Sermons on Challenge:

Sojournings And Homecomings

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Nov 2, 2002

American novelist Thomas Wolfe wrote a novel that proclaimed You Can’t Go Home Again. But the stories of the human race are nonetheless replete with homecoming stories of people who did go home again, and in many cases, they recognized what home was reall

WORSHIP/SERMONIC THEME Opening Statement: American novelist Thomas Wolfe wrote a novel that proclaimed You Can’t Go Home Again. But the stories of the human race are nonetheless replete with homecoming stories of people who did go home again, and in many cases, they recognized what home was ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-16

Walking Where We Have Never Walked Before Series

Contributed by Ivan Casteel on Feb 3, 2006

Strengthening Christian in their daily walk of life

LIFE AT THE HIGHEST PLANE! WALKING WHERE WE HAVE NEVER WALKED BEFORE SERMON #2 Joshua 3:1-6 Psalm 23:4. Jos 3:1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 And it came to ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Compass, Unitard, Well Worn Boots

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Dec 4, 2006

Let your congregation know the three things that a disciple of Jesus can not be without. (heart pointed to Jesus, a willingness to grapple with Jesus in relationship--get to know who he really is, and to walk in His steps. Scripture is taken from a vari

Compass, Unitard, Well Worn Boots “Compass, Unitard, Well Worn Boots” (say these three seemingly unrelated things out loud, in the tradition of Johnny Carson’s character, alluded to below, but then proceed to talk about the following material first, before giving the “question” that those ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Presence Of Freedom

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Dec 9, 2006

Freedom from the tyranny of evil came to us in the Person of Jesus Christ! God did not save us when Jesus died on the cross. He saved us when Jesus was born.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt made an important speech before Congress on January 6, 1941. After the war was over, he shared his vision of all people enjoying four basic freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Warren Wiersbe, conference speaker, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Salvation Army

Facing A Hostile World

Contributed by Warren Bird on Jul 24, 2003

The world is hostile to God and His people. It was to David, son of Jesse, also. How did he face spiritual opposition and what can we learn for the battle we are called to fight today?

Introduction I read something this week that reinforced a conviction that has been growing in my mind over the past several months. What I read was a news item about a plaque that has been taken away from a tourist centre at the Grand Canyon in the USA. Have any of you been to the Grand ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 26:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Thomas Sees Jesus Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 11, 2007

In our journey to see Jesus, the way His disciples saw Him after the resurrection, I want to tell you a story of someone who missed out. At least at first…

Thomas Sees Jesus: Series – Seeing Jesus John 20:24-29 Apr 29, 2007 Intro: Have you ever felt like you really missed out? Like others around you got to experience something that you didn’t? Every year we have an annual “pastor’s and spouses” conference in November. In Banff. At the Banff ...read more

Scripture: John 20:24-29

Denomination: Baptist

Accepting The Responsibility Series

Contributed by Mike Gilbert on Jan 12, 2008

Jesus has transferred to us the fulfilling of His mission. Yet, He has given us everything we need to accomplish it.

Intro> I had just turned nine years old on that cold January morning in 1961, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was young, but I knew something truly significant was happening. Up until that day all the Presidents I was aware of had been my grandfather’s age. But in January of ’61, John ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Jars Of Generosity

Contributed by Monty Newton on Jan 17, 2008

We arae jars of clay to whom God gives gifts and through whom God gives gifts.

Title: Jars of Generosity Text: II Corinthians 9:6-11 Thesis: We are “Jars of Clay” to whom God gives gifts and through whom God gives gifts. Introduction Bonnie and I are parents. Raising children is a costly endeavor. According to the latest estimates, a family making $70,200 a year or ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Accepting The Responsibility Series

Contributed by Mike Gilbert on Jan 19, 2008

God has entrusted the fulfilling of His mission to us, while providing for us all we need in order to accomplish the mission. Will we accept the responsibility, be faithful to the task?

-Intro> I had just turned nine years old on that cold January morning in 1961, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was young, but I knew something truly significant was happening. Up until that day all the Presidents I was aware of had been my grandfather’s age. But in January of ’61, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Good People Go To Heaven, Right? Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Jan 29, 2008

the common deception is that good people go to heaven, which is not true at all!

GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN, RIGHT? MARK 10.17-31 I remember once having to do a funeral of someone who had no church connections at all. To my knowledge they had no faith in Christ Jesus. Yet at the graveside several members of their family came and asked me if I thought the deceased would be in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

How To Be A Big Mac

Contributed by Robert Stephens on Oct 26, 2007

My life was totally changed when a guy we nicknamed "Big Mac" invested his spiritual life into me. We can all be mentors like Big was to me and 2 Timothy 2:1-2 shows us how.

How to be a Big Mac! II Timothy 2:1-2 You Can be a spiritual mentor/investor! I. Introduction a. Bad investment story i. Anyone here ever made a bad investment? ii. About a year or so ago… I got inspired! I was going to get myself buffed! (not that I’m not already buffed… but… you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Grow!

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 19, 2009

Every Christ follower must be intentional in growing in relationship to others and God. And the church must be intentional about helping you to grow in your faith. That happens primarily through small group Bible Study and Sunday School

Our Strategy: Grow John 13:34-35 In this series, we’ve been looking at our strategy to accomplish our mission of “Connecting diverse communities to a lifestyle devoted to Jesus.” The first step in our strategy is “Celebrate.” We celebrate because worshiping God is the purpose of our life. People ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Denomination: Methodist

Reaching Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on May 27, 2009

What did this church do to capture people’s hearts and attention? The first thing they did was that they could not keep their mouths shut about this man Jesus. In fact, the word “Christian” was coined at Antioch because these people could not keep quiet a

UNSTOPPABLE Reaching Our World July 27 The Church that Captures the Heart of the Community Welcoming Worshiping Growing Serving Reaching How would you answer this phrase, "I like church, but...?" Over time, what have been those "buts" in your life? When I was young, for me it was that the service ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Remember Your Creator In The Days Of Your Youth

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jun 8, 2009

Message given to graduating H.S. Seniors At the Willow Vale Christian School graduation service.

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you say: ‘I find no pleasure in them.” King Solomon gave this advice to the youth of his day. His advice came from ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Three Cs Of Discipleship

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jun 8, 2009

Becoming a Christ follower is conditional. We have the choice to say, “Yes” or “No” to becoming a disciple of Jesus. Jesus said, “If anyone will come after me…” Jesus gives the invitation and then leaves the choice up to us.

The Three “Cs” of Discipleship Luke 9:23-26 During my twelve years of ministry here the mission of the Willow Vale Church has been: “Bringing people to Jesus, loving, equipping and sending them out to make more and better disciples.” Jesus gave us the mission and purpose of the church ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-26

Denomination: Free Methodist