be lord of our political life, our cultural life, our everyday life -- every aspect.

Christ is lord of all! What a bold statement! Maybe even an arrogant statement! Lord of all? Do we believe that? It was said of one preacher that “for tender minds he served up half a Christ.” Behind that lie two realities – first, that many of us don’t want the full gospel, we’d rather just ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 1:11-20

Denomination: Baptist