Sermons on Cruise Ship:

Stumblingblock Or Steppingstone?

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 20, 2012

We can have unity without uniformity. And just because you CAN do something in your Christian liberty doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

Stumbling Block or Stepping Stone? Romans 14:13-23 Audio: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/121212.mp3 In Divisions Over Debatables we looked at gray areas of the Christian life. The discussion was about how we are to treat other Christians who see things differently than we do. We are a diverse ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:13-23

Denomination: Baptist

Decision Time

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Feb 17, 2012

This message was preached for my present church’s 40th Anniversary and it calls us to ’cross the Jordan’ and move into the "Land of Promise."

Decision-Time Deuteronomy 30:11-20 * My personal intent for today’s message was to entitle this “From the Wilderness to the Promised Land” and draw a parallel between the COI and HBC. However, God had other ideas, not about this message or the parallel, but about the title. * In context, 40 years ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Storm, Sleep, And Sacrifice

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 4, 2010

New Year's Day 1989: Jonah, running from his responsibility, fell asleep. It might have been the sleep of a rationalized conscience; or depression. But a greater than Jonah is here, Christ, who can heal both conscience and soul.

It's not easy to stay out of the storms, no matter what escape you plan. It's just not easy to keep from getting rained on and buffeted around when the storm is coming, no matter what means you use to take shelter. This week, on the afternoon of the sudden squall, I had gone home to attend to my ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Seaweed Prayers Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Oct 15, 2009

Part 3 of a 5 part series. Jonah’s plea for help.

Jonah 1:17-2:10 Seaweed Prayers July 26, 2009 Have you ever been involved in what I’ll call a situation? You know, it’s when life is getting pretty messy and you are trying your best to resolve that mess. You work at it and work at it, until finally, you realize there is no way out, and as a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

#2reassurance:god's Gift! Series

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 28, 2008

God knows that as we face big battles fear tries to hinder us, so our God will give us reassurance and encourage us to continue.

#2 REASSURANCE... God’s gift! When fear tries to hinder, God will give us reassurance! By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is part#2 of a 2 part lesson. I. INTRODUCTION: A. When my sons were growing up and we would travel, we would often sing. I had a Pinto station wagon and ...read more

Scripture: Judges 7:9-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Pleading Passenger/Purchased Pardon Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on May 3, 2008

Jonah makes a plea, Take me up....get me out of here, his solution to the terrible mess he made. This is true for today’s throwaway society. Yet, Jesus prayed similarly, "Take me up,", but He pled for our forgivness as He offered Himself.

JONAH 1:12 PLEADING PASSENGER/PURCHASED PARDON I. PERSONAL PLEA: A. Perceptive. B. Pathetic. C. Plausible. II. PETULANT PLEA: A. Paradoxical. B. Perfidious. C. Polarizing. III. PROTOTYPICAL PLEA: A. Pliable. B. Purchased. C. Progressive. In answer to the sailors’ question as to ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:10-12

Denomination: Methodist

The Audacity Of The Church

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 15, 2015

. AS CHRISTIANS WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE AS TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG. TO BELIEVE IN CHRISTIANITY MUST MEAN THAT WE, ALTHOUGH WITH RESPECT AND COMPASSION,, STATE THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN ANY OTHER RELIGION IS CORRECT.

THE AUDACITY OF THE CHURCH ACTS 26:16-23 SPORTS FANS WILL ALWAYS ARGUE OVER QUESTIONS SUCH AS, WHO WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME IN A PARTICULAR SPORT. I THINK IN REALITY IT IS AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE YOU CAN’T FACTOR IN THE TIME VARIABLE. I CAN SAY GORDIW HOWE WAS THE ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:16-23

Denomination: Baptist

"Marco Polo"

Contributed by Horace Wimpey on Jan 16, 2015

Gods call is much like the game "Marco Polo", if there is no response when you are called, nothing can happen.

“Marco, Polo” 1Corinthians 1: 1-3 Intro: If you remember back before the holidays, we finished going through 1 John. This morning we are starting a new series of sermons out of 1 Corinthians. We will still work our way through 1 Corinthians and Genesis on a bi-weekly series throughout ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Climbing Higher

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Sep 9, 2010

Satan wants to keep us from making progress in our spiritual life. With the Lord’s help, though, we can keep on climbing. To avoid sin’s tragedy, learn Satan’s strategy.

Opening illustration: Pastor Dale Kurtz laughed so hard that his sides ached. He was watching a frustrated squirrel trying to climb the metal pole supporting a bird feeder. The squirrel repeatedly got part way up, then slowly slid down the pole in a heap. In describing this incident, Kurtz wrote, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Seems Silent Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Feb 4, 2010

I doubt there’s a person here who hasn't had a dark night experience when God didn’t seem to hear your desperate cry for help or answers. Worse than that it seemed he broke contact with you and you felt dreadfully alone.

“When God Seems Silent” Exodus 32:1-7 (The Message) The story is told of six WWII Navy pilots who left their aircraft carrier on a mission. After searching for enemy submarines, they tried to return to their ship shortly after dark. But the captain ordered a blackout of all lights on ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-7

Denomination: Salvation Army

Servant Leadership Series- Intro: The Greatest Servant Leader Series

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Apr 28, 2009

Jesus modeled the greatest Servant Leadership Attributes while on earth. This is usually ignored by today’s Christian Leaders and Churches

Servant Leadership Series Intro: The Greatest Servant Leader Do we need leaders in the Church. Let us take a look at this short video. ( I have used the video “Ronnie” from Floodgate Productions (http://www.floodgateproductions.com/v2/)) Have you seen any Ronnies in the Churches of today? Have ...read more

Scripture: John 13:3-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Empowered To Do Exploits

Contributed by John Gaston on Jul 25, 2016

God expects His people to do exploits. The catch is that we can only do exploits when we're firmly grafted into Jesus Christ. We must get to "know" God if we would do His works.

EMPOWERED TO DO EXPLOITS Dan. 11:32 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Sometimes husbands or wives find themselves in trouble. At a department store a clerk was helping a customer. 2. “Will that be cash, check, or charge?” the clerk asked the woman. As she fumbled for her wallet the clerk ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 11:32

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Five Coats... The Journey From Defeat To Victory

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 9, 2022

Learn the lesson of the journey of 5 coats... we can go from promise, to defeat to victory by staying faithful and refusing to be bitter. BITTER vs. BETTER.

FIVE COATS… I CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND THE JOURNEY? LIFE IS MEAN! LIFE IS REALLY MEAN! LIFE IS A SERIES OF LOSING TO WIN. WHY? WHY? THEY TOOK MY COAT! GOD NEVER EXPLAINS WHAT HE IS DOING! THIS STRIPPING AWAY FROM ME? STRIP AWAY MY COAT… By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I HAVE FIVE ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:2-7, Genesis 39:2-5, Genesis 41:41

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What The Bible Teaches About Separation

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 25, 2022

The doctrine that is laid down in this passage of scripture is one you seldom hear preached about in our day.

Look at verse 12, which tells us what Jesus did for His disciples while He was here. We read, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” Jesus, ...read more

Scripture: John 17:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

No Plan B (Second Sunday After Easter 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 20, 2022

Peter and John were arrested Acts 4:3 .... Acts 5:27 -32 represents their second arrest. “Minding their own business” involved sharing the Gospel. Matthew 28:19 was their call to go and make disciples! There was no Plan B.

No Plan B Text: Acts 5:27 - 32 Acts 5:27-32  When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them,  (28)  saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:27-32

Denomination: United Methodist