Sermons on Close Encounter:

Standing Close To The Lightning Strike

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 19, 2009

God will get our attention and force us to make choices, despite our desire to avoid decisions or our wish to be secular. When the lightning strikes it may be painful but it will be about grace.

You can most certainly expect God to attract your attention. I cannot tell you exactly how He will do it, but I do know that He will do it. He will attract your attention. Many of us face a spiritual issue called inattention. Distraction. Inattention. We are not paying attention to what God is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-39

Denomination: Baptist

How Close Is Your Miracle?

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Sep 5, 2011

God's Word tells us, and I believe it...we serve a mighty God...a loving God...a miracle working God. He wants to work in your life so that you will draw closer to Him and that through you others will also come to know Him.

HOW CLOSE IS YOUR MIRACLE? 2 KINGS 4:1-7 I've tried to look at ministry through the eyes of Jesus. What was the message Jesus preached? If pastors are to carry out His ministry until He returns, it would be good to know what type of message and ministry Jesus had when here on earth. The good ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

One Day The Door Will Close

Contributed by Bill Burress on Feb 25, 2012

God destroyed the world with water because it had become so wicked. This will happen again with the second coming of Christ. This message tells several comparisons of how the will be the same.

“One Day The Door Will Close” How many have ever locked yourself out of your house or your vehicle? It is an awful feeling especially if you are standing on your porch in freezing weather. Maybe you did ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Behind Closed Doors

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Jun 9, 2011

Sermon for Ascension Sunday, 2011

Luke 24: 44 – 53 / From Behind Closed Doors Intro: The following item appeared in the Lewiston, Idaho Tribune – “The crossword puzzle which should have appeared in today’s Tribune appeared instead in yesterday’s together with the answer to the puzzle that should ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:44-53

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Doing Close Up Work Series

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Dec 7, 2011

I. No Soul Is So Lost But The Lord Can Find It II. No Situation Is So Small But The Lord Can Use It. III. No Strength Is So Feeble But The Lord Can Increase It. IV. No Start Is So Small But The Lord Can Magnify It

- You need another lens to do close-up work - Macro lens on water + Without water, you can’t have life! - Water covers about 70% of the Earth’s surface - Mayo Clinic Guideline 8x8 (8 oz x 8 glasses) - An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a typical person in a ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Baptist

When God Closes The Door

Contributed by Jason Miller on Mar 29, 2010

A story of someone that wanted to do something for God, but God told him no. Instead of letting his human nature take over and throwing a temper tantrum, or becoming jealous or callous, he did everything he could to enable the person that God had called t

When God Closes the Door, Don’t Build a Wall in Front of It 1Chronicles 22:1-11 First, I just want to say it’s good to be back behind this pulpit. I really missed not being able to share with you a month ago, when my turn came around. It would’ve been a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 22:7-16

Denomination: Mennonite

When Open Doors Close Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Mar 17, 2013

Start of the 2nd missionary journey - Powerpoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info

SERMON OUTLINE: (1). A New Partner (15:40-41): (2). A New Helper (16:1-5): (3). A New Vision (16:6-10) (4). A New Convert (16:11-15) SERMON BODY: Ill: • One day when C.S. Lewis was in the tool shed in his garden. • And he noticed a sunbeam shining across the shed. • And it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-5

Denomination: Brethren

Stay Close To The One With The Key

Contributed by Grant Macdonald on Jun 4, 2012

How can a church be really successful?

I am always thankful for Bill, but a couple of days ago, I was particularly thankful! Some of you might have noticed this recycling bin next to me. If you didn't notice it, you need to work on your powers of observation. (And no, this isn't my subtle way of tipping you off to the fact that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Huddled Behind Closed Doors

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Apr 14, 2020

Today, many are huddled behind closed doors, fearing the dreadful disease - Coronavirus.

Message/Devotion April 19, 2020 John 20:19-31 Huddled Behind Closed Doors As I read today’s gospel message, it was abundantly clear to me that today masses of people are huddled behind closed doors due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Some are in a self-imposed lockdown. Some are in a lockdown ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 41:10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Close The Gaps - Circle The Wagons

Contributed by Val Black on Oct 21, 2019

God's work never goes forward without opposition from the enemy. In fact, opposition is almost always caused by success and not failure. In building the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah faced much opposition but he knew what to do and now we can know also.

Nehemiah 4:7-23 (NLT) “But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8  They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:7-23

Denomination: Charismatic

Communion - Open, Closed, Or Cracked? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 7, 2020

Is the Communion Meal Open to all who profess Christ? Or is it overseen by the congregation hosting the meal and thus restricted to those who are in open fellowship with the assembly? The message is a study of this controversial question.

“In the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-32

Denomination: Baptist

Trust God And Close The Book

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 17, 2016

often times in life and ministry there is nothing you can do, it is out of our hands... THEN WE MUST TRUST GOD AND CLOSE THE BOOK.

THERE IS A TIME FOR US TO CLOSE THE BOOK AND TRUST GOD By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com We need to learn THE APPLAUSE OF MEN IS SO SHALLOW AND SO VAIN. Applause is vanity? It fades so quickly. We call Jesus' 7th entry into Jerusalem the TRIPUMPAL ENTRY. They were applauding and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:20-30

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Open House, Closed Minds

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on May 2, 2018

Life is about attitudes! You are a product of your menial everyday choices. The Pharisee invited Jesus to his house, but never gave him the proper care. Yet, they judged the lady that did what she could...

AN OPEN HOUSE WITH A CLOSED MIND? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com THERE WAS AN INVITATION FROM A PHARISEE, HE WAS A VIP (VERY IMPORTANT PERSON), SEARCH YOUR HEART AND YOUR ATTITUDES… BAD ATTITUDES ARE CHOICES… WHY ALL THIS WASTE? Luke 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:37-47

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Following Close Behind The Lord

Contributed by Lay Man on May 26, 2015

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. - Jeremiah 17:7 I have found myself many times going on in a work for the Lord and at some-point realizing that the Lord let me go on ahead without Him. We have all experienced ..

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. - Jeremiah 17:7 I have found myself many times going on in a work for the Lord and at some-point realizing that the Lord let me go on ahead without Him. We have all experienced this in some ways, it is like talking to an ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Safe Place To Come Close

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Sep 11, 2019

Humility and gentleness are keys for creating a church fellowship where people feel safe to come close to one another.

Last week we started with the dilemma of two porcupines on a very cold night, who needed to snuggle up close to each other to stay warm. But the closer they got the more they pricked each other with their quills, so they pulled apart. But the more they pulled apart, the colder they got. So it ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6, Matthew 11:28-29