Sermons on Close Encounter:

Choosing Under (Faith)

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Dec 6, 2022

God exalts those who humble themselves

Choosing Under (Faith) I Peter 5:6-11 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 11-27-2022 Humility I read recently about a man that was voted the most humble person in the church. They had a party for him and then gave him a medal. The next week, he wore the medal to church and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Bible, Jesus, His Teaching, Kingdom, Parables Pt. 6 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 3, 2022

Jesus most taught about one subject the most which was the Kingdom of Heaven or God and He primarily used Parables to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven – to describe it, to get in it, to live for it, to be rewarded by it, to be ready for it when it comes into its literal reign.

Video Transition: Labor Day – Skit Guys Series: The Bible and Jesus pt. 6 Sermon: Jesus’ Teaching on The Kingdom – Parables Thesis: Jesus most taught about one subject the most which was the Kingdom of Heaven or God and He primarily used Parables to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven – to describe ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-17, Matthew 25:14-30, Malachi 3:6-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Missing God's Best For Your Life? Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 10, 2022

1. Have I measured the value of my life? (vs. 24-26). 2. Have I determined my destiny? (vs. 26). 3. Do I recognize my responsibility before God? (vs. 27). 4. Am I trusting Jesus when I don't understand? (vs. 28). 5. Am I focused on Christ's return? (vs. 27-28).

Are You Missing God's Best for Your Life? The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 16:24-28 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared September 10, 2022) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to Matthew 16. This chapter began with Christ-rejecting Pharisees and Sadducees trying to trap Jesus by asking Him for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Wants To Help Us Understand Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 22, 2022

Jesus wants to help us understand... 1. His Scripture (vs. 9-13). 2. The spiritual dimension of sickness (vs. 14-18). 3. The miraculous power of faith in God (vs. 17-21). 4. The suffering of our Savior (vs. 9-12, 22-23).

Jesus Wants to Help Us Understand The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 17:9-23 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared September 22, 2022) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to Matthew 17. By this time Jesus was in the 3rd year of His ministry, and J. Vernon McGee estimated that the Lord was only six months ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:9-23

Denomination: Baptist

There's A Storm A Coming! Series

Contributed by James Lyons on Aug 2, 2022

Part I in a series on the book of Jonah

Heavenly Father, we know that in every life, storms will come – sometimes, they’re of our own making. Sometimes they’re made for us. We cannot always control the trials of life, but we can control how we respond to them. We know that You can calm storms – or uphold Your people to walk above ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

I Am Rescued Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Aug 2, 2022

I Am Rescued Series: Made for More (Ephesians) May 8, 2022 - Brad Bailey

I Am Rescued Series: Made for More (Ephesians) May 8, 2022 - Brad Bailey Intro I was talking to mother expecting her first child… said don’t try to be a perfect mom…. I had the general need for grace in mind… but I suppose it’s because our whole story is one of grace… of sinners being ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Amazing Grace Highway (The 'agh') Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Aug 4, 2022

In this message we will unpack just how amazing God's grace and our salvation really are.

The Amazing Grace Highway Living-Hope – week 3 TODAY – is Mother’s Day… And moms are awesome, amen? NOW - I want us to take a moment to honor all of the moms in this room today… Check out this video Why We Celebrate (Video) Why do we celebrate moms! Well for a lot of reasons, right? And one of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:8-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Difficult Doeg Series

Contributed by Troy Borst on Aug 10, 2022

Difficult people are everywhere around us. Difficult people may be us. How do we act and react?

THE VERY RELATABLE LIFE OF KING DAVID DIFFICULT DOEG 1 SAMUEL 21:1-9, 22:6-23, PSALM 52 #kingdavid INTRODUCTION We are currently in a time when we are looking deeper at the life of King David in the Bible. His life is given to us as a gift in that we see the ups and downs of his life in detail. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 22:6-23, 1 Samuel 21:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Can I Get A Witness? Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 18, 2022

Being a witness for Jesus is not something I do; It is someone I become

ENGAGE A man died, and the attorney said to his wife, "He did not leave a will. So we need to know the last words he ever said to you." She said, "I don't want to tell you." He said, "Look, he did not leave a will. We need to know the last words he ever said to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Harlot Who Pleased God: The Story Of Rahab Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 19, 2022

According to the Book of Joshua, Rahab was a harlot who lived in Jericho. In its day, Jericho was the most important Canaanite fortress city in the Jordan Valley. It was a stronghold directly in the path of the advancing Israelites, who had just crossed the Jordan River (Joshua 3:1-17).

The Harlot Who Pleased God: the Story of Rahab A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, Rahab is a prostitute who is also a biblical heroine. According to the narrative in Joshua 2, before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sends two men as spies to see the land. They come to Rahab's house for ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:9, Joshua 2:11

Denomination: Baptist

Fasting Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 22, 2022

This sermon addresses the reality that Jesus fasted so we should fast. Jesus understood the importance of fasting when it came to spiritual warfare, and he also understood the importance of fasting when it came to intimacy with God. It is a spiritual practice that still has validity for today.

Good morning. We are continuing our series called Learning to Live Like Jesus. A series that is based on the extended passage known as the Sermon on the Mount. The past few weeks, we have been looking at chapter 6 that really speaks of the obstacles to living life in the kingdom. A few weeks ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Christian Church

Lying Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 24, 2022

This sermon is about the trait of "Honesty." The primary focus is how unlike the world, Christians should see themselves as not living in this world, but living in a kingdom reality that is characterized by honesty, rather than dishonesty.

I would like to start off with a few questions that require an honest answer. The first question is how many of you have told a lie in the last five years? I am not talking about the white lies when your wife asks you if her jeans make her butt look big. I am talking about honest to goodness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

Denomination: Christian Church

Training Vs Trying Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 28, 2022

This sermon focuses on the importance of training to be like Christ rather than simply trying to be a Christ, and what it looks like in practical terms.

Good morning. We are continuing to look at this theme of discipleship. Discipleship at Bellevue Christian Church has been defined as ordinary people learning to live everyday life like Jesus. We decided that there are three ways that we become a disciple at Bellevue Christian Church. We gather, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Matthew 11:28, Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Christian Church

The Kingdom Of God Is Near Series

Contributed by Chuck Gohn on Jun 29, 2022

In this sermon I introduce and expand on the concept of the Kingdom of God and how it explains the "Why" of discipleship and spiritual formation.

If you want to follow along today, we are going to be looking at two verses. It is out of the gospel of Mark 1:14-15. We have been going through this series on the theme of discipleship. If you were here last week, you know that we have defined discipleship as ordinary people learning to live ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-15, Luke 11:20, John 3:3

Denomination: Christian Church

Make The Most Of God's Compassion! Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jun 29, 2022

How can we make the most of God's compassion? 1. Believe in Jesus Christ (Matt 14:13-14; John 6:25-41). 2. Be a channel of the Lord's compassion (Matt 14:15-16). 3. Put everything under the Lord's control (Matt 14:17-18). 4. Follow the Lord's commands (Matt 14:19-21).

Make the Most of God's Compassion! The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 14:13-21; John 6:25-41 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared June 29, 2022) BACKGROUND: *Today in Matthew 14, we will focus on some of the Lord's amazing miracles. But first, think about how many miracles Jesus worked. In John ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21, John 6:25-41

Denomination: Baptist