Sermons on Divine Purpose:

This Thorny Thicket Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 20, 2008

For Martin Luther King Day. The words we offer fall into the thorny thicket of anxiety, despair, and distraction. Like King with his dream, we the church can give hands and feet to help those so captured.

Our back yard is a thorny thicket. Other people have manicured lawns, with friendly plants laid out in neat rows. But our back yard is a tangled thorny thicket. Along one fence there are blackberries, growing in long canes that have to be tied up lest they wander into the next county. They ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:13-20

Denomination: Baptist

Marriage, What It Is And What It Ain't Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Jan 21, 2008

A look at what defines what marriage is

Last week we began our Growing Great Families with the message “Sex, God’s Wedding gift” and I talked about how in God’s perfect plan sex was reserved for within marriage. Now most people know what sex is, perhaps with the exception of Bill Clinton. With that in mind it would only be fair to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:2-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Seasons Of Life (Part 2 - The Middle Years) Series

Contributed by W F on Jan 10, 2011

What are some of the tests we face in the middle years of life and how ought we navigate them to the glory of God?

INTRODUCTION Our growth (physically, intellectually, spiritually etc), up to the age of about 25 can be likened to drinking from a fire hydrant. We get twelve years of formal education, maybe some tertiary study or an apprenticeship, and then there’s all the life experiences we get outside that. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-27

Denomination: *other

The Price Of Disobedience

Contributed by Donnie De Loney on Jan 14, 2011

David and his time in Ziklag. How he moved out of touch with God and then realizes his mistake and leaves the enemy terriroty.

The Price of Disobedience I Samuel 27-30 Illustration – Once upon a time the devil decided to have a garage sale. He did it because he wanted to clear out some of his old tools to make room for new ones. After he set up his wares, a fellow dropped by to see what he had. Arrayed on a ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Predict: If You Tithe, God Will Bless You Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 17, 2011

When the master gave money to his servants, he expected them to invest what he’d given so that he’d have a return on his investment when he returned. Do we think of our tithe as an "investment opportunity" or simply as a chore to be fulfilled?

OPEN: His name was Timothy Dexter and he was born in Massachusetts in 1747. At the age of 20 he took his life savings – a grand total of $9 – and moved to Newburyport, MA where he met and married a wealthy 31 year old widow. Fancying himself to be a shrewd businessman, he used his wife’s money to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Serving Jesus Series

Contributed by Mark Elkins on Jan 27, 2011

Why should I serve Jesus?

SERVING IS BEING SET FREE 1 Jn 2:3-6 Keeping our eye on Jesus, obeying, serving Him will keep us clean. It will keep us from sinning. Our mission statement is: “Loving Jesus, Loving Others, and Serving Both. Repeat that with me. This is why we are here. We, at New Heights, are in ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6

Denomination: Baptist

Dimly Seeing God's Glory Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jan 27, 2011

In our study tonight Jesus is drawing to a close His teaching for His disciples. The hour is at hand and His arrest is in the very near future! The disciples have a sense that something is going on, but their spiritual perception is dim and limited.

31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." 33 Peter said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death." 34 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-38

Denomination: Baptist

Living Like There's No Tomorrow Series

Contributed by David Owens on Feb 7, 2011

This sermon addresses the need to live with a sense of urgency in light of the coming of Christ. We want to be found faithfully living and serving when Christ returns. I relied heavily on "Living With a Sense of Urgency," Sermon by Joey Nelson, SermonCe

Introduction: A. It’s Super Bowl Weekend, so I thought I might start with a Super Bowl riddle. 1. Question: How many Buffalo Bills does it take to win a Super Bowl? 2. Answer: No one knows, and we may never find out! 3. If you are a football fan then you know that the Bills went to four ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Apostolic Authority Series

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Feb 12, 2011

Paul is talking about the way some people questioned the way himself and other men of God were being paid by the Church. Questioning about administration is something natural.

1 Corinthians 9:1-9 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

A New Community Of Peace Series

Contributed by David Welch on Feb 14, 2011

14th in the series dealing with the establishment of God's new community of followers.

“A New Community of Peace” Eph 2:11-22 I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-4 A. Paul blessed God for blessing us with every spiritual blessing 1:3-14 B. Paul prayed for their enlightenment 1:15-23 C. Paul detailed our resurrected life in Christ 2:1-10 D. Paul declared our awesome acceptance and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-21

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

New Community Of Peace Part Two Series

Contributed by David Welch on Feb 14, 2011

15th in the series continuing the theme from 14 on the establishement of God's new community.

“A New Community of Peace” Eph 2:11-22 I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-4 A. Paul blessed God for blessing us with every spiritual blessing 1:3-14 B. Paul prayed for their enlightenment 1:15-23 C. Paul detailed our resurrected life in Christ 2:1-10 D. Paul declared our awesome acceptance and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Curing Church Conflict-1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Feb 21, 2011

1 of 3. James revealed the solution for conflict within the local church body. There is a known cure for conflict within the local church. But how is it challenged ? The cure for church conflict is challenged by....

CURING CHURCH CONFLICT—I—James 4:1-17 Attention: *Our own behaviors can circumvent the very cure we need. Need: The tensions in my church are are obvious. As soon as you step on the property you know it. Visitors sense it. The community talks about it. Everybody hates it. We’re losing ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Meaning Of Love

Contributed by J.d. Tutell on Feb 25, 2011

A look at what love is and is not in the context of the church in Corinth.

Today we are going to be talking about one of the most well known passages in the Bible that deals with love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Worry, Be Sustained Series

Contributed by Monty Newton on Feb 26, 2011

We make Christ known when our faith comes to life in our experiences and we learn to trust GOd in and for all things, i.e., we make Christ known by the way we respond to our adversities.

Title: Don’t Worry, Be Sustained Text: Matthew 6:24-34 Thesis: We make Christ known when our faith comes to life in our experiences and we learn to trust God in and for all things. (We make Christ known by the way we respond to our adversities…) Epiphany Series: Encountering Christ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Avoiding Spiritual Near-Sightedness That Leads Us To Do Evil In God's Name

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 4, 2011

The chief priests were meticulous in making sure the "blood money" didn't go into the treasury while they were actively working on a murder. What are ways we see the small things while missing the big picture?

Diagnosing Spiritual Near-Sightedness: There is a “spiritual eye condition” that allows people to see small things clearly while being blind to big things. - Matthew 27:6. - References in Matthew to clear “eyes”: Matthew 6:22-23, 7:3-5, 13:15-16. - We are going to go ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:1-10

Denomination: Baptist