Sermons on Close Encounter:

The Lesser Of Evils (Or Choose Your Sinner)

Contributed by Steven Cordle on Sep 6, 2024

Since we are getting close to Election Day and there's a lot of discussion about Christians voting and whether or not Christians should vote for certain candidates and how Christians should vote on the various issues and initiatives that appear on the ballot I thought I would share this.

Since we are getting close to Election Day and there's a lot of discussion about Christians voting and whether or not Christians should vote for certain candidates and how Christians should vote on the various issues and initiatives that appear on the ballot I thought I would share this. I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Romans 13:1-7, Proverbs 11:10, Proverbs 14:35, Acts 25:10-12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Some Thoughts On Depopulation

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 23, 2024

The world's current population is somewhere between 7 and 8 billion. Some think that's too many and have openly advocated for depopulation measures. All they need to do is wait for the Great Tribulation and they'll come close to getting their wish!

Introduction: A number of people, mostly elites, and increasingly calling out for more people to die! The justification, if I understand it correctly, is that there are too many people on this planet to be kept (the “sustainability” argument) and/or there isn’t enough of the right _kind_ of people. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 6:1-11, Revelation 9:13-21, Revelation 11:11-13

Denomination: Baptist

Any Old Bush Will Do

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 29, 2025

The bush God chose on Horeb was a worthless, fruitless bush that only stuck you with a thorn if you got close, yet God used it (by His holy presence) to deliver Israel and reveal His power to the world! If He can use that, He can use us!

ANY OLD BUSH WILL DO Ex. 3:1-10 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. President Bush was going through an airport when he saw a man who looked like Moses. He asked him, "Are you Moses?" The man acted as if he didn't hear. 2. He asked him again, "Are you Moses?" The man refused to look ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Amazing Grace Received Through Faith: God's Faithfulness During Great Struggles

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 23, 2021

Jesus causes the dead to live. He pursues us, faithful to His promises, abounding in love. Though trials and temptations come, God’s grace goes along with us. As Christians we can expect much struggle and suffering. Yet we can also expect to encounter great grace and joy.

Jesus causes the dead to live. He pursues us, faithful to His promises, abounding in love. Though trials and temptations come, God’s grace goes along with us. As Christians we can expect much struggle and suffering. Yet we can also expect to encounter great grace and joy. As the Apostle Paul ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:5-12, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Isaiah 40:29-31

Denomination: Salvation Army

Elijah: "The Emotional Roller Coaster” Series

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jul 22, 2002

A look at the dangers of depression, and what God has done to help us in our times of emotional overload.

Humor: Have you ever heard this expression, "It’s enough to make a preacher cuss." It reminds me of story about little boy trying to sell a lawn mower. The local pastor walked up and he was able to persuade him to buy the worn out lawn mower. The pastor pulled on the rope several times to make sure ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thrive Not Survive!

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 19, 2013

Patrick role modeled for the Christian community what it means to be a hero of the faith. He showed us what it meant to thrive not just survive. His attitude in life showed us how to over-come in this world. The key was to draw closer to God. He also taug

Sermon: Thrive not survive! Pastor Brian from Master’s Commission shares about what it means to thrive not survive in our day and hour. Vernon comes up toward the end of Brian’s message to highlight how he thrived in Master’s Commission. Scripture Text: Hebrews 12: ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Managing Anger God's Way Pt 1 Series

Contributed by David Welch on Jun 30, 2008

First in a four part series on managing anger

“Understanding and Managing Anger Pt 1” INTRODUCTION In our study of bitterness, we discovered the devastating effects of sustained anger and unforgiveness not only for the individual but also for everyone they touch. Bitterness has to do with negative thoughts and feelings toward someone who has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26-32

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ready Or Not Here I Come

Contributed by Steven Pace on Apr 15, 2002

From a childs game of Hid and Go seek to you can’t hide from God... This sermon has people looking to the sky again.

Here I Come! Ready or Not! Matthew 24:36-51 When I was a kid one of my favorite games was hide-n-go-seek. I use to love that game. As a matter of fact, our youth and children at our church still love playing it. You know it is one of the simplest, yet the funniest games I have ever played. Hiding ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-51

Denomination: Baptist

Encourage One Another!

Contributed by Hans Krause on Nov 17, 2018

We don't know when Jesus will come again, or whether we will die before that and go to meet our Savior. We do know that we should be wide awake and ready 24/7 for that encounter. And to that end, we are called to encourage one another rather than to incite fear and panic.

Do you believe that Jesus will one day come back from where he has gone? Do you believe that there is actually going to be a point of time in our history, or better: in our future, when God will intervene in the flow of history in a way that will have a cosmic impact? Let’s have a show of hands: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:2-11, Matthew 24:36-44

Denomination: Lutheran

Going Back To Bethel

Contributed by Clint Shrum on Feb 28, 2008

Jacob first met God at Luzwhich means "a hard place." After his encounter with God he changed the name of that place to Bethel which means "the House of God." Years later Jacob finds himself returning to the place where he first met God.

GOING BACK TO BETHEL Genesis 35:1-7 Intro: To fully understand the message this morning it is imperative that I take you back to Genesis 27. Esau in his moment of weakness has sold his birthright to Jacob. Jacob through deception and by the held of his mother has gone to Isaac and received ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Arise, My Child! Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jul 13, 2014

For Christians, death is merely a passage to life by faith in Christ only! When Jesus encounters people who need Him two things happen: 1) He willingly goes to where they are and, 2) they do whatever it takes to come to Him. We should live the same way!

Arise, My Child! Mark 5:21-43 Introduction - Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” -- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Last week we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Comes For Habitation, Not Visitation

Contributed by Samuel M on Apr 2, 2025

God comes to stay, not to visit and leave. Today, if you want an encounter with God, always remember that God comes to stay, not just to visit. When you pray for God to come, pray and prepare your heart so that when He comes, He can stay for a long time.

When God comes, He does not come to visit, but He comes stay. He comes to live, dwell and stay with us forever. He is not an outsider who comes to visit; rather, He is the head of a family who comes to take His rightful place (in the family) and stay with us. He does not come to visit and then ...read more

Go Thy Way: When Jesus Healed A Nobleman’s Son Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 26, 2020

Jesus had come from Judea and had already passed through Samaria, and now was in Cana of Galilee, where He had performed His first miracle, as recorded in John 2. Now He’s again in Cana and He will encounter someone there who has a need that only Jesus Himself can fulfill.

Introduction During our Lord’s ministry on this earth, He must have had people asking Him many times if He would heal someone. Gracious as He was, He never turned anyone away. Whether the person was very poor, like the woman who had spent everything she had but never was cured, or a foreigner like ...read more

Scripture: John 4:46-54, Matthew 11:23

Denomination: Baptist

How To Defeat Depression Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jan 8, 2016

Tips to defeat depression. 1. Focus On FACTS Not Feelings 2. Don’t COMPARE Yourself To Others 3. Don’t Exaggerate The NEGATIVE 4. Take Care Of PHYSICAL Needs 5. Take Your PROBLEMS To God 6. Have A Fresh ENCOUNTER With God 7. Get New DIRECTION From God

How To Defeat Depression Depression is one of the greatest problems in the world today. It has been called the common cold of mental illnesses. Everybody gets depressed at times, but some people are depressed nearly all the time. Even people in the Bible got depressed – Elijah is an ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Calls Your Name: Martha Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Sep 11, 2021

How would you respond if God called your name not once, but twice? In the Bible, God calls plenty of people often by name, but I’ve only found seven times where God calls out someone’s name twice in a row. In each instance, what follows is a life-changing encounter with the God of creation.

When God Calls Your Name… Twice: Martha Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 8/21/2016 For the last few of weeks, we’ve been talking about how you might respond if God called your name—not just once, but twice. As I mentioned before, God calls plenty of people in the Bible often ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Christian Church