Sermons on Cook:

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

Ownership And Obedience Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The first in a month-long stewardship series. Financial giving boils down to obedience. Who owns your stuff?

Stewardship I - Ownership and Obedience Purpose: 1. Read I Kings 17:7-16 2. (This story is an adaptation from an illustration from Leonard Sweet) Let me tell you about a trip Grant and I made to McDonald’s last spring. Dana and Jackson were on a field trip to Hendersonville … and it was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-16

Denomination: Nazarene

Money: Servant Or Master? Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

Second sermon in a series on stewardship. What is it that owns you? You might not say many, but does your life show otherwise?

Stewardship II - Money: Servant of Master? 1. Sometimes a good test of love is finding out what you’d be willing to give up to possess it. 2. The entire NHL season is in jeopardy and today is the deadline. (Do a brief history of the hockey labor dispute leading to the cancellation of the 04-05 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-30

Denomination: Nazarene

The Attitude Of Giving Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A challenge for the church not just to tithe, but to tithe with glad hearts. When we put in our offering, does God get the idea that we’re obeying because of love, or that we’re dragging our feet?

Stewardship IV - The attitude in giving Purpose: To challenge our people to tithe, but to tithe with glad hearts. 1. Our attitude says a lot about our actions. A husband might go to a "chick" movie with his wife, but he might go with a negative attitude, making lots of comments and huffing his way ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Lose The Weight Of Complacency Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The first in a series used at New Year’s. We Christians can get used to a routine of "being good." We need to break free from complacency and push ourselves to spiritual excellence.

Lose the weight of complacency Purpose: To challenge us to break free from status quo personal Christianity. 1. These are a few of my favorite things: · Chocolate Ice Cream sprinkled with dry coffee grounds, anything that begins with the words Little Debbie, any restaurant that ends with the word ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 1:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene

Lose The Weight Of Fear Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

We move in this world according to what we can see. And sometimes what we can see give us cause to fear. But God doesn’t want that in our lives. He’s in control. Because he’s in control, we can live without fear.

Lose the weight of fear Purpose: To challenge people to move away from fear and toward faith. 1. This month we’re trying to lose the weight. Hebrews 12:1 says, "let us take off every weight that slows us down." 2. This morning we’re going to talk about fear. Fear can weigh us down day in and day ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Nazarene

Lose The Weight Of Debt Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A sermon in the "Lose the weight of ..." series. This message challenges the church to live lives of financial contentment. We shouldn’t bind ourselves in debt, trying to live a life we can’t afford. Debt cripples the church.

Lose the weight of debt Purpose: To challenge our people to live contented lives financially with the money got has entrusted to us. 1. Why even talk about debt? Hebrews 12:1. · Debt isn’t a salvation issue. But the way we view money is a spiritual issue. 2. Banker illustration (from radio ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:7

Denomination: Nazarene

Lose The Weight Of Unforgiveness Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A final sermon in the "Lose the weight of ..." series. This message looks at what forgiveness is and what it isn’t. A tough message for those dealing with forgiveness issues, but a challenging one for those seeking spiritual health.

Lose the weight of unforgiveness Purpose: To illustrate the destructive nature of unforgiveness and to give opportunity to forgive. 1. This month we’re trying to lose the weight. Hebrews 12:1, "Let us throw off everything that hinders." 2. (I started this message with a personal story of friends ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Nazarene

Finding Your Incredible Significance In God

Contributed by David Cook on Apr 30, 2010

You are worth everything to the Lord!

Opening Illustration: Any one ever lost something that mattered to you? Have my car keys, remote control, cell Phone on pulpit; These are the items that I lose the most around the house. When my parents were here recently, we searched for the remote control for the better part of Sunday afternoon ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Adding Strength To Your Family

Contributed by David Cook on May 6, 2010

5 Ways to add strength to your family.

Compare Today’s TV Families (Kardashian's, Desperate Housewives, Family Guy,etc. vs. the Huckstables, Walton’s, Brady Bunch, etc. It’s so common today to see families breaking apart instead of coming together, growing stronger, making a difference, living God's way. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Pray For Revival In Your Church

Contributed by David Cook on May 11, 2010

4 keys for knowing how to pray for revival in your church.

The Church of Jesus Christ is in need of revival. The fastest growing religion in our country is Islam. God’s Word and prayer are no longer desired in schools and government. Christian values such as family, prayer, believing the Word of God is now a rarity. God’s people are no longer bothered with ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Worship

Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 14, 2009

One of the most misunderstood terms in our English language is the word “worship”. We often confuse the word worship with thanksgiving and praise. This sermon will help people to understand the difference.

John 4:23-24 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. INTRODUCTION There are many venues in ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Denomination: Pentecostal

Don't Live Like A Fool

Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 14, 2009

In your relationship with God you can be thoughtful and cautious, or you can be heedless. We cant afford to be heedless in our walk with God!

1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Greatest Sin For A Believer

Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 17, 2009

This sermon is about Backsliding;Backsliding is when a born-again believer in Christ turns back to sin or becomes stubborn in his heart and refuses to submit to the will of God in his life,Backsliding is like carnality, in that your own desires and device

Backsliding is when a born-again believer in Christ turns back to sin or becomes stubborn in his heart and refuses to submit to the will of God in his life. The outward actions are only symptoms of the real problem -- the attitude of the heart -- which must be dealt with in order to change the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:3

Denomination: Pentecostal