Sermons on Bootstraps:

Faith & Works

Contributed by John Stevenson on Oct 18, 2000

I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.

I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. So go the words of W. E. Henley in his well-known Invictus. There is something intensely individualistic and ego-affirming in the idea that you make your own way. We would all like to think that we can pull ourselves up by our own ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10, Mark 10:17-27

Divine Impact Series

Contributed by Kyle Meador on Nov 28, 2000

"Thy Kingdom Come?" God has created His church to have a divine impact on the destiny and lives of people living today on earth!

Have you ever seen the poster of “Deep Impact” from Harding? One year Harding University centered the theme of their yearly camp for high school students around the title: Deep Impact. They were playing off the movie that recently been released by the same title. The tease-line from the movie was: ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:10-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Friends"

Contributed by Ray Scott on Jul 6, 2004

What does it take to be a true friend? What are the characteristics of a true friend? See how Jesus is your best friend ... the best friend you could ever have.

“Friends” INTRODUCTION: Friends are wonderful things to have … AMEN? When I was over at Lisa Mathew’s house this week, I couldn’t help notice all the “friends” she had. That’s one of the blessings of growing up in a small community. You have friends that you grew up with … friends you went to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

Pretending Everything Is Okay

Contributed by Jason Patrick on Nov 24, 2001

As part of a family of faith, Christians need to realize that we can be honest with God and with one another about just how difficult life can sometimes be.

Pretending Everything is Okay / Psalm 137 Proper 22, Year C; Downsville Baptist Church; 7 October 2001 One of the biggest grievances that I presently hold against many churchgoers is the notion that it is important that we act like everything is just fine in our lives even when it is not. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Irresistible To God Series

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Nov 10, 2007

Part 2 - God cannot resist true humility in his children.

A couple of weeks ago, as I was finishing our teaching on the life of Moses, I told you that I have a weakness for heroes. A part of what makes heroes so attractive is their rugged independence. They just don’t need anyone else…however, that’s really not a strength. In fact I need to learn how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Wesleyan

What If God Did Not Answer Prayers?

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 9, 2007

A sermon loosely based on Psalm 28 on how the world would be if God did not answer prayers! (Thanks to Lonnie Gunter and some SermonCentral Contributors for some illustrations and ideas)

Sermon for 4/29/2007 Psalm 28 What If God Did Not Answer Prayers? Introduction: A. Read Psalm 28:1-2. B. After Adam and Even sinned by eating from the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, the Bible says, (Gen 3:23 NIV) So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 28:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Get A (New) Grip Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 11, 2007

Palm Sunday wasn’t just about the "triumph". It speaks directly to our feeling like we want to give up in the face of struggle

Get A (New) Grip: Hearing God Through Hebrews 12 Apr 1, 2007 Palm Sunday Intro: Not so long ago, late last fall, I felt like I wanted to quit. It was a Sunday morning, and I was sitting right over there where usually sit, and it was during our time of worship through song, and I sat there ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:12-13

Denomination: Baptist

God's Critics

Contributed by Eric Baldwin on Feb 1, 2006

A message for the enlightment of mankind towards our attitude about God.

“God’s Critics” My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. -Job 42:5-6 NIV More often than not I find that mankind is very apt to be critical. Many of us like to call ourselves opinionated, we like to say that we are just up ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

New Life In Christ

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Dec 1, 2005

A road map to New Life in Christ - from being Dead, Enslaved and Condemned - through the Grace of God, telling us What God Has Done,Why God Did It and What We Are Now (Or Should Be).

The Bible is great literature but to the Christian it’s more than that – it’s God’s Story of His self-revelation to mankind. The story-line is God’s working out of His sovereign purpose in effecting a re-creation of what was fundamentally damaged by the sin of our first parents. God chose to do ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Lead Us Not Into Temptation Series

Contributed by Antonio Torrence on Mar 12, 2006

This sermon is about conquering our temptations to achieve a stronger relationship with God.

Matthew 6:13 “And Lead Us Not Into Temptation but Deliver Us From Evil.” By Reverend A. LaMar Torrence, Pastor of Cross of Life Lutheran Church. "Do not lead us into temptation...." For almost 2000 years Christians have prayed that phrase in the Lord’s Prayer. Unless you are new to Christianity, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13

Denomination: Lutheran

Faith: Still Here

Contributed by Alvin Hathaway, Sr. on Mar 18, 2009

The meaning of life, the tenure of life, and the essence of life is always God’s conclusion.

Sunday, January 7, 2007 “Faith: Still Here” Text: Joshua 4: 1- 9 Without a doubt all of us here today have a faith statement we can make on January 7, 2007 – we are still here. For some 2006 was a difficult year, you may have had challenges that seems insurmountable, but you are still here. You ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

A Model For Effective Prayer

Contributed by Brian La Croix on May 16, 2008

Message about how the blind men approached Jesus on His way to Jerusalem.

A Model for Effective Prayer Matthew 20:29-34 May 4, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me: Can I just be completely honest with you about something? I don’t suppose you’d want me to lie about anything, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:29-34

Denomination: Wesleyan

Learning To Be Positive Series

Contributed by Shane Hargrave on Mar 31, 2009

Making the choice to live with a positive attitude

Parting With Debbie Downer: Learning to be Positive Psalm 118:24 Debbie Downer Video Clip In May of 2004, Saturday Night Live introduced the character of Debbie Downer to the world. Debbie’s last name is taken from the Slang for Downer – which refers to someone who persistently adds bad news or ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Big Picture: The Solution To All The Problems Of Earth

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 1, 2021

From the very beginning of time, space, reality itself in which we exist God the designer, the grand architect of energy and matter foresaw all that would happen. He knew before his voice called the stars and planets into existence that a redeemer would be needed for a wayward mankind.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The first verse of the Bible says in the beginning God created. And the last verse of the Bible says: Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. From the very beginning of time, space, reality ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 34:14-21, Revelation 22:1-5

Denomination: Salvation Army

Why I Quit Tithing

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Sep 23, 2019

Because God owns it all, the question should not be, "How much should I give?" But rather the question should be, "How much should I keep?"

Most people simply don’t understand tithing. To many Christians, it seems like some sort of country club due. Another bill in the long list of monthly expenses. I hear questions like: “How Much Are You Supposed to Tithe?” “Do I tithe on my gross income or net income?” “My pay my tithe on my pay ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:7-15

Denomination: Baptist