Sermons on Bold To Approach:

A God Who Gives Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 19, 2003

The Christmas narrative is in danger of being relegated to a sweet story that is just read once a year. Some of us have heard it so much that we’re no longer moved by the magnitude of the Majesty becoming a man. We must never forget that this is holy hi

A God Who Gives As we prepare for Christmas, sometimes I wonder if we have allowed the Savior to be stolen from our celebrations. We’ve sterilized the spiritual and been inoculated by the familiarity of the nativity. “Merry Christmas” has been replaced with “Happy Holidays.” Have you noticed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:26-38, Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord Who Leads Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 20, 2003

Since this psalm is so familiar, we’re in danger of missing the depth of its meaning. And, because it’s setting is in the world of sheep and shepherds, many of us city slickers can slide right past its richness.

The Lord Who Leads Most everyone has heard of Psalm 23. It’s a poem with no peer and has been called the sweetest song ever sung. Abraham Lincoln read it to cure his blues, and President Bush proclaimed it publicly to calm our nation’s fears after 9-11. I read these words out loud a week ago ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Longing For The Lord Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 20, 2003

I want us to take a look at Psalm 42 in order to better understand the kind of depression that can hit us in the spiritual solar plexus.

Longing for the Lord Last week we focused our attention on Psalm 32, and established the fact that our unconfessed sins can cause us physical problems. When we don’t confess we can experience distress. What we’ll learn this morning is that pain is not always a direct result of sin. Last Monday ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-11, Psalm 42:1

Denomination: Baptist

Zacchaeus: Out On A Limb For Jesus Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Mar 27, 2003

Like Zacchaeus, none of us really measures up but Jesus knows what you need—a relationship. He knows your name and sees you not who you are, but who you can become.

Zacchaeus: Out on a Limb for Jesus Luke 19:1-10 By Dr. David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION After the series on getting Plugged In, we’re back in the gospel according to Luke. Today, we’re going to look at one of the most wonderful stories in the Bible: Zacchaeus. Like many of you I was first exposed to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10, Luke 19:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Word Of Triumph Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 2, 2003

“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’” This cry from the Cross is a shout of victory! Jesus fully paid the price for our sins, stamping "paid in full" across the ledger sheet of our lives. Since Jesus paid it all, we don’t have to

The Word of Triumph Do you ever feel like your life is littered with half-completed projects? Even though I value being able to complete what I start, my days are often filled with unfinished business. From my childhood tree fort that had only one wall, to receiving an “Incomplete” in my college ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Denomination: Baptist

Building Bigger Hearts Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Apr 7, 2003

Contentment doesn’t come from our circumstances. It comes from the heart. And that’s where the root of the problem really lies. Not in our wallets, but in our hearts.

My son, Evan, plays for the 10year old North Royalton travel team. The other day, the players received their uniforms. They are beautiful – very nice. And the hats! They are purple with a gold NR embroidered on the front. And they are fitted. Evan even has his number embroidered on the back ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Five Marks Of A Real Disciple Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Apr 9, 2003

Jesus gives us five vivid images teaching us lessons about discipleship and the total commitment it requires

Five Marks of a Real Disciple Luke 14:25-35 by David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION The main job Jesus left us to do was to make disciples. There is a difference between a believer and a disciple. There is no such thing as an instant disciple; like the word, it takes discipline. A Russian comedian, Yakov ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do Good People Suffer? Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Apr 10, 2003

Why do bad things happen to good people? Suffering gets our attention and reminds us that we cannot make it without God.

Why Do Good People Suffer? Luke 13:1-9 by David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION Today, I want to speak to you on “Why Do Good People Suffer?” I’ve preached on suffering before. In fact, one lady wrote me a note reading, “Pastor, I never knew what suffering was until I heard you preach. Now I know.” Some ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

When Saying "No” To People Is Saying "Yes” To God Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Apr 28, 2003

Exhausted. Empty. Enslaved. Do those words describe you? I believe that God never piles on more than we can handle. What to do when you are overbooked, overworked, and overstressed. I’ve simply got to learn to say “no” to some of what I’ve been sayi

Several years ago, Maryanne was out of town visiting her family in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I was here at home with Alan who was in school. He was about ten and I was trying to do things that were fun with him. One of those was skateboarding. We live on Wallings Road between Ridge and York in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:35-39

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Well & Staying Well Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Feb 23, 2004

The answer to this crippled man’s need is not in the troubled water but faith in the person, Jesus Christ. His struggles and decisions are not unlike our own as we respond to God.

Getting Well and Staying Well Fortifying the Foundations #12 John 5:1-15 7-13-03 Intro: As we read our text this morning I will touch on a couple of technical matters that are helpful to understand but not necessary to the flow of the message. John 5:1-15 5:1Some time later, This is a somewhat ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15, Mark 6:5

Denomination: Charismatic

Love Is? Part 1

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 11, 2004

Love needs to be defined in light of what the Bible says love is. Love really is only defined in light of the statement “God is Love!” If you do not start with God then you cannot know or experience love in your life.

Love is …Part one Thesis: Love needs to be defined in light of what the Bible says love is. Love really is only defined in light of the statement “God is Love!” If you do not start with God then you cannot know or experience love in your life. Opening Illustration from: “Forever Young”. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pursuing Purity In An Impure World Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 24, 2004

We can con our coworkers, fool our friends and family, play charades with church members, and even deceive ourselves, but we can’t masquerade before the Lord because He sees right through our masks.

Pursuing Purity in an Impure World I remember seeing a cartoon that shows a pastor and his wife deep in conversation. The wife says, “Today let’s do something different. Why don’t you be charming at home and grouchy at church?” Ouch. That really doesn’t apply to me…because I’m often grouchy in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

The Forgotten Family Tree Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 14, 2004

This morning we’re going to look at a list in Matthew 1 that contains over 40 names, some who were “darlings” and many others who were “disasters.”

The manager of a large office noticed a new employee and asked, “What’s your name?” The worker replied, “John.” The manager scowled and said, “Look, I don’t know where you worked before, but I don’t call anyone by their first name. It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority. I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Lies, Lying And Liars

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Dec 17, 2004

The world seems to agree that lying is not a good thing, but the believer in Christ has different reasons for that.

Lies, Lying and Liars TCF Sermon October 17, 2004 How many of you have ever received a gift you didn’t like? Maybe it was a really hideous tie. Maybe it was a fruitcake. I’ve heard of families where the same fruitcakes were passed along from member to member for years. Nobody could bring ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 19:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Is God?

Contributed by John Covell on Oct 17, 2001

God says we need him and, even though we might not often think of it in these terms, we wish we didn’t need God. We don’t want to need God.

A few weeks ago, I was given a list of 75 questions asked by our elementary kids about God. One of them was, “Where is God?” A few astronauts have said that there must not be a God because they’ve been out in space, and they didn’t see him there. Some say God’s in the earth, he’s in the rocks, he’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Mark 5:24-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational