Sermons on Close Encounter:

Commitment To Excellence

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

As followers of Jesus we are to be committed to excellence in every sense of the word.

Commitment To Excellence Luke 8:4-15 Commitment is key. No matter what it is that we are talking about there is no greater determining factor than our commitment. I'm not talking about commitment by coercion. I'm not talking about commitment by convenience. I'm not talking about commitment by ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

First Things First

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

Seek first the Kingdom of God.

"First Things First" Matthew 6:25-33 In the ancient Arabian folktale, Aladdin, Aladdin is the lazy son of a poor Chinese tailor. After his father's death, he meets a magician who says that he is Aladdin's uncle. The magician convinces Aladdin to go after a beautiful lamp that is hidden in a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who's In Charge Here?

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

Christ is the Head of the Church.

Who's In Charge Here? Colossians 1:16-18 At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of eleven major symphony ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Changed By Hope!

Contributed by Mike Hays on Oct 18, 2000

God's love can change us from people without hope to the most hopeful people on the planet.

Changed By Hope! 1 John 2:28-3:3 Hope and hopelessness are more than opposites. Their characteristics are more defined than night and day. Anyone who has ever experienced the depths of hopelessness can easily attest to how oppressive and soul-shattering hopelessness can be. On the other hand, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Avoiding Deception

Contributed by Tommy Hames on Oct 18, 2000

How a Christian can avoid deception from the pulpit

AVOIDING DECEPTION INTRODUCTION There are indeed mockers of Jesus Christ living among us who continue to walk after their own ungodly lusts. Jude tells us that they do not have the Spirit of God living in them. Unfortunately, some of these mockers have infiltrated the pulpits of our churches. The ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Teaches His Disciples

Contributed by Stuart Uren on Oct 18, 2000

Good morning everyone, our topic today is "…Jesus teaching his disciples…" I believe this was one of the biggest challenges that Jesus faced.

Good morning everyone, our topic today is "…Jesus teaching his disciples…" I believe this was one of the biggest challenges that Jesus faced. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus had the problem of how his message would be taken to the world in such a short timeframe of approximately 3½ years. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:7-56

Nothing Can Stop A True Friend

Contributed by Cedric Portis on Oct 29, 2001

A true friend is the one who stays and helps when everyone else leaves.

True Friends Stop at Nothing What a Friend we have in Jesus Mark 2:1-12 Mark 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. Mark 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

An Awful And Surprising Truth Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Oct 29, 2001

This is installment 6, the final installment of my "Anchor Points" series.

¡§Anchor Points¡¨ ¡§An Awful & Surprising Truth¡¨ Selected Scriptures March 5, 2000 Anchor Point #6: ¡§God is Love¡¨ INTRODUCTION: ¡§The Niagara Tubing Society: A Parable for our Times¡¨ It was late; sometime after 11:00, to the best of my calculating, but since I¡¦d left my watch in my room, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 4:8

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Trust Test - Part 1 Series

Contributed by John Maxwell on Nov 6, 2001

The third sermon in this four part series that assess your will to let God lead your life

THE TRUST TEST (PART 1) Proverbs 3:1-10 John Maxwell INTRODUCTION: Today I want to talk to you about managing the resources that God has given to us. Two Sundays ago we asked the question: Can I trust God? Last week we looked at another question: Am I trustworthy? Can God trust me with the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

Serious Business

Contributed by Michael Tnayrb on Nov 13, 2001

We are often serious about all of the wrong things in life. We are concerned, serious, and even consumed with things when it comes to work and play...but are we serious about our God? We can’t afford to be not ready.

To our Pastor, Reverend Brown, Officers of the Church, Members, Guest and friends….I thank you for this opportunity….to share the Good News with you. As I began to prepare for this sermon…..my first sermon….I naturally began to feel some nerves. I got right down scared….But It didn’t make any ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Run The Race -- Keep Your Eyes On The Prize

Contributed by Kelvin Parks on Nov 30, 2001

Stay focused -- God is going to run that last mile with God.

RUN THE RACE -- KEEP YOU EYES ON THE PRIZE I Corinthians 9:24-25 Let us pray -- Lord, the task of preaching your Gospel is once again in my keeping and I commit myself to do it the best that I can. Clear my mind of distractions, warm my heart with compassion, and fill my soul with faith in your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is God In Your Life

Contributed by Mark Engler on Apr 21, 2002

We all live our lives in bubbles. Our goal should be to have God in the center of our bubble. Where is God in your bubble?

Mark Engler Leonard Christian Church Leonard Missouri Where is God in your life? INTRO: In camp last summer I taught a class. The class I taught was for the Jr. High week 1, and the class was to be on Practical Christian Living. Practical Christian Living is something that we should have down ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let Go And Grow

Contributed by Mike Hays on Feb 13, 2001

God is calling us to let go of all that is familiar and comfortable so that we can grow and mature in our walk with the Lord.

"Let Go and Grow!" Hebrews 6:1-3 Simeon woke up early and while it was still dark. He made his way to his favorite place of prayer and knelt before the King of Glory to give thanks for a new day. Simeon prayed for the peace of YHWH to surround Jerusalem and for the LORD to send His Messiah to His ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Investing For The Future

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Feb 21, 2001

This Sermon Deals With The Rich Man And Lazarus.

Investing For The Future Easter 4/10/98 Eccl: 11:7-10 Rev. 20:7-15 Text Luke 16:19-32 I’m asking you the question, "What do you want in life?" Your answer to the question today is going to determine what your future is going to be. Right now the stock market has gone wild. But I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don't Confuse Doing With Believing Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 27, 2001

What happens in our lives when we confuse doing with believing in our relationship with God.

Two people can do the exact same thing for entirely different reasons. For example, imagine seeing two different women doing housework: doing the laundry, vacuuming the carpet, picking up the toys. Just by looking at them, it appears that they’re exactly the same. But one is a stay at home mom, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational