Sermons on Deliberation:

The Ministry Of Encouragement Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 20, 2011

A book sermon from 1 Thessalonians, introducing a series through the book. To show how the ministry of deliberate encouragement is necessary to the vitality of the Body

I Thessalonians Introduction: There’s a lot of discouragement out there. Not too long ago, Hayden Planetarium in New York City issued an invitation to anyone interested in applying to be a part of the crew on the first journey to another planet. 18,000 people applied. The applications ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Intentionally Seeking The Lost. Rejoicing When They Are Found!

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Sep 15, 2007

We are called to join in with God by deliberately, intentionally seeking out the lost. When the lost are found we are called to join with God in rejoicing!

A few years ago I was reading a book by Stephen Gaukroger. He tells the story of a New York Methodist minister who saw the need to bring his ‘ninety nine righteous’ sheep back into the fold. He put an advert in the local paper: “Lost, stolen or strayed; a large flock of Methodist sheep. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Anglican

Send Others! Series

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Jun 25, 2010

The local church is an agency of commissioning and sending. Are we deliberately training those called to ministry and affirming them via sending at the Holy Spirit's prompting?

Series Review (Midweek): Week 1: An Encounter with the King - Have the willingness to be sent! Isaiah 6 – Having the willingness to be sent & commissioned Isaiah 6:8 – “Here am I, send me!” Week 2: The Great Commission - In obedience to the Lord, be sent and make ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

His Name Is Wonderful Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 17, 2013

a message to help my audience understand the ways that God’s name is to be rightly used and to take deliberate action to make that happen in their worlds

Story - 2 elderly women in a church were discussing the problems of growing older. One said, "The worst thing is when your memory starts to go. I've known you all my life, and I can't think of your name. What is it?" The second lady thought for a moment and said, "Do you need an answer ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Our Nation Turned Its Back On God's Commandments Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jun 26, 2021

No city, no nation, no culture deliberately sets out to become a society of depraved miscreants, to be forever remembered as abhorrent, to give its name to an unspeakable sin.

Homily for Monday of 13th week in Course Gen 18; Mt 8:18-22 Have you ever wondered how Sodom and Gomorrah got to be the way they were in the time of Abraham and Lot? In their day gangs of violent homosexuals roamed the city night after night, invading the homes of law-abiding citizens, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:16-33, Matthew 8:18-22

Denomination: Catholic

Coffee With God

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 30, 2006

Regular, deliberate seeking of God’s presence will result in a closeness with God that is far more intimate than most people believe we can have

1. Title: Coffee With God 2. Text: Exodus 33 3. Audience: Villa Heights Christian Church, AM crowd, April 10. 2005 4. Objectives: -for the people to understand the nature of our relationship with God and how we can make it grow through prayer -for the people to feel a longing for God’s closeness ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Tickle My Ears, But Don’t Scratch My Heart

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 26, 2009

The Apostle foretells a day when Christians will deliberately turn their backs on sound doctrine, embracing error because it makes them comfortable and because the error is convenient.

“The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”[1] There is an old saying that is sometimes heard among ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Matthew 15:29-38 – Fish And Chips On A Cold Winter’s Day Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 31, 2013

It seems Jesus is deliberately inviting me to look beyond the simple awareness of a need. Jesus is inviting me NOT TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY to accomplish the EXTRAORDINARY in ANY situation.

Matthew 15:29-38 – FISH AND CHIPS ON A COLD WINTER’S DAY Midday Friday the smell of Fish and Chips wafts in through the adjoining doors as our small group sings the last song. I scan the ancient, lined faces who listen to Words of Life every week in this area of the Shalom Centre and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:29-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What’s Your Business?

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 28, 2014

To urge people to deliberately begin to love and to associate with at least one lost person for the purpose of unapologetically inviting them to answer Jesus’ call to repent

I want to begin this morning by showing a deeply moving and theologically packed video clip that not only is animated and frivolous, but also 3 months too early in the year. But, this does help introduce a certain character we’re going to learn from this morning. (Show clip from “The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Face Cloth Neatly Folded

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Jun 28, 2021

The neat folding of the face cloth gives further evidence to me that Jesus calmly and deliberately unwrapped Himself of His grave clothes and walked out of the tomb.

I would like to see a show of hands, who makes their bed every day? I figured there would be someone who does it. You are the kind of person who should really appreciate what Jesus did in the tomb after His resurrection. I know this isn’t Easter Sunday, but I wanted to share with you something I ...read more

Scripture: John 20:7

Denomination: Baptist

Smart Investing Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

Make a deliberate investment decision to spend your time, money, effort and attention on the things that last. And what lasts? Loving God, and loving your neighbor.

Last month I had the fun of deciding how to invest the profit of the sale of my New Jersey house. And it was fun, and I think I’ve made good choices. But my track record is nothing to boast about. When I cashed in a chunk of my IRA for the down payment on that same house, I told my broker that I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Taking A Mess And Making It Useful Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

To help my audience see how to apply deliberate Christ-centered action to their relationships at home and in the Church so that potential messes are made into decisive victories for the Lord

Sweet gum trees. They’re a great shade tree – they grow quickly and strong. They produce a lot of leaves that will often turn nice colors in the fall. And, if you’ve had a couple of them, you know they also produce about a billion spiny, ball-shaped seedpods called monkey balls or gum balls. ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Preach Christ

Contributed by Darin Gary on Jan 23, 2013

When others deliberately avoid preaching the Lord who planned & made Himself to be the sacrifical Lamb of God, we (as the Apostle Paul) PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED!

We Preach Christ (1 Corinthians 1:21-24) “…in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. [21] For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; [23] but, we preach Christ ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:21-24

Denomination: Wesleyan

Where It All Starts Series

Contributed by Allan Quak on Mar 30, 2016

Jesus deliberately enables Himself to be arrested, showing that He is totally in control of the situation. In doing so Jesus demonstrates that no one who is in God’s family will be lost.

Message John 18:1-27 “Where It All Starts”. For the next 8 weeks, and also on Easter Friday, we are going to focus our attention on the chapters 18-21 of John’s Gospel as we look at the Passion of Jesus and His willingness to give His life for us. We are entering the story at the point where Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 18:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

Refocusing!

Contributed by Victor Ramlall on Jan 28, 2013

It's essential in every situation and circumstance to deliberately refocus our attention solely on God who is able to keep us from falling and cause us to triumph in Christ.

Many times we become blindsided. We are caught without warning. We've been exposed to the unexpected ugliness of humanity which we did not care to see. We have uncertainty, doubts and fears. Many times we have wavered and slowed down and come to a standstill. We have looked around in uncertainty ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-23

Denomination: Pentecostal