Sermons on Being Relevant:

From Goodness To Going

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 11, 2005

Preached at the National Baptist Memorial Church -- a congregation facing selecting a pastor, dealing with an aging building, and in decline. The issue is whether we will stop depending on just being "good" and will live out of grace to bear our witness

I heard not long ago about a very special automobile. It was built in the 1920’s by the Italian firm Bugatti, and it was designed for the outrageously wealthy. This car had 450 horses under the hood, it was 22 feet long and weighed 6000 pounds. It was hand-crafted of the finest materials, it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

What Faith Can Do Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 13, 2005

Today we are going to study the life of Gideon. And as we study Judges 6-8 we will see how Gideon went from being an unlikely warrior to becoming a mighty soldier in the army of God. (Judges 4)

"WHAT FAITH CAN DO" TEXT: JUDGES CHAPTER 6-8 INTRODUCTION Have you ever watched or something and either thought to yourself or said out loud (as your bottom jaw dropped), "THAT’S AMAZING," Things like: The Blue Angels performing their aviation acrobatics, a gymnast or figure skater ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

En Theos [enthusiasm]

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 6, 2004

A simple formula for a more exciting, energizing existence...In God = En Theos = Enthusiasm. Several Biblical reasons to be enthused about being ’en Theos’. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

En Theos [Enthusiasm] Ps. 122:1 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Enthusiasm.html Introduction: Webster’s Dictionary says the meaning of enthusiasm / excitement is "to be stirred or thrilled." Some would say they have enthusiasm at times, it depends on what they are doing...what they are ‘into’ at ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1

Denomination: Baptist

What I Can Do While Waiting On God

Contributed by Keith Foskey on Apr 4, 2005

Waiting for God doesn’t mean sitting around doing nothing… it means doing what we can, while we can, as best we can…while always being careful to not run ahead of God

“What I Can Do While Waiting On God” Acts 1:1-4 OPENING JOKE: A group of travelers were being made to wait on their airplane, which was late due to another flight being canceled. The crowd looked horrible and impatient as the time went on and on. Finally an angry passenger pushed his way to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-4, Acts 26:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Mature

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Feb 12, 2004

While the text is about the gift of tongues, Paul greater concern is how all the gifts of the Spirit are being used for personal gain with little thought of others. Paul would encourage the building up of the body of Christ instead.

Epiphany 5 C 1 Corinthians 14:12-20 02/08/04 A recent front-page story in the Wall Street Journal (January 6, 2004) reported U.S. Marines being trained for duty in Iraq are getting drilled in people skills as well as heavy weaponry. They are receiving instruction about staying respectful as well ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:12-20

Denomination: Lutheran

Let God Do A Miracle Through You Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Feb 17, 2004

How many of you would like to be a part of a miracle? Sure, all of us would! Today, we examine the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and we discover principles for being used by God. *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

How many of you would like to be a part of a miracle? You¡¯ve read about them in the Bible, you¡¯ve heard the stories, but have you ever seen miracles worked through your own life? Do you want to? I¡¯m going to tell you this morning what God can do through you! I want to tell you how God ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-14

Denomination: Holiness

Going Through The Motions

Contributed by Joe Rowland on Mar 26, 2009

Are we just going through the motions of being a Christian? Maybe you are sleep walking and you need awakened out of your sleep. Wake up mighty men and women and prepare for the battles that will come your way.

Going Through The Motions Romans 8:31-37 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-37

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Truth About Discipleship

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2009

Jesus wants us to know the truth about being one of His disciples. He wants all of us to count the cost, so in vs. 24 the Lord tells us three things we must do.

The Truth about Discipleship Matthew 16:20-25 Sermon by Rick Crandall McClendon Baptist Church - March 22, 2009 *I read about a little boy who was trying to memorize some Scripture. He accidentally got two verses jumbled together. It came out this way: “A lie is an abomination unto the Lord. -- ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:20-25

Denomination: Baptist

Be Prepared To Give

Contributed by Victor Nazareth on Mar 24, 2008

The Boy Scouts Motto is ‘Be Prepared’. Peter is saying here that it may as well be ours. Peter is exhorting in this verse God’s people to be prepared to give: 1) An Answer, 2) To Everyone, 3) The Reason & 4) With Gentleness

Introduction: Last time we talked about Hell – the awful place with motivation to stay out and keep others from too. We seem to be living in a particularly gracious time where God is doing whatever necessary to draw our nation to Him. It is imperative in this scenario that we are prepared to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Denomination: Charismatic

When Prayer Goes Unanswered Series

Contributed by Greg Hanson on Feb 19, 2007

Why doesn’t God answer all our prayers? And when he doesn’t, what should our response be? Part 4 of a series inspired by Philip Yancey’s book "Disappointment with God."

Back when I was a student at Bethany Bible College in Sussex, NB, I lived in one of the dormitories. They’ve since renovated the dorm, but when I was there we had two pay phones in the dorm… one on the second floor, and one on the third. The one on the third floor worked fine, but the one on the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 59:1-3

Denomination: Wesleyan

Aim For Perfection

Contributed by Roger Hutto on Dec 31, 2017

The church should intentionally strive for perfection - being a church where God's presence is evident and powerful. This requires a strategy of obeying God's word, uniting on the fundamental truths of our faith, and never sacrificing unity over trivial

Aim for Perfection 2 Corinthians 13:11 Well, we have another Year in the books! We're standing at the door ready to enter into a New Year. What are we going to do with it? How are we going to approach it? We've got a couple of choices: • We can focus on the past: whether it be our successes ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Theme Of Scripture Is Christ

Contributed by Mark Mitchell on Jan 28, 2016

In the course of the early mission of Jesus Apostles and their associates, while their oral proclamation was still being hear and remembered, written accounts of Jesus words and works began to be drawn up for the benefit of the communities of Christians that has formed.”

I. The OT looked forward to Christ A. (John 5:46-47) B. The OT looked forward to a Messiah that would bring a new law to make Israel and the nations glad. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) 1. The Messiah announced to Adam 2. The Messiah typified by Noah 3. The Lamb typified by Isaac 4. The King typified in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:44-45

Denomination: Baptist

The Image Of Liberty Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 31, 2015

Israel was trapped, and afraid. And yet God had one simple message was: "Be still and trust me." But how could that kind of reaction help solve their problem? And how can it solve our problems as well?

OPEN: (we showed the following video from the 10 Commandments with Heston and Yul Brenner) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo0JMs-evQU. (Beginning at 2:43 running till 4:09) The year was 1856. Artist Auguste Bartholdi was vacationing in Egypt and he was overwhelmed by what he saw. The grandeur ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus, The One Who Welcomes Us Home

Contributed by Craig Condon on Jun 3, 2015

Because we believe that God is sovereign, and because we believe that the risen Christ is living and that the power of the Holy Spirit continues to make all things new, we can affirm that we are being healed again and again.

Back in 1971, Gavin Bryars, one of England's leading musicians and composers, agreed to help his friend Alan Powers with the sound on a film that Powers was making about street people. He was filming in an area around London's Waterloo Station. He filmed various people living on the streets. He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Anglican

A God-Led People Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jul 8, 2015

After weeks of study and planning, the leadership of our congregation is launching our Vision and Mission statements to the congregation. This boils down to: Being God-Led; Outreach-Centered; and Church Equipping. This lesson deals with the first aspect.

1. Pioneering Vision About 350 years ago a group of immigrants landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. In ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ