Sermons on Black History:

Be Transformed Series

Contributed by Brian Black on May 25, 2007

A series that looks at what it takes to live transformed lives.

Been doing some reading and a lot of thinking . . . (1) What does it mean to be the church? What is it supposed to look like? Are we close? If we could start over, would we change anything? Not doubting God, but re-evaluating our strategies … Are we more concerned with… • programs or processes • ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Adventure: "Sound The Battle Cry!" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jul 24, 2006

Just as God called Joshua to lead the nation of Israel into battle, Christians are called into a spiritual battle, not against the people of the world, but the spiritual forces of evil which control the world. Cf. Eph. 6

Children sing—“I’m in the Lord’s Army!” Our children keep things exciting around here! We’re continuing what I hope is an exciting Bible study series, “The Great Adventure!” The Christian life ought to be a great adventure! • If you’re bored in your Christian walk… its NOT God’s fault! I ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

1st Things 1st: "Salvation Is Found In Jesus Alone" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Aug 23, 2005

Do Christians really believe that salvation is found ONLY through Jesus Christ?

There were a lot of things one could believe in in the ancient world… • There were all manner of Greek or Roman ‘gods’ one could worship… just take your pick! Epicureanism was a common philosophy. So was Stoicism. There were all kinds of mystery religions and pagan worship ideas. • There were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:8-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

1st Things 1st: "Jesus Is Coming Soon" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Aug 23, 2005

If we believe that Jesus is coming back soon, why don’t we live like it?

With summer winding down and school about to start everybody has been cramming in those last minute vacations… I can remember one summer in particular our family made plans to go to Disneyworld! Now this was a “big deal” for a 10-yr old kid and I remember the anticipation just about as much as I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Compelled By The Love Of Christ

Contributed by Thomas Black on Jun 4, 2005

What does it take to give up every comfort and to recieve every form of suffering in order to reach ONE for Christ? The Love of Christ must compell you.

Today is Memorial day Sunday. The idea of the holiday surpasses hot-dogs on the grill; it’s an opportunity and a call to reflect on the sacrifice of many thousands of men who have died for the ideals of our country. Some of you served in the military and have given a part of your heart to serving ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:13-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

1st Things 1st: "God Is A Loving Father" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jun 16, 2005

To invite a more personal relationship with our Creator God by seeing Him also as a loving Father who loves each of his children without end.

Reading: Deuteronomy 32:1-6 I suppose that I’m like a lot of us… I’ve always wanted to please my father, but many times I have felt like I just never could. …that I never could quite live up to his expectations. • My Dad has always loved baseball. Some of the only toys he had as a kid growing ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

1st Things 1st: Jesus Is God's Son Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jun 23, 2005

Christians claim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God... but what does that really mean?

Have you ever come out with the right answer by mistake? I mean, you had no idea it was right… no way you could tell somebody how you got the answer… no explanation… maybe it was just a guess, but it turned out to be right nonetheless? You’re as surprised as anyone? That is sort of where Peter ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

1st Things 1st: "The Holy Spirit Is Alive & Well" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jul 7, 2005

The Holy Spirit is God’s active and sanctifying presence in believers today.

First Things First #4 “The Holy Spirit is Alive & Well” Acts 18:27 – 19:7 Have you ever been shocked to learn something… something that you should have known all along and you wished somebody had told you sooner? • The story in Acts 18 & 19 has always been an interesting one to me. Here we have ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Mystery Revealed Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Feb 7, 2003

Focus: Paul’s mission was to reveal the fact that God has broken down the walls which divide and made all one in Christ; a mission which he also gives to the church.

Mystery Revealed Ephesians 3:1-3 Focus: Paul’s mission was to reveal the fact that God has broken down the walls which divide and made all one in Christ; a mission which he also gives to the church. Function: To challenge the church to take up Paul’s challenge to reveal the manifold wisdom ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ