Sermons on Closing The Gap:

Believing 101 Series

Contributed by Mark Batterson on Oct 18, 2005

Instead of downgrading our theology to match our experience we need to upgrade our experience to match our theology.

A Course in Miracles: Believing 201 05.12.05 Pastor Mark Batterson This evotional continues the series titled A Course in Miracles. Last week’s evotional was on seeking 101. Next week’s evotional will be on waiting 301. This week’s evotional focuses on believing 201. To check out old ...read more

Scripture: John 14:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pleading For The Perishing Cities

Contributed by Meshak Dayanand on Jan 19, 2021

Jesus is looking for people to stand in the gap, who will go for him, let us pray for the Lord of the harvest, that the harvest is ready and plenty but the labourers are few

Luke 19:41-44 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.  For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-44, Genesis 18:22-33, Ezekiel 22:30, Matthew 9:36-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Should Adult Children Honor Their Parents? Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jun 10, 2015

The command to honor our parents is not reserved for childhood obedience. In today's culture of independence and personal choice, Christian adults must learn to show honor to their parents and not abandon them.

We never stop worrying about our children. That includes our adult children! Our children can bring us the GREATEST JOYS, and also the GREATEST SORROWS. Many Christian parents grieve over.... Unsaved adult children Children who have walked away from the Lord Children hooked on drugs or ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How The Holy Spirit Helps Us Turn Our Focus Away From Pain And Toward Positive Thoughts

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

How to turn your sorrow into joy with the Spirit’s empowerment, enabling and enrichment.

Illustration: Dr. Henry Pope tells a story of one his students who learned how to change her perspective. It seems that one young girl while attending college spotted a young man who seemed very handsome and someone she would like to get to know. One day she was sitting in the library and spotted ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:10-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Focus On God's Promises

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 20, 2003

The Holy Spirit helps us consciously and subconsciously to turn our focus away from pain and on to God’s promises for deliverance. Many people tend to surrender to feelings of rejection, suffering and negative thoughts when they experience problems. The H

Illustration: Dr. Henry Pope tells a story of one his students who learned how to change her perspective. It seems that one young girl while attending college spotted a young man who seemed very handsome and someone she would like to get to know. One day she was sitting in the library and spotted ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:97-98

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

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

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

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

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

Comfort For The Crying Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jan 12, 2019

Tears bridge the gap between great beauties and great horrors. In heaven there will be no more horrors. Yet the beauties will be never ending, and never boring.

3. And I heard a big voice from heaven saying, Look, the tabernacle of God is with humanity, and He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God Himself will be with them-their God. 4. And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will no longer ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:3-5

Denomination: *other

Closing In On The Cross Of Jesus Christ - Part 2: Timeless Truth From The Lord’s Supper Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 29, 2023

In this Scripture God gives us timeless truth: 1. About our Leader (vs. 17-19). 2. About Christian life (vs. 20). 3. About being lost (vs. 14-16, 21-25). 4. About God's love (vs. 26-28). 5. About eternal life (vs. 29).

Closing in on the Cross of Jesus Christ Part 2: Timeless Truth from the Lord’s Supper The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 26:14-29 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared March 29, 2023) BACKGROUND: *Today in Matthew 26, we are closing in on the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One of the most ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:14-29

Denomination: Baptist

The First Family

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 5, 2001

Characteristics of the first family

The First Family Genesis 1:26-2:25 1. Aim: To teach the people God’s original purposes in creating human beings and the family 2. Explanation of the Aim: Some people may experience struggles in their family, but not understand why they occur. By helping the people to know God’s original purposes ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of Proper Priorities

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 10, 2003

Paul teaches us in this passage about making wise choices based on God’s priorities. He writes, "Do you know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which lea

What Are Your Priorities? (Rom. 6:16) Illustration:Haddon Robinson points out that one old recipe for rabbit started out with this injunction: "First catch the rabbit." Says Robinson: "The writer knew how to put first things first. That’s what we do when we establish priorities -- we put the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:16-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational