Sermons on Closing The Gap:

Fire At The Church

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jun 12, 2011

The day of Pentecost signified the birth of the Church.

The Village atheist was not a bad man, he just didn’t believe. He was not interested in church…and there was only one in the village. It was cold and dead—a social club, with nothing really going on, no impact on the community at all. One day the church building caught on fire, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Nehemiah - Master Delegator

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 20, 2010

Many people skip over this chapter because it reads like a Hebrew phone book. But it is a very important chapter full of principles of leadership and delegation. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Master Delegator Nehemiah 3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MasterDelegator.html Last time we saw Nehemiah's vision, and now it must become reality beginning in chapter 3, and that's gonna take a lot of help. Many people skip over this chapter because it reads like a Hebrew phone book. It's all ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:1-4, Nehemiah 7:1-73

Denomination: Baptist

Hard Of Hearing

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 9, 2023

How much of what God wants us to hear have we actually heard? And does it matter how much we hear if we don’t do what we’re told?

Have any of you visited the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City? That’s what I kept thinking of as I meditated on this parable. Because just as I was leaving Presbytery last Tuesday evening, I ran into Bob Higgs, who is Executive Director of the Atlantic City Mission Council. He was carrying several ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gift Of Christmas: A Savior Is Born

Contributed by Dr. Nichol Burris on Dec 18, 2023

In the hushed whispers of a Bethlehem night, a divine promise is fulfilled, and in the warmth of this season, we unwrap the profound significance of the Savior's birth that continues to illuminate our lives with hope and salvation.

The Gift of Christmas: A Savior is Born Introduction: Great afternoon, Beloved of the Most High Yah. As we gather together to celebrate this joyous season, let us turn our hearts and minds to the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of our Savior, Yeshuah Christ. Today, I want to share with you a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Rebuilding The Temple: Ezra's Journey

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Aug 3, 2021

So now we talk about the return home. And we see two predictions made, by Jeremiah and Isaiah, old testament prophets being fulfilled here.

Last week we talked about how Israel was taken into captivity in Babylon. And during that time God continued to be with his people, even after they had failed him so completely. He worked through people like Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Daniel saw many dreams and visions, and even saw ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 1:1

Denomination: Salvation Army

Rebuilding The Temple: Ezra's Journey

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Jun 21, 2021

Jeremiah 29:10, “This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.”

Last week we talked about how Israel was taken into captivity in Babylon. And during that time God continued to be with his people, even after they had failed him so completely. He worked through people like Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Daniel saw many dreams and visions, and even saw ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:10, Ezra 1:1-4, Isaiah 44:28

Denomination: Salvation Army

God’s Loving Kindness

Contributed by Dennis Lee on May 8, 2022

Approaching this Mother’s Day message, two distinct things came to mind. The first was the lovingkindness of God, and the second was the story of Hagar. Therefore, what we will be looking at is then Hagar and the lovingkindness of God.

God’s Loving Kindness Psalm 63:3 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b38ttun-apc As I was approaching what to say for this Mother’s Day message, two distinct things came as I was in prayer. The first was to look at the lovingkindness of God, and the second was the story of Hagar. Now, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 63:3, Lamentations 3:22-23, Isaiah 43:1, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 107:43  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare

"Father Deficiency Disorder”

Contributed by Thilini Perera on Jan 4, 2021

MALACHI 4:5-6 SHEDS LIGHT ON A VICIOUS STRATEGY THE ENEMY DEVISES TO DAMAGE THE VERY FABRIC OF THE SOCIETY JUST BY CRAWLING INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NESTS OF GOD’S PEOPLE IN THE ENDTIMES, MAKING A SERIOUS FRACTURE IN THE FATHER-CHILD BOND.

SERMON OVERVIEW A. ORIGINAL STATUS OF THE FAMILY B. THE FALL OF THE ORIGINAL FAMILY C. CURRENT CONTEXT OF FAMILIES D. RESTORATION OF THE FAMILY IN ENDTIMES D.1 RESTORE GOD’S DEFINITION OF FAMILY D.2 RESTORE ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES D.3 RESTORE WATCHMAN DUTY OF THE FATHER ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15, 1 Corinthians 4:14-16, Proverbs 22:6, Matthew 13:25-26, 1 Peter 5:8, Genesis 2:15, 1 Kings 18:21, Proverbs 16:24-26, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Malachi 4:5-6  (view more)  (view less)

Wisdom From The Craft Room Series

Contributed by Jackie Shergold on Jan 27, 2021

Following on from the wisdom of God we can find from our garden and shed, we now look at the wisdom we can find from God in our Craft Room.

Wisdom of the craft room 1. Pattern Many craft projects require a pattern. My parchment craft usually has a border around it made of embossed dots or holes pierced and cut. To achieve this I have to follow the pattern very carefully. The most frustrating thing is when you have spent hours on a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, John 15:1-8

Apollos Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 9, 2022

Apollos was a 1st-century Alexandrian Jewish Christian mentioned several times in the New Testament. A contemporary and colleague of Paul the Apostle, he played an essential role in the early development of the churches of Ephesus and Corinth.

Apollos Born 1st century Died 1st century Venerated in Anglican Communion Coptic Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Churches Roman Catholic Church Feast February 13th Apollos was a 1st-century Alexandrian Jewish Christian mentioned several times in the New Testament. A ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:24

Denomination: Baptist

Fixed With Gold

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jan 16, 2022

This thought is a work in progress. I have been meditating on how the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold displays the gospel. I'm sure I will preach this thought again and better.

Fixed With Gold In our home there are a few dishes that are highly prized. They have value to us because of the giver. There are a couple of glasses that were gifts from my father-in-law to my mother-in-law. There are stories behind them. There is a candy dish Sister Burnett gave us recently. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Jeremiah 19:1-2

Denomination: Pentecostal

Not A Tame Lion

Contributed by Stephen Aram on Feb 7, 2022

We like to keep things calm and happy in church, but one day Jesus really upset folks in his home synagogue. Are you ready to follow him?

You’ve heard me say before that I love The Chronicles of Narnia, written by C.S. Lewis. We read them over and over again to our children as they were growing up. Maybe a year ago one of them, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, came out in a very successful movie. That inspired me to read ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-30

The Old Or The New Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 27, 2021

All of history is a battle between the liberal and the conservative. One of the most fascinating paradoxes of Scripture is that Jesus was both a liberal and a conservative.

In his book Like A Mighty Army, Halford Luccock tells an interesting story about theatrical history. In the middle of the 19th century the right to produce dramatic performances was limited to a few theaters which had been able to develop a monopoly. Some bright boys of the theater found ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:18-22

What Is Sin? Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

Sin is so powerful, even in the Christian life, because it is so easy to miss the mark of God's high calling. It is the most foolish attitude a Christian can have to think that he could not fall into sin.

I was talking to a man who is a member of the Holiness Church. He said his church was a split off from the Free Methodist Church. When I expressed my surprise by saying that I thought the Free Methodist were a very fundamental group, he responded by saying, "Yes, but what was sin 50 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-2

One Thing I Seek Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Apr 16, 2021

Even today the Lord is performing many signs and wonders, there are many who desire to know God, but are unwilling to truly seek after Him. To seek after means to give up all the comforts with the sole purpose to find and attain that which we are searching for.

Psalm 91 - Study 23 - One thing I seek We read in Psalm 91:9-10, “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” (KJV) Psalm 91, as we have understood from our studies, is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:9, Psalm 91:10

Denomination: Other