Sermons on Clear Directions:

The Jesus Parade

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 15, 2013

triumphal entry, palm Sunday - link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

The Jesus Parade John 12:12-15 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/jesusparade.html Jesus is now on His way to Jerusalem to present Himself as the Passover Lamb. He knows what lies ahead for Him. People are converging on Jerusalem from all directions, 2-3 million of them perhaps. Imagine the crowded ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

Celebrating Our Independence By Imitating God

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jul 4, 2014

How should we celebrate our independence from sin? Paul gives us the way in Ephesians 5 as beloved children Imitate God." If this were our focus as churches we would see revival, lives filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and transformation in lives

Intro: This Friday was the Fourth of July. The Fourth celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 and freedom from the cruel rule of the British Empire. It is marked with Bar B Que, fireworks and going to the lake. Paul is calling us to a similar celebration in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

A Heart For The Lord

Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Nov 16, 2011

Do the so called transparent barriers that we construct between ourselves and God’s word provide enough safety from God’s wrath?

A Heart for the Lord Readings: Matthew 15:1-20 15:1-20pp -- Mk 7:1-23 1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" 3 Jesus replied, "And why do you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Praying For God's Intervention

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 7, 2013

Have you ever known someone who needs an intervention to prevent damage or destruction? This describes what will happen if God's people in America do not wake up from our sleep and repent of our wicked ways. We need an intervention.

Intro: This is an excerpt from the Daily Chronicle December 13, 1904 William Stead reports, “Employers tell me that the quality of the work the miners are putting in has improved. Waste is less, men to go their daily toil with a new spirit of gladness in their labour. In the long dim ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

In Christ Alone

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Sep 27, 2017

Is the Reformation over?

In Christ Alone “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) I returned last week from a Keith and Kristyn Getty worship conference in Nashville. Perhaps their best known song is “In Christ Alone.” As we come to the 500th anniversary of the ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Subject Of Worship Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Oct 11, 2022

Man’s whole concept and approach to worship is changed by Jesus in tonight’s passage.

We’re still in John 4 in the story of the Samaritan woman and Jesus at the well. Jesus has offered her the Living Water that only He can offer but there are some matters that need to be cleared up before she can truly receive this living water. Last week she was confronted with the matter of sin. ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Denomination: Baptist

Blessings? I Didn't Think We Were Going To Make It?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 17, 2022

Things sure don't look good? I didn't think we were going to make it? God did it again!

BLESSINGS? WE DIDN’T THINK WE WERE GOING TO MAKE IT… GOD DID IT AGAIN! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Franklin Roosevelt said: We have always held to the belief and the conviction that there is a BETTER LIFE! A BETTER WORLD! BETTER IS JUST BEYOND THE HORIZON… THE PARADIGM ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, Isaiah 43:18, Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Eighth And Ninth Beatitudes Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 26, 2022

Like it or not, being persecuted is in Jesus' list of the characteristics of the Christian. If we follow Jesus, it's inevitable that we'll be persecuted. But the persecution proves the genuiness of our faith. And it leads to great reward.

Jesus starts the Sermon on the Mount with nine Beatitudes – sayings that start ‘Blessed are’. Jesus wants us to be blessed – meaning, happy or fortunate. In the Beatitudes, Jesus presents us with the key characteristics of the Christian. Some people have said they’re the blueprint of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

You Shall Not Bear False Witness Series

Contributed by Jon Daniels on Aug 1, 2022

Based on Ex. 20:16 - Sermon challengers hearers to live lives of truth.

“YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS” Ex. 20:16 FBCF – 7/31/22 Jon Daniels INTRO – A couple of hunters chartered a plane to fly into the Canadian wilderness. Two weeks later when the pilot came to pick them up, he saw the two animals they had bagged and said, "I told you fellows I ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:16

Denomination: Baptist

New Testament Religions

Contributed by Kyle Campbell on Aug 15, 2022

It would be an understatement to say that the religious world is in a state of confusion. With hundreds of denominations in this country and thousands of religions worldwide, it’s sufficient to say that many people simply don’t know what’s going on.

Introduction. You likely know that sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Therefore, in order to get back to God, we need religion. The word “religion” basically means to “tie or bind back to God again.” This fundamental belief in sin and redemption has fueled the development of many varied ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:13-14, Acts 26:5, James 1:26, James 1:27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lord Build Me In Obedience Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Apr 2, 2021

Is it too much? Is it too hard? Sometimes when we read the Bible, we wonder, can it really be done? It seems like so much, it seems like such a high standard. I’ve wondered that at times.

"I've read that when Edward VI, the king of England in the 16th century, attended a worship service, he stood while the Word of God was read. He took notes during this time and later studied them with great care. Through the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. That's the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22, James 1:23-24

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Paradox Of Patriotism Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 21, 2021

The paradox is, inconsistency in relationship to man is the only way you can be consistent in your relationship to God. Let's focus first on the positive side.

Newscaster Paul Harvey, some years ago, told his radio listeners this remarkable story from World War II. From the Island of Guam one of our mighty B-29 bombers took off for Kokura, Japan. It was carrying deadly cargo as it circled high above the city. A cloud covered the city, so the plane kept ...read more

Scripture: Esther 2:3-6

A Message To The Church In Pergamos Series

Contributed by Larry Grant on Dec 4, 2022

Jesus writes this letter to call the Christians at Pergamos back to the right path. Even today, there is the danger that the Church of Christ might hold the right doctrines, but still drift into compromise with the world around us.

Revelation 2:12-17 A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH IN PERGOMOS December 4, 2022 The city of Pergamos (also Pergamon or Pergamum) was the capital city of Asia Minor. It was renowned for its political power, its intellectual achievement and its pagan worship. Lady Sharon and I visited the ruins of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Angels On Duty

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 4, 2024

With all the books, TV shows and movies featuring angels, and how they’re depicted in art, you’d think we knew a lot about them. Actually, we have a lot to unlearn from popular culture.

Billy Graham relayed an incident at New Hebrides, an island group in the South Pacific: One night, the headquarters of missionary John Paton was surrounded by a hostile indigenous tribe intent on violence. Paton and his wife prayed for deliverance. When daylight came, the would-be attackers were ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

The Joy Of Giving Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Apr 29, 2023

The book of Philippians is, to a large extent, a thank you note from Paul to the church for their financial gift. We find that it is not only the one who receives the gift who is blessed, but the ones who gives the gift are greatly blessed.

Philippians is considered the epistle of joy. That is because there are so many references to joy and rejoicing (over 15). There are so many references that are so prominent that Joy is considered the theme of the letter. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice. (Philippians ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:14-19

Denomination: Baptist