Sermons on Batting Average:

"Today, You Will Be With Me In Paradise" Series

Contributed by Kevin Cummins on May 1, 2003

We can always learn lessons from a thief, usually it’s what not to do. But in this case this thief teaches us four lessons that are worth following if we want to hear those words someday for ourselves, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise."

Last week we started a series on the seven statements of Christ from the cross. Words that give us tremendous insight for our own lives. Last week in the words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”, we saw the forgiveness of Christ as he forgave the very people who were ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:39-43, Luke 2:43

Denomination: Church Of God

Purpose, Power And Promise

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Nov 14, 2003

God has promised power to those who seek His purpose in life.

INTRO.- ILL.- One of golf’s interesting moments came when a Scotchman demonstrated the new game to President Ulysses S. Grant. Carefully placing the ball on the tee, he took a mighty swing. The club hit the turf and scattered dirt all over the President’s beard and surrounding vicinity, while the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gift I Never Asked For

Contributed by Chris Talton on Dec 19, 2003

Along with all the good things that abiding in Christ brings, it will bring trouble as well. Abiding will make you more of a threat to the world and to the devil.

Dec. 7, 2003 John 15:18 - 25 “The gift I never asked for” INTRODUCTION Over 2000 years ago, wise men made a long and treacherous journey from their home in the East to find the one who was born as the “king of the Jews.” It was anything but an easy journey. They expected some of the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Smyrna: Some Things Money Cannot Buy Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 19, 2003

Money may actually distract us from Kingdom priorities. Some things money cannot buy are compassion for the needy, passion for the lost, and love for one another.

I begin this morning with an invocation from my favorite poet, the bard of Baltimore, Ogden Nash, who addressed our favorite god in prayer: “Oh, money, money, money; some may think thee holy. But I cannot figure out how thou goest out so fast and how thou comest in so slowly.” Ogden Nash, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Pain Of Rejected Love

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on May 30, 2003

This sermon takes a look at the extent of God’s love for His creation, and the pain involved when we reject His pleas to come to Him. Also, it takes a look at the three ways we can respond to this love: Rejection, Indifference, or Acceptance.

Jodie was a young girl who sat next to me in my astronomy class back in High School. She was not your typical girl; she was the daughter of a wealthy dentist in town and was about as attractive as a girl her age could get. Her appearance was flawless but as her friend I knew she was a very ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:34-35

Denomination: Methodist

Narnia: Lion Of Judah

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 24, 2005

The figure of a lion is fitting to describe the true nature of our Lord and inspires us to commit our lives to Him.

LION OF JUDAH Revelation 5:1-5 In 1930, Haile Selassie became the Emperor of Ethiopia. The Christian ruler was the 111th emperor in succession of King Solomon. Upon assuming power, Selassie sought to modernize the nation. He built schools and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-5

Denomination: Wesleyan

Sight 101 Series

Contributed by Michael Hollinger on Nov 9, 2005

Faith in our unseen personal God gives us hope in a world otherwise trapped by mere godless machine. SO: I want my congregation to see that how they see the world is utterly dictated by the unseen God they see behind it. I want them to understand the

TITLE : SIGHT 101 We are visual people. When we talking about our understanding of the world, we even use the phrase “how we see the world.” Our sight is fundamental to how we live. If we were dogs, it would be our sense of smell – they literally see the world primarily not through their eyes ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Ransom View Of The Atonement Series

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Aug 23, 2006

We need to understand what was "covered up" at the Cross and what was "exposed" in the garden in order to fully appreciate what Jesus did for us.

The Ransom View of the Atonement This is the third sermon in my series on the last week of Jesus life. Three weeks ago, we examined Jesus’ act of “trashing the temple”, the next week, we watched as Mary prepared him for burial while he was still alive; last week we observed what the Last Supper ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:7

Denomination: Baptist

1st Things 1st: Jesus Is God's Son Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jun 23, 2005

Christians claim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God... but what does that really mean?

Have you ever come out with the right answer by mistake? I mean, you had no idea it was right… no way you could tell somebody how you got the answer… no explanation… maybe it was just a guess, but it turned out to be right nonetheless? You’re as surprised as anyone? That is sort of where Peter ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Prize Every Time - Which Way Will You Run Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 30, 2005

Many Christians don’t understand the prize they should be running for. Do you?

(synopsis: I Corinthians 9:19-27 tells us that Paul was running toward a prize. A goal that each of us should pursue) OPEN: Hall of Famer Bob Feller was a major league pitcher for the Cleveland Indians back in the 30s, 40s and 50s. He was signed up in 1935 when he was only 16 years old, and in his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Eyes Wide Open Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Apr 27, 2005

Bible Couples, Pt. 9 "Ananais and Sapphira"

EYES WIDE OPEN (ACTS 4:32-5:11) Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year. Every year Stumpy would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” And every year Martha would say, “I know, Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs ten dollars, and ten dollars is ten dollars.” This ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Because He First Loved Us Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Oct 5, 2008

Do we need God’s love to truly be able to love and how does God want us to love others

Because He First Loved Us God’s love for us produces love in us God’s love in us, enables us to… …Love others… … Sacrificially … Undeservedly God’s love for us is received through believing in Jesus Good morning. You can go ahead and be seated. We are glad that you are here. We started a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Will Be The First To Stop Fighting Series

Contributed by Alan Tison on May 26, 2008

The Seventh beatitude calls us to be peacemakers. Jesus has called us to a special mission to help make peace or restore people back to a sound relationships, first with one another and ultimately with God himself. The peace Jesus speaks of has nothing

Introduction: A henpecked husband was tired of being nagged by his abusive wife so he decided to take a course in being self-assertive. After a few weeks, he felt he had regained his confidence and decided to lay the law down at his home. At the dinner table he announced, “Woman from now on there ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Must Insist On This

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 14, 2008

1- I insist that you don’t live like others 2- I insist that you did not learn Christ from the world 3- I insist that the truth is in Jesus

INTRO.- Roger Clemens. Guilty or not? Is he guilty of using drugs and Human Growth Hormone or not? Clemens insists he is not guilty! Clemens has won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher. He throws and bats right-handed. On December 13, 2007, Clemens’ name was listed in the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Test 8: Integrity Test Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 12, 2008

God demands that His children be people of integrity. People who are honest and reliable. This is the next-to-last test of faith that James gives us--the integrity test.

1. The importance of individual integrity 2. The implication of individual integrity 3. The intentionality of individual integrity 4. The incentive of individual integrity This Wednesday night, American TV is hitting a new low. It’s almost hard to say that with all the trash that’s on TV these ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12

Denomination: Baptist