Sermons on Empty Seat:

Rocky - Preparing For The Fight Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 5, 2003

Why did Jesus take His disciples to Caesarea Philippi? Why go to a pagan, idolatrous city to ask His disciples the most important question of His ministry?

OPEN: I read once the story of a young black man in the ghettos. He was fortunate in that he had both of his parents, and they struggled to make ends meet. But for his birthday that year they had scraped together enough money to pay for a brand new bicycle. A few days later someone stole it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Redemption

Contributed by David Swensen on Jun 2, 2003

In spite of the fact that sin ruins relationships, wrecks lives and brings untold pain, misery and regret we can’t seem to overcome it. Our only hope is Christ who can redeem us, setting us free from sin’s penalty and its power in our daily lives.

It was almost 1:00 in the morning when the phone rang. Dr. Leo Winters, the highly acclaimed Chicago surgeon, was abruptly awakened. There had been an accident and his skill hands were needed for immediate surgery. The quickest route happened to be through a rather tough area, but with time ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-10, Ephesians 1:11

Denomination: Baptist

"Not A Sigh But A Song"

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Jan 13, 2003

How to survive disappointment

I. Introduction A. In Paul Harvey’s “For What It’s Worth Department” there was a story about a man named Speedy Morris. Speedy was a basketball coach for LaSalle University. He was shaving one day when his wife called out to tell him he was wanted on the phone by Sports Illustrated. Speedy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28, Psalm 62:5-8

Denomination: United Methodist

We're Stuck!

Contributed by Kenneth Stright on Jan 28, 2003

What happens when the church is ’stuck’? Do we have a word from God to direct us into the future. Explore the state of the church in Laodecia and see if we can’t learn how to be the church today.

Psalm 96: (Sing to the Lord a new song) Revelation 3: 14-19 (poor Laodicea) WE’RE STUCK! As a teenager I often played the old vinyl music albums of the day and, as they got a little worn, they also got stuck – I’d hear the same few words and the same few notes of maddening music over and over ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are You Ready To Listen? Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Jun 9, 2002

In each case the seed is the same, but the soil into which the seed falls is what makes the difference. In this story four different responses are given, along with four different causes and having four distinct results.

A Study of the Book of Luke Sermon # 19 Are You Ready To Listen? Luke 8:1-15 After over twenty years in the ministry there is one thing that I am absolutely convinced of and it is that there variety of listeners in every ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Personal Faith First

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 17, 2007

We cannot expect to help others follow Christ well, if we haven’t learned how to do it ourselves. We must give attention to our own spiritual walk if we are to be effective disciples of Christ.

Personal Faith First Luke 4:38-39 Imagine taking your car to be fixed by someone who has not prepared himself in car repair. Yep, that’s a Chevy! If that person’s car is sitting on blocks and the pieces are strewn about the yard, you might have questions. What is that car all about, an on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:38-39

Denomination: Mennonite

Victory In Jesus

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Apr 12, 2007

Our faith centers upon the fact of the resurrection. Because Jesus has risen from the dead we have victory over sin (past, present, and future) and death.

1. What if Jesus did not rise from the dead? I remember back when I was in seminary I took a philosophy class, and the professor posed a hypothetical situation, he said, “hypothetically speaking, what if someone found the bones of Jesus, and could prove it was his bones beyond a shadow of a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-58

Denomination: Methodist

Spirit Of Christ

Contributed by Robert Cox on Apr 13, 2007

It’s the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead......

Firstly, I want to welcome everyone here this morning. Today is a very special day for Christians, probably THE day that is the single most important to our faith. Yes, all the events in the life of Jesus were important...the conception, the baptism, the ministry, the miracles, and yes, even ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:15-25

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus And The Chief: Courage Series

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Apr 16, 2007

For over 80 years Chief Illiniwek, symbol of the University of Illinois, represented Christian attributes; this is the first of six sermons that examine those attributes based on the Scriptures.

Jesus and the Chief: Courage --Mark 6:45-52 This has been a newsworthy week. On Tuesday, April 10th, it was finally announced that Larry Birkhead is the biological father of Anna Nichole Smith’s baby daughter Dannielynn. Radio-Television shock jock Don Imus’ program “Imus in the Morning” was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:45-52

Denomination: Methodist

The Big Secret Series

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 27, 2007

Honest sincere expression of appreciation is the key to getting along with others.

The Big Secret (of getting along with People) Praise Give Honest Sincere Appreciation 2 Cor. 13:11 Ephesians 4:29 I What do People want or need? I disagree with much of what these men teach, but on this point I think they are correct. Sigmund Freud said everything you and I do springs from ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Denomination: Wesleyan

Heavenly Contract

Contributed by Kenneth Anthony on Jun 10, 2007

Our Lord wants to enter into a heavenly contract with his people. Sermon explores three reqirements of God’s contract along with His reward.

Heavenly Contract - Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30 We all need and use contracts. In the workforce, we use business contracts to make sure that parties are legally bound to perform their end of the bargain. When we purchase a home we take out a contract whereby the seller agrees to sell a ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Gaining The Victorious Life

Contributed by Sam Peters on Jun 14, 2007

Paul saw himself as a winner either way. To live is Christ, to die is gain. How can we gain the victorious life Paul is talking about?

Gaining the Victorious Life As much as I tried to focus on doing a Father’s Day message, the Holy Spirit kept bringing me to this passage for our message this morning. So, I hope you’ll indulge me as I spend time talking about our heavenly Father more than I talk about us dads today? It is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:20-21

Wind In The Sails

Contributed by Ken Alford on Nov 29, 2002

Just as we cannot fly a kite without the wind, our lives cannot be truly spiritual without the Holy Spirit. It makes sense therefore that we apply the following four directives to our lives.

INTRODUCTION: 1. A sundial was given to a group of people who lived in a jungle. To them it was a fetish. They built a house over it to keep it safe and holy. This kept the sun away from it and made it useless. They beautified it but made it without purpose. It reminds us of a powerless ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of The Shrewd Steward Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Dec 10, 2002

This parable gives us three principles for being Shrewd Disciples.

A Study of the Book of Luke Sermon # 42 “Parable of the Shrewd Steward” Luke 16:1-15 A middle-aged man is in trouble with his boss. He has helped himself to his employer funds one time too many and now he is facing the music. In ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Home Baked Happiness- Giving Christmas To Your Family Series

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Sep 13, 2001

Part of the Christmas Wonder PowerPak.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK ILL. It’s Christmas time, & Lucy comes in where Charlie Brown is standing & says, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. `Tis the season of peace on earth & good will toward men. Therefore, I suggest we forget all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14, Luke 2:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ