Sermons on Detour:

Faith's Lifestyle

Contributed by Mark Roper on Nov 27, 2007

Christian influence is no small matter.

FAITH’S LIFESTYLE James 2:14-18 KJV One sunny Sunday morning, Henry Jones awoke to find his wife standing over him, shaking him by the shoulder. "You have to get up," she urged. "We have to get ready for church." "I don’t want to go to church," he replied. "I want to stay in bed." Crossing her ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14

Denomination: Church Of God

The Father's Concern For The Wayward Christian

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Dec 10, 2007

Message about the fact that Jesus looking for the lost sheep.

The Father’s Concern for the Wayward Christian Matthew 18:12-14 June 17, 2007 I think all of us can remember a time when we’ve strayed from God. Maybe it wasn’t as blatant or drastic as it was for others, but we know that at times we’ve said, “No thanks” to Jesus and decided that our way was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:12-14

Denomination: Wesleyan

How To Make It To Friday

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on May 29, 2007

Facing troubles and tests in our daily walk drains our energy. We wonder if we can even make it to Friday. Three things from I Peter show us how to get there.

May, 2007 How to Make it to Friday I Peter 1:17-23 INTRODUCTION: In this scripture Peter is writing to Jewish Christians who were driven out of Jerusalem and scattered throughout Asia Minor and to all believers everywhere. This writing took place as Christians were being tortured and killed for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17-23

Denomination: Methodist

Easy As Falling Off Your Horse

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jun 3, 2007

We, like Paul, as followers of Christ, Christians, are sent to the Gentiles of our time: secular humanists, moral relativists, materialists, even atheists, to open their eyes, like Saul’s were opened by Ananias, so they may turn from darkness to light.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today we celebrate the Apostle Paul’s conversion. As Saul Paulus of Tarsus, he was a rising star in the rabbinical leadership of the time. When Saint Stephen was stoned to death as the first Christian martyr, Paul stood by, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Time Of Testing Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 2, 2007

Some scholars have said that Hezekiah started out good and then went bad. I think that’s a short sighted description of a man who was not that much different than we are.

OPEN: A man spoke of one of the most challenging courses he’d had at his college as being a business law class in which the professor gave difficult true/false tests. "During one of the more exasperating exams, I noticed another student flipping a coin. The professor approached him. ’Son are you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 32:24-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fired Up, Or Fizzled Out?

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 19, 2007

Satan has no problem with a church that has smoke going up the chimney, as long as there’s no fire in the furnace. If the church isn’t careful, its ministry can become mere methods and mechanics, performed legalistically, without love for Christ.

FIRED UP, OR FIZZLED OUT? Text: Rev.2: 4 Intro: In the first seven verses of Revelation chapter two, the resurrected Christ, via the Apostle John, writes a letter to the church of Ephesus. At the time this letter was penned, the church of Ephesus was a thriving body of believers. Times were ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:4

Denomination: Baptist

The Chain Reaction Of Hope

Contributed by Ben Mandrell on Apr 7, 2008

An expositional nessage on Romans 5:1-5 which concluded with the Lord’s Supper.

The Chain Reaction of Hope Englewood Baptist Church Sunday morning, April 6, 2008 Recently, I went to Webster’s Dictionary online and typed in the following words: chain reaction. This is one definition provided: Chain Reaction: a number of events triggered by the same initial event. So, in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Salt And Light Series

Contributed by Greg Carr on Apr 17, 2008

God is not just pleased when a church has large numbers in attendance, God is pleased when a church, regardless of it’s size is being the salt and the light in the community.

PRAY Father, thank you for giving us Your Word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway. It is through Your holy word that we find the truth. Teach us to live by Your truth every day. Help us not to detour from Your precepts. Lord God and Father, open our eyes so we can see ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Impacting Our City--On Mission With Jesus (Part Iii)

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Apr 20, 2008

This sermon examines the process of impacting a city for Jesus Christ.

What an exciting concept, to be on mission with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the creator of the universe. It is exciting to think that I can join Him in His work. Jesus is on a mission. Jesus mission in life is to influence people to have a life changing encounter with God. He came to bring people into a ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-39

Denomination: Baptist

Living God's Plan

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Dec 10, 2006

God has a plan for the life of each of us just as He had a plan for Zacharias, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist.

Text: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways” (Luke 1:76). God had a plan for the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Zacharias was a priest of the division of Abijah (one of the 24 sections of priests) and Elizabeth ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:68-79

Denomination: Christian Church

Come And Be Warriors For Christ Series

Contributed by Bruce Landry on Dec 18, 2006

As a Christian you are being enlisted to do the following… be strong…but how? in the Lord’s power in the Lord’s might We are called to be strong in the sovereign unlimited power of the Lord—in the power of His might—in His ability to use His power

Come and Be God’s Warrior Called to be Warriors for Christ Called to Suit up for Battle Called to wear our Armor always It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Blues

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Oct 17, 2006

You can be a "victor" instead of a "victim" in the face of persecution or mistreatment.

Text: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake” (Matthew 5:11). Jesus tells us to rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted. That is kind of strange. Why should we be happy when we are being hurt or wronged or mistreated or ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

In The Valley Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Oct 18, 2006

God’s presence when life takes us in the valley

September 3, 2006 Psalm 23:1-6 In the Valley A couple of years ago, a church in Seattle, Washington was having a big kick-off Sunday. It was the weekend after Labor Day and they wanted to do something for their children’s programs. So they brought in Barney the Dinosaur. They learned, Kids ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Ask.. Seek.. And Knock Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Jul 28, 2003

Within this command to pray I think we can see five general principles about prayer.

“Ask, … Seek … And Knock” Matt 7:7-11 There is nothing that reveals more about a believer than his or her prayer life. How that individual approaches God and what that individual is willing to ask for reveals how he or she views God. We frame our requests in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

#10 -- Opposition Series

Contributed by Derek Melanson on Nov 17, 2006

As followers of Jesus, we should expect to face opposition, but we can trust that God has "cut the cords of the wicked."

Introduction Pastor Eugene Peterson tells a story from his childhood—a story about having to deal with enemies. For him it came in the form a school bully who beat him up every day after school. It seemed no matter how young Eugene tried to avoid him—in the forms of alternate routes and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 129:1-8

Denomination: Baptist