Sermons on Be Prepared:

Overcoming Obstacles--Principles Of The Jabez Territory Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Mar 5, 2002

If Jabez was to be blessed indeed, he had to be kept from evil. Some important principles to overcoming the obstacles to expanding the borders of God’s blessings he has prepared for us are also discussed.

(Based on comments by Bruce Wilkinson at Walk thru Life Conference PPT slides and outline available) Today I continue with part 3 of the challenges of the prayer of Jabez. A man had a problem finding a parking space. He finally parked in a no parking zone and left a note on his windshield that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:10, Exodus 4:10-14

Denomination: Methodist

Things Are Not What They Seem Series

Contributed by Maurice Schaus on Dec 24, 2003

As we prepare for our Lord’s birth among us, we are confronted with God’s realtiy: Things are not always what they seem. God’s ways are not teh world’s ways.

Things Are Not What They Seem Dear friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Christ. Amen. After 2000 years of listening to the Christmas story, it’s easy for us hear it as a familiar and sentimental tale, imagining quiet and serene ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-24, Luke 1:39-55

Denomination: Lutheran

The Promised One Is Coming! Series

Contributed by Maurice Schaus on Dec 24, 2003

Preparing for Christmas means more than just shopping for presents and putting up the decorations. It means opening our hearts and lives to the working of the Holy Spirit. This is a sermon for Advent 3, Year B.

The Promised One is Coming! Well, there are only 11 more shopping days until Christmas. Are you prepared? When many people talk about preparing for the holidays, this is the line of questioning that follows. And with good reason. If buying Christmas presents was the only thing that had to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18, Philippians 4:4-7

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Presence In The Silence

Contributed by David Washburn on Oct 31, 2002

We often times interpret God’s silence to mean he is absent, but the truth is that God’s silence is an opportunity for Him to draw us closer and prepare us for an even greater revelation

Silence is something most of us aren’t comfortable with. The brief 20 seconds I stood before you, looking at you in silence may have seemed liked an eternity. What were you thinking as we looked at each other in silence? We will many times equate silence with something being wrong and will rush to ...read more

Scripture: John 11:5-6, John 11:25-26

Denomination: Baptist

Cleansed And Washed

Contributed by Betty Johnson on Sep 14, 2008

A message about what we learn from Jesus’ baptism and how we prepare for communion from Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet. We had communion and adult baptism on the same day.

Cleansed & Washed Date: Sept 14, 2008 Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17; John 13:3-17. In our church we celebrate two sacraments, or ordinances, whatever you might call them. I prefer to call them sacraments. And I prefer that word because I do believe that Christ is spiritually present with us ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Wesleyan

John The Baptist - The Lord's Messenger -

Contributed by Charles Scott on Aug 3, 2008

The confused world does not understand the meaning of the coming, the Advent of Christ into this world. In its confusion, the world approaches Christmas with out repentance and preparation necessary to see the Christ and receive his blessings. Christian

John the Baptist the Lord’s Messenger - Matt 11__2-15 Advent3 Sun, Dec 2003 First Lesson: Isaiah 35:1-10 Epistle: James 5:7-11 Psalm 146 Gospel: Matt 11:2-15 "Behold, I Send My Messenger before your face." The Greek word translated here as messenger is "angelos," that is, "angel." Normally ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-15

Denomination: Anglican

Those Grumblin' Israelites

Contributed by Jyoti Banerjee on Jun 6, 2005

God took the Israelites out of Egypt into the desert. Why? So that he could mature them into the people He wanted them to be. Are we prepared for the desert in our own pilgrimage as Christians?

Those Grumblin’ Israelites: Pilgrims in the desert Intro I am not sure what your day has been like so far, but it cannot be going worse than the experience of Mathieu Boya. Boya was practicing his golf swing in a pasture adjacent to Africa’s Benin Air Base. With one swing of the golf club, a shot ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

"And They Are There Unto This Day..." By Dr. Winson Butler

Contributed by Winson Butler on Jul 13, 2004

When God prepares to do something wonderful, He begins with a difficulty. When He plans to do something very wonderful, He begins with an impossibility. Let me show you how!

Introduction No matter the size of one’s obstacle or difficulty God’s promise is always bigger. He has never made a promise that He couldn’t keep! Even when the river of your life has swollen, God will and does make a way. Israel knew the feeling too well. Under the leadership of Joshua they ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:9

Denomination: Baptist

Miracles

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 12, 2004

Even though Moses was not allowed to go into the Promised Land he spent the closing weeks of his life preparing the new generation to enter Canaan and claim the land God promised to give them.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: Even though Moses was not allowed to go into the Promised Land he spent the closing weeks of his life preparing the new generation to enter Canaan and claim the land God promised to give them. In this portion of Scripture a new census was taken in anticipation of ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 26:1-65

Denomination: Baptist

One Of Those Days

Contributed by Roger Nelmes on Jan 29, 2008

Some storms we can track and be somewhat prepared for, others come suddenly and without warning. We normally don’t think about them until they hit or effect us.

One of Those Days Opening Illustration: Have you ever had “one of those days”? 1. The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

Growing Up And Building Up

Contributed by Ed Warfield on Mar 4, 2008

This message is designed to prepare believers for ministry, to promote spiritual growth, to see that they become like-hearted and to help them find what their gifting is and use it for the glory of God and the building up of His church.

Growing Up and Building Up Intro.: "Why does the church exist? What is our purpose?" In Acts 2, the church began with 3,000 members, by Acts 4 it had grown to 5,000 men plus women & children. The Lord added to the church daily "those who were being saved." Their concern was, "How do we take care ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Charismatic

Good Tidings Of Great Joy

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Dec 17, 2007

The traditional theme for the Third Sunday of Advent is Joy. This sermon, originally prepared for that Sunday, is based on the Angel’s message to the Shepherds in Luke 2, "I Bring You Good Tidings of Great Joy."

Good Tidings of great Joy --Luke 2:8-14 What would be your response if you suddenly had an encounter with one of heaven’s angels? Angels are super beings; they are more powerful and intelligent that we are, but they are not omnipotent and omniscient like God. Therefore, it is only natural for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:2-14

Denomination: Methodist

Parables Of The Unjust Steward, Rich Man And Lazarus Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Oct 25, 2017

Some people think that anyone Jesus mentions in a parable is a hero or an example of a noble character. If that’s what you think, then be prepared for a shock, because two of these men are really bad characters.

Perea Parables of the Unjust Steward, Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:1-31 Parable of the Unjust Stewart This parable has been greatly misunderstood, and one of the reasons is because it looks as though our Lord is commending a crook. The steward is a full-blown crook. Some people think that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Time Of The End Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 15, 2013

How do you prepare for the trouble ahead? Don’t be surprised by the trouble. Instead, be wise and shine like stars in the darkness. Then be wise and see that the time of trouble is restricted, refining, and refreshing.

The Time of the End (Daniel 11:36 – 12:13) Are you ready for the end of the world? If not, a company named Vivos can help you and your loved ones get ready. The Vivos website says, “Whether we want to believe it or not… we are on the cusp of an increase in number and magnitude ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Visible Servanthood Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Apr 21, 2014

HERE AS PAUL PREPARES TO RETURN TO JERUSALEM, UNSURE OF HIS FUTURE, HE SPEAKS VERY CANDIDLY OF HIS LIFE OF MINISTRY, AND IN THE PROCESS OUTLINES FOR US THE ACTIVITIES THAT MADE HIM SUCH AN EFFECTIVE SERVANT FOR CHRIST.

VISIBLE SERVANTHOOD ACTS 20:13-38 Acts 20:36-37 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. INTRODUCTION: JAMES BOICE WRITES, “It is helpful too because we see Paul toward the end of his ministry among these people ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:13-38

Denomination: Baptist