Sermons on Close Encounter:

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

We Kiss The Son's Feet (Psalm 2:1-12) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 12, 2022

God has placed all nations under Jesus' feet, and under ours in Christ. We serve him in reverence.

This morning we're going to work through Psalm 2. OT scholars call Psalm 2 a royal psalm. And what they mean by that, is that it's one of the psalms that centers around some aspect of the Davidic kingship. This is a psalm that's really important to the NT. It's read as being ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:26-28, 2 Kings 11:1-12, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 7:36-50, Psalm 2:1-12  (view more)  (view less)

Make Them Pay! (Psalm 5:1-12) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 15, 2022

In prayer, we can tell God what we think He needs to hear. Not what we think He wants to hear.

Today, we get to work through Psalm 5. This will be a treat :) (5:1) Of/for the director. With flutes. A song of/for David. (2) I have said, "My words, hear, O Yahweh. Understand my sighing/groaning. When things are really bad in life, you lose your ability to form words. All that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:1-12, Romans 12:17-21, James 5:1-6, Revelation 6:9-11

There's No Place Like Home Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Jan 16, 2022

It is the cross and the promise of a life after this one that makes this world, with all its ups and down, with all its sorrow, with all its conflicts and challenges all that much more bearable when we know that all of this is just temporary.

“There’s no place like home.” Who said it? Right … Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Why is that line so iconic? As soon as you hear it, you see Dorothy … aka Judy Garland … holding Toto, clicking the heels of her ruby red slippers three times, and uttering the words … “There’s no place like ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, Matthew 25:31-34, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Revelation 4:2-10, Revelation 21:1-2, Revelation 21:16-27, Revelation 22:1-6, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Psalm 33:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

God Wants Us To Strive Together For Our Savior Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jan 17, 2022

How can we strive together for Jesus? 1. We need godly desires (vs. 22-24). 2. We need godly dreams (vs. 24). 3. We need godly generosity (vs. 24-28). 4. We need the gospel (vs. 28-29). 5. We need faith in the power of prayer (vs. 30-33).

God Wants Us to Strive Together for Our Savior The Book of Romans Romans 15:17-33 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared January 17, 2022) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to Romans 15. In these last two chapters of Paul's letter, he opened his heart to talk about his future plans and pour out ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:17-33

Denomination: Baptist

The Return Of The King (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jan 19, 2022

In part 2 of 'The Return Of The King' we will talk about the preparations for His Return.

The Return Of The King 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 Good morning Maple Grove! HEY – is anybody out there ready for some living and active WORD of God… NOW THIS MORNING – as we are going to finish our conversation, The Return Of The King’ that we began last week, as we unpacked 1 Thessalonians ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Live Carefully (Cities Of Refuge; Numbers 35:1-34; Joshua 20:1-9) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 22, 2022

In God's eyes, it's really hard to accidentally kill someone. He places a high value on human life-- do we?

Sometimes in life, one will person will kill another. Sometimes, this is deliberate-- it's murder. Other times, it's an accident. Two people are out cutting down trees, and one person accidentally drops a tree onto the other. You kill him. You're out driving, and someone steps out ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 20:1-9, Numbers 35:1-34

The One Appraising Us Is Christ (1 Corinthians 4:1-21) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 29, 2022

Don't boast; don't become proud. Be faithful servants, and don't pick apart Christians' motives. You can't see in their heads. Also, stop navel gazing.

Let's start today, by rereading 1 Corinthians 3:18-23: (18) No one must deceive himself: if anyone thinks wise to be among you this age, a fool he must become, in order he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world, foolishness with God it is. For it is written, "The One catching ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21, 1 Corinthians 3:18-23