Sermons on Closer Together:

Journey Through Acts (Part 4) Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jan 16, 2024

In Acts 5, we encounter the tale of Ananias and Sapphira. The essential elements of the story—the deception, the devil, the deaths, and the dread—work together to remind us that sin and Satan are serious obstacles in our journey with Jesus.

The Journey: Following Jesus through Acts (4) Scott Bayles, pastor Scripture: Acts 5:1-11 Blooming Grove Christian Church: 7/16/2017 If you were with us the last couple weeks, you know we began a ten-week journey through the book of Acts. The book of Acts picks up right where the Gospels leave off ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-11

Denomination: Christian Church

The Gift Of Exhortation

Contributed by John D Jones on Aug 25, 2011

The Gift of Exhortation is a neglected necessity for an effective church. We need a revival of encouragement!

This particular book of the Bible is simply known as “The Acts”. The full title is, “The Acts of the Apostles” and records the various ‘actions’ of those prominent individuals included. However, if we were to be completely accurate and completely specific with ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jan 1, 2026

Reject the greedy shepherds and rely on the Good Shepherd. Trust Him to bring you home, to bring you what you need, to bring you justice, to bring you together, and to bring you peace.

A group of business leaders were touring a mental hospital, with one of them making some very insensitive and insulting remarks about the patients. After the tour was completed, the group met with various members of the mental hospital staff in the cafeteria. The unkind visitor chatted with Bill, ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-31, Luke 19:10, John 10:9-10, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:11-16, John 16:33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Weight Of Our Choices Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on May 19, 2025

This is the 6th Sermon in the Series, "In The Beginning".

Series: In The Beginning… [#6] THE WEIGHT OF OUR CHOICES Genesis 4:1-26 Introduction: I know that we all talk about this often; but we need to be reminded of the weight of our choices. This passage tells the story of Cain and Abel, where we see the 1st choices made by humans in relation to ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

How Close Is Your Miracle?

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Sep 5, 2011

God's Word tells us, and I believe it...we serve a mighty God...a loving God...a miracle working God. He wants to work in your life so that you will draw closer to Him and that through you others will also come to know Him.

HOW CLOSE IS YOUR MIRACLE? 2 KINGS 4:1-7 I've tried to look at ministry through the eyes of Jesus. What was the message Jesus preached? If pastors are to carry out His ministry until He returns, it would be good to know what type of message and ministry Jesus had when here on earth. The good ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7

Unity In The Body Series

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Jul 16, 2018

We are called to unity, not just to be together. No one was ever called to walk this Christian life alone. Every member of the body is responsible to maintain the unity. We maintain unity by individually and collectively keeping our focus on Jesus.

Concerning unity in the church, one of my favorit commentators and Christian authors, A.W. Tozer, the great evangelist and Christian theologian from 60 years ago, commented: Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same tuning fork are automatically tuned to each other? ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Teacher's Pet Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 19, 2018

I want to be Jesus' teacher's pet. I want to be His favorite pupil. This passage gives us the key to pleasing Jesus and becoming more like Him in my life. (Spoiler alert - it has to do with how I treat people I don't like)

OPEN: A great scholar was once asked about a young man who was in his class. The person said, "So and so tells me that he was one of your students." The scholar just smiled sadly and said, "Well, he may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students.” What was that scholar saying? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-45

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Christ-Centered Marriage

Contributed by Anthony Sosa on Jan 14, 2025

A Christ-centered marriage is built on the unshakable foundation of God’s love, where both husband and wife draw strength from their relationship with Christ. With Him at the center, their union is fortified, filled with grace, and equipped to withstand life’s challenges together.

A Christ-Centered Marriage Text: Ecclesiastes 4:12 (CSB): “And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” A successful marriage takes three people: the husband, the wife, and Christ at the center. This principle is grounded in Scripture and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:12

Denomination: Baptist

Breakfast With Jesus

Contributed by Richard Francis on May 18, 2007

If you have turned from Jesus, feel far from him, he is closer than you think ready to met with you prepared to forgive and restore, all you need to do is ask and recive his unconditional and never ending love, are you ready?

This is an amazing message for us and the Church Why, it tells of God and his heart for all of us brings us hope eternal and true Why, well its tells of forgiveness and love beyond belief Why, through this we see the foundation of the universe it self here is Gods fingerprint his blue print for ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thrive Not Survive!

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 19, 2013

Patrick role modeled for the Christian community what it means to be a hero of the faith. He showed us what it meant to thrive not just survive. His attitude in life showed us how to over-come in this world. The key was to draw closer to God. He also taug

Sermon: Thrive not survive! Pastor Brian from Master’s Commission shares about what it means to thrive not survive in our day and hour. Vernon comes up toward the end of Brian’s message to highlight how he thrived in Master’s Commission. Scripture Text: Hebrews 12: ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul’s Mars Hill Sermon Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Feb 23, 2022

What's going on here? Paul preaches a message without using Scripture? He quotes from an inscription on a pagan shrine? No follow up for the new believers in Athens? We better take a closer look at Paul's Mars Hill sermon.

The context of Paul’s Mars Hill Sermon When we look at Paul’s Mars Hill sermon given in Athens in Acts 17, he is well into his second missionary journey. His plans were changed early in the journey when the Holy Spirit kept him from preaching the word in Asia and then he received his Macedonian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-33

Denomination: Baptist

The Speck

Contributed by Dave Nichols on Aug 29, 2024

These will be red letter words, meaning that they come from Jesus Himself. In fact it is scripture that you may have used in the past to justify something you have done, when the point is this, take a closer look at yourself, at your thoughts, your words and your actions.

If you were here Wednesday night than you already know what my topic will be this morning and where the scripture reference will come from. So, for those of you who were not here on Wednesday, today I am preaching from the Gospel of Matthew. These will be red letter words, meaning that they come ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Qualities Of Maturity As A Follower Of Christ Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Jun 6, 2011

LAST WEEK, AS WE LOOKED TOGETHER AT HOSEA 10, WE DEVELOPED THE THOUGHT OF DEALING WITH HARDHEARTEDNESS IN OUR LIVES. TODAY, I WOULD LIKE US TO GO BEYOND THIS INTO THE NEXT STEP IN WHAT SHOULD BE OUR PROGRESSIVE CHRIST-LIKENESS. THE AREA WE WILL BE LOOKI

QUALITIES OF MATURITY AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST HOSEA 11:1-7 Hosea 11:1-7 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Religiously Transmitted Diseases

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Sep 18, 2009

Did you know that there are spiritual diseases you can catch from practicing your religion? Jesus shows us two of them in Luke 15:11-32. Let’s explore them together.

RELIGIOUSLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES 2 RELIGIOUSLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN LUKE 15:11-31 September 20, 2009 ________________________________________ (I credit Ed Gungor for the title of this message. His book entitled "Religously Transmitted Diseases" served as a jumping off point for me to write ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

Gratitude As A Lifestyle Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on Nov 10, 2024

We’re challenged to move beyond occasional thankfulness and embrace gratitude as a daily decision. Gratitude is more than a reaction to blessings—it's a way of life. By living gratefully, we grow closer to God, and become a powerful witness of His goodness to the world around us.

### Introduction Video Ill.: Thanksgiving Every Day — Freebridge Media Transcript: Today we are thankful. We give thanks to God for His love, His mercy, and His faithfulness. We give thanks for family and friends, life and laughter, and the little things which bring joy to our lives. We give ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:4-7, Nehemiah 8:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ