Sermons on Disciple Training:

How Not To Pray

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 27, 2005

Brief Message w/ good illustrations...In answering the disciples request "Teach Us To Pray", Jesus told them how NOT to pray: Don’t Pray HAZY, Don’t Pray CRAZY, and Don’t Pray LAZY. Powerpoint at website.

How Not to Pray Mt. 6:5-13 Powerpoint for this and hundreds more free sermons at our website: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons.html "The proper way for man to pray," said Deacon Lemuel Keyes; "The only proper attitude is down upon his knees." "Nay, I should say the way to pray," said Reverend ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

Denomination: Baptist

Messages From Our Resurrected Lord Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 22, 2005

Expository sermon concerning messages Jesus spoke to His disciples: (1)Peace be with you (2)I am sending you (3)Stop doubting and believe. Used video clip from "The Inn of Sixth Happiness" to illustrate being sent.

Messages from our Resurrected Lord Fortifying the Foundation # 45 John 20:19-31[1] 8-29-04 Come with me this morning to a small house in the city of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. The sun is setting as the first Easter day is coming to a close[2]. Some of Jesus’ closest followers have huddled ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, John 19:21

Denomination: Charismatic

Taking The Pleasant With The Unpleasant

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? NO there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me. Even though many disciples relished the privilege to preach in the name of Jesus, persecution caused many to quit. They thrived on the

1. Why do you think some people grow tired of their jobs? Every job has its so called good and bad points. Yet, some aspects of service are not always considered as pleasant but nevertheless are necessary. Jesus said, "If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Woman Desperately In Love With God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 17, 2008

The incident of the Widow’s mite took place during Jesus last week in Jerusalem. He had few opportunities to reinforce the teachings He felt were most critical for His disciples. So why use this woman as His object lesson?

TEXT: Luke 20:45-21:4 TITLE: Desperately In Love With God OPEN: Several years ago, I read the story of an 87 year old woman named Oselola McCarty. She had spent her life working 12 hour days doing other people’s laundry. That’s why people were amazed when she generously donated $150,000 to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Symbols Of Disparity Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 21, 2008

Jesus was trying to teach the disciples something about humility and service when He used the basin and towel. Whereas Judas Iscariot Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver – money was his downfall. And to this very day, people betray Jesus for m

Illustration: There was a boy who was very popular among others his age. He was an excellent leader in his school groups. One of his friends visited him and saw a homemade plaque in his room with the words "I Am Third" on it. His friend asked him what it meant and he replied, "It is the motto I try ...read more

Scripture: John 13:3-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus' Most Trivial Miracle Series

Contributed by David Smith on Aug 7, 2009

After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). A large crowd kept following him because they had seen the signs that he was performing on the sick. But Jesus went up on a hillside and sat down there with his disciples.

A wise person once told me that what you see in life depends on what you are looking at, and that what you hear depends on who you listen to, just as the answers you get depend largely on the questions you ask. Now I do apologize for beginning my sermon with such a ponderous set of philosophical ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

What Will It Take?

Contributed by Beth Garrod-Logsdon on Apr 28, 2009

The disciples were confused and didn’t really believe the resurrection. Yet in each gospel account Christ gave them proof so they could believe. What proof do we need to really believe what we say we believe?

What Will It Take? Luke 24:13-49 Easter 3B “Forget what you learned in elementary school--the earth is flat as a pancake. All that stuff about the earth being round and the sun being the center of the universe is a big joke,” insisted C.K. Johnson in a 1979 interview. Mr. Johnson was president ...read more

Scripture: John 24:13-49

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Choosing The Path Of Most Resistance Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jun 18, 2009

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never bee

I’m sure we all know the joke about how many social workers it takes to change a light bulb. It only takes one, of course, but the light bulb has got to want to change. I think it was social workers that were the target of that joke, but it could equally well have been psychotherapists, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Opposition From Within Series

Contributed by Phillip Day on Jan 10, 2007

In the first two chapters of this letter, Paul has encouraged and discipled Timothy in order to prepare him for what he says in Chapter 3. With the knowledge of mercy and peace God gives us and with a great work ethic, Timothy (like us) could be prepared

Opposition from Within 2 Timothy 3:1-9 I. Their Characteristics (v. 2-5) a. Selfish (v. 2; Luke 9:23) b. Negative view of others (v. 3; Romans 13:8-10) c. Dangerous (v. 4; Philippians 2:3) d. Spiritual counterfeits (v. 5; Jude 4; Matthew 7:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:6) II. Their Converts (v. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

From Bethany To Pentecost

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 21, 2007

At the time of our text, the disciples had been on quite an emotional roller coaster ride. They had within the past few weeks witnessed their leader Jesus Christ open the blind eyes, and perform other miracles. They were then with Him when He went to the

Text: Luke 24:44-53 (NASB) 44Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:44-53

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Unexpected Jesus

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Mar 25, 2013

What do you expect from Jesus? The people, disciples, and the religious leaders had some very specific expectations of Jesus on Palm Sunday. He shattered all of them, just as He shatters our expectations as well. And that's a good thing!

John 12:1-2, 9-19 Jesus performed an incredible miracle in raising Lazarus. It made huge waves. It wasn’t the first person Jesus raised, but it was the first who had been raised after the Jewish belief that the soul had left the body. According to the Talmud (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-44

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

You Need A Long ‘exposure’ To Jesus

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 29, 2012

Think camera shutter speeds: the longer they're open, the more light gets in. Corollary: the longer your 'exposure' to Jesus, the more concrete His Image will be on the photographic film of your soul. The 3 disciples who viewed the Transfiguration needed

YOU NEED A LONG ‘EXPOSURE’ TO JESUS Lk. 9:28-36 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Two friends ran into each other. One was so down and miserable that the other said, "What's wrong, brother?" 2. "I'll tell you what's wrong. Three weeks ago my uncle died and left me $40,000. Then two weeks ago ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Servant Or Celebrity? Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 1, 2007

What were the disciples arguing about? Who would get to wash the others feet? Who would clean the ancient toilets? No, they were arguing over who would be the greatest. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Servant or Celebrity? Matthew 18:1-10 http://gbcdecatur.org.sermons/ServantCelebrity.html The church is people, and so it is natural that most problems in the church are between people. And most problems involving people are the result of one of these 3 things: miscommunication, wounded pride, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Confusion..... Love.....peace..... Faith......

Contributed by Randy Stephenson on Apr 27, 2014

The followers of Yeshua HaMashiach experienced confusion following His arrest,trial,crucifixion.How could disciples hiding in fear be about God's service? God has entered into our hardened human hearts, Yeshua brought evidence to his chosen.

CONFUSION..... LOVE.....PEACE..... FAITH...... Over the years, my heart has been callous. I had Confusion, what I did not have was Love, Peace, and Faith. Maybe you have shared this kind of lifestyle with me. Maybe you had a similar experience. I do not feel that differently from other people. ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: United Methodist

"Let Me Show You The Door" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Aug 14, 2014

There are 3 requirements for the person who sits near the exit door on a plane. (1) you must understand the instructions. (2) you must be able to pint people to the door. (3) you must be able to guide them through the door. Same for a disciple.

“Let me Show you the Door” 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 If you have ever flown in an airplane and I am sure most of us have, then you know that one of the things they do is have the flight attendants give a few basic instructions. I don’t really fly that often but I will admit that when ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Denomination: Baptist