Sermons on Building Altar:

God’s Dwelling Place

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Nov 15, 2025

In a world constantly seeking a place to belong, to feel safe, and to be loved, the scriptures come as a refreshing reminder that God has chosen us to be His dwelling place. His desire has been consistently clear: to dwell among His people, not in buildings made by human hands.

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Story of John Wesley’s dream of first going to hell and then heaven and realizing only Christians were in heaven and not the denominations. Only when God dwells in us, we have eternity with Him. INTRODUCTION: In a world constantly seeking a place to belong, to feel safe, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Word Of Hope Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on May 11, 2020

In the midst of this pandemic, where do we find hope? What do we have to grasp onto to steady us? Where is our light in all of this darkness? Where is our anchor, our lifeline in this storm? In the Bible.

Well … I don’t have to tell you, the whole world as we know it is undergoing something I’ve never seen in my lifetime … and I hope that I will never see anything like this again in my lifetime … however long that might be. In two months, everything has been turned upside down and inside out as ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 23:1-3

Denomination: United Methodist

The Gates Of Hell Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 22, 2016

This is the 5th in my travelogues telling of my visit to Israel. In this lesson we visit 4 "gates" in Northern Israel including the "gates of Hell".

Tonight we’re going to be visiting four different “gates” in the northern section of Israel. The first of these “gates” is figurative. It is the gate to the source of the Jordan River (Showed a slide of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:15-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What God Can Do Through Ordinary People Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 5, 2001

In the life of Gideon we see how can can use ordinary people to DO extraordinary things (Real People True Stories - part five)

Gideon - "What God Can Do Through Ordinary People" Today is week 5 in our series Real People - True Stories... So far we have met Elijah - who on Mt Carmel challenged us to get off the fence and really serve God... If God is God then we really need to serve him and quit playing games..... and ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Knowing How To Pray Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 21, 2003

As we study the book of Nehemiah, we’re going to learn things that will help us personally, we’ll discover principles that will guide us as we move into a time of building here at PBC, and we’ll end up understanding a critical part of Old Testament histor

Knowing How to Pray I checked my notes and realized that it’s been a year since I gave you a Bible quiz. Here’s a new test for you. I’ll give you a hint ­ all the questions have to do with the Old Testament. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? Samson. He brought the house down. Who ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

No Other God's

Contributed by Ronnie Smith on Jul 16, 2005

1 Kings 9 1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, 2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto

1 Kings 9 1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, 2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3 And the LORD said unto ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 9:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus: The Great Purifier Series

Contributed by Mike Cleveland on Jan 19, 2008

Jesus has not changed in 2,000 years. He is still passionate about His temple. The temple of God is no longer a building, it is His people. God no longer dwells in a temple made by hands, He lives in us, and His passion, His zeal is the same today as it w

Jesus: the Great Purifier (John 2:12-25) “I’m Sarah, I’m sixteen; Last night I failed. I prayed for more strength, So why did I yield? He said he loved me, Brought me flowers and all; Then he took me upstairs And caused me to fall. I feel so ashamed, So dirty inside. He’s taken my heart; Now I ...read more

Scripture: John 2:12-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Too Christian, Too Pagan Series

Contributed by Josh Reich on May 29, 2007

Most Christians want to take Jesus into their world, but feel inadequate to do so. Instead, we build walls to keep the world out, which isn’t the answer either. This sermon helps give steps to help people show Jesus in their world without selling out.

Good morning everyone. My name is Josh, and I am one of the leaders here at Beginnings. We are really glad you decided to hang out with us this morning. Let’s pray as we move on this morning. Maybe you are able to relate to that clip. Many of us want to make a difference in our world. We ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Brick Method (Communication)

Contributed by Chris Surber on Jun 2, 2007

Every day we ought to be growing more like Christ. And when we look at the life of Christ we see that He always spoke the plain truth, He always loved people. If we are to be about the business of building up the Church then we must be about the busines

“The Brick Method” Proverbs 18:21 Introduction When I was a young Marine Sergeant, stationed in Yuma Arizona, I worked for a Warrant Officer named, Chris Cox. Now, Warrant officer Cox stood about 6ft 4 inches and weighed just shy of three hundred pounds of solid muscle. At the time I had just ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21

Denomination: Christian Church

Essentials Of Faith Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Aug 31, 2008

Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see. We should not put our trust in any other person or thing but in Christ [God] alone. They are all mortal but God alone is immortal. Our faith grows and is build through prayer, fasting and hear

Opening illustration: During the 2nd week of our being at Valley we encountered a situation where we had to exercise our faith to the extreme. [Dealing with an incident of a person who was possessed.] Let us look into a passage where we see the disciples lack of faith and being exhorted by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:14-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Part 2 - The Thinking Pillar Series

Contributed by Rev. Bruce A. Shields on Oct 14, 2006

Part 2 of our House of Faith Series entitled: The Thinking Pillar. We will look at how once we have the Word of God as our foundation, with Jesus Christ as our Cornerstone, we can begin to allow the Holy Spirit to build upon that firm foundation. The f

The House of Faith Part 2 – The Thinking Pillar Rev. Bruce A. Shields House of Faith Ministries www.PS127.org WELCOME Last week we began our series ‘The House of Faith’, by discussing the importance of the foundation of our faith being the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Denomination: Bible Church

Finding Peace In Christ--From Walls To Temple Halls

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Oct 19, 2006

Most strikingly we are called to remember the walls of Hostility between God/man and man/man, and how in Christ we find peace, as he tears down the walls, building us up instead into a holy temple where he dwells. Our "remembering" provides the motivatio

The Sermon was preceded by the prayer of a “broken man” expressing his thankfulness for all the Lord had done for him. It was a prayer prayed in light of what Ephesians was teaching us about all the blessings from God in Christ, from the abundance of the Lord’s riches. There are some things I/we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Close The Gaps - Circle The Wagons

Contributed by Val Black on Oct 21, 2019

God's work never goes forward without opposition from the enemy. In fact, opposition is almost always caused by success and not failure. In building the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah faced much opposition but he knew what to do and now we can know also.

Nehemiah 4:7-23 (NLT) “But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8  They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:7-23

Denomination: Charismatic

Christ's Preaching: To Spirits In Prison

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Oct 9, 2018

To establish that Peter’s discussion of this great event occurred when Noah was building the Ark; during 120 years which culminated by the flood. It was Christ’s Spirit in Noah, that preached to the disobedient people refusing to obtain safety in the Ark; where Noah and his house was saved by God.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. Christ Preached: Through Righteous Noah 2. Christ Preached: To the Disobedient 3. Christ Preached: To the Spirits in Prison Remarks. 1. In our lesson today we are going to be discussing the theme: “Christ's Preaching: to spirits in prison.” This theme has encouraged many ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22, 2 Peter 2:5, Hebrews 11:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Am I

Contributed by Craig Condon on Apr 15, 2015

Like Peter, we are followers of Jesus. Like Peter, we sometimes have deep faith, and, at other times, a lack of faith. Jesus saw in Peter the same thing he sees in us-building material that can be shaped into a people of faith to serve his reign.

The Gospel reading from Matthew 16:13-20 takes place in the region of Caesarea Philippi. It was a territory where pagan gods were worshipped, and it is there that Jesus asks Peter a question about his identity; not in some safe territory, but in a non-believing location. Perhaps that is why Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Anglican