Sermons on Desert Gourd:

Volunteering For Duty

Contributed by Jerry Flury on May 21, 2012

Isaiah is a model for volunteering. There are many reasons why people volunteer. Isaiah did so for 3 reasons – an appreciation for what God had done for Him,a realization of others' need, and God’s will

Volunteering for Duty Isaiah 6:1-8 In its simplest definition a volunteer is someone who freely, without any legal obligation, chooses to act in recognition of a need. In Mark 10:45 we read “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

What Is That In Your Hand?

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 21, 2008

It was only with a shepherd’s staff that Moses parted the waters of a great sea, that he commanded natural disasters and demanded water from a rock. It was in the great lesson of a simple stick that when anything is given to God it wields mighty power!

“What is that in Your Hand?” Exodus 3:16-4:2a It happened several times a week, almost without fail. Whether they lined up against the wall of the gymnasium, the local ice rink or the snow bank for the back-roads hockey, it was always the same. The leaders picked him last. Last for basketball ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

Trusts In The Lord

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 5, 2009

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. By God’s grace, we experience His provision and constant help.

The prophet Jeremiah uses two contrasting pictures here to encourage us. • He paints for us two pictures that are very different – a dried up bush and an ever-green tree. • Jeremiah is contrasting two different types of people - "the one who trusts in man" (v.5), who he says will be like a bush in ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Advent Readings 2009

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Nov 17, 2009

Ready - Paste, print, your done. 5 readings - 4 sundays, 1 Christmas Eve. Based on John chapter 1 and 1john 1-5. May Jesus bless you this Christmas season.

First Sunday Of Advent - The Light And The Darkness Read Scripture: John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Obedience & Love

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 3, 2009

Just as God wanted to prepare the people from whom the Savior of the world was to come and they were to live as a distinct people until His coming. He desires that in us even today ~ His blood bought children, before His second coming.

Opening illustration: [Sultan Q__s disguises himself as an ordinary man and walks into a hospital] Introduction: We must think of the children of Israel camping in the meadow by the Jordan, looking across at the hills of the Promised Land; and must think of Moses, now a hundred and twenty years ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Maturing Prayer

Contributed by John Eldridge on Feb 6, 2009

Prayer provides the opportunity for us to have conversations with God that will transform our lives. We must increase our prayer lives: individually and corporately if we want to obtain the promises that God has made us. We will be intentional about

Maturing Prayer Kitten Prayer - The story is told of a young girl who was saying her bedtime prayers while her parents knelt beside her. “Dear God, bless Mommy and Daddy and my little brother, Tommy. God, I would really like a pony, but if You can’t get me a pony, a kitten would do. Amen.” Get ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-16

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Prepare The Way

Contributed by Gregory Mc Donald on Dec 5, 2008

Many times we have those days when we are really busy,and we get over whelmed with large quantities of mail. Then we have to sit down and sort this mail out, and because we are so busy we go through and throw out what we think is junk mail or mail that

Prepare The Way Luke 3:1 6 How do you sort your mail ? Many times we have those days when we are really busy,and we get over whelmed with large quantities of mail. Then we have to sit down and sort this mail out, and because we are so busy we go through and throw out what we think is junk ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Action And Reaction

Contributed by Lew Slade on Dec 22, 2008

Why is it that we so often look for the negative in situations and fall back on fault-finding and grumbling?

Action and Reaction I am not a scientist by any stretch of the imagination but I have, for some unknown reason, always remembered since my school-going days Sir Isaacs Newton’s third law of motion. I know that all of you are thoroughly familiar with it – but just in case you’ve momentarily ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-51

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Economic Preparation .

Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Jan 13, 2009

❶ Dismal News ❷ Sad News ❸ Reflective News ❹ Biblical News ❺ Action News

❶ Dismal News - Labor Department – In Nov. 533,000 jobs were lost – the most in any month since 1974. - (Reuters Jan 7) - If the US Congress does not pass an economic stimulus plan soon the country will lose another 3 million jobs in 2009 - US News & World Report 1/7/09 - US government ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:6-12

Denomination: Baptist

God Is My Help

Contributed by Christian Cheong on May 15, 2009

God, the Maker of heaven and earth, is our Source of help, and He is fully capable of helping us. What we need is to turn to Him and seek Him. Are you willing to?

We all need help in life. We all need God’s help in life. • Not everyone knows they needed help, like those who are sick but not knowing it. • They need the doctor to do some tests and tell them what is wrong with them. • But there are also those who do not want help. They feel that they are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Auto Focus Or Out Of Focus

Contributed by Jofrey Bustamante on Oct 7, 2009

To have a life that is auto focus on God, we need to have our Devotion and Duty in perfect balance.

Luke 10:38 As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Luke 10:39 She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk. Luke 10:40 But Martha was upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Qualities Of A Godly Man Or Woman Series

Contributed by Patrick O'loughlin on Jun 22, 2009

A study of the qualities of a godly person as seem in those who ministered with Paul.

Text Colossians 4:7-18 Title: Father’s Day Message (Qualities of a Godly Man) Introduction: In Col. 4:7-18 Paul mentions the names of nine men who were co-laborers with him in the work of the Gospel. I will break it down like this: Of the 9 men who were co-laborers with Paul we are going to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:7-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The First Message Of Paul Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Mar 1, 2013

IN THIS PASSAGE WE FIND PAUL AND BARNABAS WITH THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY THEIR IN CYPRUS. PAUL AND BARNABAS ENTER THE SYNAGOGUE AND AWAIT THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY. AFTER THE READING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES, THEY ARE ASKED IF

THE FIRST MESSAGE OF PAUL Acts 13:13-43 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:13-43

Denomination: Baptist

God Is A Loving And Forgiving Father

Contributed by William Baeta on Mar 9, 2013

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” Luke 15:20.

Theme: God is a loving and forgiving Father Text: Josh. 5:9-12; 2 Cor. 5:16-21; Lk. 15:11-32 We have no problem believing that God is love, yet at the same time we doubt God’s love. Today’s story from the gospel is all about the Fathers love. When the father saw his rebellious son ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Women & Wives Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Dec 13, 2012

The Book of Proverbs places the responsibility for guiding the home according to the wisdom of God not only on the husband but also on the wife. A good wife makes the home a haven where development & devotion occur.

WOMEN & WIVES PROVERBS 19:13-14 The Book of Proverbs places the responsibility for guiding the home according to the wisdom of God not only on the husband but also on the wife. A good wife makes the home a haven where development and devotion occur. How good it is to have a loyal, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:13-14

Denomination: Baptist