Sermons on Closeness:

Amnesty - Week 4 Series

Contributed by Rob Ketterling on Jun 14, 2014

Forgiving those close to us

Amnesty - Part 4, Pastor Rob Ketterling SARAH: On June 9th of 1997, it was a Monday, between four and five o'clock in the afternoon. Got off early that day, and I used to love going down to the bluffs over the Mississippi River. Decided to sunbathe laying on a towel. And you know when you've ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Beginning And End Of Ephesians.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Apr 5, 2024

Opening greeting and closing benediction.

THE BEGINNING AND END OF EPHESIANS. Ephesians 1:1-2, Ephesians 6:21-24. In my studies around the book of Ephesians, I have occasionally come across the attitude that this book could not have been written by Paul, because it is too impersonal. Yet, if we take the time to read the beginning ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2, Ephesians 6:21-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Men Of The Bible - John The Baptist Series

Contributed by John Murphy on Oct 25, 2012

We would not think a man like Herod came close to the Kingdom but his closeness to John the Baptist changed all of that

Two months ago we actually looked at two men from the bible. Nehemiah and Ezra. One rebuilt Gods city the other rebuilt Gods people with his statutes. This time I would like to look at two men so different and yet so connected in the bible. The year was 1948 and a young and strange man set up ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Distancing Ourselves From God Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 31, 2016

God wants us to be close to Him, not emotionally or spiritually distant from Him.

Distancing Ourselves from God (Psalm 50) 1. Memorial Day is a day to remember our war dead. Over 1.1 million military personnel have died as a result of war in the history of our nation. 2. To give you a sense of proportion, almost 500,000 died in the Civil War, over 400,000 in World War II. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Close Encounters Of The God Kind (Pastor Jose Gomez Jr)

Contributed by Jose Gomez Sr. on Mar 8, 2006

In order to build effective relationships, there must be a desire to be close. This is what drives every good relations, friendship, marriage, and devotion to God.

Premise: Relationships are the most important things in life. They connect people in ways allow us to express God’s love through taking our mind off of ourselves. However, in order to build effective relationships, there must be a desire to be close. This is what drives every good relations, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Exodus 24 - How Close To God Would You Like To Get? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 28, 2009

Imagine being drawn into the presence of God on Mount Sinai. What an incredible experience. Aaron, Nadab and Abihu worshiped at a distance but Moses got up close and personal. What about you? How close to God do you want to go?

Exodus 24 - As Close as You Choose to be. Imagine being drawn into the presence of God on Mount Sinai. What an incredible experience. Aaron, Nadab and Abihu worshiped at a distance but Moses got up close and personal, as God called him to receive the stone tablets of the laws of God, signed off in ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 24:1-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Opening The Book

Contributed by Craige Lebreton on Feb 22, 2006

opening and closing the Bible Nehemiah and Luke

Opening The Book (Pastor Craige LeBreton) In one of the works…published after his death…Ernest Hemmingway… Tells his readers… of his inward experience…during a time… when he had just completed one book…and was trying very hard… to get started on another… He said… that these were…very dark days ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Are We There Yet?

Contributed by Tommy Jackson on Apr 26, 2004

How close are we to the return of Christ?

ARE WE THERE YET? TEXT: Matt. 24:33 “Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door”. OPEN: If you have ever been on a trip with a child (maybe even a teenager) you have heard the question, “ARE WE THERE YET”? Sometimes you have heard the question SO MUCH ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:33, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Warning Against Worldliness

Contributed by Chris Hodges on Jul 28, 2003

To note the importance of drawing close to God.

A Warning Against Worldliness Text: James 4.1-10 Thesis: To note the importance of drawing close to God. Introduction: (1) Have you ever been wanted “your way”? (2) We live in a culture where we are taught to “have it your way, right away.” Discussion: I. The Curse of Worldliness: A. Leads ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Way Doors Get Opened Series

Contributed by Stu Hodges on Jun 11, 2013

Worship is how to open closed doors.

I have a door at my house, it’s the door to a closet in our bonus room. It’s where my kids' toys are all kept and so when I instruct them to clean up the bonus room, the toys just get tossed into the closet and then they shut the door real quick and hope for the best. So when you open ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Going Away From God - Part 1

Contributed by Bo Dunford on Nov 1, 2007

People are not walking close to God anymore.

JOHN 6:60-69 “GOING AWAY FROM GOD – PART 1” A) Christ was teaching about Himself being the “bread from heaven” in v.53-59! * In v.60, they said, “This is a hard saying, who can hear (understand) it?” * v.64 tells us that some just wouldn’t believe, and because of this unbelief, many turned back ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69

Denomination: Baptist

Going Away From God - Part 2

Contributed by Bo Dunford on Nov 1, 2007

People are not living close to God anymore.

JOHN 6:60-69 “GOING AWAY FROM GOD – PART 2” A) Imagine the stir when Jesus announced to the crowd, “Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood you will not possess eternal life!” * Now, the day before, on the other side of the lake, Jesus had taken a boy’s lunch and fed 5000 men, and the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69

Denomination: Baptist

Our Distance From Jesus

Contributed by Niles Lloyd on Feb 15, 2003

WHERE ARE YOU AT IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS? WHY ARE SOME REALLY CLOSE, SOME NOT SO CLOSE AND OTHERS SEEM SO FAR AWAY FROM CHRIST? WELL, WE CAN ALL BE CLOSER IF WE "WANT" TO BE CLOSE TO JESUS.

TITLE: OUR DISTANCE FROM JESUS 1/27/02 TEXT: MATTHEW 26:36 – 43, 47 - 50 INTRO: ONE OF MY FAVORITE PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE IS HERE IN CHAPTER 26 OF THE BOOK OF MATTHEW. I HAVE OFTEN READ THIS PASSAGE AND WONDERED ABOUT ALL THAT TOOK PLACE ON THAT NIGHT. IT IS A SPECIAL PASSAGE TO ME ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-50

Denomination: Baptist

Knock, Knock

Contributed by John Mccormack on Jun 5, 2013

OPEN THE DOOR! LET CHRIST IN!

KNOCK, KNOCK INTRODUCTION: JOHN, THE WRITER OF REVELATION, SENT SEVEN LETTERS TO VARIOUS CHURCHES. SOME CHURCHES WERE COMPLIMENTED; SOME WERE NOT. THE LAODICEA CHURCH WAS NOT COMPLIMENTED, RATHER, REBUKED (REVELATION 3: 15). SPIRITUAL INSIGHT: REVELATION 3: 20 (NKJV) BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Denomination: Baptist

Friendships Are Important - Friends Accomplish More - Alone Is Dangerous! Series

Contributed by John Wright on Feb 13, 2010

Friendship are important when they are with the right people, friends can accomplish more together than they can by their self and often times trying to go through life all alone is dangerous, both physically and spiritually.

Introduction 1. Open your bibles please to 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. Hold this reference. 2. There are many passages that teach the importance of having friends. They teach that two are better than one in most all situations. 3. We will discuss some of the passages from the bible that will help us ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Ecclesiastes 4:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ