Sermons on Close Encounter:

Celebrate What God Has Done Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Aug 25, 2024

He is faithful. He is faithful for the future just as much as he has been in the past. Trust Him for the road ahead. Though it seems so very uncertain, God is trustworthy, our part is to hold on tight as God begins to do a new thing in our lives. The future is bright.

There was once a great and mighty citadel of the faith. It’s members were many, it’s band large, it’s youth growing in the faith, it’s members organized and energized, it’s outreach far and wide, it’s services many and multiplied, and it’s reputation, as one of the premier citadels of the mighty ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-14, Acts 1:9-11

Denomination: Salvation Army

Made For So Much More

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Aug 28, 2024

The first several verses of Ecclesiastes capture this reality well and sum it up in one word: Futility.

Have you ever been disappointed with your life? Has there ever been a time in your life where you found yourself saying, “What’s the use?” Life can do that to us. We work hard—at our job, at our ministry, at school, on our relationships. And then comes that time when you stop, and look it all ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Isaiah 53: It Wasn't Very Long Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 17, 2024

The trials of Jesus, the suffering of Jesus on the cross, and His time in the tomb did not take very long, but impact us for eternity.

ISAIAH 53 SERIES: IT WASN’T VERY LONG ISAIAH 53:8-9 | #Isaiah53 PERSON IN THE CONGREGATION READS ISAIAH 53 READ ISAIAH 53:1-12 (ESV) “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:8-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Faith That Does Not Save Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Sep 27, 2024

Acts 8:9-25 teaches us about a faith that does not save.

Introduction Years ago, I read a story about the famous outlaw Jesse James (1847-1882). He killed a man in a bank robbery and, shortly after that incident, professed faith in Jesus and was baptized at the Kearney Baptist Church in Kearney, Missouri (the church where his father had once served as ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Heavenly Dress Code Series

Contributed by David Owens on Jul 7, 2025

One of the ways that we know we will be saved is the fact that we are clothed with Christ. Entrance into the great heavenly wedding feast requires the proper clothing...the righteousness of Christ.

A. I like to play golf, but I make no claims of being a good golfer. 1. I get to play 3 or 4 rounds of golf a year. 2. One of the best parts about golfing is being out in such a well-manicured green space. 3. If you play early in the morning when the dew is still on the ground, then you get to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Romans 13:14, Galatians 3:26-27, Romans 8:1, 1 John 2:28, 1 John 5:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Rapture Of The Church

Contributed by Jedidiah Jedidiah on Jul 9, 2025

The Rapture verse or the real verse that teaches the truth about the Rapture is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Rapture of the Church Before we discuss the concept of the Rapture, it is imperative to dive deeply and examine different facts about the Rapture. We need to research the issue that surrounds the Rapture, for the word “Rapture” is indeed not found in the Bible, just as the word “Trinity” is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Spiritual Anatomy

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 10, 2025

There is a space in Christ’s body that only you can fill. Some part of his hand, his eye, or his heart is missing when you are not there

A couple of weeks ago, I used the image of a jigsaw puzzle to illustrate that the gift of God takes some assembling before it starts to take shape in our lives. That is why you were given a piece of a jigsaw puzzle on the way in to the sanctuary this morning. The gift of God’s spirit comes in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:14-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Human Sexuality Series

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jul 11, 2025

What do you think are the purposes of human sexuality? What if you knew the truths about God’s design for human sexuality that would provide greater understanding and lessen frustration and disappointment. Get ready to explore human sexuality from God’s point of view!

(If you feel this sermon is helpful, you are welcome to visit https://danachau.thinkific.com/ for a free online course.) Human Sexuality Selected Scriptures We begin a new message series with topics on current concerns. These topics were triggered by Chip Ingram’s “Culture Shock Series”. Topics ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 7:1-2, Proverbs 5:18-19, Malachi 2:15, Ephesians 5:31-32, Genesis 1:27-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

A Long Campaign

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 16, 2025

In God’s time we will see the results of what we have done, even if someone else completes the work, just as Timothy built on Paul’s foundation.

My own graduation from high school and departure to college is so long ago and far away that I can hardly remember it. On the other hand, I graduated from seminary almost 30 years later, and so it’s much closer. There’s a lot the two have in common: leaving behind the old familiar, and going off ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Matter Of Faith

Contributed by Mason Davis on Jul 19, 2025

A debate between Creationism and Evolutionism

A MATTER OF FAITH By: C. Mason Davis Why did the Chicken cross the road? Because it was free range. Why did the Chicken cross the road? Because the road was too long to walk around it. Why did the Chicken cross the road? To visit family at KFC. TODAY’S SCRIPTURE Genesis:1-5, “In the ...read more

Kingdom Living - Forgiven To Forgive - Unlimited Forgiveness - The 70 X 7 Principle - Matthew 18.21-35 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jul 27, 2025

Forgive without limits – Forgive extravagantly as GOD has forgiven you. As recipients of GOD’s limitless mercy, we are called to extend the same forgiveness to others from the heart. Forgiveness is not optional - it is essential to Kingdom Living.

2025.07.27 Sermon Notes. KINGDOM LIVING. FORGIVEN TO FORGIVE. MATTHEW 18.21-35 Unlimited Forgiveness - The 70 x 7 Principle William Akehurst, HSWC SCRIPTURES: Matthew 18:21-35, Daniel 9:24, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 103:12, 1 Corinthians 11:24, Isaiah 53:5, Mark 11:25-26, Romans 3:10, Luke ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, Daniel 9:24, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 103:12, 1 Corinthians 11:24, Isaiah 53:5, Mark 11:25-26, Romans 3:10, Luke 6:36, John 6:35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rentless Love

Contributed by Patty Groot on Aug 4, 2025

Today’s passage is one of the most vulnerable, heart-wrenching moments in the entire Bible—not from a human being, but from God Himself. It’s raw. It’s emotional. And it’s all about the relentless love of God for His people—even when they run from Him.

I want to begin today by asking a question that might hit close to home for some of us: Have you ever loved someone who didn’t love you back? You gave and gave, and they walked away. You sacrificed, you showed up, you forgave—again and again—but they just… didn’t return it. Maybe it was a child. A ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-11

What Do You Do When The Lord Makes You Uncomfortable?

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Aug 14, 2025

Jesus is going to show us in Luke 12:49-56 that this divine discomfort is not a bug in the system of faith—it's a feature. It's not something to avoid—it's something to embrace.

There's a question that every serious believer must eventually face: What do you do when the Lord makes you uncomfortable? I'm not talking about the discomfort of difficult circumstances or trials that come from living in a fallen world. I'm talking about that deep, internal stirring ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56, Jeremiah 20:9

Denomination: Methodist

It Is A Matter Of Faith Series

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Aug 15, 2025

Faith is key to the believers life. Faith is part of our DNA as a follower of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Title: It is a Matter of Faith – Our DNA Theme: To show that faith is priority in the life of Christian. It is part of our DNA Text: Hebrews 11 Opening Scripture Joh 4:46-54 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 11:1-31

Denomination: Church Of God

Counting The Blessing Of Hope

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Nov 29, 2025

This sermon is about the blessing of hope in times of trouble and despair on this side of grave and the hope that inspires us after death. What does Jeremiah 29:11 actually mean in its context.

Counting Every Blessing: The Blessing of Hope Jeremiah 29:1-13 and 1 Peter 1:3-5 We are in part 4 of the series Counting Every Blessing. I have been assigned the Blessing of hope. Hope is a very strange word in the English language because it has so many different levels of confidence ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-13, 1 Peter 1:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed