Sermons on Bless Mess:

Too Good To Be True

Contributed by Paul Decker on Jul 31, 2005

The church is a place of change.

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE Acts 5:12-16 S: Miracles C: God brings change Pr: THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF CHANGE. Type: Narrative, Inductive PA: How is the change to be observed? • Be a place of change. • Be a place where lives are made better. • Live up to our potential instead of settling. Version: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

Would A Loving God Send Anyone To Hell? Series

Contributed by Michael Luke on Aug 1, 2005

A look at the balance between grace and justice.

SERIES: “ANSWERS FOR SOME OF LIFE’S DIFFICULT QUESTIONS” TEXT: REVELATION 20: TITLE: “WOULD A LOVING GOD SEND ANYONE TO HELL?” INTRODUCTION: A. A five-year-old boy was visiting his grandmother. She allowed him to go out to the backyard to play ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:10-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Worry, Be Happy Series

Contributed by Dan Jackson on Aug 19, 2005

2nd message on James. Troubles and trials are part of the core curriculum of life. James shows us how to deal with them.

Lucy offers one of her unsolicited observations about life in a “Peanuts” cartoon. “Life,” she muses to Charlie Brown, “is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going. Some place it so they can see where they have been. And some place it so they can see where they are at ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-12, James 1:16-18

Rebellion - The Faith Killer Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 21, 2005

Many of us are exposed to the gospel, but as the Israelites had a choice to go into the Promised Land, we have a choice whether to believe God when He says salvation is through Jesus Christ. Do you have a hard or soft heart to the Lord?

I grew up in the 60’s when rebellion against authority was turned into an art form. Rebellion says: I don’t like someone taking authority over me. I don’t want you telling me what’s wrong with me, and I certainly don’t want you telling me what to do because what I think is the most important thing ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-19

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

800-Pound Gorilla? Or The First Pope?

Contributed by William Mouser on Aug 23, 2005

In Matthew 16, Jesus confers on Peter (and, later the other Apostles) authority to rule the Church, founded on the truth of Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah.

Matthew 16:13-20 800-Pound Gorilla? Or the First Pope? There’s a phrase that’s popular in modern discussions of any number of topics, and that phrase is this: “an 800 pound gorilla in the room.” An example would be this line which I plucked from a blog entry on the international economy as it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

What Does It Take?

Contributed by David Richardson on Aug 25, 2005

What does it take to be a Christian? Are there rules? Are there criteria?

Title: What does it take? Scripture: Romans 10:8-17 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:8-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

In The Dark, In The Wrong, And All Alone Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Aug 26, 2005

Let’s face it. Most of what we will get this year for Christmas will not really matter 6 months from now. However, God’s gifts do. They last for all eternity. And we are going to be unwrapping His gifts this Christmas season.

Peace. Love. Joy. Hope. We know that all of these things are the themes of Christmas. We see the ads, the commercials, the programs… Everyone is all smiles and full of joy. And most of us are going to tap into at last some of that. But gathered around your Christmas dinner table or at your ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11

Denomination: Baptist

No Gain Without Pain

Contributed by John Beach on Aug 30, 2005

There’s no Get without Give, no Gain without Pain

“THERE’S NO GET WITHOUT GIVE AND NO GAIN WITHOUT PAIN” (Mat. 16:24-28) 3/31/2005 The words that Jesus spoke here and that Matthew recorded for us…strikes a Death Blow to the current trend of modern day contemporary Christianity. So much of our modern day Christianity is bent on a self-centered ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Salt Of The Earth

Contributed by Richard Francis on Aug 31, 2005

Believers are Christs Salt and Light on this earth its not a gifting you might or might not have (or want), you are, WE ARE!

The Salt of the Earth Key Points Jesus preaching on the mountain Tells his followers that “You Are” We are Salt and Light Its not negotiable, not a “gifting” to be claimed or ignored Its not earned or as a reward Its not a denominational calling If Jesus is your Lord and Saviour, you are We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Day The World Changed Series

Contributed by Douglas Dudley on May 17, 2005

THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD WAS NEVER AN AFTERTHOUGHT. IT WAS PURPOSED BY GOD BEFORE THE WORLD WAS CREATED. THE CHURCH IS COMPOSED OF GOD’S PEOPLE.

The Church: The Day The World Changed Text: Acts, Chapter 2 This morning, I’d like to continue our series on the Lord’s Church. Some think the Church was an institution that kind of showed in history and developed over time in the ways that man decided it should. Nothing could be further from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sharing Jesus In Practical Ways Series

Contributed by Richard Burkey on May 19, 2005

Jesus in Matthew 10:42 when he speaks of sharing a cup of cold water is speaking of the practicality of living the Christian life. Christianity and our relationship with God is personal, but not meant to be private. Our life with God is a life that is des

The Great Life: Sharing Jesus in Practical Ways June 29-30, 2002 Matthew 10:40-42 (New International Version) 40”He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

Denomination: Lutheran

How Jesus Ministered - Meeting Jesus Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 29, 2005

What’s the key to having a successful church? There are large "successful" churches that haven’t learned what Jesus’ formula was. Do you know what Jesus’ formula was?

OPEN: In a California city, a woman rushed into a store, glanced around and took a number. Then she heard the clerk call out “87,” and she looked down and saw her own number was 8. She was understandably puzzled, because there were only 3 other people in the store. So she went to the counter and, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Broadway Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 29, 2005

Why is the narrow way the road less traveled? Because 1. It is difficult. 2. It is against the majority. 3. It includes persecution.

Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). (A spontneous skit can be done here. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Denomination: Methodist

Persevere Under Hardship Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on May 30, 2005

Are you going through tough times? It could be that God is making you into a wonderul tool - to use in furthering His kingdom. Find out how Paul encouraged Timothy to stay with it under pressure.

Paul has just gotten finished telling Timothy that despite the fact that he was abandoned in Rome – that there were a few – like Onesiphorus, who were a great comfort during hard times. Now he takes it one step further – be strong yourself, and look for people you can trust – then pass on good ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-26

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Holiness Is Healthy Series

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jun 5, 2005

So this morning we are going to talk about proportion in the Christian life. To guide our thoughts our primary text will be Titus 2:11-14.

Holiness is Healthy Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 3:14-18; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Cascades Fellowship CRC, JX MI February 20, 2005 Third Sunday of Lent One of the books that in recent years has caused a ruckus inside and outside of the church is The DiVinci Code by Dan Brown. The seed for the story is ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed