Sermons on Cook:

Christmas Bread

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

The relevance of Bethlehem, with thoughts gleaned from other sources. Good for a Christmas communion service.

Matthew 2:1-12 – Christmas Bread A Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg who many years ago was stranded late one night at a fashionable resort - one that did not admit Jews. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Surviving Christmas

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

Life is hard. Sometimes so is Christmas. This is about more than surviving it.

Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-7 – Surviving Christmas These two Grand Mananers took a ferry off the island and went deep into the woods on the mainland, searching for a Christmas tree. After hours of subzero temperatures and a few close calls with hungry wolves, one Grand Mananer turned to the other ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

The Superior New Covenant Series

Contributed by Matthew Cook on May 28, 2005

God’s New Promise

The Superiority of the New Covenant May 22, 2005 Center Point Baptist Church Introduction Present the following illustration on promises kept: Several years ago, I made a promise to my eldest son – that I would build him a fort to play in, and it would be done before I had to make a 6-month ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

This Is My Church!

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 21, 2005

Church just doesn’t happen. The church will be vibrant and fruitful if I (all of us) make it happen.

This is my church Purpose: The work of the church won’t just happen. It takes all of us doing what God would have us do. 1. Nehemiah bullets · Background of the fall of Israel (God had promised Israel that if they would obey him, He would always protect them and prosper them. But after David came ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Offer Them Water

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 21, 2005

To refocus the church on our primary job: taking the Water of Life to a world without Jesus.

Offer them water Purpose: To refocus the church on our purpose: "Go into all the world, preaching the Gospel." 1. (Hold up an ordinary glass of water) Let’s talk about water for a minute. A regular lukewarm glass of water isn’t very appealing. It doesn’t sound very good, does it? But run 4 or 5 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Denomination: Nazarene

Why The Miracles?

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 21, 2005

A sermon based on the book, "Surprising Insights from the Unchurched" by Thom Rainer. Jesus’ miracles drew a crowd. Why isn’t the church drawing a crowd?

Why the miracles? Purpose: Jesus cared for people enough to do something about it. People saw his love in his actions and responded to him personally. 1. Why did Jesus perform miracles? Why did he heal the lame, the blind, the diseased? It was just a few here and there. He couldn’t have healed ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Nazarene

Confession: Reasons And Excuses

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 21, 2005

God doesn’t want our excuses or reasons. He desires a pure heart and real confession. Both Saul and David confessed. One was real.

Confession: Reasons and Excuses Purpose: To better explain full confession 1. Cheating reasons: a young man comes from a very poor farming family. The only way he can go to college is on scholarship. He wants to study agriculture so he can return home and help the family increase the productivity ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-30

Denomination: Nazarene

Just A Happy Meal

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

To illustrate how Jesus can do so much with our little. God doesn’t ask how much we have. Instead, like He asked of Moses, He asks "What do you have I can use?"

Just a Happy Meal Purpose: To illustrate how Jesus can do the impossible with our little. 1. Read John 6:1-5. Why did Jesus ask Philip? Of all the disciples, why Philip? Philip was from Bethsaida, a town just nine miles away. If anyone would know a human solution to this problem, it would have ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-13

Denomination: Nazarene

The Bible - A Light And A Map Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The first of a three-part series on the Bible. Without God’s Word we’re lost in the world. Using the illustration of a little boy who gets lost in Mammoth Cave, this message shows the importance of having a light and a map. (General Sermon, but used on

Bible - A light and a map Purpose: To illustrate the importance of the Bible 1. Max, the lost Boy Scout in Mammoth Cave. Max’s Boy Scout troop took an end-of-the-summer trip to Mammoth Cave. They didn’t take the lame 90-minute family tour. They took the 6-hour "Wild Cave" tour. In this tour, the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:19-130

Denomination: Nazarene

The Bible - Is It True? Can We Trust It? Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The second in a series on the Bible. Every Christian must answer the question: Is the Bible true? When we accept its truth, we must obey its instruction.

Bible - Is it true? Can we trust it? Purpose: Showcasing the absolute truth of the Bible. 1. There is a great push in today’s world for tolerance. Tolerance used to mean, "Everyone has a right to an opinion." · Some people like the Red Sox, some like the Yankees. · Some people like Mexican food, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Denomination: Nazarene

No Rules! Just Right! (Life Without The Rulebook) Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

Third in a series on the Bible. This message looks at life without the guidelines found in the Bible. We might think we want a life of complete freedom, but without boundaries we creep into danger.

No rules. Just right. (Life without the rulebook) Purpose: To illustrate life with no rules (living outside the truth presented in God’s Word) 1. Ever play Monopoly? (hold up Monopoly board) What if you had never played Monopoly before, you had never even seen it, and somebody gave you a board, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-32

Denomination: Nazarene

Where's God?

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

There will always be times where we’d like to know where God is and why isn’t He paying attention. We have to believe, however, and have faith that he is always watching and always in control.

Where’s God? Purpose: To encourage us that God is there 1. I would ask if you’d ever asked the question, "Where’s God?" But anyone who has a few years of adulthood under his belt has asked that question. So I’ll challenge you, this morning, to think of a time in your life when you asked, "Where’s ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Can You Walk The Walk?

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A sermon used before communion. Like the disciples at the Last Supper, we can talk the talk about the Christian life. But Jesus wants to know who will walk the walk with him.

Can you walk the walk? Purpose: To challenge those who call themselves Christians to obey God’s commands. 1. You’ve heard the phrase, "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk." · NCAA Basketball Tournament (this sermon was preached during the tournament): I can talk a pretty good game. ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-35

Denomination: Nazarene

Never Again Without The Presence Of Jesus

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A simple Easter sermon used in at sunrise. What must it have been like between Jesus’ death and resurrection? To be without the presence of Jesus must have been utter emptiness. To be with him again must have been utter joy.

Never again without the presence of Jesus Purpose: To reflect on Jesus’ presence and challenge the people to be the presence of Jesus to a world that needs Him. 1. Read John 20:1-21 2. Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to actually be in the presence of Jesus? What would it have felt ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene

You Don't Have To Go (To Hell)!

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

Easter Sunday. A strange place to end up on Easter Sunday, but where God led. The Gospel message: You don’t have to go to Hell. Close with invitation.

You don’t have to go (to Hell) Purpose: Evangelistic invitation. 1. Struggled this week to find the perfect thing to share with you this morning. Unlike Christmas, which enjoys worldwide attention most of November, all of December and even parts of January, Easter kind of comes and goes without a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Denomination: Nazarene