Sermons on Close Encounter:

Luck, Favor, And God’s Providence Series

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Mar 1, 2016

Part 2 of series on Ruth How does our concept of luck relate to God's favor and providence?

Luck, Favor, and God’s Providence Ruth Part 2 Would you consider yourself a lucky person? I’m not very lucky, if my wife and I are in some kind of raffle, or door prize drawing, I never win, if we win anything its almost always her ticket. Some of you would say, Yeah, that’s ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Emotions That Take Strong Men Down Series

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Mar 1, 2016

Part 2 of series on Samson

EMOTIONS THAT TAKE STRONG MEN DOWN SAMSON; WEEK 2 If you have a bible turn to Judges 14, page 172 pew bible We're looking at an interesting character named Samson. If you missed last week, let me give you a quick review. Samson is a guy that from birth was set apart, called and chosen by God ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Starving Sons Series

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Mar 1, 2016

Part 2 of a series on the life of Jacob.

Starving Sons Dying to Self, Part 2 (Vineyard Pen) If you have your bible, turn to Genesis chapter 25. We’re continuing our series, based on the life of Jacob. Last week we talked about letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be, so we can become who God created us to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:24-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Name It What You Want Series

Contributed by Ken Ritz on Mar 1, 2016

Part 4 of a series on the life of Jacob. Jacob changes his sons name from sorrow to "right hand" or strength. We also can choose how we look at our circumstances in life.

Name It What You Want Dying To Self, Part 4 I was reading an article from the Wall Street Journal. Wildlife researchers in Germany and the Czech Republic have been studying migration patterns of deer in the two countries, and they were surprised to find out that deer never cross between the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:16-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Standing Alone Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 27, 2016

Each Christian will eventually stand alone. At such times, they may be assured that they are never truly alone--the Lord is standing with them.

2 TIMOTHY 4:16-18 WHEN STANDING ALONE… “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Anyone Can Serve... Can't They? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 22, 2017

Nadab and Abihu were born to great privilege as servants of the Living God, they reached for more, leading to death. Though He is patient, God does not play games with rebels. Let the people of God hear the Word of the Living God and take heed.

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 10:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Reaffirmation Of The Promise

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 18, 2017

Luke’s Gospel describes only the beginning of Jesus’ work; Acts describes its continuation; and the work of Jesus continues to our present day. We must remember that Acts does not give us a full history of the church during this period.

April 23, 2013 By: Tom Lowe Series: The Early Church Title: The Reaffirmation of the Promise Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1.1-5 Acts 1.1-5 (KJV) 1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Judas' Apostatizing Fulfilled Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 23, 2017

“Peter stood up” means Peter standing up, or rising. This is a customary expression in the Scriptures when one begins to do something, “I will arise and go to my father…” (Luke 15:18; KJV). Peter, was respected as the chief apostle . . .

May 23, 2013 By: Tom Lowe Series: The Early Church Title: Judas' Apostatizing Fulfilled Scripture: Acts 1:15-20 Acts 1.15-20 (KJV) 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:15-20

Denomination: Baptist

Remember Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 26, 2015

In our service to the Lord, some things must always be borne in mind. Remember Jesus Christ is perhaps the most important truth to hold in mind for each Christian.

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!” [1] We have just come through the Christmas Season. We are poised on the cusp of a new year. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

Exodus 32:1-35 - Leadership Challenges And Failures

Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 18, 2024

Moses is taking too long and the people are grumbling. Aaron has a choice to make and instead of standing strong he chooses the path of compromise.

We are jumping back into Exodus, so we want to recap a little bit. Exodus is the story of the people of Israel being delivered from captivity by God Himself, using Moses as His leader. Today, we're going to be in Chapter 32, where we'll study two lessons in leadership with Moses and Aaron. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-35

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Exodus 19:1-15 The Holy Presence Of God

Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 18, 2024

God is in the midst of His people. His holy presence comes with requirements of honor and reverence.

We are continuing through Exodus, our journey through Exodus. As you'll recall, this is the account of the Israelites being delivered from captivity in Egypt, but it's not really a story about the Egyptians, the Israelites, or Moses; it is a story about God. Today, we're going to be in ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Exodus 4:1-17 Equipped For The Call

Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 21, 2024

God has called Moses to deliver His people. Now God equips Moses with everything he will need to fulfill the calling on his life.

To make the fourth chapter of Exodus more understandable, we need to backtrack and understand the backstory. In most great stories, there's a backstory, and once you're clear on that, everything else makes more sense. So, if you would turn with me to Exodus chapter 3, we're going to ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The God Of Creation

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 31, 2024

God's character is revealed through the Creation.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” [1] Philosophers ask questions related to our presence in time and space and our present ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

A Multigenerational Church

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Sep 2, 2023

Uncracking the secret of the early church is at the heart of this message. It looks at several key elements that has led the church to grow exponentially.

A young lady working on her master's degree in social work asked to work with me on a research project related to multigenerational trauma. She plans to get her Ph.D. and continue our work internationally. I had learned how various traits are transmitted across generations. My 5th great ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Qualifying Round - Mark 3:16-19 (Luke 6:12-16) Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 4, 2023

Jesus selected 12 men who, by all appearances, were deeply unqualified. But he was very deliberate about who he selected. Why did he chose the men he choose?

Mark 3:13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve-- designating them apostles-- that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:12-16