Sermons on Depraved Nature:

Focusing On Opportunities Instead Of Circumstantial Problems

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Why do so many people end up focusing more on their problems than the opportunities created by their circumstances? Perhaps, it has to do with the fact that our human nature tends to have a morbid sense of interest in tragedies. Even though the apostles c

1. Why do so many people end up focusing more on their problems than the opportunities created by their circumstances? Perhaps, it has to do with the fact that our human nature tends to have a morbid sense of interest in tragedies. Even though the apostles could have become discouraged by their ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:21-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Biblical Theology Of Church Planting

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 13, 2001

``If you want to study something, begin with its origins.’’ In this lesson we want to ask the Lord’s help in examining the origins, nature, aims, Biblical commands, and methods of the apostles first century church planting Biblical Theology of Church Pla

A Brief Biblical Theology of Church Planting From The Acts of the Apostles Learning Objectives 1. The students will be able to explain how the first church started and grew. 2. The students will be able to explain five principles from Acts that will help their church grow. 3. The ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Resolving Conflicts By God's Power

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 3, 2003

Conflicts can be resolved when people are willing to avoid defining the other party as incorrigible. Even though all people have a sinful nature, Spirit led individuals are able to find unity, peace and harmony through the mutuality of our shared union in

How to Resolve or Prevent Conflicts (Acts 15:1-35) Conflicts, like the one in Acts 15, often occur because of differences of perspectives. Some people viewed the will of God differently because of their personal, cultural or religious conditioning. Resolving conflicts should always begin by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Renew Your Thinking

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 12, 2003

Paul urged the early Christians to replace their old sinful natural responses to difficulties with new attitudes. The great apostle wrote, "Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be made new in the attitude of your mi

Someone once said, "Attitude is everything." People with great attitude succeed. Those with negative attitudes fail. Illustration;Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way. Viktor Frankl, concentration ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:21-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Place For A Pity Party

Contributed by John Baggett on Nov 24, 2003

Pity is natural but is for others not ourselves. Self Pity is dangerous. (1)Everyone is subject to self pity (2ADVERSITY IS NOT MEANT TO LEAD US TO SELF PITY BUT TO STRENGHTH IN CHRIST(3)Turning to God in our self pity is our hope for deliverance from it

No Place for a Pity Party MT 16:21-24 If we think in terms of thankfulness we might say that there are many emotions that would compliment a heart that is filled with thanksgiving. For example love compliments thanksgiving, happiness compliments thanksgiving, joy and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-24, Matthew 4:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Blame Game - Taking Responsibility In A World Of Excuses Series

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jun 11, 2011

We live in a society of victims. Everyone has an excuse for the things that they do against God. It’s called THE BLAME GAME, and it is not new. It comes from our FALLEN NATURE. We discover the blame game in Genesis 3. It is the record of the sin, e

The Blame Game - Taking Responsibility in a World of Excuses Genesis 3:8-13 We live in a word of excuses. Here are some complied by the Readers Digest that have been offered for not showing up for work: "I dreamed I was fired, so I didn’t want to get out of bed." "I was up all night arguing with ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Beginning Of The End

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 20, 2006

As the Lamb opens the 7 seals on the scroll of man’s destiny, terrible things happen - politically, militarily, economically and with natural disastors unprecedented in world history. What does it mean to us and to salvation? See God’s hand of love even i

Here’s where Revelation switches into high gear. No more visions and letters and talk - now its action time. One thing we’ve got to keep straight is what’s happening here. We saw in chapter 6 the Lamb take the scroll - the only one among those in heaven and earth that have ever lived - that has ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-17

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Lessons From Facing A Broken Economy

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2009

We have all been through downturns before but this one is different. It has multiple, complex causes. It is global in nature and no one knows how long it will last or if the bailouts will work. What can we learn in a downturn? Based on a Bill Hybels ser

Lessons from Facing a Broken Economy Romans 8:28-39 Bill Hybels tells the story of finishing a meeting at his church and bumping into a woman who asked about their PADS Ministry which hosts people one night a week who need a place to sleep. They have between 30 and 50 people who show up. They ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Methodist

The Who Of Encouragement Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Dec 6, 2007

God cares in all types of situations. He is the God of encouragement. His nature is fully revealed in his Son, Jesus Christ, who also had a ministry of encouragement. And when Christ left the earth, he left his ministry of encouragement in the care of

The Who of Encouragement John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26 Intro Paul emphatically says in Romans 15:5, “God gives…encouragement.” First Peter 5:7 says, “He cares for you.” God cares in all types of situations. He is the God of encouragement. His nature is fully revealed in his Son, Jesus Christ, who ...read more

Scripture: John 14:16-26

Denomination: Baptist

Abandoned To The Potter

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Apr 5, 2008

When clay is soft and pliable it is easy to make an impression on. When it becomes dry and hard change doesn’t come easy. In fact it can’t come unless the potter applies water and pressure to bring a pliable nature back to the clay.

JEREMIAH 18; Go down to the shop where clay pots and jars are made. I will speak to you while you are there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

"Fly High" Acts Pt. 26 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 11, 2007

Paul’s journey reveals how to sink a ship (a life, a family, a ministry) in three easy ways. Don’t listen to sound advice, allow discontentment to take root in your life, and think that you are exempt from the forces of nature.

Fly High – Acts pt. 26 Opening Illustration on the lighter side of life: See video clip from AHA.COM what not to do when you get stuck in the snow! Thesis: Paul’s journey reveals how to sink a ship (a life, a family, a ministry) in three easy ways. Don’t listen to sound advice, allow ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Your Church A Cruise-Ship Or A Battleship?

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 5, 2011

Which image better describes a church? Your church? I know, it’s a metaphor. All metaphors break down at some point. When making a choice, our natural inclination is to choose the cruise ship over the battleship any day.

Opening illustration: watch an illustrative audio-video clip Introduction: On the surface we would believe that the early church in Acts was blessed with outstanding growth due to the anointed preaching of the apostles; their balanced practices that would evolve into much of our church programming ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Knowing His Love

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 23, 2010

Paul tells us that there are four dimensions to Christ’s love that we need to not only perceive but to comprehend. These can't be understood naturally but require the Holy Spirit to illuminate our eyes to be able to grasp the wonder of Christ’s love.

Knowing His Love Ephesians 3:14-21 As humans we can only visualize the world around us in three dimensions. Our nervous systems are equipped to conjure images in merely three dimensions. We can visualize height, width, and depth. It is difficult for us to imagine a fourth dimension. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

A Whale Of A Rescue Series

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Feb 10, 2011

The LORD is Sovereign, accomplishing His purposes. The LORD is over all Creation, preparing ways to second chances that we would never have naturally figured. The LORD is available to all and shows great Mercy and Compassion. Has the LORD sent you a wh

Given at Glorious King Jesus (GKJ) on Sunday, February 13, 2010. Apex, NC Preacher: Sterling C. Franklin, Rev. Webcast: http://bit.ly/GKJ-Webcast (case-sensitive) Scripture Reading: Psalm 116:1-9 1 I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The War Within Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Nov 7, 2011

Being human we are born with certain default settings that drive us to think in certain ways. When we become a Christian a war starts between a new nature seeking to establish a beachhead and take over and the old regime that wants to stay in control.

The human mind is self-rationalizing. In other words, we will rationalize our thoughts and actions according to ourselves, rather than to some external source. Even when we read something or hear something and alter our behavior, it is because we choose to believe that thing we read or ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-18

Denomination: Calvary Chapel