Sermons on Close Encounter:

Taming The Giants In Your Life

Contributed by Robert Garrett on Apr 11, 2005

When we encounter difficult situations or giants they try to discourage, defeat, and steal the joy out out of our living. There are four principles that we can gain from the story in I Samuel 17 that can help tame the many giants in our lives.

INTRO.Don’t you just love to hear a good story? I think everyone loves a good story. Where is the best place to go to get a good story?? Movies or TV! Name some of your favorite movies or TV shows. There are a couple big differences between these movies and tv shows and the stories we find in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:38-47

Denomination: Baptist

The Be-Attitudes Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 6, 2024

Attitudes can open the door to blessing or close the door to blessing! I believe attitude is the number one factor that opens the door to blessings from God. Your attitude to be Christ like determines your position within the Kingdom of Heaven. Attitude is your choice, no one else’s!

Series: Never Seen Before In 2024 Thesis: To see something we have never seen before in 2024 requires us to do something we have never done before! So, what is the “One Thing” you need to do that you have never done before to see your miracle – your breakthrough – a divine revelation or your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Proverbs 16:18-19, Ephesians 4:32, Galatians 6:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Strength To Stand-3 Series

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Jun 13, 2017

3 of 11. Paul closes his direction to the Ephesian church by encouraging them to find their strength in the Lord. But where or how can God's people find the strength to stand victorious? God’s people acquire strength to stand victorious thru a distinct...

STRENGTH To STAND-III—Ephesians 6:10-20 Attention: Bigger Than Ever! There were two old mountaineers were living in the backwoods of the Ozarks: Rufus & Clarence. They lived on opposite sides of the river & they hated each other. Every morning, just after sunup, Rufus & Clarence would ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

Abner Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Oct 2, 2022

The only engagement between the rival factions, told at length, is noteworthy since it was preceded by an encounter at Gibeon between 12 chosen men from each side, in which all 24 seem to have perished. Abner was defeated and put to flight in the general engagement that followed.

Abner In the Hebrew Bible, Abner was the cousin of King Saul and the commander-in-chief of his army. His name also appears as “Abiner son of Ner,” whereas the more extended form Abiner means “my father is Ner.” Abner is initially mentioned incidentally in Saul’s history, first appearing as the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:27

Denomination: Baptist

6. The Woman At The Well (When Grace Meets Shame) Series

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Nov 24, 2025

A woman hiding from shame meets Jesus at a well. He knows her deepest secrets. He offers her living water. Her broken past becomes her greatest testimony.

6. The Woman at the Well (When Grace Meets Shame) Introduction Picture yourself walking through your town at the hottest part of the day, deliberately avoiding everyone you know. This was the daily reality for one woman in Samaria two thousand years ago. Her story, recorded in John chapter 4, shows ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42, John 4:6-7, John 4:6, John 4:9, John 4:10, John 4:14, John 4:15, John 7:38, Isaiah 12:3, John 4:16, John 4:17-18, John 4:19-20, John 4:24, John 4:26, 1 Corinthians 1:27, John 4:28, John 4:29, John 4:39, John 4:40, John 4:42  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Whom Will You Go?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Oct 3, 2014

You may be offended or disillusioned, but there is no one to turn to but Jesus Christ.

If you have been a Christian for any length of time you have seen people come and go. Some are famous people who everyone rejoices over at their conversion hoping it will influence many people only to see them convert to something else six months later or just stop talking about Christ. Sometimes ...read more

Scripture: John 6:64-69

Denomination: Baptist

The Testimony Of The Shepherds Series

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Dec 17, 2022

A few miles outside of Bethlehem some shepherds had gathered their sheep together for the night. Luke tells us that just when everyone was settling down and getting warm around their fires the skies suddenly opened up. Suddenly, it was no longer a silent night.

Alba 12-18-2022 THE TESTIMONY OF THE SHEPHERDS Luke 2:8-20 Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents' house the week before Christmas. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers. The younger one began praying at the top of his lungs: "I PRAY ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Take Responsibility For Your Life Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 22, 2005

Look at the choices of three men with authority, who have the privilege of meeting Jesus face-to-face in His last week on earth. Learn from their mistakes, and take responsibility for our choices in life.

Mark 14:55-65, 15:1-15 Take Responsibility for Your Life God bless us with the freedom of choice. • We have in our hands the power of choosing what we want in life. Every choice has a consequence. By not choosing, that itself is a choice. • By not choosing, we are allowing life to go on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:55-65

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Amazing Grace: Verse Three Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jul 18, 2009

This is the third in a 4 sermon series adapted from David Jeremiah’s book, Captured by Grace. Each point is based on a verse of Amazing Grace and tells the story of John Newton. Powerpoint available, just e-mail me.

AMAZING GRACE: VERSE THREE Scott Bayles, pastor Based on David Jeremiah’s Captured by Grace First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL For those of you who haven’t been here or who’ve been asleep in your pew, we’ve spent the last couple for weeks wading our way through John Newton’s timeless ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:9-10

Denomination: Christian Church

Christmas Cast Of Characters (Mary) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 18, 2012

The story of Christmas is wrapped around people... real life people. This four-sermon-series looks closely at this special cast of characters in an attempt to find our stories in theirs. Alliterated and expository, with PowerPoint available if you e-mail

Christmas: Cast of Characters (1) Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 12/2/2012 Each December as Christmas gets closer and closer the story of Jesus’ birth is told many times and many ways. Maybe you enjoy reading the story from the Bible with your family on Christmas Eve, ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Transformed, Not Merely Reformed

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 5, 2011

The Lord does not merely help us fix up our lives or amend our ways; he transforms us into a new creation and wants us to spread this transforming message. But first, we must look more closely at this transformation.

Transformed, Not Merely Reformed (2 Corinthians 5:16-21) 1. Last week, many of you experienced power outages; transformers were exploding 2. Transformers increase (step up) or decrease voltage (step down). 3. It is more efficient to send electricity long distances at a higher voltage, and then to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Following Jesus Without Denominationalism Series

Contributed by Sam Baker on Mar 25, 2012

I want you all to know that the importance to all of this relates very closely to the subject of “Authority in Religion” . . . It is impossible to maintain unity unless we can agree upon a ‘standard’ of authority. Funny thing is . . .

Following Jesus without Denominationalism Part 5: “Determining Our Standard of Authority” Now that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s can be put behind us, maybe we can start putting more emphasis on those things we should be working on through out the year . . . starting ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Fall Of Babylon The Great Proclaimed And Mourned Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 24, 2018

A CLOSE-UP OF BABYLON'S JUDGMENT 1. The announcement of her fall (Revelation 18:1-8). 2. Consequences of her fall for the world (Revelation 18:9-20). 3. The finality of her doom (Revelation 18:21-24).

Book of Revelation Commentary By: Tom Lowe Date: 7/13/17 Topic # IV: VISIONS OF JUDGMENT AGAINST ROME (12:1-19:21) Subtopic C: THE FALL OF BABYLON, THE HARLOT (17:1-19:10) Lesson: IV.C.3?The fall of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 18:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Food For Man And Beast. Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Apr 13, 2018

These final three verses are a closing statement to the first chapter. It states that God gave to man every “herb bearing seed,” and “every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed” from which he can derive his food.

June, 11 2013 Commentary on the Book of Genesis By: Tom Lowe Lesson I.A.8: Food for Man and Beast. Gen. 1:29-31. (KJV) 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:29-31

Denomination: Baptist

Centurion Julius’ Experience With Paul

Contributed by John Gaston on Jun 1, 2016

What would it have been like to be the Roman officer who sailed in close quarters with the Apostle Paul during the harrowing trip from Caesarea to Rome? How did God’s bond-slave, Paul, affect this man?

CENTURION JULIUS’ EXPERIENCE WITH PAUL Acts 27:1-28:16 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: GETTING OLDER 1. Have you ever felt like everybody around you is getting older faster than you? 2. A woman was sitting in the waiting room for her first appointment with her new dentist. She noticed his diploma ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God