Sermons on Close Encounter:

Stand Up, You Dry Bones

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 14, 2013

We can’t command the Holy Spirit to use His mighty power and we can’t direct where He should use His great influence, but we can make use of Him, because even though we are unable to save anyone, we can turn to God and lay hold of His power.

2-24-2000 Stand Up, You Dry Bones TEXT:Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Scandal Of Grace

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 21, 2013

We receive grace when we are born again. This saving grace is not something we can earn or work for; it’s a free gift given by a gracious God. Today, I will attempt to answer the question, “What’s So Amazing About Grace?”

2 September 2005 The Scandal of Grace Matthew 20:1-20:16 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Midnight

Contributed by Gregory J Brice on Jul 22, 2013

How God changes our gloomy outlooks on life into bright, sun shining days.

I am convinced that the safest place in the world is in the center of God’s will. You will never find a place more secure than being in the center of God’s will for your life. At the same time, I am also convinced that the center of God’s will; though it is the safest place, it is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:23-25

Denomination: Baptist

Ugly Praise

Contributed by Gregory J Brice on Jul 22, 2013

Life has a way of bringing you down, BUT God WILL lift you up out of the pit that life throws you in. All you have to do is praise Him.

Joseph’s own brother Rueben was responsible for Joseph’s pit. It was Rueben that suggested they throw Joseph in the pit. We don’t know what happened but whatever it was; we know that Rueben was there when Joseph was thrown into the pit but he was not there when Joseph was lifted ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

When Faith Confronts Favoritism Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jul 26, 2013

In the Book of James, we see the real faith that engages life's trials and temptations, social prejudice and pride, and the path to staying plugged into God.

When Faith Confronts Favoritism Series: Real Faith (The Book of James) Brad Bailey - July 14, 2013 Intro: Let me begin by asking you to reflect on this question: Who do you tend to include in your life? Who do you tend NOT to include in your life? All of us walk around with an unpublished list in ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus' Gift To You Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jul 30, 2013

psalm 68 helps us understand what Jesus' ascension means for my life.

As we observe the incarnation of the Messiah, Jesus, during this Christmas season, we’ve been on a journey through some of the Messianic Psalms. We began in Psalm 8 where we saw the humility of Jesus that was demonstrated by His incarnation and his crucifixion. We then continued on to Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 68:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Gift To You Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 2, 2013

The church is Jesus' gift to each believer to help us carry out the work of ministry.

As we observe the incarnation of the Messiah, Jesus, during this Christmas season, we’ve been on a journey through some of the Messianic Psalms. We began in Psalm 8 where we saw the humility of Jesus that was demonstrated by His incarnation and his crucifixion. We then continued on to Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 68:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

Why We Need Each Other Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 2, 2013

Why every believer needs to be an active participant in a local church

As a pastor, I’m constantly amazed at the excuses people have for not going to church. So I read with interest this week how someone parodied many of those excuses by coming up with a similar list of excuses that people could give for not washing their hands: 1) I was forced to wash as a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Lifted Up On High Series

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 8, 2013

Jesus said that if He was lifted up, he would draw all men unto Him. "Lifted up" has a double meaning. Here it means being lifted up on a cross

Lifted Up on High John 19:16-24 Introduction Last week we saw the fateful decision of the Jewish leaders to accept Caesar and reject Jesus. This was in effect the end of the Jewish nation. No longer do the physical descendants of Abraham through Jacob have any exclusive privilege with God. The ...read more

Scripture: John 19:16-24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's Word Cleanses Our Life Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Aug 29, 2013

Our text declares that a person cleanses his way by obeying God's Word . When we delight ourselves in God's Word we will hide it in our heart, meditate upon it & share it with others.

PSALM 119: 9-16 [The Ministry of The Word Series] GOD'S WORD CLEANSES OUR LIFE [Ephesians 5:26 / Job 22:22] The main point or argument of Psalm 119 is that a faithful man should stir up himself to meditate on God's Word so that he might establish himself in the Lord. [The verses of Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:9-17

Denomination: Baptist

By Faith Or By Sight? Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Aug 31, 2013

David overcomes fear with faith. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request – email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

SERMON OUTLINE: (1). What David should do (vs 1) (2). What the enemy does (vs 2) (3). What can the righteous do? (vs 3) (4). What God will do (vs 4-7) SERMON BODY: Ill: • The year was 1606. • The Scottish Covenanters were a group of people in Scotland; • Opposed to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 11:1-7

Denomination: Brethren

Rest 101 Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 1, 2013

God’s rest is based on three things: 1) Personal faith (Hebrews 4:2–3), 2) Sovereign decree (Hebrews 4:5–6), and 3) Immediate action (Hebrews 4:7).

One of the most difficult times to be working is when many other people have the day off. For people in the general or emergency services, there are social or critical services that people avail themselves of, even on holidays. Although it can often mean earning a higher wage, it also can have a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:2-7

Denomination: Other

Musings Of A Madman Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 11, 2013

If you want your sanity restored and to shine brightly in a dark world, don't be proud of your own achievements; instead, humble yourself before Almighty God. "Christ sends none away empty but those who are full of themselves" (Donald Gray Barnhouse)

Chan Gailey, who at various times coached for the Pittsburg Steelers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Kansas City Chiefs told a story some time ago about the time he was head coach of Alabama’s Troy State and they were playing for the National Championship. The week before the big game, he was ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:1-37

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Love Speaks The Truth Series

Contributed by David Owens on Dec 15, 2013

This is the last sermon in the series and focuses on learning to speak the truth in love.

A. There’s a story told of a four-year-old boy who came out of the bathroom screaming to his mother for help. 1. Startled, his mother ran to him asking, “What’s wrong?” 2. The little boy answered, “I dropped my toothbrush into the toilet.” 3. She calmed him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-29

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus: He Came From Infinity And Beyond! Series

Contributed by Darren Mccormick on Dec 18, 2013

This message looks at the incredible love Jesus showed to us by leaving heaven to come to earth to die in our place.

AM Sermon preached at Central Christian Church December 2, 2012 Take the Christmas Journey Sermon Series Message #1 Jesus: He came from infinity and beyond! Philippians 2:5-8, John 1:1-14 Okay, it may sound kind of weird and out of place for a guy just over fifty to say it, but there are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ