Sermons on Believing In Vain:

Focusing On The Positive! Series

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 5, 2001

How you look at something can make a world of difference in how you behave. Life is like that. What you focus upon in life will generally determine the kind of decisions you make.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2011) ILL. Have you heard the story of the farmer who was discouraged with his farm? So he decided to sell out & move somewhere else. He engaged a realtor to look the farm over & prepare a sales ad. But ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26, Philippians 4:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Take Up Your Cross

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 10, 2001

What does it mean to "take up" or "bear a cross? What does it mean when someone says, "I want to take up my cross and follow Jesus"?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK This morning I want us to look at a passage of Scripture found in Mark 8:34-35. "Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples & said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself & take up ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stewardship - God's Economic Plan

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 10, 2001

A great mistake when we talk about money in the church is that we often do it in the context of a special appeal or a crisis situation.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, BROWNSVILLE, TX A. I’m going to read 1 Timothy 6:17-19 this morning. And the subject of this sermon is "God’s economic plan." I’m not going to talk about the world’s economic plan because you hear about that every day. You hear ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Father's Day - God's Man

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 11, 2001

Here are 5 characteristics that ought to be evident in God’s man.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, BROWNSVILLE, TX A. Today is Father’s Day - the day we honor our fathers & think about masculinity & manhood & all those good things. So the subject of my sermon this morning is "God’s man." Now I realize that you can be lots of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Does Christianity Work?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 14, 2001

The question isn’t, "Does Christianity Work?" The important question is "How?" What is there about Christ’s teachings that make a real difference in our lives?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, BROWNSVILLE, TX A. Thanksgiving Day is over, & if you have been to the mall, you know that the Christmas shopping season is well on its way. But let me ask you, "What gift can you buy for people well up in years who already have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Making Something Of Bad Apples

Contributed by David Simmons on Jan 18, 2001

God has given each of us the opportunity, the freedom to choose for ourselves so he could have a genuine relationship with us.

Well… I have to confess that for some time now, I have been harboring a deep-rooted fear. It began several years ago as a 22 year old Summer Youth Worker. Our pastor had left; we were in an interim period, and it looked as if I might have to step in and preach on Father’s Day. But you know you ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-24, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

Denomination: Baptist

The God Who Cares Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 24, 2001

Six ways God cares for people, presented to the person investigating the Christian faith.

(Note: This sermon was introduced with a dramatic monologue based on the life of John Newton and then a reading of Psalm 103:1-18). John Newton could’ve written those words. Every word of Psalm 103 cries out that the God of the Bible is the God who cares. Have you experienced God as the God who ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is It Good, Or Is It Bad?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 28, 2001

Here is the promise: "All things, both good & bad things, can work together for good to those who love God..." The question is, "How?"

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK A. Have you ever had anything good happen to you, & then, perhaps years later, as you looked back on the event, realized that what seemed so good at the time had bad results? Or have you ever had anything ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Learning From Our Mistakes

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Jan 4, 2003

This sermon looks out how Moses wanting the Isrealites to learn from thier past mistakes before they entered the Promised Land. I then led into a discussion about some of the mistakes our church had made, namely a lack of a sense of duty and an elitist a

This past week I got a phone call from a person from the Wayne County News about providing some information to them for an upcoming article in their paper about our little church here in Winchester. The article is to focus primarily upon the history of our church, from its beginnings all ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:1-6, Hebrews 10:25

Denomination: Methodist

Living With Loneliness…even In A Crowd

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Jan 12, 2003

Few emotions are more painful than the emotion of loneliness. Deep loneliness is often experienced right after the holidays. The gifts have been opened. The parties have been given. All of the friends and family have returned home and the cookies have bee

SERMONIC / WORSHIP THEME Opening Statement: Few emotions are more painful than the emotion of loneliness. Deep loneliness is often experienced right after the holidays. The gifts have been opened. The parties have been given. All of the friends and family have returned home and the cookies have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-23

See The Vision Series

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jan 15, 2003

sermon on stewardship written with help from wels study

January 12, 2003 Genesis 28:10-22 10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: Lutheran

Seven Keys To Running Your Race Well Series

Contributed by Bill Burnett on Jan 16, 2003

Are running your race to win?

1 Cor 9:24-27.doc GOOD ADVICE TO A GROWING CHURCH _____________________________________________ Seven Keys to Running Your Race Well- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. The word ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 1 John 5:4-8

Denomination: Foursquare

When God Gives You Influence Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Jan 20, 2003

In this message, we will see that God gives people influence so we can come to know Him better. In knowing Him, we’ll be able to better handle both the well-being and the calamity that comes our way as people of influence.

“Why did God make me? Why am I here? Why do I have the influence that I have?” I’m betting that you have wrestled with these questions. For most of you in this room, God has given you some measure of influence. You may be a teacher, a coach, a mom, a dad, a boss, an officer in a club, a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 45:2-7

Denomination: Baptist

What Is God's Plan For My Finances? Series

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jan 25, 2003

First in a series on Getting a Grip on My Finances looks at the meaning of stewardship.

(Powerpoint slides available) SLIDE 1 [Opening Activity Begin The following items are needed: 1. An empty, old bottle 2. A large key made of cardboard and spray painted gold. The key will have the verses of Matthew 6:19-21 printed and attached to one side. "Don’t store up treasures here on earth, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-31, Romans 14:12

Denomination: Methodist

Two Fish Tales

Contributed by Dawn Marie Turner on Jan 25, 2003

Are we disobedient to God or do we follow him without question?

As you can tell, our scripture readings today have a theme. You may have to think a bit, but it does help if you read the sermon title and also were listening during the children’s moments. Both our stories relate to fish: one to a big fish story and one to fishermen at their nets. There has ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ