Sermons on Church Enrichment:

The Purpose Of Worship Is . . .? Series

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 3, 2001

The purpose of worship is to experience God.

Have you heard about the little boy who attended church for the first time and was asked how it went? He replied, "The music was nice but the commercial was too long." Or have your heard about the recent experience of a pastor who changed the order of worship so that the sermon was given before ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:46-47

Denomination: Church Of God

Getting Out Of The Box Series

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 3, 2001

The purpose of outreach is to take the God of the church into the community.

(To the reader – this sermon was begun while I was inside an appliance box.) The theme of the most recent issue of YMI Update, our national youth ministry leadership newsletter, was "Out of the Box." Included in this particular issue were several stories about congregational youth ministries who ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12, Acts 2:47

Denomination: Church Of God

Lessons We Learn From 9.1.1. Series

Contributed by Rick Shockley on Nov 10, 2001

This sermon is about the hope we have in Christ in spite of the tragedy of 9.1.1.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. [8] We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. [10] We ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, Philippians 4:6-7

How Fellowship Helps Me Grow

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Nov 13, 2001

There were troubled times for the church and how they overcame the challenges of life with the life-changing connection with God and with other believers and the call to be devoted passionate followers of Christ and its power for us today.

Acts 2:41-47 How Fellowship Helps me Grow Here are some signs of the times, reported in the star.com though whether they’re permanent remains to be seen. Friends are important: The television show Friends, despite lower than average ratings this time last year, has unexpectedly become TV’s most ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Surrounded By A Cloud Of Witnesses

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Nov 16, 2001

A sermon from Hebrews

Hebrews12:1-13, Hebrews 11:1,2 "Surrounded by a Great Cloud of Witnesses" The sermon this morning is based on a part our lesson from Hebrews, plus a few verses from chapter 11. I would like to share these verses with you: from chapter 11:"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13, Hebrews 11:1-2

Denomination: Lutheran

God Bless You

Contributed by Ken Alford on Nov 19, 2001

In Genesis 27, we touch on 5 components of blessing. When we bless others, God is doing the blessing.

GOD BLESS YOU Genesis 27:1-4, 24-40 INTRODUCTION: 1. Christmas is coming; the goose is getting fat! Please to put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you have no penny, a ha’ penny will do; if you have no ha’ penny, then God bless you. 2. This old carol concludes with the blessing of God invoked ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:1-40

Denomination: Baptist

There Are More Fish In The Sea

Contributed by Michael Bowen on Nov 20, 2001

Three reasons why churches die.

There Are More Fish In The Sea - John 21:1-6 Introduction: A young boy attended his father’s church for the first time. During the whole service the young boy was bored to tears and couldn’t wait for the service to end. When the service was finally over the father in the son were in the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Shirley Maclaine Was Wrong; How To Really Dance In The Light

Contributed by Joel W. Lohr on Nov 25, 2001

Helping people to understand what it means to see the Light of Christ in their lives and to live with that knowledge.

Some of you may remember Shirley MacLaine’s book from the mid 1980’s. “Dancing in the Light”. Shirley MacLaine was wrong in her premise at least when viewed through the lens of scripture. Shirley believed that Light could be defined by the collective knowledge of all of our various personalities ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Beware Of False Prophets Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Nov 27, 2001

John warns the church against listening to those in false ministries.

PREWARNED & PREPARED - I JOHN 4:1-6 I came across a list of ANAGRAMS(rearrange letters of one word or phrase to form another) DORMITORY – Dirty Room/DESPERATION-A rope ends it THE MORSE CODE-Here come dots SLOT MACHINES-Cash lost in em ELEVEN PLUS TWO-Twelve plus one ASTRONOMER-Moon ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

The Real Small Group Leader Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Nov 29, 2001

Jesus longs to be present as the center of our gatherings, just as he promised, to be light and to give life.

The Real Small Group Leader Pastor Jim Luthy Last week, I mentioned the optimum group size was probably between 2-12 people. That being said, I’m sure any of you who have worked with a group of others would agree there are times when it seems the optimum group size is one. Working with others ...read more

Scripture: John 3:26-30, Ephesians 3:16-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

True Fellowship

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Nov 30, 2001

True fellowship is defined not by cake and coffee but by being spiritually tied together.

True Fellowship I John 1:3-2:2 SIGNS YOU LIVE IN THE YEAR 2001... 1. You just tried to enter your password on the microwave. 2. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three. 3. You call your son’s beeper to let him know it’s time to eat. He emails you back from his ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

"This Is Your Hour, Don't Faint!"

Contributed by Rev. M Edmunds on Dec 7, 2001

For this is your hour, this is your year, and don’t let no devil in hell stop you from receiving what God has for you.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” – Galatians 6:9. Before I get into our text, I will like us to review Paul’s life and conversion. For he was a prudent and profound man who believed in pursuing life with a passion so ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A New Beginning - Part 1

Contributed by Steve Malone on Dec 10, 2001

In this message we begin a study of Nehemiah to see how we can have a new beginning.

"A NEW BEGINNING" TEXT: NEHEMIAH 1:1-11 Have you ever needed a new beginning, a fresh start, a clean slate - a do over, have you ever needed a second chance after you had really blown it? I’m sure Bill Buckner would love to have a second chance at that ground ball hit to him on the 6th game of ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A New Begining - Part Two

Contributed by Steve Malone on Dec 10, 2001

In these message we will continue to look to the book of Nehemiah for more priciples for having an awesome new beginning.

"A NEW BEGINNING PART 3" TEXT: NEHEMIAH 2 "Early in the morning Joshua and all the israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over..." Joshua 3:1 Have you ever experienced what people call Da Ja Vu? You know when you feel like you’ve been ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

7 Ways To Serve One Another Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Dec 12, 2001

So how do we rightly relate to one another in our small groups? I have found there is no reason to "reinvent the wheel" in responding to this question. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his classic work, Life Together, explains 7 ways to serve your small group.

Last week, I used an illustration to show that Jesus should be the center of our small group meetings. He is the real leader of the small group. He is alive. He comes to us in the person of the Holy Spirit. And he is Lord. But lying underneath this goal of our gathering is the reality that we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:19-21, 1 John 3:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational