Sermons on Close Encounter:

Shining Like Stars Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Feb 24, 2025

It’s time to work out what God has worked in you.

Shining Like Stars Philippians 2:12-18 Rev. Brian Bill February 22-23, 2025 Last Saturday night, I gathered here to give God praise through the music and the message by Pastor Kyle. On Sunday, I traveled to an underground church where I witnessed winsome workers caring for newborns, and trained ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

Old Testament Law To New Testament Love

Contributed by Jeremy Long on Mar 3, 2025

A brief walk through the scripture to prove God's Law ultimately showed us God's Love.

Old Testament Law to New Testament Love Well, how about we cover the entire bible today? You know, … cover to cover. We’ve got the time don’t we? We have the attention span for that right?? Genesis to Revelation. “In the beginning” to “Amen”. How about it. No? Ok. But we are gonna get to that, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20, Genesis 1:1, Revelation 22:20

Denomination: *other

How To Stand Firm In Your Faith

Contributed by Alex Umole on Mar 4, 2025

Rollo May, the distinguished psychiatrist, wrote a book called: Man's Search for Himself, and in this book, he says: “The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice; it is conformity.”

We are going to consider that in a world that often values comfort over courage, convenience over conviction, we’re faced with a tough question: Culture’s Greatest Challenge: What would you stand for? When faced with difficulties, what will you choose? Will you bow to the pressures around you, or ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33, Daniel 6:10

A Unique Approach To Our Conflict

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 15, 2023

Sometimes God fights for us, and sometimes with us.

A Unique Approach to Our Conflict After being wounded and captured during Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg, the Union captors sent Captain Benjamin Farinholt to the Federal prisoner-of-war camp on Johnson’s Island in Ohio. There he and his fellow prisoner John Latane devised a daring escape plan. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Second Coming Of Christ - Part 7: While We Wait For The Lord’s Return... Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 15, 2023

While we wait, be sure to answer these 4 questions: 1. What gifts do I have from God? (vs. 14-15). 2. Am I gaining all I can for God’s Kingdom? (vs. 16-18). 3. What is our ultimate goal for life? (vs. 19-23). 4. Do I really know God? (vs. 24-30).

The Second Coming of Christ Part 7: While We Wait for the Lord’s Return... The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 25:13-30; Luke 19:11-17 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared March 15, 2023) BACKGROUND: *Please open your Bibles to Matthew 25:13. Most of you know that by now, it was only 2 or 3 days before ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:13-30, Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Baptist

Loving God Through Trusting Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Mar 27, 2023

Loving God Through Trusting Series: First Love: Forming Our Love for God Brad Bailey – March 12, 2023

Loving God Through Trusting Series: First Love: Forming Our Love for God Brad Bailey – March 12, 2023 Intro Do you remember when someone you consider yourself to love… spouse…parent… friend… when you said… “I want to stagnate this love… ?” “I want my love to fade and fizzle…so that it doesn’t ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:2-4, Isaiah 55:8-9, 2 Peter 3:9, John 16:33, John 14:1, John 14:16-17, John 14:23, John 14:27  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sacrifice Of Fools Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Mar 31, 2023

Look past religion, rulers, and riches to the Lord to find real joy in life despite its hardships.

Ron Blue tells the story of a wealthy father, who took his son on a trip to the country to show his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from the trip, the father asked his son, “How was the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-20, Deuteronomy 23:21

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Physiology Of Faith - Class 2 Series

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Apr 16, 2023

III. Developing a Great and Intimate Relationship with God, the Son IV. Developing a Great and Intimate Relationship with God, the Holy Spirit

CLASS 2 III. DEVELOPING A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE SON - JESUS Now that you have had a glimpse of God the Father, it’s time to understand who God the Son is. A. Write down the answers to these questions: 1. Who is Jesus? 2. Is He your personal Savior? 3. Is He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:37-40, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Ephesians 3:14-21, Psalm 103:8-14, Proverbs 2:1-5, Luke 11:11-13, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5, 3 John 1:2, John 11:1-44  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Peter A Fisherman's Tale Pt 2 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 4, 2025

Peter reveals through his rollercoaster life of mountain top experiences with Jesus to the valleys of denial and rebuke from the Lord that there is hope beyond our failures and mistakes.

Series – Come Alive in 2025 Thesis: We can come back to life – with a breath from heaven – nothing is too dead for God to bring back to life! The Bible says nothing is too lifeless for God! He is the Creator who took nothing and made it something and He can bring back to life anything! Can you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 1:13-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Giving To Please God Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 14, 2025

Because we’re partakers of grace and partners in the gospel, we’re to participate in giving to God’s work by practicing joyful generosity.

Giving to Please God Philippians 4:14-23 Rev. Brian Bill April 12-13, 2025 When I was growing up, my mom insisted that my sisters and I had to write thank you notes whenever we would receive a gift. To reinforce this, she would tell us we couldn’t use the gift we were given until the note was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:14-23

Denomination: Baptist

Who Do You Say That I Am? Easter 2025

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Apr 21, 2025

An Easter message from Matthew 16 and I Corinthians 15

Who do you Say that I Am? Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Matthew 16:13-16; I Cor 15:1-3 Chenoa Baptist Church 04-20-2025 (Easter!) Who is this Man? He never wrote a book. But more books have been written about Him than any other person. He never wrote a song. But more music has been composed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Now I See! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 16, 2023

In your darkness, let a blind man show you the way. 1st, see Jesus as a good man and appreciate Him. 2nd, see Jesus as a great man and respect Him. Then 3rd, see Jesus as the God-Man and worship Him.

Several years ago, sightless restaurants became a growing trend across Europe. So what is a sightless restaurant? John Bohannon experienced it firsthand. Bohannon plunged into what he called the “inky blackness of Unsicht-Bar, a restaurant named for the German word for invisible.” To get to his ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41, Daniel 7:13-14

Denomination: Evangelical Free

24th Sunday After Pentecost. November 8th, 2026. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Sep 20, 2023

Year A, Proper 27.

Joshua 24:1-3, Joshua 24:14-25, Psalm 78:1-7, Amos 5:18-24, Psalm 70:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 A). RENEWING OUR COVENANT WITH THE LORD. Joshua 24:1-3; Joshua 24:14-25. The choice of Shechem as the site for the renewal of the covenant after the conquests under Joshua is ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:1-3, Joshua 24:14-25, Psalm 78:1-7, Amos 5:18-24, Psalm 70:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Surprise! Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 30, 2023

If you’ve lost all hope, trust Jesus with your life, and don’t be surprised by His delays His devotion, and His deliverance when it finally does come.

Surprise! (John 11:1-44) John Ortberg, pastor of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California, talks about a friend of his, who used to work as a denominational official in Minnesota. One of his jobs was to travel to little rural communities where they didn't have churches to do funerals. ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Darkness To Light Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 21, 2023

If you want to move from darkness into light, just walk in the light of the cross, walk in the light of Christ, and walk in the light of His commands.

Several years ago (1995), a middle-aged man robbed two Pittsburgh banks in broad daylight. He didn’t wear a mask or any sort of disguise. And he smiled at surveillance cameras before walking out of each bank. Later that night, police arrested a surprised McArthur Wheeler. When they showed him the ...read more

Scripture: John 12:27-50, Isaiah 6:1-3, Isaiah 6:10, Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free