Sermons on Close Encounter:

Hagar Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 21, 2022

After Hagar becomes pregnant, Sarah treats her harshly, and eventually, Hagar flees from her mistress into the wilderness, where God's messenger speaks to her.

Hagar In Brief This practice of surrogacya can be found in several ancient Near Eastern texts. Hagar is Sarah's Egyptian slave woman whom Sarah gives Abraham as a secondary wife and would bear a child for him. After Hagar becomes pregnant, Sarah treats her harshly, and eventually, Hagar flees ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob: A Liar And Trickster Changed By A Dream Lesson 1 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 18, 2023

Deep passionate, sacrificial faith pleases God.

A. JACOB WAS PERFECTLY IMPERFECT 1. He enticed his brother Esau to sell his family birth right (Genesis 25: 26-34). 2. He deceived his father and lied to get the family’s inheritance (Genesis 27:1-33). 3. Jacob had to run away from home. “Esau hated Jacob … ‘I will slay my brother’” (Genesis ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:26-34, Genesis 32:25-26, Hebrews 11:6

Denomination: Baptist

Set Free From Shame Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 8, 2023

The sermon explores the transformative encounter of the Samaritan woman with Jesus, illustrating God's intent to save rather than condemn, and the possibility of turning guilt and shame into healing and belonging through God's grace.

The story of the Samaritan woman perfectly illustrates how God sent Jesus not to condemn the world but to save the world through him. Jesus humbles himself, engages the woman in conversation, and sets her free from shame and guilt. She arrives at the well as a sinner, but leaves as a saint. ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Topics: Shame And Guilt, Healing And Belonging, Divine Encounters

Drawn To Christ Premium Sermon

Contributed by PRO Premium on Oct 8, 2023

The sermon explores how Jesus attracts people to Himself, inviting them to discover God's nature and their own identities, with a prayer for fresh encounters with His presence and love.

Hey church! I’m so glad that you’re here today! It’s so good for us to be together to worship our loving and almighty God who loves us and cares so deeply about us. Let me ask you a question: do you like to get free samples of stuff? Like, free samples of shampoo or perfume or food? Are any of you ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-42

Topics: Lamb Of God, Encountering Presence, Spiritual Discovery

Encounter One. Facing Fear. (Includes Discussion Questions At The End) Series

Contributed by Paul Hardy on May 3, 2022

When you live in fear, it will often appear in a sense of seeking power and control. When you encounter Jesus, you will find peace!

INTRODUCTION: How will I introduce the message? When you live in fear, it will often appear in a sense of seeking power and control. When you encounter Jesus, you will find peace! There are four great impelling motives that move us to action: Fear, Hope, Faith, and Love —these four, but the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:4, Revelation 1:17, John 18:2-5

Denomination: Baptist

Jacob's Ladder - A Powerful Encounter With The Presence Of God.

Contributed by Peter Pilt on Apr 29, 2019

Looking at the encounter that Jacob had with God at Bethel. Unpacking that story and looking at principles to apply into our lives.

These are my raw sermon notes for the first sermon in the series The Wisdom and Power of Ancient Stories – first story is Jacob’s Ladder found in Genesis 28. The context of the story is that Jacob has just tricked his older twin brother out of the birth right blessing and Esau now is seething mad ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:1, Genesis 27:41, Genesis 28:12-15, Romans 12:2, Psalm 61:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jacob's Ladder - A Powerful Encounter With The Presence Of God.

Contributed by Peter Pilt on Apr 29, 2019

Looking at the encounter that Jacob had with God at Bethel. Unpacking that story and looking at principles to apply into our lives.

These are my raw sermon notes for the first sermon in the series The Wisdom and Power of Ancient Stories – first story is Jacob’s Ladder found in Genesis 28. The context of the story is that Jacob has just tricked his older twin brother out of the birth right blessing and Esau now is seething mad ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:1, Genesis 27:41, Genesis 28:12-15, Romans 12:2, Psalm 61:2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Effecting Change In The Lives Of Thsoe We Encounter, Part 3 Series

Contributed by Richard Laraviere on Aug 6, 2008

Our changed lives has a very positive effect on the lives of thse we come in contact with. We change ourselves we change our world

Changing Our World, One Person at a Time (Effecting change in the life of those we encounter) Part Three Opening 1. Before you can change the world for good, you must be changed A. A godly home, is a powerful testimony of the one ministering 1. Nothing will kill a man’s effectiveness in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:16

Denomination: Mennonite

Encounter Four. Two Thieves. (Includes Discussion Questions At The End)

Contributed by Paul Hardy on May 3, 2022

Jesus tells us exactly what we must do to go to heaven. This encounter between Jesus and the two thieves proves God has a PLAN for your salvation!

How will I INTRODUCE the message? A REAL FAKE As his identity was unknown for a long period of time, the “unsub” (an “unknown subject” in F.B.I. speak, also called a “John Doe”) was called the “Skywayman” by the law and the press, because of his posing as an airline pilot. (In scene 11, Abagnale ...read more

Scripture: John 19:17-27, John 19:28-37, John 19:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

Bearing The Image Of God

Contributed by Jay Bunting on Oct 16, 2011

Sermon taking a comparison of Moses' desire to see God face to face and Jesus speaking of giving to God what belongs to God

18th Pentecost 11 Exodus 33:12-23 and Matthew 22: 15-22 Bearing the image of God. I want to take a different route this morning and do a comparison of the Old Testament with the New. In Exodus 33: 12-33 Moses speaks to God about a desire to see Him face to face. Up to this point Moses had spoken ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Anglican

In The Hour Of Trial: Open Door

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 1, 2009

The doors of the church: some are locked, but panic hardware always lets us out for mission; some are heavily locked, but it is Christ who is our security; and some are never locked, for we are to be open to embrace those who need us.

Have you ever seen a place with as many doors as this church building has! A hardware salesman would be in heaven, right here! Doors, doors, everywhere doors. There are doors leading to the outside. Eight of them, I think. There are doors inside, leading into the rooms. Some doors take you into ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

Hidden In Marys Heart

Contributed by Charles Scott on Dec 20, 2017

Mary was an obedient, observant and a fleshly treasury for the graces of God. She treasured the words and deeds of Jesus in her heart and sang of the joy of sharing in the new birth available for all mankind and is an example to the church.

ADVENT II Hid in Marys Heart Psalm 119 Luke 1__26   THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST GOD  Psalm 119:11- “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”  (NIV)  Mary, a daughter of David, may have reflected on this Psalm; especially after ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Loving God

Contributed by Matt Skiles on Jan 14, 2017

If you ask the average person if he loves God, his answer will probably be “yes.” However, many people who sincerely believe they love the Lord are mistaken. Sadly many people who say they love God don't even really "know" Him.

Introduction: If you ask the average person if he loves God, his answer will probably be “yes.” However, many people who sincerely believe they love the Lord are mistaken. Sadly, they may not even know Him. Words alone are no proof of love. In fact, we use the word love rather loosely, ascribing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Complexities And Simplicities Of Wisdom Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 8, 2015

We are all trying to navigate through life putting God first. God encourages us to embrace a curriculum of wisdom. Wisdom will guide us through the complexities of uncertainty about what to do and the clarity to do what we should do.

The Complexities and Simplicities of Wisdom (Proverbs 23:9-12) 1. A businessman on his deathbed called his good friend and said, "Luigi, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated." "And what," his friend asked, "do you want me to do with your ashes?" The ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:9-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Making God More Real In Your Life

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 22, 2014

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Making God More Real in Your Life John 14:7-15 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MoreReal.html Jesus is having a Q&A session with His disciples. They have left their jobs, boat investments, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and all their life plans in order to follow the Lord. It has been ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6-15

Denomination: Baptist