Sermons on Because:

We Love Our Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 27, 2004

I Love My Church! But why? Because: It’s UNIQUE, UNITED, UNCOMMON, UNSELFISH & UNSATISFIED...We love the church because of its FOUNDER, its FOUNDATION, its FUNCTION, & its FUTURE! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

We Love Our Church! Ephesians 5:25, 1 Tim. 3:15 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WeLoveOurChurch.html Society minimizes the need for and the work of the local church. Some say that the church is no longer "relevant" but I believe that it is more relevant than any other institution or organization on ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming A True Friend Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 8, 2003

True friendship is based on love, because only love will endure the tests that friends experience as they go through life together. As we become friends with others, we recognize our need to develop our friendship with Christ because He’s the only one we

Becoming a True Friend As his UCLA football team suffered through a dismal season in the early 70s, head coach Pepper Rodgers came under intense criticism and pressure. Things got to be so bad that his friends even bailed on him. As he reflected on that tough year, Pepper said this, “My dog was ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 27:6-10

Denomination: Baptist

Happy Are The Persecuted (Pt.1)

Contributed by Steve Hereford on Nov 29, 2002

Many of us have been persecuted because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Some of us have been mistreated because we live differently than others. But when it happens how do you react? Join Pastor Steve as he addresses this question.

When was the last time you were persecuted? Was that persecution just or unjust? Were you persecuted for "righteousness sake" or because of "Jesus’ name? or was it for some wrong you committed? In our study today, we’re going to see that there is a price that we will pay for following Jesus Christ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Redemption Value Series

Contributed by Jim Heidebrecht on Jul 2, 2007

Sermon 9 in the Galatians series. An empty bottle has a redemption value: its maker is willing to pay a price to redeem it, because it has value to the maker. Christ was willing to pay the highest price to Redeem us because we have value to our maker.

04/29/2007 (The Divisions of the passage for this sermon were based on G. Walter Hansen’s Commentary on Galatians from the IVP NT Commentary series) YOUR REDEMPTION VALUE (Gal 3:10-14) The empty bottle and the squirrel – the hook Has some markings on it Tells us who made it, where it was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Dismal Swamp And The Evereadies

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 15, 2009

Just as comic strip characters were saved from the Great Dismal Swamp because their Eveready batteries summoned the Fleet, so also if we will use the resources we have, we can save others from this world because the risen Christ is our resource.

The travel brochures say practically nothing about it, and yet it is one of the largest features on the landscape of two’ adjacent states. Two incorporated cities encompass include a great deal of it, but very few people live there. It’s mostly hundreds of square miles of nothing. The official ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Not Seeing But Believing

Contributed by Robert Gauthier on Apr 16, 2012

While we will not be able to place our our finger or hands in the wounds of Christ. We still need to believe that He lives. Our Salvation is incomplete if Christ remained death and buried in the tomb. Because He lives we are changed people, because He l

“Not Seeing but Believing” ________________________________________ Scripture Reading: John 20:19-31(NIV) 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Salvation Army

(“What Kind Of Tree Or You ")

Contributed by Derrick White Sr on May 11, 2017

AND THE REASON I WANT TO TALK TO KING DAVID ABOUT THE TREE IS BECAUSE GOD WILL NEVER PLANT YOU IN A PLACE WHERE YOU WILL NOT GROW AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE YOUR LACK OF GROWTH BRINGS NO GLORY TO GOD AND YOU DO KNOW PRAISE ,WORSHIP ,HEALING AND DELIVER

PSALMS 1: 3 HE IS LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY STREAMS OF WATER ,WHICH YIELDS IT`S FRUIT IN SEASON AND WHOSE LEAF DOES NOT WITHER .WHAT EVER HE DOES HE PROSPERS VERY BRIEFLY I WANT TO REASON WITH YOU ON THE THOUGHT (“WHAT KIND OF TREE OR YOU “) WHY DON`T YOU LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR –AND SAY NEIGHBOR ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

Lesson #8: To Become A Merciful And Faithful High Priest Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Aug 30, 2019

The element of solidarity: the champion emerges out of the people; he can represent them only because he is one of them. Similarly, the high priest is chosen from among the people; he can represent them effectively only because He enjoys solidarity with the people.

6/17/19 Tom Lowe Lesson #8: TO BECOME A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST (HEBREWS 2:17-18) Scripture: Hebrews 2:17-18 (NIV) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

We Have A Mission Series

Contributed by James Lee on Nov 12, 2014

You and I are not here to sit, soak and sour. We are here to serve God and bring others to Jesus NOT because we are told we must but because Jesus loved us enough to die for each of us and we must love Him enough to care and to serve.

Last we looked at our Wake-up call #1 is “We are the Church” Today I want to look at Wake-up Call #2- We have a Mission! When Hudson Taylor was director of the China Inland Mission, he often interviewed candidates for the mission field. On one occasion, he met with a group of applicants ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Denomination: Baptist

Our God Is An Awesome God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 10, 2021

This Psalm we are looking at doesn't even soar into space. It stops earth bound, and still it deals with a God who is truly awesome. He is awesome, not because of His creation and what He has done, but because of His character, and what He is.

Everett Fullam was in Libera in 1969 when the two Americans, Armstrong and Aldin walked on the moon. He told the Gheo tribe chief this was happening, and the old man looked up to the moon and said, "There's nobody up there." He sounded angry and added, "Besides, that is not big ...read more

The Atonement Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Both Calvin and Arminius agree that only those who come to knowledge of truth can be saved, but Calvin says many do not come because they are not of the elect. Arminius says that many do not come because they do not hear or do not respond to the truth when they do hear

One of the most often heard statements is that I never argue about politics and religion. The motive behind this is often a legitimate desire to avoid needless controversy that only arouses emotion but solves nothing. To avoid controversy, however, ought never be the goal of the Christian, for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:4-6

Jesus "i Am" The Good Shepherd! Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 25, 2021

: Jesus is the Good Shepherd because he laid down his life to save the sheep. He lead’s the sheep to safety, security, pasture and the good life but not to slaughter or harm. Jesus guards, encourages, supports and protects His sheep because He loves them.

I am playing these videos to get your mindset focused on Shepherding – agriculture lifestyles – a common sight in the time and teaching of Jesus – not so much today – as a matter of fact you would be hard pressed to find many sheep farms in this area of Illinois! Opening Video Transition (2 ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-42, John 10:11, John 10:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Grace Of Overlooking An Insult

Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 11, 2021

We look at the 5 reasons we should overlook insults: To aid the new nature, to seek Truth, because we consider its source, because we only seek God's approval, and to show our revilers God's grace.

THE GRACE OF OVERLOOKING AN INSULT INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: Stories from Alaska 1. What do you call an emotionally unstable animal who lives in Alaska and vacations in antarctica? A BIPOLAR BEAR 2. Culturally no one in Alaska dates in the winter. Why not? "Because it’s hard to break the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A New Start In Galilee

Contributed by Klaus Gutwein on Jan 22, 2001

Christians are prisoners of hope, because of Jesus ministry. Luke 4: 14-21; Matthew 5: 13-16

Desmond Tutu is the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa. He was deeply envolved in the struggle against Apartheid in his country and received in 1986 the Nobel peace prize for his endeavour for freedom and equality for his black brothers and sisters. In an interview with the magazine ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-21, Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Favoritism

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 19, 2001

Favoritism is a serious mistake because: 1. It is a sin. 2. Appearances can be deceiving 3. God opposes the proud.

I vividly remember talking with another pastor one day who had been given a very impressive appointment to one of the largest churches in our conference. As he was talking to me and a couple of other pastors, he was explaining how different this church was from his previous experiences. ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-9

Denomination: Methodist