Sermons on Close Encounter:

Family Ties

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 7, 2011

How can Christians be united when there are so many things we can’t agree on? That is the wrong question. The real question is, how can we imagine that any of these human differences can break the unity among us that God has already created?

Do you know what the Zen Buddhist said to the hot dog vendor? "Make me one with everything." English is a remarkably flexible language. You can play wonderful games with it. "Make for me one hot dog with everything on it" is a far cry from "to become One with everything," which is the Buddhist ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trusting In Ravens Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 8, 2011

Why would God use Ravens to feed Elijah. They’re disgusting, unclean, anti-social and cruel birds. Why didn’t God use a simpler and more pleasing way of meeting Elijah’s needs?

OPEN: Years ago I read the story of a man by the name of Wally who owned a farm in Connecticut. He had a remarkable talent he had with birds. Chickadees specifically. It seems that every morning these little birds would flutter down and land on his hands. And it wasn’t just for food; He’d talk ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Is Your Faith?

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Sep 10, 2010

We learn faith through trials and tribulations that come upon us.

Text: Jesus said, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). What does it mean to have faith? Does it mean that you believe in something without a shadow of doubt? Does it mean you are so sure in something or someone that you would be willing to give up your life because you believe so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Christian Church

P90x For The Soul - Fasting Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Sep 12, 2010

Fasting. It is something many of us have heard of and perhaps know what it is, but have never experienced. What really is fasting and why should we do it and what purpose does it have in the life of a follower of Christ?

P90X for the Soul Fasting Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 6:16-18 Slide Good morning. We are continuing our series, P90X for your Soul, this morning. I am going to show the video promo for the physical exercise series, since some of you missed it last week while others figured out that there was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

As Long As I Am In This Tabernacle

Contributed by Herman E. Wesley Iii on Sep 12, 2010

When the Apostle Peter penned his first letter, his aim was to comfort and encourage believers in the midst of suffering and persecution---Something that was happening externally. Three years later, in this letter containing his last words, he writes to

Evangelist Herman E. Wesley III AS LONG AS I AM IN THIS TABERNACLE II Peter 1:12-15 Prepared for Delivery at Southwestern Christian College Annual Southwestern Lectureship / Graham-Kennedy-Farmer Auditorium Tuesday, November 24, 1998 • 7:45 p.m. / Keynote Address THE TEXT "Wherefore I will not ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-13

Grace: It’s All God Series

Contributed by Rob Jansons on Sep 14, 2010

This is the summary sermon where I finally reveal that this series covers the same material that is often called the "5 Points of Calvinism." It emphasizes God's grace and that our faith response is us just showing up and accepting what Jesus has already

Today is the wrap up sermon of our winter sermon series. Sadly, though, it is still winter. We have been talking about salvation for five weeks. Today I want to review a bit and maybe tie some loose ends together. This concept is really important: that we understand our salvation so that we value ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Code Blue

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Sep 21, 2010

Code Blue: Means (Emergency) This is a word from God to somebody who is experiencing an emergency in your life.

Mk 5:25-34 Code Blue Those two words may not mean anything to you, but if you happen to be in a hospital and hear those words, the whole atmosphere changes. Nurses and Doctors go on high alert, and their pace quickens, Because somebody has an emergency, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:25-34

Denomination: Pentecostal

What God Wants Series

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Sep 24, 2010

Do you understand all the things that God wants for your life?

# #September 26, 2010 Morning Worship Text: Colossians 1:9-14 Subject: God’s Plan for the Church Title: What God Wants There was a movie out not too many years ago with Mel Gibson called, “What Women Want”. In the movie Gibson plays a chauvinistic executive who, after an ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Sailors Tale

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Sep 26, 2010

This is a first person narrative telling the story of Jonah

September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, honest it really is www.talklikeapirateday.com. And it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up. This is the a repeat of the message I preached last time it fell on a Sunday. We started with a clip from the Veggie Tales Jonah Movie which ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-6

Denomination: Wesleyan

Loving The Church When It Hurts

Contributed by David Scudder on Sep 27, 2010

The command to love each other tends to bring up images of church members smiling and having fun together. We may think of joyful worship, relaxing picnics, or even exciting Bible studies, but what about conflicts and misunderstandings? What about persecu

Purpose: To show that loving believers requires determination and hard work. Aim: I want the listener to decide to love the body of Christ no matter what. INTRODUCTION: The Bible talks a lot about loving other believers in Christ’s body, the church. Here is a sample: Listen to Jesus: John ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Gideon’s Guerrillas: A Few Good Men Or One Good Lord? Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Sep 27, 2010

God empties us before he fills us.

The 2007 movie 300 was loosely based on the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. On a thin strip of land between the mountains and the ocean, 7,000 Greeks led by King Leonidas of Sparta and his 300 crack troops temporarily held off the Persian army and their hundreds of thousands of soldiers (some ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Laodicea; The Chruch Of Today? Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Sep 30, 2010

Does the church of today resemble the lukewarm Laodiceans? Are we the last era of the Christian Church?

Revelation is the scariest book in the Bible, yet it’s also one of the most comforting, reassuring, and exciting books in the Bible. The beloved disciple John is almost certainly the author of the book, but unlike other New Testament letters, the first few chapters of this book seem to be ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Beloved Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Oct 1, 2010

A study of chapter 8 verses 1 through 14

Song of Songs 8: 1 – 14 He’s Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Beloved 1 Oh, that you were like my brother, who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised. 2 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, she ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 8:1-14

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

When Our Faith Fails Part 5 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Oct 2, 2010

Part five focuses on how what we believes directly impact our faith using the story of Naaman.

When Our Faith Fails Part 5 Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-19; Introduction: This morning I will conclude my series titled “When Our Faith Fail”. This morning we will examine the last faith equation which states: Faith + Right Beliefs + Actions = Right Results.” In this equation ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Hears And Answers Earnest Prayer Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Oct 2, 2010

How many churches band together to reach their community by having an all night prayer service! Prayer is VITAl to our survival as believers and to our fellowship! If we are to reach our community for Christ, we must start on our knees! And when we pray f

Date Written: October 1, 2010 Date Preached: October 3, 2010 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Reaching our Community Sermon Title: God Hears & Answers Earnest Prayer Sermon Text: Acts 12:5-17 MPT: God heard and answered the earnest prayers of the church for the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:5-17

Denomination: Baptist