Sermons on Close Encounter:

Mustard Seed And Yeast Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 21, 2009

We come full circle with the parables of Jesus. As we close this series, we are reminded the God’s Kingdom work starts small and seemingly insignificant but through God’s work becomes greater than we can imagine.

The Parables of Jesus The Mustard Seed and The Yeast Matthew 13:31-33 September 20, 2009 This week we will return to Matthew and look at two small parables that are connected together but give us two varying perspectives of the kingdom. These are the parables of the mustard seed and yeast. If you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33

Denomination: Church Of God

Appropriating The Mind Of Christ In Light Of His Coming Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Mar 12, 2010

Every day reports coming from the Middle East point to the unfolding of events that lead us to believe the rapture of the church is but moments away. Sometimes, my skin even bristles with an almost electric charge as I think of closeness and imminence of

APPROPRIATING THE MIND OF CHRIST IN LIGHT OF HIS COMING 2 PETER 4:1-11 INTRODUCTION: Every day reports coming from the Middle East point to the unfolding of events that lead us to believe the rapture of the church is but moments away. Sometimes, my skin even bristles with an almost electric ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Timothy (Paul's Disciple) Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 3, 2022

This young man was so closely associated with the Apostle Paul that they shared his thoughts and work. However, we must assume the more profound knowledge of him conveyed by the Acts and Epistles and by the letters of counsel addressed by St. Paul to him personally.

Timothy Acts 16:1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman… ________________________________________ This young man was so closely associated with the Apostle Paul that they shared his thoughts and work. He is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1

Denomination: Baptist

1 Peter Chapter 5 Commentary Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 30, 2021

Peter closes out his letter to the scattered Christians in the churches of Asia Minor with some final instructions. He counsels the elders about how to lead, includes how and why to live in humility with each other, and gives a final warning.

1 Peter Chapter 5 Commentary INTRODUCTION to Chapter 5 Peter closes out his letter to the scattered Christians in the churches of Asia Minor with some final instructions. He counsels the elders about how to lead, includes how and why to live in humility with each other, and gives a final warning ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Hosanna In The Midst Of A Pandemic

Contributed by Ezekiel Ette on Apr 7, 2020

The world is in a locked down mode this Palm Sunday. Streets are empty and businesses are closed. We are told to stay home and if we must venture out, to avoid touching our face and to wear mask to avoid spreading the deadly Corona Virus.

Palm Sunday “HOSANNA” IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC Ezekiel Ette, Ph.D. (Matt 21 : 1 – 11) As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:9

Denomination: United Methodist

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

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

Love God Totally Series

Contributed by Damien Saylor on Jun 15, 2019

It is easy to lose sight of God in our lives. It closely relates to a Doctor’s prescription we forget to take. Gradually our health starts to decline. The longer we are away from God. The worse our Spiritual Health gets!

Sermon series - 6 qualities for spiritual health - Today we’re looking at the first & greatest decision we ever make. - It is to Love God totally. - I know that in life it’s easy to say I love this person, or I love so & so, but it’s just words. - The power of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-38

Denomination: Baptist

Improving Your Relationships

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

. This message provides a few exhortations on how to have healthy personal relationships. How do I have close relationships that don’t become controlling or co-dependent? How do I handle times when relationships are rocky?

Matthew 22:39 7/3/16 Intro The two great commandments are: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” And “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”1 According to what Jesus said in Matt. 22:37-39, it is all about relationships: our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:23-25, Matthew 22:37-39, Matthew 7:1-5, 2 Timothy 2:23-26, Galatians 6:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Planning Wisely, Living Humbly

Contributed by Brian Williams on Jan 1, 2026

We plan responsibly, but we submit these plans to God willingly. When they change—when doors close, when timelines shift, instead of living in despair we can trust that God causes all things to work together for good.

How can we prepare our lives for the future when we don’t know what the future holds? Well we know that God has created life with rhythms we can normally count on. The world keeps spinning on its axis. The sun rises and sets. Gravity holds us to the earth. We breathe without thinking. Seasons come ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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 Right Attitude Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 16, 2007

In a closing litany of exhortations the apostle leads his readers to consider essential Christian attitudes of: 1) submission, 2) humility, 3) trust, 4) self-control, 5) vigilance, 6) fortitude, 7) hope, 8) worship, 9) faithfulness, & 10)Love

Ralph Waldo Emerson said: ‘A man is what he thinks about all day long.’ How could he possibly be anything else?” Why? An old maxim states: “Thoughts produce acts, acts produce habits, and habits produce character.” The Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius said, “Our life is what our thoughts make ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-14

Denomination: Other

The Empty Womb Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 24, 2023

Why did Hannah mourn her childlessness and what did God do for her that we can learn from?

I ran across a list of different life experiences that can create stress, and amongst all these life experiences creating stress were these: Death of a spouse; Divorce; Being sentenced to Jail; Personal injury or illness; Being fired at work; Retirement; Pregnancy; and a change in financial ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ