Sermons on Close Encounter:

The Apple Of God's Eye Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Moses, Pt. 5

THE APPLE OF GOD’S EYE (EXODUS 14:1-31) In a survey of four- to eight-year olds, kids share their views on love: “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:1-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Point Of No Return Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Joshua, Pt. 2

THE POINT OF NO RETURN (JOSHUA 2:1-24) Worldwide Challenge, the Campus Crusade magazine, published an inspiring and heartfelt testimony of a former monk named Yuttasak Nok Sirikul. Sirikul was a dutiful son who had been a monk four times even before entering college, a few months each time, in ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who's In Charge? Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Joshua, Pt. 3

WHO’S IN CHARGE? (JOSHUA 3:1-17) Famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawabest’s black and white movie “Ikiru” certainly makes one ponder about life’s meaning and purpose. The story is about the choices a dying man faced and made upon learning he had cancer. Kanji Watanabe, the Chief of the Citizens ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Two Halves Make A Whole Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Couples, Pt. 10

TWO HALVES MAKE A WHOLE (ACTS 18:1-4, 18-26) A couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Their domestic tranquility had long been the talk of the town. A local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their long and happy marriage. “Well, it dates back to our ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Watch Out Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Crisis and Choice, Pt. 10 (Final)

WATCH OUT (MARK 13) Christians are often confronted with apocalyptic, millennial and eschatological expectations whenever a disaster occurs. On the morning of 9/11, a relative called from overseas, asked if we were alright and eventually ended the call with a sigh and an exclamation: “This is the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wash Basins

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Dec 20, 2007

This is a message about Pilate and his work at the wash basin.

WASH BASINS TEXT: Matthew 27:22-24 Matthew 27:22-24 -- Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:22-24

Denomination: Pentecostal

You Have More Power Than You Think Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Judges, Pt. 2

YOU HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU THINK (JUDGES 6:11-35) Dietrich Bonhoeffer, known for his opposition to Hitler, was imprisoned and executed in 1945. One of Bonhoeffer’s poems in prison is a masterpiece, revealing his fear, courage and faith in the face of unspeakable evil. “Who am I? Who am I? They ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Shape Up Or Ship Out Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Samuel, Pt. 3

SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT (1 SAMUEL 3) As I was sitting in my van in a parking lot a month after my 42nd birthday, a strand of hair dropped onto my shirt before my very eyes. Instinctively I picked up the hair to see its color, length and texture. Negative questions immediately arose: Is it gray? Am I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Cannot Win Them All Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Saul, Pt. 1

YOU CANNOT WIN THEM ALL (1 SAMUEL 9:15-10:27) When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hurry Up And Wait Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Saul, Pt. 2

HURRY UP AND WAIT (1 SAMUEL 11) It’s been said, “Rome is not built in a day.” When I was in elementary school I was in a big hurry to grow up. I was skinny and short. When my brother and I sat in the same car going to school every day, I could not help but compare his size to mine. My brother, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 11:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Great Is Thy Faithfulness Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

God of Wonders, Pt. 7

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS (PSALMS 89:1-4) God’s faithfulness to me can be summed up by my wife’s grievance against me: “God drops everything on your lap for you - including me!” She was right. God gave me a godly, loving, smart and wonderful wife. On hearing me speak for the first time, my Ph. D ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean To Be "Perfect?"

Contributed by James Cloud on Dec 21, 2007

Exploring the principles that make us more Christlike.

What Does It Mean To Be Perfect? Illustration: (There was a young boy who had been writing God a note on how good he had been throughout the past year. He began by writing, “Dear God, I have been good for six months now and I think I deserve a good gift for Christmas.” Upon thinking about it he ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Denomination: Anglican

All Is Vanity Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Solomon, Pt. 3

ALL IS VANITY (1 KINGS 11:1-14) A Jewish story tells of Alexander the Great’s presence before the gates of paradise on his journey home after he had conquered the whole world. Seeing that the gates would not open for him, he asked for a token to prove that he was there. All he got was a human eye. ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Only Live Once Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Parables for Seekers, Pt. 6

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE (LUKE 16:19-31) A Sunday school teacher told his class the story of the rich man and Lazarus. He explained that the wealthy man had wonderful clothes, lived in luxury and had all the food he could eat; but he had no compassion for the beggar, who longed for a few crumbs from the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Pay Up Or Pack Up Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Parables for Seekers, Pt. 8

PAY UP OR PACK UP (MATTHEW 21:33-44) US News and World Report (3/31/97) polled 1,000 people several years ago on who they thought were people “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to go to heaven. The person most likely to go to heaven was none other than Mother Teresa, who garnered 79 percent of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:32-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible