Sermons on Close Encounter:

Why We Celebrate Christmas–emmanuel

Contributed by Phillip Smith on Dec 20, 2024

No man alive knows the exact date our Lord was born, however it does not hinder us from celebrating his birth. We celebrate much more than his birth. Let me explain why I believe this holiday is so important to me.

No man alive knows the exact date our Lord was born, however it does not hinder us from celebrating his birth. We celebrate much more than his birth. We celebrate his birth, life, death and resurrection into eternal life continuously. Let me explain why I believe this holiday is so important to me. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Philippians 2:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The No. 1 Question - Who Is Jesus?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 30, 2024

An exposition of John 1:1-14 dealing with the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus

Text: John 1:1-14 Subject: Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Complement: he is God incarnate. Big idea: "God moved into the neighbourhood.” John 1 - The Word Became Flesh - Divine Creator: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pressing On To Know The Lord

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Jan 4, 2025

This is a new year's message.

Title: “Pressing on to Know the Lord” Script: Hosea 6:3 Type: Thematic Where: GNBC 1-5-25 Intro: What are you absolutely certain of? What do you KNOW with complete certainty? The sun will rise in the east and go down in the west? A common 1st year psychology experiment to test conformity ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Time To Engage: "Building A Spiritual Life”

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Jan 5, 2025

Without the fullness of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives, all steps and principles of discipleship won’t work, because we’re trying to put into practice spiritual principles through natural understanding. Therefore, it’s only logical to build our spiritual lives.

Time to Engage: The Journey to Discipleship “Building a Spiritual Life” Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiaFcom_MtI This year we are entering into the third part of the vision God had placed upon my heart for Living Waters Fellowship. It began in 2024 with the word, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 John 4:4, Acts 1:5, Acts 1:8, Acts 4:31, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 3:16-20, Ezekiel 37:9-14, John 20:22, Luke 11:13, Luke 24:49, Matthew 3:11, Romans 8:26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare

How To Deal With Haters Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Apr 21, 2023

Message 12 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

I’ve shared before that my grandfather served in World War II and as a result, I’ve always been drawn to stories and movies and books about WWII. My grandpa died while I was in college and one of my biggest regrets is that I never got to hear very many firsthand accounts of the war. In fact, like ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Merciful And Gracious Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Apr 23, 2023

In today's lesson, we learn that the glory of God shows us that he is merciful and gracious.

Introduction I am beginning a new series of sermons that I am calling, “Glory: The Character of God.” In this five-week-long series, I plan to explore God’s self-revelation of himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7. You recall that the people of God lived in Egypt for over four centuries. They ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:6-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Everyone Growing Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 24, 2023

Spiritual growth is intentional, not automatic.

EVERYONE Growing 2 Peter 3:17-18 Rev. Brian Bill April 22-23, 2023 Dr. Charles Stanley graduated to glory this week at the age of 90. He served as pastor of First Baptist in Atlanta for 51 years, authored over 60 books. His sermons have aired daily on the internet, television, and radio for many ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

His Broken Jars

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Apr 25, 2023

Rick and Kari Burdette's story

His Broken Jars 2 Corinthians 4:1-7 (Kari) Introduction: Our entire married life has been one of ministry, for the last 42 years Rick and I have had the privilege to share our lives with others who have been through things in this life that have broken them, and in our lives, we’ve been broken as ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Week Three Bible Study And Prayer Series

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 28, 2023

The way you and God talk to each other.

BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER I. INTRODUCTION Everyone raised in church has repeatedly heard about Bible study and prayer. Sadly, repetition is required because we tend to forget to do them even if we have been Christians for thirty years. If you are a new convert, please listen closely to this lesson ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:15, Matthew 6:7

Denomination: Baptist

Have A Blast While You Last Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Apr 28, 2023

As you face a terminal diagnosis, rest in God’s perfect plan for you, find hope in this life and the next, and enjoy the time you have left.

Several years ago, The Onion, a satirical magazine, ran a humorous article with a biting truth. They titled the article, “World Death Rate Holding Steady at 100 Percent.” The article reported: World Health Organization officials expressed disappointment Monday at the group's finding that, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 8:16-17, Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical Free

What To Look For In A Leader Series

Contributed by Chris Anderson on Apr 30, 2023

Message 13 in an expositional series through Paul's "second" letter to the church in the ancient Greek city of Corinth where he defends his apostleship and corrects serious doctrinal errors within this young church.

This past week Dr. Charles Stanley passed away. There is no denying that he had a tremendous influence in American Christianity over the past few decades, and ultimately, that’s what leadership is—influence. Dr. Stanley became well-known for teaching through a series of 30 Life Principles built on ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Nature Of Christian Fellowship

Contributed by Christopher Arch on May 6, 2023

This is a series in the book of Philippians. .

Title: The Nature of Christian Fellowship Scripture: Phil. 1:3-8 Type: Expository Where: GNBC Intro: “A family went to the movies. On the way in, the young man of the family stopped at the refreshment stand to pick up some popcorn. By the time he got into the theater, the lights were already ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Reality Of The Resurrection Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 8, 2023

Just as the heart pumps life-giving blood to every part of the body, so the truth of the resurrection gives life to every other area of gospel truth. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pivot on which all of Christianity turns & without which none of the other truths would much matter.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-7 [RESURRECTION REALITIES SERIES] THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION [Psalm 16:8–11; Psalm 22; Luke 24:25-27] 1st Corinthians, chapter 15 is devoted entirely to doctrine, to a single doctrine, the Resurrection. In these 58 verses Paul gives the most extensive treatment of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

A Great Mother (Mother’s Day)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on May 11, 2023

One of the most difficult sermons a pastor has to preach is a “Mother’s Day” sermon.

Why? For the same reason you spend a great deal of time searching through the Hallmark Cards trying to find the perfect card that will begin to convey how deeply you feel about your mother. If that is a strain on us consider the strain that puts on us preachers trying to preach a message ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Unity Of Love

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 13, 2023

Paul's desire was that the Church would be unified, but what does that look like? We live in a time when the church seems fragmented and divided, and that is affecting who we reach and don't reach people.

The Unity of Love If nothing else, you need to love the sixties and seventies for their awesome sense of style. The band was “The Brotherhood of Man,” the year was 1970, and the message of the song was spelled out in its title “United we stand, divided we fall.” Interesting tidbit about the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: Wesleyan