Sermons on Chicago Tribune:

Are You Listening?

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on May 4, 2002

In the parable of the sower Jesus speaks of four kinds of listeners.

ARE YOU LISTENING? Matthew 13:18-23 INTRO.- ILL.- An excited little boy was telling his daddy about something that had happened to him that day. His daddy said, "Slow up, honey, you are talking too fast!" His boy shot back at him, "Oh, no, Daddy, I’m not talking too fast. You’re just listening ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:18-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Straight Talk About Sex Series

Contributed by Robert Marsh on Mar 18, 2005

A straight forward sermon on sex, faithfulness, purity, masturbation, emotional affairs, and God’s desire to redeem our sex lives!

Straight Talk About Real Life Straight Talk About Sex For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. ~ I Thess. 4:3&7 We’ve been engaged in a series of discussions that we’ve entitled, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

Denomination: Baptist

God The Creator (Elohim) Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 3, 2005

Turn with me to Genesis 1 and follow along as I read the opening verses. I’ll insert this Hebrew name as I read: “In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.

Because I have three first names, people often don’t know what to call me. I can see the hesitation on their faces. Is his name Brian or is it Bill? My middle name is John so I like to say when you use my full name three guys come running! I’ve gone by many names in my life… Ibam – This is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

Storm In A Teacup Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Apostles, Pt. 7

STORM IN A TEACUP (MATTHEW 14:21-33) Storms are mostly “powerful winds in the air.” My former church in the States, unfortunately, is a street away from extremely wind-friendly Ontario, one of the windiest cities in Greater Los Angeles. Our church’s portable basketball hoop was toppled with ease by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:21-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Warnings To The Wealthy Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jan 13, 2006

In this passage James addresses us about the use of our finances. James warns people against using their finances as if there is no God.

Scripture William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), the gifted orator and three-time United States Democratic nominee for President, is reported to have said, “No one can earn a million dollars honestly.” Tertullian (ca. 155–230), was a church leader and prolific author during the early years of ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Missing Ingredient Series

Contributed by Paul Decker on Jan 29, 2006

We are to be devoted to prayer.

A PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE: THE MISSING INGREDIENT Acts 2:42-47 S: Church C: Purpose of the Community Th: A People with Purpose Pr: WE ARE TO BE DEVOTED TO PRAYER. ?: How? How do we act when we are devoted to prayer? KW: Approaches TS: We will find in our study of Scripture three approaches that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

"Triumph Proclaimed!" Series

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jan 18, 2007

Sermon 12 in a study in 1 & 2 Peter

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18-20

Denomination: Orthodox

A Prayerful Response To Virginia Tech Shootings

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 22, 2007

Using the sermon time for more praying than preaching in light of the Virginia Tech massacre.

Keeping Your Commitments A Prayerful Response to the Virginia Tech Shootings Rev. Brian Bill www.pontiacbible.org 4/22/07 The deadliest shooting rampage in modern American history took place this past Monday morning on the campus of Virginia Tech. Let’s take a moment of silence here to reflect on ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 9:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Living Successfully

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 12, 2004

All Christians need to live a successful Christian life.

INTRO.- ILL.- The little girl said to her grandpa, “Make like a frog, grandpa.” He replied, “What do you mean, make like a frog?” She said, “Mommy says we’re going to make a lot of money when you croak!” That’s bad. Many people are only interested in material success, no matter how they acquire ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Cracking The Da Vinci Code

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 22, 2004

The Da Vinci Code is one of the hotest novels on the market today, what should the church’s response be?

(I began this message with a clip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy discovers the Grail) Let’s start by saying that the Da Vinci code focuses on a subject that many of us know little about and that is the Holy Grail, as a matter of fact the sum total of most of our knowledge ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Bless America

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 29, 2005

God has blessed America. Now it’s our turn.

INTRO.- God bless America! That’s not just an expression used by politicians and presidents! It’s an expression that we, too, should use. Why? BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS BLESSED AMERICA AND WE STILL WANT HIM TO BLESS AMERICA! ILL.- Lee Hufstettler wrote in Reader’s Digest, “ It was a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:13-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Because You Can"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jul 25, 2005

Christians, you are the only ones in the world who can love the way Jesus loves. And because you can...

“BECAUSE YOU CAN” James 2:1-13 1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Denomination: Orthodox

Sending Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 11, 2003

For Reformation Sunday: Luther’s reform taught us that the church has an apostolic gift, whereby each of us -- the priesthood of all believers -- can break new ground for the Kingdom. Sometimes, however, we send back the gift!

Have you ever had the experience of sending a gift, only to have it returned? What does it feel like? Somebody’s birthday is coming up – and you’ve found just the perfect gift. You wrap it up, you package it securely, and you trot off to the post office. She’s going to love this! Three days ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

God Bless America

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 25, 2003

God has blessed America. Now it’s our turn.

GOD BLESS AMERICA I Tim. 2:1-6 INTRO.- Here is some of America’s craziness. ILL.- Someone wrote these interesting words entitled, "Only in America." 1- Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance. 2- Only in America are there handicap parking places in front of a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 1 Timothy 2:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Dec 18, 2011

We learn that Christian love is the most important of all the gifts from God. We are called to pursue love, without which all of our spiritual gifts amount to nothing.

Scripture We continue our study in The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians in a series I am calling Challenges Christians Face. One of the challenges that Christians face is the issue of spiritual gifts. Let’s learn about more about that in a message I am calling, “Love - Part ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed