Sermons on Blackness:

Name Above All Names: "Son Of God & Son Of Man" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jan 5, 2004

Jesus is at once fully God & fully man, making him both able to understand our condition and able to save us from it.

It’s a question we’ll all have to answer! Maybe you’ve already answered it and it was years ago; maybe you have yet to answer it; but rest assured we will ALL answer it at some point! Whether you grew up in church in a Christian family, or maybe you came to be exposed to Jesus much later in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:9-11, Matthew 16:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Name Above All Names: "The Word" Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jan 8, 2004

Jesus is God’s ultimate WORD to all humanity! But what does that mean?

Do you remember a time when your word was enough?Enough to enter into a contract? Enough to buy a car or borrow some money? Enough to enter into a marriage? I picture a time when my grandfather could walk into the local bank and tell Fred sitting behind his desk full of hand-written bank ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14, Philippians 2:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Surpassing Love Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Feb 15, 2003

Paul prays for the church that we would know the surpassing Love of God which empowers His people to live holy lives and to be the church!

Surpassing Love Ephesians 3:14-21 Focus: Paul prays for the church that we would know the surpassing Love of God which empowers His people to live holy lives and to be the church! Function: To illustrate the love of God from Scripture and challenge with the question: Do you know the love of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preserve Unity! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Feb 20, 2003

God calls Christians to live a life worthy of their calling by preserving the unity of the Spirit among Christians.

Preserve Unity! Ephesians 4:1-16 Focus: God calls Christians to live a life worthy of their calling by preserving the unity of the Spirit among Christians. Function: To challenge Christians’ selfish tendencies towards division and strife& to re-examine how fervently we are striving for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:28-29, Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Distinctive! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Mar 1, 2003

Christians are to walk worthy of our call by being different from the world around us.

Be Distinctive! Ephesians 4:17-5:2 Focus: Christians are to walk worthy of our call by being different from the world around us. Function: To challenge & call Christians to holy living in their minds, speech and attitudes. Several years ago a good friend invited me to come and watch him ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Pure! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Mar 9, 2003

Christians are to walk worthy of our call by avoiding any hint of sexual immorality; different from the world around us.

Be Pure! Ephesians 5:1-20 Focus: Christians are to walk worthy of our call by avoiding any hint of sexual immorality; different from the world around us. Function: To challenge & call Christians to holy living in their sexual purity. What is it that makes gold . . . pure gold so ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-20

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

Honor Marriage! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Mar 14, 2003

Christians are called to submit to one another; to put the other’s will over & above your own out of reverence for Christ; especially in the marriage relationship.

Honor Marriage! Ephesians 5:21-33 Focus: Christians are called to submit to one another; to put the other’s will over & above your own out of reverence for Christ; especially in the marriage relationship. Function: To honor the institution of Christian Marriage. Open by recognizing folks ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Respect Authority! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Mar 20, 2003

God calls Christians to respect authority out of respect for God. Paul illustrates how our submission plays out in the Parent-Child relationship as well as in our work relationships.

Respect Authority! Ephesians 6:1-9 Focus: God calls Christians to submit to one another and respect authority out of respect for God. Function: To illustrate how our submission plays out in the Parent-Child relationship as well as in our work world. When Celeste and I first found out ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stand Firm! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Mar 29, 2003

In his concluding exhortations to the Ephesians, Paul calls Christians to be strong and stand firm in their battle against evil.

“Stand Firm!” Ephesians 6:10-18 Focus: In his concluding exhortations to the Ephesians, Paul calls Christians to be strong and stand firm in their battle against evil. Function: To call Christians to active service against the evil of our world by trusting in the power of God. Just imagine ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pray Always! Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Apr 3, 2003

Paul calls Christians to utilize the most powerful ‘spiritual weapon’ they possess: prayer . . . ALWAYS!

Pray Always! Ephesians 6:18-24 Focus: Paul calls Christians to utilize the most powerful ‘weapon’ they possess: prayer . . . ALWAYS! Function: To encourage Christians to re-discover the power of prayer in their lives. The War Eph 6:12-17 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18-24, Ephesians 6:10, Ephesians 6:12-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Will We Be In 2003? Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jan 2, 2003

At the outset of a new year it is helpful to be reminded of who we are as God’s church and what we are to be about doing. This introduction to the book of Ephesians provides just such a reminder!

 What Will We Be in 2003? Ps. 90:12; intro to Ephesians Focus: At the beginning of a new year, we must be reminded of our purpose as a church to not become distracted- much of what Paul does to encourage the church in Ephesians. Function: To encourage the Washington St. church as Paul does ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Reason Series

Contributed by Jim Black on Jan 9, 2003

Though difficult, the call for Christians to live lives different than the world around us is based firmly in what God has done for us– He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ!

The Reason Ephesians 1:1-14 Focus: Though difficult, the call for Christians to live lives different than the world around us is based firmly in what God has done for us– He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ! Function: To encourage Christians to see how God has blessed ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ