Sermons on Barriers:

God "Unwrapped" The Good Gift

Contributed by Efren V. Narido on Apr 10, 2006

Would you like to know and to have the "gift" that will fully satisfy? Examine it in God’s Word as He shows it to His elect...

“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get ...read more

Scripture: John 4:13-26

Denomination: Baptist

Intimacy

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Sep 5, 2006

Why do I need friends? What is a godly friend?

Sayings about Friendship ¡ñ True friends are like Diamonds... they are real and rare. False friends are like leaves... they are scattered everywhere. ¡ñ Without humor, life is sad. Without courage, life is hard. Without love, life is hopeless. Without friends, life is impossible! ¡ñ Everyone ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Depressed?

Contributed by Robert Cox on Oct 6, 2006

How God deals with depression.

1 Kings 19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." 3 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Does It Mean To Be The Family Of God?

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 13, 2006

What does it mean to be the family of God? What does it look like for us to live in community? 1. A commitment to the hard work of relationships. 2. Having compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 3. Risk

Max Lucado, in his book In the Grip of Grace tells the story of the family of God in the form of a parable. He writes, “God has enlisted us in his navy and placed us on his ship. The boat has one purpose — to carry us safely to the other shore. This is no cruise ship. . . . We aren’t called to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: Methodist

The Unsafe Savior Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 26, 2005

Why is Christmas seemingly under attack? Why would a seemingly harmless story of a baby in a manger stall elicit such anger and opposition?

OPEN: James Martin (in an article in the devotional "The Upper Room") wrote the following: On a trip to the Holy Land, I bought a nativity set for my Sunday School. It was carved out of olive wood in Bethlehem itself, and had all the traditional figures - sheep and oxen, wise men and shepherds. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Swept Clean And Garnished

Contributed by James May on Dec 27, 2005

If we want next year to be the year that we have a closer relationship with Jesus then we need to create some positive power in our hearts.

SWEPT CLEAN AND GARNISHED By Pastor Jim May For most of us this will be the last time we will come together in the House of God to worship and hear His Word before the New Year begins. I thought that this might just be the best time to stop and reflect upon the past year to examine where we are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:24-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What If The Gift Never Came?

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Dec 30, 2005

What would be different if the Gift we celebrate never came?

What If the Gift never came? During this advent season, we have been talking about waiting. And perhaps how we tend to take the ancient meaning of Christmas for granted. The Question for today is What if the gift we celebrate as Christmas didn’t happen? Lets start with a few secular ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-28

Denomination: Congregational

Worshi[ Series

Contributed by Tim Zukas on Apr 25, 2006

Building God’s Church through Worship (Bob Russell - When God Build’s a Church)

There are many different kinds of church. One unique form has been dubbed the Missouri Church. Here is how you can tell if your church is a Missouri church. You might be in a Missouri country church if... 1. The doors are never locked. 2. The Call to Worship is "Y’all come on in!" 3. People ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Road To The Wilderness

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 30, 2006

Second sermon for Lent 2006

(The introduction to this sermon was dramatic reading from the Lenten Series, ‘The Lenten Road,’ published by The Center for Creative Communication for the Parish. © 2004) (1) Look at this photo for a moment. It’s magnificent! It’s majestic! It’s appealing! It’s warm! It’s sunny! What a beautiful ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Jesus Was Surrounded Series

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 2, 2003

how Jesus was outnumbered by bulls and lions

April 2, 2003 Psalm 22:12-13 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13 Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. In the town that I grew up in, there were what they called townies and ceeps. The students of Northwestern College - our school ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:12-13

Denomination: Lutheran

Your Death-Day Is Better Than Your Birthday Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jun 13, 2005

As Christians and seekers, our faith and future stands or falls on the resurrection of Jesus.

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. - Ecclesiastes 7:1 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Problem Of An Invisible God.

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Jun 15, 2001

how does one relate to God who seems to be out of reach and invisible

The Problem of an Invisible God. Psalm 84:2, 1 Jn.1:1-4. Many Christians claim a personal relationship with an always present God. But there is a problem how can you get personal with someone you cannot see? I suspect many of you are here today because you do want a relationship with God. You ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:2

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Learn From The Collision At Nain

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jun 26, 2001

Two groups collided at Nain: a procession of death and sorrow met a procession of life and hope.

“With television cameras rolling a brand new car is propelled down a track into a concrete barrier. Smash! Air bags explode. Crash dummies recoil from the impact. The test is repeated on dozens of new cars. Why this waste of automobiles? Researchers are trying to learn from the collisions in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Grace Gives

Contributed by David Swensen on Jan 31, 2002

We were created to reach out to others. We are commanded in Scripture to give generously of our time, talents and finances in ministry. But what is or should be our modivation for giving and serving?

In his book Run with the Horses, Eugene Peterson tells how he saw some birds teaching their young to fly.Three young swallows were perched on a dead branch that stretched out over a lake. “One adult swallow got alongside the chicks and started shoving them out toward the end of the branch – ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

A Fool For Christ And An Idiot For Everybody

Contributed by Michael Bird on Feb 8, 2002

This sermon outlines the two main ideas of 1 Cor 1:18-25 as (1) The Cross divides and Unifies; (2) The Cross fulfills God’s plan to outwit human wisdom.

1 Cor 1:18-25 Introduction [Illustration] I would like you all to play make believe with me for a moment. Pretend that my name is Jose Samblanco and I have just arrived off the boat from Peru and I’m proclaiming to you the good news that a Peruvian peasant by the name Carlos Hernandez was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 1 Corinthians 1:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational