Sermons on Black Sheep:

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: "There Is A God" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jun 14, 2005

Understanding that God exists and that he is the one, true God should impact how we live our lives.

First Things First #1 “There is a God” Deuteronomy 6:1-5 Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Sometimes, no matter how much you know (or think you know) it helps to get back to the basics… • For Israel—they were about to embark upon their greatest challenge yet; ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

The Great Adventure: "Sail Into The Unknown!" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Aug 3, 2006

Christians are called to sail into the unknown, making disciples, like Jonah...but sometimes we try to go our own way and create all kinds of problems.

Can anybody finish this sentence… “In 1492, Columbus sailed the _______ “? • That’s how I’ve always remembered the story of Columbus… now here’s a great adventurer! In a day when nobody believed that the Earth was round, Columbus had this crazy idea that to get to India he would sail off in the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 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

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

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

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

Chasing After... Career Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jul 22, 2003

We seek meaning for our lives in the very same places the Teacher looked in Ecclesiastes ... and are all ultimately meaningless without God.

American Idols: #1 Work Ecclesiastes 2:17-23 We’re beginning a new series tonight entitled "American Idols." You may be familiar with the popular Fox television show where contestants show off their singing talents and vie to become the next "American Idol." You’d have to have been on another ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:11-23, Ecclesiastes 4:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Chasing After ...fame Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jul 22, 2003

We chase after meaning in the same idols that the Teacher of Ecclesiastes did. Ultimately he found no satisfaction in acclaim & recognition ...nor will we.

American Idols: Contestant #2- "Star Wannabe" Ecclesiastes 1:11 We are continuing our quest to discover America’s #1 ‘Idol’ tonight! If you were here last week, you’ll remember that we interviewed "Ben A. Workaholic" who is our 1st contestant for the coveted title of "America’s #1 Idol" and he ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9, Ecclesiastes 1:11-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ