Sermons on Close Encounter:

The Dead Hear His Voice And Live

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on May 9, 2021

The day will come when all the graveyards and all the cemeteries in the world will be emptied out. They will give up their dead, who will live again. And those who have believed in Christ will live forever with him.

The apostle John records seven miracles (or signs) from Jesus’s public ministry. Today we come to the seventh sign, and it is without question the greatest sign. For in John 11, the Lord Jesus powerfully restores the life of Lazarus. And it’s actually a miracle that we can relate to, in the sense ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Faith Looks Like Series

Contributed by James Wallace on May 11, 2021

This is a reality check. When you're surprised by the challenges of the Christian life and even tempted to quit, consider how the people who are part of Faith's Hall of Fame lived.

This past week we all heard about another horrific tragedy on the border. Three people died and 25 were injured as smugglers attempted to bring dozens of illegal immigrants into the U.S. via boat along the California Coast. The 40-foot boat broke up on a reef just west of Point Loma off the San ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-16, Romans 1:18-20, Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Bible Church

Jesus - The True Shepherd

Contributed by Gbemisola Fafowora on May 17, 2021

The Lord is the True Shepherd.

There is a very popular chapter in the word of God that everyone knows and recites every now and then, we always hear this chapter and most of us know this powerful chapter from our youth. We recite this chapter that is so known that we are used to it. But do we really believe it in our lives and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:11, Acts 20:28

Denomination: Pentecostal

"what Would The Lord Have Us Remember Or Forget At New Years?"

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Dec 30, 2021

This is a New Year's message.

Title: What Would the Lord Have Us Remember and Forget at New Year? Where: GNBC 1-2-22 Script: Is. 46:9; Is. 43:18-19 Type: Thematic/Topical Intro: Robert Garrett lists several items that if they are to happen to you may be foreboding of a bad year to come: You see a “60 minutes” news team ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:9, Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Armageddon Series

Contributed by Ernesto Illingworth on Dec 31, 2021

Armageddon has been misunderstood by most christians, simply because we haven't understand the theme of the whole conflict that began in heaven. A simple look into this will reveal the clear meaning of the Armageddon.

“The Battle of Armageddon” By Ernesto Illingworth The Context and background Assumptions in regards to biblical matters are very frequent. Armageddon is not the exception. Armageddon has been regarded as a battle that soon will take place at middle East, others think about this as a nuclear ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 16:16

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

David’s 911 Call For Help (1-2)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 4, 2022

Psalm 35 is another of David’s imprecatory prayers. In it David appeals to a righteous God to send judgment upon the enemies of God, and the persecutors of His righteous people.

WHY DID DAVID PRAY SUCH A PRAYER? It is believed that since Old Testament characters did not have the benefit of the New Testament, they did not have a complete revelation of the judgment seat of Christ. Therefore they believe the wicked had to be judged and to be rewarded in this life for ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Resurrection: History Or Myth?

Contributed by Mike Bryant on Mar 18, 2021

This lesson first introduces the serving of the Lord's Supper, then flows into the sermon after the Lord's Supper has been eaten.

I) [Introduction to Lord’s Super.] Easter, the day that many celebrate the resurrection of Christ, is right around the corner. While we do not celebrate this holiday, because God did not ask that we do so, the resurrection is nevertheless certainly an essential part of our faith. A) Paul reminds ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-19, Romans 10:8-9, Acts 26:22-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Paradox Of Money Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

Paul says the love of money is the root of all evil, and Mark Twain said, the lack of money is the root of all evil. The one does not eliminate the other, for Twain's remark compliments Paul's.

Someone said, life is an everlasting struggle to keep money coming in, and teeth, hair, and vital organs from coming out. Few have known this better than General Ulysses S. Grant. He led the armies of the North to victory in the Civil War, and was twice elected president of the United States. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Prayer Will Keep Us Together

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Mar 19, 2021

“Love Will Keep Us Together”. Some of the words are Love, love will keep us together. Stop, I been thinkin' of you. Look in my heart and let love keep us together.

Prayer will keep us Together By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. Protocol: - Prayer: - OPENING: - When I was asked to be a part of this revival and heard the theme Prayer will keep us together, I immediately went to the song by Captain & Tennille titled “Love Will Keep Us Together”. Some of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6, Matthew 7:7, Philippians 1:4

Denomination: Apostolic

Practicing The Presence Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 20, 2021

Theologically Jesus is always present with us, but practically we experience His absence because we are not aware of that presence. He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us, but we need to become aware of His being ever present.

An atheist and a Christian were debating the value of prayer, and the atheist said, "I never pray." The Christian said, "But you must have prayed at sometime in your life." "Yes," he admitted. "I did pray once. I was on a hunting trip in the Yukon and got ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Life Is Forever Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 25, 2021

Life is, because God is. Life is eternal, because God is eternal. Life is the foundation of all that is, for life was before all things.

From out of the files of the great Michelangelo comes the story of the young artist who labored long and tedious hours on the statue of an angel. When the time for its unvailing had finally come, the young artist hid himself in an inconspicuous spot and waited breathlessly for the response of the ...read more

Scripture: John 11:17-44

Your Worth In God's Eyes Series

Contributed by John Oscar on Mar 26, 2021

Taken from Sermon Central's "Created for Significance" Series and heavily edited, we see our worth in the eyes of God

Your Worth In God’s Eyes Created For Significance Series CCCAG 3-21-21 Scripture= Luke 15:11-31 Growing up , probably the biggest positive influence on my life was my Grandfather. He was a good Lutheran man, had a great reputation around Hayward, and when I spent my summers with him he would ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Letter To A Lady Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 26, 2021

If you can't speak the truth in love, why speak at all? John could do it, and that is why we have this love letter to a loving lady.

Herodotus, the Greek historian, tells this story from ancient history. Hestiaeus wanted Aristagorus to revolt, but could not get a message to him because the roads were guarded. So he took one of the most trusted slaves and shaved all the hair off his head, and then scratched letters into the ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:1-13

Seeing Is Believing Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 27, 2021

Peter, John and Mary Magdalene all saw the empty tomb... but they all came away with different conclusions. What can we learn from these first three witnesses of the risen Christ?

On May 4, 1865, after weeks of his body being on display in Washington D.C. and a few other cities, Abraham Lincoln was “laid to rest” in a cemetery near his home in Springfield, Illinois. But Lincoln didn’t "rest in peace." In 1876, there was a plot to raid his grave and steal his ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Holiness Theology Transformed My Understanding Of Christianity

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

Let me begin by saying that you should trust the scriptures over the words of any men. We must trust the scriptures much more than Luther, Calvin, Arminius, Wesley, Edwards, Whitefield or any Pope or bishop.

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” -1st Peter 1:14-16 ESV Let me begin by saying that you should trust the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17-23, 1 Peter 1:14-16, Hebrews 10:26, 1 John 3:4-10

Denomination: Salvation Army