Sermons on Black Bead:

Coming To The End Of Yourself Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on Sep 6, 2006

God will do whatever he must to make the vessel of his grace prepared to receive his grace.

Read Psalm 34 to start the service Read Genesis Chapter 32. This is a story about coming to the end of yourself - so that God is finally free to work. It’s also a story about reconciliation. As a man, Jacob was still quite self sufficient, and he still retained much of the old nature in his life. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Shall Be My God Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on Sep 6, 2006

God can restore broken relationships with other people... and himself.

I want us to take a brief walk through this chapter in Genesis 33. Of course, in context it follows the three days covered in Genesis 32 in which Jacob finds out his brother is coming to meet him with 400 men. The rest of that chapter is wrapped up in Jacob’s human attempts and frailties to undo ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 33:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Adventure: "Saddle Up Your Horses" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jul 12, 2006

When called to go, Abraham obeyed and went. As God calls us into his glorious kingdom, he invites us to a life full of challenge, surprise and adventure!

I have to be honest with you… when I was a kid I had a really wrong-headed idea of what the Christian faith was all about. I thought that being a Christian meant giving up a life of fun & excitement in order to come, sit on a pew and be a good boy. • I’m not sure where that notion came from… maybe ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Great Adventure: "Stand Against The Tide!" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jul 12, 2006

Noah stood against the culture of his day and was counted faithful. Christians are called to an exciting, challenging and different way of life… not to conform to the world.

We want to continue that excitement this morning as we delve back into our summer series, “The Great Adventure!” The Christian life is supposed to a great and exciting adventure! • Now, we don’t often talk about faith in those terms… • When we truly and honestly give ourselves to God and place our ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:5-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Learning To Let God Lead Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on Apr 28, 2006

The transformation from Defiant Deciever to Humble Servant is never easy.

How many of you would consider yourselves a role model? I’ve got an interesting role model for you tonight. Turns out he was married ... twice... at the same time... to sisters! To top it off – at the suggestion of his wives he had a couple more ladies on the side (and his wives were OK with ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 29:1-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Battling Brides Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on Apr 28, 2006

Anyone who has ever said the Bible is boring hasn’t read it. Tonight I want to walk through this rather surreal story. Genesis 29:31-30:24 needs some kind of introduction, but once you read what’s going on here, it really defies a quaint definition, So

Anyone who has ever said the Bible is boring hasn’t read it. Tonight I want to walk through this rather surreal story. Genesis 29:31-30:24 needs some kind of introduction, but once you read what’s going on here, it really defies a quaint definition, So I’ll just say, “Welcome to the battling ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helping God Out Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on Apr 28, 2006

Do you ever try to “help God out”? Or are you content even in an uncomfortable situation to trust Him?

The flow of the story is rather simple: Jacob wants to go home, but instead remains on with uncle Laban and gets rich in the mean time. The passage carries with it allot of presuppositions; starting with the obvious strain between Jacob and Laban and continuing in Jacob’s alternating faithfulness ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:25-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Says Go The World Says No Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on Apr 28, 2006

Getting used to the idea of not being liked is difficult if you happen to be a person that cares what people think. But as you know Sometimes, “When God Says GO the World Says NO.”

Getting used to the idea of not being liked is difficult if you happen to be a person that cares what people think. But as you know Sometimes, “When God Says GO the World Says NO.” Look at Genesis 31 tonight and we’ll catch a glimpse of what Jacob went through as he began to follow God’s ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Breaking Away From The World Brings An Uneasy Peace

Contributed by Thomas Black on Apr 28, 2006

We don’t need to offend unbeleivers because we follow Jesus. Let the Cross offend them, but not us.

I once worked at a grocery store which employed a truck-driver and while his instructions were basically to get a load from point A to point B he felt on occasion that in order to meet a deadline he would have to speed or otherwise break a few laws. Yet the double edge to the sword was if he got ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:22-55

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Da Vinci Code: I Know Something You Don't Know Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on May 3, 2006

What’s the underlying doctrine to the Da Vinci code? Gnosticism. The da Vinci code is one more example of a resurgence of an ancient heresy.

A companion powerpoint to this sermon is located at: http://www.stilltruth.com/downloads/ppt/I_Know_Something_You_Dont_Know.ppt I know something you don’t know. Say it with a sing song in your voice and you sound like a child on the playground. Say it with a whisper and you sound like a gloating ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Da Vinci Code: Deciphering Da Vinci (Part 1) Series

Contributed by Thomas Black on May 3, 2006

Dan Brown couldn’t even get his front page "Facts" straight.

Why am I doing a four week study on the Da Vinci Code? Let me open simply with these quotes and letters: "Honestly, [reading the book] shook my whole faith. I realize that the book is fiction, but much of what he wrote about seemed like it was based on historical facts aside from the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Will You Do With Jesus? Listen To Him! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jan 22, 2004

Hearing the good news of Jesus demands a response... will it be to listen to what he has to say for our lives?

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS? “Listen to Him!” Romans 10:13-17 Focus: Hearing the good news of Jesus demands a response.. will it be to listen to him? Function: To call hearers to make a decision to listen to what Jesus has to say for their lives. What a beautiful text: Everyone who calls upon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-5, Romans 10:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Name Above All Names: "The Lamb Of God" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jan 22, 2004

To celebrate in Communion Jesus as the perfect, complete & triumphal Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.. including my own.

Name Above All Names: “The Lamb of God” John 1:29-34 Focus: Jesus is the perfect, complete & triumphal Lamb that takes away the sins of the world. Function: To encourage trust and faith in the triumphant Lamb of God by celebrating his victory thru communion. Maybe the hardest story in ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-34, Philippians 2:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Ashes Of The Red Heifer

Contributed by Val Black on Jan 25, 2004

In the Old Testament the Ashes of the Red Heifer was mixed with water and then used as water of purification. What does that have to do with us today?

~ THE ASHES OF THE RED HEIFER ~ What is the meaning behind the Ashes of the Red Heifer and what significance does it offer Christians today? _ -_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - _ -_ - _ - _ - _ - _ - (The following was given by Val Black at Faith Christian Fellowship, Shenandoah, Iowa at the Wednesday ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 19:1-10, Isaiah 46:9-10

Denomination: Charismatic

What Will You Do With Jesus? Trust In Him! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jan 31, 2004

Hearing the good news of Jesus demands a response.. will it be to put your trust in Him?

What will you do with Jesus? Trust in Him John 6:25-29 Focus: Hearing the good news of Jesus demands a response…will it be to trust in him? Function: To call hearers to make a decision to put their faith in Jesus. Let me tell you about a couple of people I know … Samantha—When the couple from ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-29, Mark 9:17-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ