Sermons on Close Encounter:

Who Is Jesus?

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 14, 2014

Jesus asked His followers, "Who do men say that I am?" We will talk about 2 main facets of the identity of Jesus. He was fully God and fully man.

Who is Jesus? Matthew 16:13-17 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Able To Love

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 15, 2014

Love is something we could never do without help from someone who is really good at it. Because of God’s love for each of us, we have the ability to love God and others.

Able to Love 1 John 4:7-21 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When God Asks For Your Isaac Series

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 17, 2014

God asked Abraham to lay down his Isaac. His story is an incredible picture of the Cross and how God loved us enough to surrender His Son, Jesus, for our sin. Do we love Him enough to surrender our Isaac today?

It has been said that Christians are like tea bags……they always do best when they get in hot water. In Genesis chapter 22, we find Abraham in the hottest water of his life as God tries his faith. The Bible teaches three key truths about trials in the life of a believer: 1) Trials come to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Purpose Of The Parables

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jan 19, 2014

Jesus teaches that the purpose of his parables is to reveal or conceal truth.

Scripture We are studying the life and ministry of Jesus as it has been recorded in The Gospel of Luke. Two main features characterized Jesus’ ministry: teaching and miracles. We have already examined a number of examples of each. Jesus used illustrations masterfully in his teaching. His ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:9-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Sinner’s Friend Series

Contributed by Bob Hostetler on Jan 21, 2014

Jesus loves the lowly, broken, and sinful. A special sermon contribution from the SON OF GOD sermon packet for pastors, inspired by the SON OF GOD movie from Mark Burnett and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

I’d like to take a short quiz here today. Don’t worry, there are no wrong answers. I’d just like to poll this group to see who had childhoods like mine. For example, by a show of hands, how many of us here have actually cried over spilled milk? Some of us are too old to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Coming King Series

Contributed by Bob Hostetler on Jan 21, 2014

Jesus rules as king where He is received as king. A special sermon contribution from the SON OF GOD sermon packet for pastors, inspired by the SON OF GOD movie from Mark Burnett and distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Everyone wants to back a winner. Take our allegiance and enthusiasm for sports teams, for example. Year after year may pass, and the local team may have a nucleus of loyal fans, but when they start winning, when they enter the playoffs, when they are vying for the championship, suddenly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Trumpet Judgments Part Iii; 200 Thousand Thousand (Rev 9:12-20) Series

Contributed by Pastor Jeff Hughes on Jan 22, 2014

Angels released at the Euphrates; 200 million horsemen at war

The Trumpet Judgments Part III; 200 Thousand Thousand (Rev 9:12-20) We return to our study in Revelation 9, discussing the Trumpet Judgments. So far, we have studied the first five of these Trumpet Judgments, and this week we will study the sixth, with the seventh in a few weeks when we reach ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 9:12-21

Denomination: Bible Church

Your Choice, Heaven Or Hell

Contributed by Pastor Jeff Hughes on Jan 22, 2014

Contrasts between the glory of heaven, and the horrors of hell.

Your Choice, Heaven or Hell (Rev 21:1-27) I'm going to tell you about your future. About the choice you make, and where you will spend that future, and just what that future place will be like. I've spent some time here, teaching from the pulpit, telling you what Hell looks like. Today, we will ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-27

Denomination: Bible Church

Creation Bible Study - Creation: Day 6 Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jan 23, 2014

Day 1-5 God prepares for the coming apex of His creation...

Wed Night Bible Study - Creation Lesson/Sermon 5 - Days 6 Genesis 1:24-31 & Gen 2:4-24(ESV) Creation Bible Study - Creation: Day 6 Looking back at Day 1-5 & remember what we’ve learned: We learned our world did not just happen but it was created by God who did not have to use materials but ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:24-31

Denomination: Baptist

Mothers Day: Not Gospel Sermon, But A Tribute With Humour.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jan 23, 2014

True motherhood is a lifetime task; but handled right, it is a calling, a privilege and a pleasure. Yet Mother’s Day is not for everyone. “When a father is not happy, who cares, but when a mother is not happy, nobody is happy!”

Ex 2.1-10 Psalm 127 Col 3.12-17 John 19.25b-27 Summary: True motherhood is a lifetime task; but handled right, it is a calling, a privilege and a pleasure. Yet Mother’s Day is not for everyone. “When a father is not happy, who cares, but when a mother is not happy, nobody is ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-27

Denomination: Episcopal

Slaves By Law – Family Through Faith

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 28, 2014

A look at the privileges of sonship to God that we have through Jesus.

The 1860’s were hard years in MO. Being a “border state,” the civilians of MO were often the victims of abuses by both Union and Confederate troops, not to mention the number of looters who just roamed the countryside and took advantage of the general disarray of the country. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

By The Grace Given Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 31, 2014

By God’s grace we are motivated to do right, to live right. 1- By God’s grace we humble ourselves 2- By God’s grace we honor others 3- By God’s grace we use our gifts

INTRO.- You’ve been graced by God whether you realize it or not! ILL.- When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8, Romans 12:2-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Word Lights Our Way Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Feb 6, 2014

You may be able to relate to what Psalm 119 says about the joy of reading and meditating on God's Word. But most of us have also experienced dry spells. This section addresses how we can overcome dry spells by letting God's Word light our way forward wi

PSALM 119: 105-112 [The Ministry of The Word Series] GOD'S WORD LIGHTS OUR WAY You may be able to relate to what Psalm 119 says about the joy of reading and meditating on God's Word. But most of us have also experienced dry spells–times when we don't seem to get much from the Bible. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105-112

Denomination: Baptist

"I Am Heard" Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Feb 26, 2014

What goes through your mind when you think of prayer?

“I Am Heard” (Eph 3:14-21) What goes through your mind when you think of prayer? If I were to say at the beginning of the service that we are not going to have any music or sermon or anything else this morning, we are just going to pray together for an hour, what would you’re ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 28, 2014

Humility and humility is defined in the model of Christ. That's the pattern we have to follow, people. There are no shortcuts, no quick fixes. We'll have unity when we have humility, we'll have humility when we do like Christ did, and we come all the way down.

Opening illustration: Bill, a college student, was a new Christian. According to author Rebecca Manley Pippert, one Sunday he visited a church near campus. He walked in barefoot and was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. The service had already started, so he walked down the aisle looking for a seat. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational