Sermons on Close Encounter:

18th Sunday After Pentecost. October 12th, 2025. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Oct 3, 2022

Year C, Proper 23.

Jeremiah 29:1, Jeremiah 29:4-7, Psalm 66:1-12, 2 Kings 5:1-3, 2 Kings 5:7-15, Psalm 111, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19 A). A LETTER TO THE EXILES. Jeremiah 29:1, Jeremiah 29:4-7. This letter is addressed from Jeremiah in Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and people in exile in ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1, Jeremiah 29:4-7, Psalm 66:1-12, 2 Kings 5:1-3, 2 Kings 5:7-15, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 17:11-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love's Significance Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 8, 2022

Love people and be effective, excellent, and eternal.

A little girl stayed for dinner at the home of her first-grade friend. Her friend’s mother brought a bowl of buttered broccoli to the table and asked the little girl if she liked it. The little girl replied very politely, “Oh yes, I love it!” But when her friend’s family passed the bowl around ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Peter 2:23, Philippians 2:6-8, Hebrews 12:2-3, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 4:11-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Mission That Changes Everything Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Oct 8, 2022

A Mission that Changes Everything Roots: The Book of Acts September 11, 2022 - Brad Bailey

Intro Imagine someone invited you over today to sit back and watch a football game… or perhaps if you’re more attune to cooking… a cooking show… or a concert. That may sound nice. Now imagine that you get a different call… you get a call from the coach of that football team telling you that you are ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church Of Thyatira (The Compromising Church)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Aug 14, 2025

Again I would like to turn your attention to the seven churches to learn from them as a church how we can please the Lord.

Again I would like to turn your attention to the seven churches of Revelation to learn from them as a church how we can please the Lord. These seven churches were established after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Christians saw the Lord died on the cross, all their hopes ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

In Like Manner

Contributed by Grady Henley on Aug 29, 2025

There are many views on the rapture and the last resurrection.

Preponderance of Scriptural Evidence In a civil case the plaintiff/defendant has the burden of proving each essential element of their claim or counterclaim by a ‘preponderance of the evidence.” The party with the burden must present the more convincing evidence. …. Stated another way a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:9-11, Revelation 19:11-17

Denomination: Baptist

Warning For Taste Testers Series

Contributed by John Mitchell on Sep 16, 2025

God provides more than a fire escape from hell in providing salvation; He initiates a relationship with us and calls us to Holiness. In the warning in Heb 6, we see wants us to enter heaven powerfully and not smelling like smoke.

I. Introduction Last week we looked at chapter 5 verses 11-14 and considered the challenge for believers to not settle for a diet of milk, but to include solid food in order to grow in Christ and discern good from evil in areas that may not be explicitly described in Scriptures. Today we are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

The Advantage Of The Jew Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Dec 6, 2023

Examining Paul's discourse in answering the question, "What advantage has the Jew"

Dr. Bradford Reaves CrossWay Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD www.mycrossway.org We are continuing in our study of the Epistle to the Romans. If you remember, last week, we concluded Chapter 2 with the understanding that the Jew is no better off than the Gentile if their hearts are not ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-6

Denomination: Brethren

Have We Forgotten Whose Birtday It Is? (Christmas Sermon)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 14, 2023

Can you imagine going to a birthday party and everyone their gave their gifts to each other but the person who was having a birthday no one gives them a gift.

Wouldn’t that be an odd birthday party!!! This is the way many celebrate the Lord’s Birthday. Have we forgotten whose birthday we are celebrating at Christmas? It is not: • Frosty the snowman • Rudolph the red nose reindeer • Santa Claus We are celebrating the birth of Christ. We will soon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Walking In The Spirit Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Dec 17, 2023

Believers are commanded to walk in the Spirit, but what does that mean? This message explores how the human spirit is to operate in relationship to the believer's soul. With instruction from Galatians 5 the difference between walking in the Spirit versus the flesh is examined.

Intro We are investigating the function or operation of the human spirit in relationship to God and the person’s soul. In Proverbs 20:27 we are told: “The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.” i What is this saying about the human spirit? It is the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-23, Proverbs 20:27, John 1:1-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 6:17, Hebrews 12:14, Luke 6:43-44, Matthew 16:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

The Season The Reason The Gift

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Dec 26, 2023

Contrary to the cliche and tradition Jesus is not the reason for the season. Jesus is the ultimate gift.

The Season, The Reason, The Gift By Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr. OPENING: - This is truly a wonderful time of the year. One of my favorite Christmas songs is “At Christmas Time” by Luther Vandross, I love this song because it is true in so many ways, some of the words are “Ooh, every year at ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, Genesis 3:6, Psalm 58:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Apostolic

God Wants To Help All Christians Live In Victory Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jan 7, 2024

Here's how... 1. God urges us to test for the truth (vs. 1). 2. God gives us good tools to test for the truth (vs. 2-3; 5-6). 3. God gives us His abundant affection (vs. 1, 4). 4. God confirms that we are conquerors (vs. 4a). 5. God stresses the strength of His Spirit in us (vs. 4b).

God Wants to Help All Christians Live in Victory 1 John 4:1-6 Sermon by Rick Crandall Series: The First Epistle of John (Prepared January 7, 2024) MESSAGE: *The Allies winning World War II was one of the greatest military, political and moral victories of all time. Millions of people were set ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Days Of Elijah Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Jan 9, 2024

Elijah is credited with 10 miracles happening during his ministry, some of which we will talk about here. Yet Elijah has no book in the Bible named after him. Elijah was human with emotions, disappointments, fears, and doubts. ‌

Dr. Bradford Reaves CrossWay Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD www.mycrossway.org Introduction In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:21

Denomination: Brethren

Living Ready Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on Jan 17, 2024

Are we living ready for Jesus’ return? Being ready means: Living with hope - living each day with anticipation for Jesus’ return; living a sanctified life - standing out and reflecting the transformative power of faith; and, having a renewed witness - sharing the love of Jesus with all others!

Introduction Video Ill.: Til Kingdom Come I think that was a pretty good summary of what we discussed last week — Scripture teaches us that Jesus is coming. We do not know when. We can know that it will be soon. Most importantly, we must be ready and waiting. On Firm Ground Source: Will Norton, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 21:34-36, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 5:14-16, Luke 12:32-34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Life Of Turning Aside

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Jan 24, 2024

This world is full of distractions and diversions. God wants us to minimize both and spend time with Him. This message is about Satan's purpose for diversions and distractions.

The song we sang said “I’ll praise until my breakthrough. I will praise because I trust you.” Sometimes we need to be reminded that faith and trust, oftentimes, requires patience and it requires endurance. It requires us to be willing to hang in there and continue to do what we know we need to do ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 9:1-14, Mark 5:33-35, 1 Kings 16:29-33, 1 Kings 16:25-26, 1 Kings 22:51-53, 1 Peter 1:24, 1 Peter 2:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, John 17:20-23, Jeremiah 19:3-5, Leviticus 18:21, Exodus 3:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be The Salt & Light

Contributed by Sajayan Chacko on Jan 29, 2024

The various names God gives His children in the Bible. (Some are: sheep, brethren, little ones, etc.) When Jesus gives us the name of "salt" and ‘light”, He is reminding us that we have the opportunity and the responsibility to be an influence in the world.

• The various names God gives His children in the Bible. (Some are: sheep, brethren, little ones, etc.) When Jesus gives us the name of "salt" and ‘light”, He is reminding us that we have the opportunity and the responsibility to be an influence in the world. • In the first twelve ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God