Sermons on Connected Ideas:

Children Are Windows To Heaven Series

Contributed by Revd Dr Ruwan Palapathwala on Dec 14, 2024

Babies and toddlers are windows to Heaven, our Home. I often ask them to tell me of their memories of Heaven because they still remember Home and are windows for us to glimpse into our unfathomable, infinite, glorious Home we have forgotten about.

One thing you may not have heard me say is that I have enjoyed a love affair with children, especially newborns, infants, and toddlers. This love affair started in 1991 when my wife was pregnant with our first child. Let me share with you how this love affair began. In 1990, I was in my second ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-37, Philippians 1:21-23, Isaiah 25:8-12, Colossians 3:1-7

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Freedom Isn't What You Think

Contributed by Robert Butler on Jul 6, 2020

If I have been forgiven for all my sins, why not keep on sinning?

The end of phase three in Illinois also has us thinking about our freedom to assemble and the right to say and do as we please. In many ways, we have been freed for more. But what does this really mean for us as a Christian? Help me with this phrase:: Freedom isn’t…. Free -----someone paid a price ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Destructive Nature Of Man’s Human Spirit

Contributed by Gordon Brownlee on Apr 14, 2025

The Old and New Covenants meet with God in different ways. But few have asked whether these differences create spiritual powers that work against the Christian life. This maybe why Paul struggled with a Church in transition.

The Destructive Nature of Man’s Human Spirit Life sets before us an interesting journey of discovery. Within that journey we record what our eyes perceive as beauty, what our hearts cherish as food for the soul and what our spirit learns of eternity. Hence every endeavor in life relies upon body, ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: *other

We Are The Pudding Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 17, 2011

The proof is in the pudding, and those of us who know Christ are the pudding.

We Are the Pudding (2 Corinthians 3:1-6) 1. Many of you know that I love to cook. When Marylu went to work 5 years ago, I told her I would take over cooking. 2. I have to cook low-cholesterol: no egg yolks, butter, cream, bacon, shrimp or organ meat. Yet amazing how many delicious meals a person ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Horizontal Shift Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 19, 2021

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ demands us to surrender in two directions: vertically toward God and then horizontally to serve fellow citizens of the Kingdom. We cannot choose just one.

The Horizontal Shift (Romans 12:3-8) 1.A customer walked into my clothing shop and asked to see the pants that were advertised in the paper that day. “We don’t have an ad in the paper today,” I told her. She insisted I was wrong, so I got a copy of the paper, and we went through it, eventually ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

All In For Jesus Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Feb 14, 2022

If I am not “all in” for Jesus then Jesus is not in me at all

ENGAGE After Mary and I got married, I had enough credits so that I could finish up my degree at the University of Arizona in just one semester – that is as long as I could complete 21 units of classwork. Since I was also working three different part-time jobs at the time, I knew that was going to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

All In For Jesus Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Mar 7, 2017

If I am not “all in” for Jesus then Jesus is not in me at all

After Mary and I got married, I had enough credits so that I could finish up my degree at the University of Arizona in just one semester – that is as long as I could complete 21 units of classwork. Since I was also working three different part-time jobs at the time, I knew that was going to be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

"How Do I Know That God Exists?" Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Oct 21, 2004

Are there any "proofs" that God exists?

The psalmist says, "The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God,’" (Ps. 14:1a). According to the Bible, belief in God is a matter of common sense. Why? Because of the evidence that exists. The atheist is not convinced there is any evidence that God exists. To be sure, it is difficult for anyone ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:1

Denomination: Baptist

Sabbath And The Environment Series

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on May 1, 2007

The Sabbath has an impact on our relationship with creation.

Sabbath and the Environment Earth Day, April 22, 2007 Genesis 1:1-2:3 Introduction – the Goodness of Sabbath keeping – poem Wendell Berry p.5 Sabbath is founded in God’s Creation Out of all Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is the only one that is connected to creation – we are to rest and keep ...read more

Denomination: *other

Ready, Set, Grow!

Contributed by Daniel Haas on Apr 5, 2008

Are we as a congregation ready to open our hearts and minds to the needs of today and tomorrow?

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come. Amen. Listen for the Word of God in the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2, Verses 14a and 36 through 41: But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:36-41

Denomination: Congregational

Jacob's Journey To Bethel

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 15, 2024

Jacob significantly changed his life because he listened when God told him to "Get up!" and go to Bethel.

Hello, everyone! Today, we will discuss a topic that's always relevant - change. But not just any change; we're talking about the profound transformation that can occur when we let God's love in. Our guide for this conversation is a story from the Bible, the tale of a man named Jacob. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Mirror Of Our Souls Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Apr 27, 2025

This is the 20th Sermon from the Gospel of Luke Series, "Jesus- Son Of Man".

Series: Jesus- Son Of Man [#20] A MIRROR OF OUR SOULS Luke 6:37-42 Introduction: I have told you often about my work challenges; but as I think about it, all jobs have these types of issues. Issues like- People passing off all of the work onto you; but taking the credit for the good things. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-42, Matthew 7:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Triumph Over Trials Sermon Iii: View Suffering As Inevitable But Redeemable Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on May 13, 2020

In times like these, when awareness of the inevitability of suffering gives rise to questions and doubts, mature Christians rely on the Word of God and reflect upon personal experiences of trusting God in and through it all.

MATURE CHRISTIANS VIEW SUFFERING AS INEVITABLE BUT REDEEMABLE Talking to myself this past week, a question posed by many kept surfacing in my mind: “Why am I Suffering”? The answer I gave to myself was, “I am not suffering”. My motto could very well be ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-5, Job 11:13-16, Job 23:8-12

Texting Series

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Oct 26, 2015

The message Jesus committed to his disciples never changes, though the method of communication must always be subject to change.

The world's first text message was sent from a computer to a cellphone by British engineer, Neil Papworth. As reported by CTV News, Papworth sent the text message to his boss on December 03, 1992. It read: "Merry Christmas" and this single text message revolutionized the way we communicate. Since ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Methodist

Unstoppable Vision Series

Contributed by Chip Kelly on Mar 14, 2009

When the church has crystal clear vision and is functioning properly, it is UNSTOPPABLE.

UNSTOPPABLE #1 - “Unstoppable Vision” When I was a kid a curious thing would happen to me on some Sunday ams. A strange illness would strike. I disliked church so much that I’d fake sick to try to get out of going. I learned this from my 5 older brothers & sisters who were Sunday Syndrome ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational