Sermons on Church Growth:

Follow Jesus Because He Offers A Better Way Of Salvation Series

Contributed by Todd Riley on May 8, 2001

Reasons for why the way of salvation that Jesus offers is better than that of other religions

Islington Baptist Church May 6, 2001 Series: Why Jesus? Why follow Jesus and not any other religion, system, philosophy, or way? Key texts for this week: Acts 16:30, Matthew 11:28-30, Galatians 1 Follow Jesus because he offers a better way of salvation A number of weeks ago we began a series ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Baptist

Run The Race!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Dec 20, 2000

Finishing the race is critically important to all of us who would be followers of Jesus. And Hebrews 12:1-3 contains at least 3 pieces of advice that will help each of us faithfully run the race that is before us.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2011) ILL. The 1992 Summer Olympics featured two tremendously heart-rending moments. American sprinter Gail Devers, the clear leader in the 100 meter hurdles, tripped over the last barrier. She agonizingly pulled herself to her knees ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3, Psalm 5:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Savior Has Been Born!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Dec 21, 2000

It’s a simple & familiar story, but I urge you to look again at this precious story with all your heart & all your mind.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2019) (PowerPoints used with this message are available for free. Just email me at mnewland@sstelco.com and request PP#247) TEXT: Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Out Of The Cradle

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 26, 2000

Allowing Christ a larger place in our lives and in our world than as the Babe of Bethlehem

Babies are something special. I can never forget what it was like to see my two girls at their birth. That is a feeling and experience that nothing else can quite match — unless it is the birth of grandchildren. There is a special feeling each time I visit new parents in the hospital. There ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:15-20, Matthew 13:53-57

Denomination: Methodist

Palm Sunday - At The Foot Of The Cross

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 3, 2001

Four women loved Jesus so much that they were willing to risk their own lives to be near Him as He hung there upon the cross.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2017) TEXT: John 19:25-27; Matthew 27:40-42 A. As you know, today is celebrated throughout the Christian world as "Palm Sunday" in remembrance of that day nearly 2,000 years ago when Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:40-42, John 19:25-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Goodness - Fruit Of The Spirit

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 4, 2001

I’m afraid that people just don’t seem to be very committed to the idea of goodness anymore, but goodness is a valuable & important fruit of the Spirit.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER CENTRAL CHRISTIAN, BROWNSVILLE, TX What determines the value of something? A child may think that a quarter is worth more than a dollar bill because the quarter is shiny & pretty, or that a candy bar is worth more than a handful of dollar bills because ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Thanksgiving - Count Your Blessings!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 5, 2001

That is why a Thanksgiving message like this is so important. We need this reminder. We need it because it forces us to "add it all up" & recognize where all these things we enjoy actually come from.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED: 2016) TEXT: Philippians 4:12-13; 1 Corinthians 4:7 ILL. An elderly lady was well-known for her faith, & for her boldness in talking about it. Each morning she would go out on her front porch ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:7, Philippians 4:12-13, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

New Year Assurance In Paul's Triumph Song

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jan 6, 2001

The Christians in Rome were apprehensive as to the future so Paul diagnoses the Problem and finds the Solution in Christ which gives us assurance in entering the New Year.

NEW YEAR ASSURANCE IN PAUL’S TRIUMPH SONG "What will this year bring?" I expect that all of us in our private thoughts, or even spoken, have wondered what’s in store for us. I can’t tell you what will happen, but I suspect that 2008 will be much like 2007. The Earth has been circling the sun a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Baptist

Just Do It…now!

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Mar 2, 2001

An exhortation to action!

Just Do It…Now! The Nike© commercials urge people to "just do it." They are encouraging people in the area of athletics and to quit being a couch potato. Of course, ideally if you "just do it" you will need shoes and hopefully you will buy their shoes. The more you ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:29, Joshua 24:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

Tempted

Contributed by James Jerpseth on Mar 3, 2001

Having grown up in hte desert, I know how harsh the place is and how tempting the options presented by hte devil really are. On the surface the temptations seem harmless and perhaps even good in the right hands but they all take our attention off God.

I grew up going to the desert, and thought that I knew what the desert lands are all about. I’ve been camping many times in the Anza Berrego wilderness and understand that the desert is a harsh and foreboding place. I know to stay on the trails, look for snakes and take lots of extra water. I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Lutheran

You Must Not Put The Lord Your God To The Test

Contributed by William Baeta on Mar 6, 2001

“Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘if you are the Son of God throw yourself down from here…’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘it has been said, ‘you shall not tempt the Lord your God’” Luke 4:9-

Theme: You must not put the Lord your God to the test Text: Deut. 26:4-10; Rom. 10:8-13; Lk. 4:1-13 Today is the second Sunday in Lent and we at Covenant have been observing this holy season by meditating and reflecting on the Word of God and by prayer and fasting. It is following the example of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13, Deuteronomy 26:4-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Opposition And The Gift Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 12, 2001

Christians will meet opposition today justas they did in Jesus day. The Holy Spirit is given to help them meet that opposition.

There’s no doubt that for the early Christians, opposition and persecution were a fact of life. We only have to read a few chapters into the history of the early Church, as we find it in Acts and we discover Peter and John being arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin to explain why they’re ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Be Faithful Series

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

Third in a series on Matthew 24 & 25, this message focuses on the mandate to be faithful with what God has entrusted to us since Jesus is coming back and we don’t know when.

Because Jesus Is Returning . . . "Be Faithful- Matthew 25:14-30" I like reading bumper stickers. Sometimes you get an unusual combination of bumper stickers on one car that give an unintended message. One such combination was funny. One read: JESUS IS COMING! and the one next to it said: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Come Out Of Your Cave!

Contributed by Norman Lawrence on Mar 25, 2001

Message dealing with some of the "caves" we as Christians hide in to get away from the work God has called us to do.

Times and seasons of disillusionment come into all of our lives, and often threaten to overwhelm us with a loss of hope and vision that we will barely make it through the night, let alone, live in victory in the days and years that lie ahead. It is clear from any honest reading of the Word of God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Flood Part Ii

Contributed by Todd Riley on Mar 27, 2001

an exposition of Genesis 8

Islington Baptist Church March 18, 2001 Sermon text: Genesis 8 Scripture reading: Matthew 24:36-51 The Flood: Part II Last week we began a study of Genesis 6-9. These chapters detail God’s destroying of the earth by means of a world wide flood. Here’s what we learned last week 1. The ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 8:1-20

Denomination: Baptist