Sermons on Close Encounter:

Sing Of Your Salvation!

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 21, 2021

The keynote theme of Scripture is the great and marvelous works of our God. In Christ, God has redeemed us from sin and death. So let that be your chorus and your refrain, each day of your life. Rejoice in the Lord!

Sometimes there’s a reality so rich and so deep we can use many different words to describe it. It’s beauty and power can’t be captured by just one term. That’s the case when talking about what God has given us through our Lord Jesus. We might call it salvation. Or redemption. But it’s also ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:20-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Ruin Without Remedy Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 27, 2021

The unforgivable sin is not a sin you can stumble into accidentally, or perform in ignorance. You can blaspheme God and Christ in ignorance not knowing what you are doing, but the unforgivable sin is a sin done with clear and certain knowledge.

A certain seer warned Caesar to be on guard against a great peril on the day of March which the Romans called Ides. When the day came and Caesar was on his way to the senate house he greeted the seer with a jest, and said, "Well, the Ides of March are come." "Aye," said the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:22-30

Life Lessons From The Lord Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2021

Here in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives us some more important lessons for life. 1. Fast for our Heavenly Father (vs. 16-18). 2. Store more eternal treasure than earthly treasure (vs. 19-21). 3. Live in the light of the Lord (vs. 22-23). 4. Make the Messiah our Master (vs. 24).

Life Lessons from the Lord The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 6:16-24 Sermon by: Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - June 26, 2013 (Revised March 27, 2021) MESSAGE: *It's getting close to summer, and little kids everywhere are learning how to swim. Did you ever try to teach your children how to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-24

Denomination: Baptist

Multiple Meanings Of Marvelous Grace Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Most often Christians define grace as only unmerited favor, but this is putting a limit on the word which the New Testament does not do. It should not be surprising that grace can also mean merited favor.

A snowstorm made it impossible for a guess speaker to get to the church where he was to preach. Therefore, a local man was asked to come in as a substitute. The speaker began by explaining the meaning of substitute. If you break a window he said, and then place a cardboard there instead--that is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2

Free At Last…now What? Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

A consideration of how we are to handle our freedom in Christ

Intro: This morning, I want to begin by visiting the closing tag of the movie “Finding Nemo.” It features a number of aquarium creatures who have just escaped from the aquarium inside the dentist’s office. (Play clip from the end of the movie "Finding Nemo" - “OK. Now what do we ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Envious Christians Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

This sin of envy is capable of any evil, even to the point of killing the Son of God to eliminate Him from the competition. We live in a dangerous world because of the potential of this sin. Paul lists it with the worst sins of depravity

We seldom get the whole story on anything. No doubt, most of us are aware of how the rocks brought back from the moon were kept in isolation for some time less the contain some organism that could spread disease for which we have no defense. That made a lot of sense, and made everyone feel more ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Easter 2021 - Beyond The Cross

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Apr 1, 2021

This Easter message focuses on what we have because Jesus was raised from the dead.

Easter 2021 Beyond The Cross Scripture: First Corinthians 15:14-18; John 20:1-18; Isaiah 53:9 Throughout my early years in the Church, we sang a song that contained the following words that I am sure many of you will recognize: “Jesus keep me near the cross, there’s a precious fountain. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:14-18, John 20:1-18, Isaiah 53:9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Problem And Solution Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

Our Christian faith and values are always being flavored by the culture. It is so subtle that we do not even realize it, and that is why the Bible often has to be so radical to jar us awake to the fact that we are to be different from the world.

William Stidger, the great preacher, was in France during World War I, and he visited the city of Marseilles where he saw the aqueduct that all visitors are guided to see. The story of this source of water to the city goes back to the old man who became known as the miser of Marseilles. He walked ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Return To First Love Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

Revival; renewal, and repentance: They are all the same experience of getting back to first love-to the love that puts Jesus in the center of life. This is not a rare need, but a constant need, because we, as Christians, tend to decline.

O Henry tells a short story of the lad who grew up in a small village and sat next to a lovely young lady so innocent and sweet. He left that village for the big city where he got in with the wrong crowd and became a thief and a pick pocket. One day as he was working the crowd, doing quite well, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1

A Pain Free Paradise Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

Positive pain has played a major role in everything we call our blessings in time. Our life, our freedom, and our salvation are all based on the pain of others. Pain has many positive purposes in time.

If you are rich enough, you can even enjoy your own funeral. Colorado farmer Jim Gernhart proved this over and over. It all began in 1951 when he decided to rehearse his own funeral. He rented the Armory in Burlington, Colorado, hired a pastor, and had a lavish display of flowers and a good meal ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-8

The Power Of Forgiveness

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Apr 14, 2021

After Jesus rose from the dead, He forgave Peter for denying Him three times. When Peter received that forgiveness, he was empowered to fulfill his commission. There is Power in Forgiveness - when we receiveing it and when we give it!

The Power of Forgiveness Scripture: Matt. 10:28-33; 26:31-35, 69-75; John 21:15-19 Last week I shared with you why we need to keep the resurrection on the front burner in our minds. The reason for this is what happened after the resurrection – the power that those who believed in Christ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:28-33, Matthew 26:31-35, Matthew 26:69-75, John 21:15-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Infinite Greatness Of God - Part 3: Grace! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Apr 28, 2021

Three results for everyone who receives God's grace by receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior: 1. We will never be abandoned by God (vs. 1-2a). 2. We will never be alone (vs. 2-5). 3. We will always be accepted by God (vs. 5-10).

The Infinite Greatness of God - Part 3: Grace! The Book of Romans Romans 11:1-10 Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - September 18, 2016 (Revised April 28, 2021) BACKGROUND: *A few weeks ago in Romans 9, we began to study the infinite greatness of God. Tonight in Romans 11 we will ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of God-3

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 2, 2021

3 of 5. Paul highlighted the necessity of self-giving love to the proper outworking of Christian living. Self-giving love is essential to true Christianity, but How or in What ways is it essential? As A Christian, the Love of God must Humble my...

The LOVE Of GOD-III—1Corinthians 13:1-13 Attention: Lost in the Translation: A husband & wife are at a recognized high-brow restaurant celebrating their anniversary. Looking the menu over, they were shocked to see a dish named, “hickory-smoked road-kill possum jowls in pancake syrup.” They ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:3, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

An Anchor For The Soul Series

Contributed by James Wallace on Mar 2, 2021

Tossed to and fro by the difficulties of persevering in the faith? What or whom do we look to for assurance and reassurance? Hebrews 6:9-20 tells us where to find an anchor for our souls.

I imagine as we come to the very middle of the Book of Hebrews it might be legitimate for any of you to ask if I’m ever tempted to quit, to just blow off the Christian life, to abandon Christ. And my answer is not so much that, though I must admit the thought has occurred to me, but always with ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:9-20

Denomination: Bible Church

The Reality Of Accidents

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 5, 2021

Christians have different views of accidents. Some feel there are no accidents, but that all is God's will. In this message I make it clear that accidents are real and seldom ever God's will.

No doubt everyone of us has had our share of accidents. If not in a car, or with a knife, or some other sharp object whereby we cut ourselves, then all of us have at some point in our life fallen down. It is a part of growing up to fall down, and so it is hard to conceive that even baby Jesus did ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-5