Sermons on Closer To God:

Elijah - Unrealistic Expectations Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Mar 14, 2018

God’s grace is spectacular… even when it isn’t

ENGAGE Fourteen years ago I was a struggling bi-vocational church planter. Because our church plant had gone through some tough times, we were meeting at our house over the summer and praying for God’s direction. During that time I got a phone call from Denny Howard, who was the pastor here at ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Christ The Life Giver Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 18, 2023

When you receive and believe in Christ, you become a child of God.

Christ the Life Giver John 1:10-13 Rev. Brian Bill December 16-17, 2023 I’ve mentioned before that fellow pastors are some of my favorite people. It’s a joy to partner in gospel ministry with our pastors at Edgewood and with other pastors in the community. One of my favorite shepherds is Ed ...read more

Scripture: John 1:10-13

Denomination: Baptist

Reconstruction: Fortifying Our Vulnerable Places

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 9, 2009

If we are honest with God, there are a lot of things in our lives which are halfway finished. Halfway is one of the most difficult places to be. Now the 4th chapter is about persevering through resistance and opposition. The closer you get to the finish l

Reconstruction: fortifying our vulnerable places Nehemiah 4:7-23 I bumped into some friends I used to play sand volleyball with at Luke’s basketball game last weekend. I hadn’t seen them in awhile. As the course of the conversation unfolded, I asked how they were doing with rebuilding their home. ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:7-23

Denomination: Methodist

Understanding Spiritual Growth

Contributed by Rudolf E. Y. Mensah on Jun 6, 2020

This sermon shares pearls with you on how to live a successful Christian life of faith, power, discipline and maturity. God tells us we can make steps forward towards him, and is always calling us closer, deeper into His ways.

Introduction What does it take to grow up and become spiritually mature? Why do some Christians not grow as they should? The Bible makes it clear that we can grow in our faith and in holiness. It is not a linear path, where we are continually helpless and have no part to play. God tells us we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14, 2 Peter 3:18

Denomination: Charismatic

God's Love Is Holy

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Sep 10, 2001

God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us that way.

When you hear the phrase, "God loves you," what kind of picture does it conjure up in your mind? Specifically, what image of God do you envision when you hear someone say that God loves you? Perhaps you think of a kindly old grandfather, smiling down on you benevolently from heaven. Someone who’s ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Powerful Presence Of God

Contributed by Chris Blackshaw on Oct 31, 2010

Moses, is called by God, he experiences that powerful presence and is moved to do great things in his name.

In our readings this afternoon we have a very strong and powerful message. We read about Moses, a man who was a reluctant leader of God’s people, a man who thought he was a bad speaker and a man who doubted himself to do the job that God wanted him to do. Yet despite his own feelings about ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:12-23

Denomination: Methodist

God's Favorite Prayers Series

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Oct 6, 2016

Proposition: Jesus shares with that God's Favorite Prayers are: 1. Prayers that come from a Spirit of Humility 2. Prayers that are Confessional in Nature 3. Prayers that lead to Redemption

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14; Jeremiah 14:7-10;19-22 and Psalm 65 Theme: Humility Living Title: God's Favorite Prayers Proposition: Jesus shares with that God's Favorite Prayers are: 1. Prayers that come from a Spirit of Humility 2. Prayers that are Confessional in Nature 3. Prayers that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Nazarene

Which Branch Do You Want To Be?

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Apr 28, 2021

As we think about Jesus being The Vine, this sermon challenges us to think about our relationship with Christ and how we move into closer relationship through our lives.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. One thing that I am not is green-fingered, I know how to mow a lawn, and how to pull up weeds, although if I’m being honest they are more likely to be flowers, and I know that roses should be pruned. I don’t know why this is the case, I just ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Anglican

Things That Make Christians Different From The World: Prayer Part Ii Series

Contributed by Terry Frazier on Jul 21, 2012

This sermon is a closer look at the way Jesus prayed for Himself, those who were with Him at the time and for us today. Also a look at the need to pray for ourselves, others and the lost of this world.

Things That Make Christians Different From The World: Prayer Part II Last week’s message was about how differently Christians look at prayer from the way the world looks at prayer. We talked about the fact that there are major differences in the way we pray, who we pray to and the results of ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Fading Vision Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2011

We are never farther from Jesus than when we are satisfied with ourselves, and we are never closer to him than when we have nothing and no one else to rely on

All of you are familiar, I’m sure, h the Hans Christian Andersen story about the Emperor’s new clothes. It begins, “Many, many years ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are You Trusting In God

Contributed by Nancy Peren on Jun 25, 2022

When we start to become dependent on man, we are no longer dependent on God.

The base text for this message is in Jeremiah 17:5-10. When we start to become dependent on man, we become less dependent on God. In fact, we eventually become far away from His presence. We no longer have a firm foundation. So then when man fails us and deceives us, we are alone. We have ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 1:7, James 1:5, 2 Timothy 2:15, Isaiah 53:6-7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Deuteronomy 4:29-31  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

God's Unbroken Family

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 9, 2001

Funeral message for Mrs. Annie McNeile, the mother and aunt of members of our church.

Everyone who lives in a family knows what it is to be responsible for another family member. If you are a mother, you feel responsibility for those whom you brought into the world; in fact, some mothers spend their whole lives and much of their energy feeling utterly responsible for everything ...read more

Scripture: John 19:25-27

Denomination: Baptist

The Day God Eavesdropped

Contributed by Bruce Howell on May 30, 2002

God listens carefully to those who esteem His name; they are His special possession.

The Day God Eavesdropped Mal 3:13-18 13 "You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, ’What have we said against you?’ 14 "You have said, ’It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:13-18

Denomination: Wesleyan

Immanuel God With Us

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 7, 2005

God with us is a message of assurance of God’s love and care for us

Imagine you’re the king of a nation surrounded by enemies who are threatening your entire world. They’ve formed an alliance that appears irresistible. But imagine at the same time that your nation is one that God has chosen as his own special nation. What would you think as you listened to the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Anglican

Waiting For God To Speak

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

God’s voice is a voice that challenges and changes us.

In, The Horse Whisperer, Tom Booker, has a gift when it comes to what he calls "gentling" horses. In one telling scene, a traumatized horse, frightened by a ringing cell phone, gallops off into the far end of a large pasture. Booker walks into the pasture and sits down, where he waits for what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed