Sermons on California Gold Rush:

Tasting The Fruit

Contributed by David Tijerina on May 4, 2003

The children of Israel tasted of the fruit of the promised land...and still not entered in. There are Christians that will taste, but...

Tasting the Fruit: Yet Losing the Land September 29, 2002 Intro: Where are you headed? Are you going to get there? How? Deut 1:25-26 25 "They also took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they brought back word to us, saying, ’It is a good land which ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:25-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Sanctifying Shield Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 15, 2013

Jesus prays that the Father will protect us. But how does the God do that? How does God guard us and shield us when we live so exposed to the temptations and lusts of this world?

OPEN: Down in Kentucky, our nation has a very special place designed to protect our gold supply. Do you know what it’s called? (Fort Knox). That’s where our nation keeps most of our gold. But more than gold has been stored there over the years. Ft. Knox has also held the Magna Carta, ...read more

Scripture: John 17:11-19, John 17:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Down Into The Land Of Slavery Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 28, 2014

God had planned this trip to Egypt for centuries. But why choose that pagan land? Why not someplace else?

OPEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLc81CS7TY4 (We turned the video's sound down as I explained the artist and artwork that was being shown). I’m not much for modern art, but this particular piece of artwork intrigued me. It’s the work of the renowned French artist Bernard Pras. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hope For Hard Times Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on May 24, 2021

Here’s a helpful way to remember the word providence: PRO is “before” and VIDEO is to “to see.” He’s seeing life happen in advance. You can even hear the word “provide” in the word Providence. Even in the worst of times, God is working for His children’s good and happiness.

Our nation’s first President had a different way of looking at life and you could see it in his very first inaugural address. Had you been in the relatively small crowd to hear Washington’s Inaugural address some 230 plus years ago, you would have been surprised at how visibly nervous Washington ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

This Is Us Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 2, 2018

We have 2 advantages over non-Christians. Because of God's blessings in our lives, we are better off than many in this world, but we must be careful not to see ourselves as being "better" than others.

For the next few weeks we’re going to be focusing on what can we learn from Scripture as it applies to a popular new TV series (now entering its 3rd season) called “This Is Us”. It’s been nominated for 8 Emmys because of the power of its writing and its acting, and it has literally brought many of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Praise Of The Wise Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 22, 2013

Why would the Wise Men travel so far, at such expense, and over dangerous roads? Jesus wasn't "their" King was He? And what can we learn from how they responded to Jesus wasn't they arrived?

OPEN: When I was a boy, every December we’d sing: We Three Kings Of Orient Are” Stand with me and let’s sing just the first verse together: “We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. O star ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Investing In Your G R A Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 28, 2013

Why should I seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness... and how can I know I’ve done so?

OPEN: There was once a rich man who was very, very miserable. He had all he could buy, but nothing seemed to please him and he didn’t know why. So, one day he visited an old friend and explained his misery to him. The old friend smiled and said “Fred, I know what your problem is, and I can show ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Christian - The Judgement Seat Of Christ – Part 2 Of 3 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 27, 2025

Above all things God wants faithfulness. Rewards attach to a faithful servant. God is a God of small things and in quietness and confidence is our strength. We look at the quality of works and the testing by fire. To not make the mistake of “TRYING to do” for a reward as that is wrong.

THE CHRISTIAN - THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST – PART 2 OF 3 In the last study we opened up this subject to see both the joy and seriousness of it. This time we will consider more aspects of The Judgement Seat of Christ including what brings reward and the quality of deeds done for Christ. I will ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, Matthew 6:1, Matthew 10:42, Luke 6:22-23, Luke 6:35, 2 John 1:7-8, 1 Corinthians 12:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Three Feet Away.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Dec 5, 2020

When things start to get hard, try to persevere through the adversity.

Second Sunday of Advent. Sermon Title: Three feet away. Scripture Text: Mark 1:1-8 ILLUSTRATION: During the gold rush, a man from Ohio traveled to California. It had taken him months to get there. He had to get a claim and register it and buy tools before he could start mining. The Ohioan ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Kinsman Redeemer

Contributed by William Rushing on Jun 20, 2002

This sermon looks at the role of the kinsman redeemer and relates the redeemer to Chirst. The sermon also shows three benefits of redemption.

I. Introduction a. The Story of Ruth i. Ruth 4:1-5 ii. In the Old Testament, the New is Concealed, In the New Testament, the Old is Revealed. 1. The Redemption of Ruth gives us the Testimony of Jesus. b. Reasons for Redemption i. A Relative Sold into Slavery (Lev. 25:47-49) ii. Preserve the ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Expect Chaos (Pentecost)

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Dec 15, 2008

This is a Pentecost sermon that focuses on the power of the Holy Spirit to make things happen.

“Expect Chaos!” In the spirit of Mother’s day, I would like to tell the tale of four-year-old Little Johnny… Johnny asked, "Mommy, where do babies come from? "The stork, dear." replied Johnny’s Mom. "Mommy, who keeps bad people from robbing our house?" Asked Little Johnny. Johnny’s mother ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Led By The Star Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 24, 2017

What was the star that led the Wisemen to Jesus and what difference does that make to us today?

OPEN: Years ago I wrote a song about the Wise Men. The first verse went this way “Out in the fields, watching the sky. Looking to heaven, searching on high. Troubled by things I’d seen on this earth, I knew that my answer lay with a child’s birth. For the prophecy said that a star in the sky, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cure For Greed Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 13, 2013

Greed is listed as one of the worst of sins - right up there with lewdness, adultery, and murder. But how likely am "I" to be plagued by greed? And how can God cure me of this terrible sin?

Back in the 1800’s there was once a 350# wrestler in Europe named “Yusuf, the terrible Turk.” Three hundred and fifty pounds is a fairly huge man, and there wasn’t an ounce of flab on the man. He was formidable. And in his four years in Europe, he was impossible to beat, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

3 Gifts Of Christmas

Contributed by Stephen Funderburk on Dec 18, 2005

looking at the meaning behind the three gifts that were presented by the wise men for Christmas

Intro: the story is told that some soldiers leaving an island at the end of World War 2 conveyed Christmas to the islanders with gifts and Christmas songs. Years later one of these men visited that island and was shocked to find a church there. He was invited to attend the service, which consisted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Feb 17, 2012

Mistakes we make while looking into a mirror. 1. v.23-24a - A Passing Glance 2. v.24b - Forgetting What We See 3. v.25 – Ignoring Its Reflection

Jay Rathman while hunting deer in the Tehema Wildlife Area near Red Bluff in northern California, climbed to a ledge on the slope of a rocky gorge. As he raised his head to look over the ledge above, he sensed movement to the right of his face. A coiled rattler struck with lightning speed, just ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-25

Denomination: Baptist