Sermons on Compliments:

Guiltless Grief

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 22, 2009

We can deal with grief if we allow ourselves to recognize its complexity, if we accept the love of caring friends, and if we permit God to use the grief to change us.

They stood at the gravesite, looking at the flower-covered casket of their father. The committal service had been over for ten or fifteen minutes. Everyone else had gone back to the cars. But the two sisters stood there, lingering long, staring into space. Their faces were masks: no emotions, no ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Spirituality Of Hospitality Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Jun 25, 2008

Hospitality was a Spiritual practice for the Celts, and should be for us too!

Celtic Spirituality of Hospitality Monday, June 16, 2008 Earthed Spirituality, God at the Pub Distinction between entertaining and hospitality, - entertaining people is showing off your house, and your cooking abilities to them, - Hospitality is opening your house to them. – welcoming people ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-10

Denomination: *other

More Forgiving, Less Fault-Finding!

Contributed by David Cook on Nov 14, 2009

God’s people should be known for being forgiving...not fault-finding!

“MORE FORGIVING, LESS FAULT-FINDING!” INTRO: It is so easy to get into the trap of judging others unfairly! ILLUS: Chuck Swindoll told of his being at a pastor’s conference where he would be speaking. The first day there a man approached him and said how greatly he had looked forward to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Baptist

Advent 1 - The Promise Of A Son Series

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Nov 29, 2009

Put yourself in Mary’s shoes and experience the shock and wonder of the news...Mary, a virgin, will give birth to the Son of God.

Sermon for CATM – “Advent 1 – The Promise of a Son” - November 29, 2009 Play Video: Psalm 130 What are you waiting for? What do you long for? In your heart of hearts, what yearning within you most commonly rises to the surface? Our longings are part of what defines us and defines our lives. Our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Made John The Baptist Great?

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Dec 12, 2009

What made John stand out that Christ singles him out as the greatest human being born up to that point in time?

WHAT MADE JOHN THE BAPTIST GREAT? MATTHEW 11:1-11 Introduction: When we think of the greatest men and women of the Bible, we think of Moses, Abraham, David, Sarah, Ruth, Elijah, Peter, and Paul. Yet, Jesus Christ said that no one had ever been born who is greater than John the Baptist. What made ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Keeping The Faith

Contributed by Randy Croft on Dec 21, 2009

How to weather doubt, discouragement, and hardships.

Keeping the Faith ILLUS: The story is told of a man who was walking across the road when he was hit by a car. The impact knocked him on his head which caused him to be in a coma for a couple of days before he finally regained consciousness. When he opened his eyes, his loving wife was there beside ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18, 2 Corinthians 4:8-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You've Got Mail: Sardis Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 22, 2009

The fifth in a series of seven. This is an expository, alliterated sermon with practical application based on the letter to Sardis in Revelation. PowerPoint is avialable if you e-mail me.

You’ve Got Mail: Sardis Scott Bayles, preacher First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL From the manufacturing hub of Thyatira a first-century postman continued southward another forty miles until arriving at the acropolis of Sardis. Sitting atop a steep hill roughly 1,500 feet above the main ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Christian Church

What Men & Women Want - Part 1 Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Feb 4, 2009

We are built and designed for relationship. Yet, we often struggle to know what the person we love needs or wants. Examine 4 areas that must be dealt with in order to have a healthy relationship.

“What Men and Women Want” Pt. 1 Steve: We want to begin this morning by reading a couple of passages of Scripture. The first is: Matt. 19:11 – 12 11But Jesus said, “Not everyone is mature enough to live a married life. It requires a certain aptitude and grace. Marriage isn’t for everyone. 12Some, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:6-9

Denomination: Pentecostal

The River Nile: Drawn Out Of The Waters Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 4, 2009

Racism grows out of the fears of the oppressors and attacks the leaders of those they fear. But God draws out of the waters that were intended to drown those whom He will use to lead His people to victory.

The River Nile. The great river of Egypt, a historic stream that rises in the heart of Africa and flows northward for hundreds and hundreds of miles, bringing life to Egypt. Langston Hughes says, "I’ve known rivers; I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Overwhelming Or Overcoming? It Depends

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 23, 2008

Autobiographical account of memories of race relations. Christ gives us the power to overcome backgrounds that might overwhelm us.

If you find yourself facing a monstrous evil, there are really only two choices: either to run or to fight. Either to run or to fight. Now most of us will try a third choice; we will try to ignore the problem. But that won’t work. That won’t work. Massive, monstrous evil demands a response: ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Godless Dreamers

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 16, 2008

In our text, Jude speaks specifically about certain godless dreamers. 1- They pollute themselves 2- They reject authority 3- They slander celestial beings

INTRO.- Dreaming isn’t bad, depending on what you dream for. And I’m not talking about night dreams because we all have some crazy night dreams. ILL.- For example, I had a crazy dream that some people were trying to kill me and I defended myself by stabbing my attackers with a set of deer ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:8-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sacrifice Of Silence: How Men Pray

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 4, 2009

Men can pray in their own way by doing what they know is right to do, by listening to the Lord as well as speaking, and by holding others and God Himself accountable to keep promises.

The young Australian pastor had just received his first assignment. It was to a remote sheep-ranching settlement deep in the Australian outback. He had arrived during a period of prolonged drought, and was making pastoral calls to his far-flung flock of ranchers, who were trying to keep their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming Barnabas Series

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Sep 22, 2009

How do you respond to the success of those around you? Do you rejoice with those who rejoice or do you rejoice when others mourn? Is your faith a community or a zero sum game?

10. The Book of Acts July 26th, 2009 Becoming Barnabas Through our study of the book of Acts we have been trying to see what the church is supposed to look like. In our efforts we have turned to pictures of the early church to see principles that we adopt today to become the church that desires ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-28

Denomination: *other

Friend Of The Hopeful Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 22, 2009

In fearful times, there are also signs of hope. Some turn everything into a sign of fear and conflict. Others can see hope if they allow others to succeed. The child Jesus is a sign of such hope.

"The time of fear is over; now comes the time of hope." These words were spoken in the most unlikely of situations. A French novelist, Tristan Bernard, and his wife, were being put into prison by the Gestapo, after the Nazis had overrun France. They were being sent to a concentration camp; ...read more

Scripture: John 3:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

I Pity The Fool Series

Contributed by Bob Lentz on Sep 19, 2006

Knowing the importance of hearing and obeying God’s Word

I Pity The Fool 5-7-06 “Stop Foolin’ Yourself” Series James 1:21-27 Intro. At age 36 Erik Weihenmayer (WINE-mayor) is known as a world-class athlete. He’s a skydiver, a paraglider and a marathon runner. He’s been ...read more

Scripture: James 1:21-27

Denomination: Baptist