Sermons on Discretionary Power:

The Strength Of Being Tender ~ Gentleness Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Nov 13, 2008

Gentleness is the character that will show humility, calmness, personal care, tenderness and the Love of Christ in meeting the needs of others. It is to be more than just a personality; it is to be who we are from the work of the Spirit within us.

Opening illustration: There is a story of a corporal at Valley Forge who was directing three men as they tried to lift a log into place. It was too heavy, but the corporal commanded again and again, “All right, men, one, two, three, lift!” A man in an overcoat came by and said to the corporal, ‘Why ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Confessions Of A Misguided Innovator

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Nov 17, 2008

A tendency to rebel against authority, an exaggerated desire to win the approval of others, and a skewed definition of what it means to be successful; these deadly ingredients combined to create the misadventures of my life and ministry so far.

Dakota Community Church November 16, 2008 (pm) Confessions of a Misguided Innovator Begin by reading Ephesians 4:1-16 Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Mennonite

Un:expected Series

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Nov 19, 2008

Part 1 of "Christmas UN:wrapped" When God calls us to the unexpected we can respond with fear and doubt or we can trust and obey.

THE POINT: When God calls us to the unexpected we can respond with fear and doubt or we can trust and obey. ME I don’t know about you, but I LOVE CHRISTMAS… I love the Christmas season, I love the sights, the sounds, the smells associated with Christmas… I hate winter and I hate snow…except ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Wesleyan

God, Are You Really Fair? Series

Contributed by Mark Nichols on Sep 27, 2008

When we face difficult times in our lives, we will look around at others who aren’t suffering and ask: God, are you REALY fair?

TEXT: Habakkuk 1:12-2:5 TITLE: God, Are You Really Fair? SERIES: Questions We Ask God TOPIC: Trusting in God OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, September 14, 2008 PROP.: When we face difficult times in our lives, we will look around at others who aren’t suffering and ask: God, are you ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Salvation Panic

Contributed by Paul Searight on Oct 1, 2008

How doctrines of election and predestination relate to our chosing God, Him choosing us and crucially the surety of our salvation.

Salvation Panic When Andy emailed me last month to say that the theme was ‘Chosen from Eternity’ I replied saying that we would need to open the question of predestination. Now predestination isn’t in itself a problem – the idea that God foretold who would be saved and who would not before he even ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Missing The Party

Contributed by Gerald Albers on Oct 1, 2008

I would like us to study the parable of the prodigal son considering our own relationship with God, centering our lives on Jesus, and having intimacy with the Father. Oftentimes, our anger and refusal to "join the party," as it were, causes us to miss muc

MISSING THE PARTY Luke 15:25-32 ________________________________________ On New Year’s Day 1963, USC played Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. The Wisconsin quarterback, Ron VanderKelen, was one of the all-time great college quarterbacks. I was fourteen years old at the time, and our family was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Cracked Pots

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

small army . . . big TRUTH!

“300” Pt. 3 – Cracked Pots I have been drawing your attention to the now infamous battle for Thermopylae where the 300 Spartans held off over 20,000 Persian hordes for 4 days while inflicting heavy casualties upon the Persians. Of course, if you read your history book or watch the movie you also ...read more

Scripture: Judges 7:7-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Protect Your Nest Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

Your wallet reveals what is important in your life. What is in your wallet?

What’s In Your Wallet? Part 2 – Protect Your Nest! What’s in your wallet? I mentioned last week that a wallet is more than just an accessory or fashion statement. Because in them you discover what is most important or dear to a person. We tend to put our most valuable things in our wallet. So ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-2

Denomination: Pentecostal

Tcb (Taking Care Of Business) - Pt. 3 - Sickness And Glory

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

Elvis put it on everything . . . rings, necklaces, even his jet. It was more than the name of his band, it was his slogan. TCB is more than a slogan for us. It is our misson. This examination of our daily duties as priests will help you TCB!

TCB Pt. 1 Elvis was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948. Over the course of his career, Elvis, He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 13:7-30

Denomination: Pentecostal

Impact And Impotence Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Oct 2, 2008

A changed heart doesn’t guarantee that you will change the world.

If you’re like me you’ve been keeping up with the federal government’s attempt to bailout failing housing and financial markets this week. I found an article from Reuters in which the blame for this economic slump has been traced to a decline in Christian influence in our nation. DALLAS ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Respect Life Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 2, 2008

A look at the 6th commandment, "You shall not murder," with the practical implications of what it means to maintain healthy relationships in a healthy society through respect for all human life.

Respect Life (Exodus 20:13) An attorney was speaking to a woman who had just lost her husband. He said to her, “Your husband did not leave a will, so we need to know the last words he ever said to you.” She replied, “I don’t want to tell you.” The attorney said, “Look, he did not leave a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:13

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Working Out Your Salvation

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Oct 5, 2008

Some folks think we have to work for our salvation. Maybe we’re saved by grace, but we stay saved by our works. Big mistake.

Sermon for CATM – October 5, 2008 – “Working Out Your Salvation” Last week Pastor Bill Ryan did a splendid job of helping us understand the first 11 verses of chapter two of Philippians. I was thrilled actually, because Bill really did an amazing job…superb theology and superb application…making ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Jesus Drank And I Don't

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 12, 2008

We know Jesus drank wine but is that a reason or excuse for social drinking?

Why Jesus Drank and I don’t In 1983 I witnessed a disaster of a wedding. Angela and I were standing up with another couple that we had gone to Bible College with and it was like the pastor just didn’t care. He dropped papers, fumbled through his readings and forgot names. It was horrendous. And ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Abraham Factor Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 13, 2008

God did more than start a "religion" with Abraham. He started a "relationship" - a relationship that models what God desires to do in our lives.

OPEN: A third grader once wrote a homework assignment where he was supposed to "Explain God." "One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make grown-ups, just babies. I think because ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Have A Purpose (Part 2) Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 14, 2008

We need to discover our specific SHAPE so that we will know what kinds of service God has ordained for us.

A. The story is told of a little boy named Johnny who had trouble pronouncing the letter “R”. 1. To try to help him with the problem, his teacher gave him this sentence to practice at home: “Robert gave Richard a rap in the rib for roasting the rabbit so rare.” 2. A few days later the teacher ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ