Sermons on Batting Average:

Life Is Like A Baseball Game

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 19, 2002

The Cal Ripken Jr. World Series of baseball has invaded Mattoon, IL, and life is somewhat similar to a baseball game.

LIFE IS LIKE A BASEBALL GAME I Cor. 9:25 "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." INTRO.- ILL.- In the popular 1994 movie "Forrest Gump," Forrest with an IQ of 74 said, "Mama ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Failure Hits Home Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Aug 16, 2007

When we face failure, God will not abandon us, He wants to restore us, He can still use us and teach us.

Introduction When I was in high school I was on the swim team. As the years went by I became reasonably successful. In fact somewhere I have a small bag filled with medals I won during my swimming career. But if I looked at those medals today I’d be hard pressed to tell you anything about the swim ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-62

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Just Isn't Fair Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 5, 2010

From this episode in Joseph's life, we learn that God is always with us, God can help us grow through our suffering, and we learn that there is a better day coming.

Introduction: A. Let’s begin with a statement that I think that all of us can agree on – “Life just isn’t fair!” 1. Can we all agree on that? 2. Do any of us need proof that life isn’t fair? 3. Look at this cartoon – “Life is unfair…for proof ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 40:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Happened During Offering? Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 28, 2014

A sermon to help us restore some of the joy in giving - by taking a careful look at what happens when we give

Introduction : (Play pollination video silently as I speak) Hummingbirds, bees, bats, even butterflies - They fly around. Maybe they annoy or scare us. Unless we’re paying attention to them, they’re doing something really important we don’t realize at the time – ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:14-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Certainty In Uncertainty Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 8, 2014

In order to find certainty in uncertain times, obey Christ as your sovereign, follow Christ as your servant, and trust Christ as your Savior.

Certainty in Uncertainty (Mark 11:1-11) Some time ago, I came across an article from The Futurist magazine, which listed some of the worst predictions of all time. They are very interesting. For example: A Roman engineer, Julius Sextus Frontinus, in A.D. 100 said, “Inventions have long ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Godliness, Manhood And Leadership, Part 2 Series

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Mar 5, 2008

Second message from a conference for college-age men on what it means to be a man, God’s man and God’s leader.

Part 2 (Evening session) This morning we talked about our predicament as men; primarily we centered on two issues. One issue is what we face because of our inheritance from Adam in the sin nature and Adam’s abdication. The other is a bunch of cultural baggage from which we have an extremely ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:12-58

Denomination: Baptist

Life's Hard - Wear A Helmet Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Sep 30, 2008

As believers we are called to wear the Armor of God and a very important part of that Armor is the Helmet of Salvation...

Sermon Brief Date Written: September 30, 2008 Date Preached: September 28, 2008 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Sermon Series: Preparing To Do Battle! Sermon Title: Life’s Hard – Wear a Helmet! Sermon Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Introduction: What is a hat? What is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8

Denomination: Baptist

Miss The Point? Series

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 28, 2007

Have you ever missed the real point of a situation? It is easy to miss the point and minor on majors, and major on minors.

MISS THE POINT? IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE RIGHT? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com THIS IS A TWO PART SERIES. The great Bible commentator --- Matthew Henry was robbed one time. In his Journal that day he penned the words: Let me be thankful... #1 Because I was never robbed before. #2 ...read more

Scripture: John 20:27

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Walk In Confidence, Not Condemnation

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Mar 20, 2021

This is from a series I preached on Romans.

Title: Walk in Confidence, Not Condemnation Type: Expository Script: Romans 8:31-39 Where: GNBC 1-13-08/RW 3-22-21 Intro: A little boy was heard talking to himself as he walked across the backyard, baseball cap in place, ball and bat in his hands. "I am the greatest hitter in the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Living In Uncertain Times Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 9, 2025

In these uncertain days, trust Christ as your Savior, follow Him as your Servant, and obey Him as your Sovereign.

At a conference in Houston, speaker Marti Ensign, a missionary to Africa, told of bringing some African pastors to the United States for a big meeting. During their free time, these Africans wanted to go shopping. Even though they were in a small town, Marti knew there was a chance someone might ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Zechariah 9:9, Mark 10:45, Mark 8:34, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:43-44  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Christian Sources For Encouragement

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on May 22, 2025

The teaching method of education has changed drastically in America, and I am glad it has.

For example, it use to be for us to make a good grade on our report card we had to have a good memory. For example, in homiletics in college we were assigned to take a test on: • Memorize 10 of these • Memorize 13 of these • Memorize 25 of these And if you had a good memory you made “A” in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Staying Close To Jesus Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Dec 17, 2023

As a believer God is already in my life, but when I abide in Him, when I spend time with Him, He gives me the desire to be like Jesus. He reassures me of who I am, empowers me to love God and others with the love that has been extended to me.

1 John 2:28-3:24 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. 3:1 See what kind of ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keep On The Firing Line

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Aug 27, 2025

There are some who claim they do not believe in a Devil.

Illus: For those who will say such a thing someone said: • “When you meet the devil, you know you are not going his way. • If you never meet him, you must be going in the same direction.” The reason some do not believe in the devil is because they are going the same way he is going, but the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Thermodynamics Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 15, 2024

Multiply and grow through faith in God’s Word, opposition, and obedience to God.

In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village. They walked by an old man sitting beside a fence, and one of them asked, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies” (Leonard Ravenhill, The Last ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:28, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Matthew 16:18, Acts 8:1-4, Acts 5:29, Exodus 1:1-22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Phillip Series

Contributed by Richard Pfeil on Apr 18, 2005

A biographical sketch of Phillip

“PHILIP” TEXT: JOHN 1:43-46, JOHN 6:1-7 Sunday, March 7, 2004 We are on a twelve week series on the disciples if you are visiting with us. We are walking through Lent with those who walked with Jesus, learning the lessons they learned in their lives, how God encountered them, discovering their ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed