Sermons on Criteria:

Rapture Ready. Be Ready, Be Faithful, Be Fruitful - Matthew 25:14-46 Series

Contributed by William Akehurst on Oct 2, 2025

Parable of the Talents, Believers are called to be ready for Christ’s return, faithful with what He entrusts, and fruitful in love and service.

2025.10.05 Sermon Notes. RAPTURE READY. Be Ready, Be Faithful, Be Fruitful Matthew 25:14-46 William Akehurst, HSWC Scriptures: Matthew 25:14-46, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Colossians 3:23-24, James 2:17, Galatians 6:10, 1 John 3:18 BIG IDEA: Believers are called to be ready for Christ’s return, faithful ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-46, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Colossians 3:23-24, James 2:17, Galatians 6:10, 1 John 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Manage Cross-Cultural Ministries

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 11, 2001

Pastor David’s problem comes from the difference of world view assumption he has on leadership from most western style management books. First, let us examine some of the critical differences between Western and non-western assumptions about administratio

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE YOUR CROSS -CULTURAL MINISTRIES Introduction - Imagine Pastor David who loves his youth, successfully leads many young people to Christ, but struggles to know how to administrate his ministry. He knows his Biblical imperatives for youth ministry. He has successfully ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Day Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 15, 2012

Jesus – The One Man revealed to us the One Thing through His One Cry and fulfilled the One Mission to bless us with the One Thing. The One Thing which he treasured the most was His personal relationship with “Abba” Father. His willingness to give that up

Series: One Thing Last week I shared a movie scene from the movie “City Slickers” in this scene in the movie we have one old cowboy and a city slicker who are discussing what is the main focus of life. In other words “What is the meaning of life?” and the old cowboy holds his finger up and says, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Teachers And Wannabes Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 23, 2013

Not everyone who claims to be a teacher has received appointment from God.

“Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” [1] Ultimately, it is not the one who is the most polished speaker who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

How Do You Define Success? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 28, 2015

Learning from Jesus how to be successful in His work.

“Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Baptist

What About The Younger Widows Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 15, 2014

Having provided instruction for establishing an order of widows, Paul proscribes enrolling younger widows and justifies his position.

“Refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Sometimes, I Guess There Just Aren't Enough Rocks

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 6, 2021

In life, we may tear down relationships or we may build relationships. We use similar aspects to both destroy and build. Christians should be known as builders.

“Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.” [1] In the movie Forrest Gump, one scene pictures Forrest and Jenny ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:18-19

Denomination: Baptist

Do We Believe Him? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Oct 1, 2021

If we take responsibility for ourselves at the Lord's Table, it will not be necessary for Him to discipline us. Let us approach Him with reverence and awe as we worship.

“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Rabble Among Us

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 23, 2023

Association with a church does not translate to identification with Christ.

“The rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:4-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Arrogance Of The Ignorant

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jan 12, 2023

Ignorant people attempt to mask their lack of knowledge through arrogance. Jesus pierced the facade of the Sadducees by pointing to what was written in the Word of the Living God.

“Sadducees came to [Jesus], who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. There were seven ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:18-27

Denomination: Baptist

It’s So Good To Be Forgiven! - Psalm 32:1,2,5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on May 29, 2025

What does God require of you after you have sinned? And what all does true confession involve?

Psalms 32:1-11 A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-5

No Condemnation In Christ

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Jul 25, 2002

Our response to the Gospel is relationship and obedience. Relationship without obedience leads to "Cheap Grace" and Obedience without relationship leads to "legalism"

Rom 8:1-17 – No Condemnation in Christ What is it like to be a condemned man?  Have you ever imagined what it would be like to stand in the dock waiting for the jury to deliver its verdict and to hear the words “we find him guilty”  And then to hear the judge pronounce the death ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-17

Denomination: Christian Church

High Priest Of A Better Covenant

Contributed by John Stevenson on Oct 18, 2000

Central to the structure of God’s relationship with men was the concept of the covenant.

Central to the structure of God’s relationship with men was the concept of the covenant. A covenant was more than just a treaty. It was both a legal contract and a formalized bond of life and death sealed with an oath. The mediator of such a covenant was the priest. He was the one who would ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:1-13

The Story Of Esther - A Heroine In Personal Crisis Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Aug 6, 2001

The book of Esther is the biblical answer to Walt Disney’s story of Cinderella. An orphan girl from an enslaved nation ends up marrying the king. It’s short story at its finest.

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: One of Megan’s favorite stories is Cinderella. She was the abused, ophaned house slave with no hope of a future or ever attending the royal ball much less luring the handsome prince into marrying her. Her fairy god-mother magically helps her to not only attend the ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:12-16

Peace At Home Series

Contributed by Eric Snyder on Apr 11, 2002

Part 2 of a series from Romans 12:18

Peace @ Home, Resolving family conflict, Live @ Peace series Colossians 3:13-21 Eric A. Snyder, Minister.,, Farwell Church of Christ April 14, 2002 A minister was finishing up a series on marriage. At the end of the service he was giving out small wooden crosses to each married couple. He said, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ