Sermons on Early And Latter Rain:

Forgive Me

Contributed by Antonio Torrence on May 18, 2003

This sermon is about forgiving our enemies so that we can truly experience love.

"Forgive Me!" by Rev. A. LaMar Torrence, Pastor of the Cross of Life Lutheran Church Luke 6:27-38, John 15:12, 1 John 4:7-21 Once again I find the words of Maya Angelou appropriately for my initial response to today’s divine edict of loving our enemies. In her poem, “Lord in my heart”, she ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-38, 1 John 4:7-21

Denomination: Lutheran

The Praisefest In Jerusalem

Contributed by Abraham Shanklin on May 19, 2003

Without Christ we are just ordinary people, ordinary creation, who don’t experience the extraordinary hand of a living God. Without Christ we are without joy, peace, wisdom, self-control, patience, and the strength to live the life it was meant to be.

The PraiseFest in Jerusalem Scripture References: Luke 19:35 – 40; Matthew 21:8 –11; Mark 11:8 - 10 Introduction The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride. He walked into town and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:35-40, Matthew 21:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Pray For Healing Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 20, 2003

This passage not only gives us some indication of how to pray, but it also helps us determine when we are to pray. There are four distinct times that we’re to come before God. We’re to look to Him…1. When we’re suffering. (13a);2. When we have succes

How to Pray for Healing It’s amazing how many bad things can happen to people. Bill Flick, a columnist for The Pantagraph, compiled some true stories this past week… —In Connecticut, a man driving a stolen car inadvertently stopped a police officer to ask for directions out of the city. —A man ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-16, James 5:17-18, James 5:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Walking With The Lord Series

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on May 20, 2003

This sermon deals with discipleship. It focuses on how walking with Jesus us a choice that we make, "Do you want to be well?" and the requirement of obedience to the commands of God.

When my first girl Clarissa was born, I was about the proudest daddy you had ever seen. Still am. And I must say she was a daddy’s girl. When she said her first word, it was “dada!” I was proud, and I didn’t spend much time teaching her that either. But with walking, that was another story. I ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Methodist

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures

Contributed by Greg Rupley on May 21, 2003

What Would You do to bring someone to Christ? Looks at the full text Luke 5: 17-26 with a call for decision at the end.

Luke 5: 17-26 … “Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures.” Jesus Heals a Paralytic (original except for titles of outline points.) What would you be willing to do for $10,000,000? In their book, The Day America Told the Truth, James Patterson and Peter Kim reveal some shocking statistics ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dead Man Walking

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 26, 2003

There is a kind of death in family life today. Jesus offers unconditional compassion, used His authority to give life, and gives us as gifts to one another.

One sweltering afternoon, on the dirty streets of a dangerous section of New Orleans, a man approached a woman with some papers in his hand. He asked Helen if she would agree to write letters to a man on death row at Angola prison. Helen agreed, rather absent-mindedly. She was used to people ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:11-16

Denomination: Baptist

Exploding Manhole Covers Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 31, 2003

A series of exploding manhole covers in Washington is compared with the series of unexpected and disruptive events in Paul’s life. Surviving becomes a matter of one’s vision of where we have come from and where we are going.

It all started in Georgetown. On M Street, in broad daylight, a manhole cover suddenly exploded into the air, flying six feet straight up and landing with a heavy clatter. There were no injuries, but there were fiery flames, an acrid smell, cars dodging one another, pedestrians pumping ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:19

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Over! Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jun 6, 2003

God is looking forward to your arrival to be with Him. Eternity is your destiny and heaven is your home. Since you are going home, let me tell three things you need to know about going home.

In was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:15, Luke 23:44-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Do You Smell?

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 9, 2003

When you are around others what do you smell like? Do you give off the fragrance of life or the odor of death? Can people smell the fragrance of Jesus in your life or do they smell the vile odor of rotting flesh.

How do you Smell? Thesis: When you are around others what do you smell like? Do you give off the fragrance of life or the odor of death? Can people smell the fragrance of Jesus in your life or do they smell the vile odor of rotting flesh. Intent of message is to encourage the graduates and the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, John 11:38-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Universality Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 11, 2003

Thanks to Constantine’s move, the church gradually began to think of its universality as power rather than as an evangelical mandate. Christ is to be lord of our political life, our cultural life, our everyday life -- every aspect.

Christ is lord of all! What a bold statement! Maybe even an arrogant statement! Lord of all? Do we believe that? It was said of one preacher that “for tender minds he served up half a Christ.” Behind that lie two realities – first, that many of us don’t want the full gospel, we’d rather just ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 1:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Canadian Idols

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Jun 16, 2003

Canadian Idol looks at different idols we worshipping using the television program as the theme.

You may think that the show Canadian Idol had it’s roots in the hit American Idol which debuted last summer on the Fox Network in the US. The truth however is that like many American television shows the concept was first seen in the UK. In this case it was a wildly popular British Program called ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:6-14

Denomination: Wesleyan

Work To Eat Or Eat To Work?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 17, 2003

Why work? Work has meaning as a witness, as a way of focusing our efforts for the Kingdom. Look at the work of Christ, so that you do not lose motivation to work.

Is there anyone here today whose name is Rockefeller? No? Then maybe there is a member of the Kennedy family, other than Mrs. Currie – and I don’t think she is of the Hyannisport Kennedys? No one? Well, let me try someone else – the Sultan of Brunei, possibly the richest person in the world. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Denomination: Baptist

I'm Not Perfect, But ... Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 21, 2003

We justify not being mature by claiming that we are just like everyone else, or that we are at least working on that goal. But our example is Jesus, who gathers up our incompleteness into Himself and shows us the way to mature.

When I first announced the title of this message, “I’m Not Perfect”, somebody was sharp enough to reply, “Yes, we’ve noticed, we’ve noticed.” Well, thanks a heap! Don’t you know by now that when I say something self-deprecating, you are supposed to shower me with compliments and bathe me in ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-10, Hebrews 2:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Men Of Commitment (Father's Day)

Contributed by Cedric Portis on Jun 22, 2003

On a day that should be marked with celebration and honor for the head of families, father’s day in our community has become one of the most confusing days of the year, questions of who is my father to where is my daddy, to step father vs. biological...

Men of Commitment Father’s Day Minster Cedric A. Portis cedque8@cs.com 6/15/03 Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lord Of The Dance

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 25, 2003

There is joy in losing things because ultimately you find them! We, like the elder brother, do not even know what we are missing by not experiencing conversionsn, nor are we in touch with everyday grace. Celebrate! (Congregation invited to sing, severa

The older I get, the more I lose things. I leave a file on that ridiculous garbage heap I call my desk, and two minutes later it has buried itself three layers down. I set my keys on the table to free my hands for something else, and when I turn my back, those keys take flight. It’s amazing. I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Baptist