Sermons on Empty Seat:

Fullness And Freedom Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on May 29, 2022

Fullness is found only in Jesus!

Above All: A Study of Colossians Colossians 2:8-15 Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 05-29-2022 More In Mississippi, I used to drive over to a friend’s church on my lunch break and sit in his auditorium. They had worship music quietly playing and it was a place of peace in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:8-15

Denomination: Baptist

A Litmus Test Of Spiritual Well-Beng

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Mar 5, 2022

Using the analogy of a litmus test, this sermon juxtaposes the traits of arrogance over against the traits that reflect the DNA of love. It explores the inclusion of 1 Corinthians 13 sandwiched between chapters 12 and 14.

“Litmus test” is a process used to determine the nature of something. In the 14th century scientists discovered that litmus, a mixture of colored organic compounds obtained from lichen, turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions and, thus, can be used as an acid-base indicator. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-3, 1 John 4:7-10, Matthew 22:36, John 1:12-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seeking God's Face Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The heart of depression is when God's face is hidden, and the heart of joy is when God's face is shining upon you.

I heard a pastor tell of his experience on a plane. The stewardess was explaining that the parents were to be sure and put on their oxygen mask before they put them on their children. This seemed so selfish, and there was a natural resistance to the idea. It went against the grain of a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:11-22

Good Out Of Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The key to being an optimist is having the patience to wait and see what God will do with your negative experience. We so often jump to the conclusion that bad stuff is just that, and that alone.

Luther Burbank, the world famous scientist, worked for years to try and develop a black-petaled lily. He had several thousand experimental lily plants in his laboratory. A sudden cloudburst let loose a flood of rain that they were all washed away. William Stidger tells of sympathizing with ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

The Paradox Of Pleasure Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 21, 2021

The paradox of pleasure is that the pursuit of pleasure can lead you to the pit of hell, or to the pinnacle of heaven. It is life's most dangerous or delightful path to travel.

Alexander Selkirk was one of those men who always had to learn the hard way. The records of his church in Scotland show that he was disciplined several times for causing trouble in the church. In May of 1703 he said good-bye to all that, and at age 27 went off to sea. He tried to run things on ...read more

Scripture: Esther 2:1-4

The Missing Ingredient Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 25, 2021

The Biblical ideal of godliness is, in both the Old and New Testament, a life of joy.

Edna Ferber makes a character in one of her novels say, "I like people with a splash of splendor in their makeup." Many people would be surprised to know that this is what should characterize every believer in Jesus. The world often gets a perverted concept of Christ just because ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11

Logic, History, Mathematics, And Science: Investigating Truth Claims Of The Christian Faith

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

So today I'd like to build a case. Let's see how we can approach the truth claims of Christianity from an interdisciplinary approach.

So today I'd like to build a case. Let's see how we can approach the truth claims of Christianity from an interdisciplinary approach. I like to look at Christianity from several different angles. Those angles are logic (specifically logical fallacies), history (tests for historicity), ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:25-27, 1 Timothy 1:10

Denomination: Salvation Army

Last Words To Titus Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Mar 28, 2021

Paul gives Titus his last words on the false teachers, divisive people in the church, his ministry team, and faithful friends.

Last Words to Titus Titus 3:9-15 Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 03-28-2021 Forest I love the way that Forrest Gump told stories. As he experienced the fantastic events, he would describe them so matter of fact that people thought he was making things up. But when he came to the ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:9-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Second Body Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 30, 2021

Everything made by man is doomed. Only the God-made body, and the God-redeemed world can be the focus of the Christian hope. That is why Paul groaned and longed to be clothed with the heavenly body God had for him.

Most of us could tell true stories of our forgetfulness that allowed us to put a book, a casserole, or some other object on the top of our car, and then get in and drive off. Some of these stories will have sadder endings than others, but it is not likely any of our stories could match that of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

The Illusions Of Modern Society And The Gospel

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 30, 2021

Let's look at the illusions and presuppositions within the culture around us, and ourselves. Then we'll look at the cultural progression, media movements, and the gospel's power to transform cultures.

"If we as Christians do not speak out as authoritarian governments grow from within or come from outside, eventually we or our children will be the enemy of society and the state. No truly authoritarian government can tolerate those who have a real absolute by which to judge its arbitrary ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:19-23

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Lion And The Lamb Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

A look at the paradoxical qualities of Jesus - baby and Savior, Lion and Lamb, etc.

Superman. What’s not to like about him? The man of Steel! No one can beat Superman – unless they have Kryptonite. But, without that, he’s all steel. And we like that about Superman, but there’s something else about Superman we like – Clark Kent. We like that he can also be that dorky, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:5-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Can God Be Good? Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Mar 31, 2021

First in a series based on questions that we received from people in the Church. This message deals with the question of the morality suffering

Question to be asked: I’m a bit confused. Why does everyone just say that God is good and ignore some of things He seems to approve? He lets evil and suffering go on in the world. He ordered a lot of people to be killed. And then there’s the whole concept of hell. Why would a God who is good ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Good Out Of Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Paul never dreamed that his days in prison would be days God would use him to let his light shine through all of history because of the epistles he would write there. We should pray, "Lord this is a bad day I am having, what good can you help me make of it for your glory?"

Luther Burbank, the world famous scientist, worked for years to try and develop a black-petaled lily. He had several thousand experimental lily plants in his laboratory. A sudden cloudburst let loose a flood of rain that they were all washed away. William Stidger tells of sympathizing with him ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

A Theology Of Problems Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 3, 2021

History began with a problem. Problems are more universal than sin, for Jesus had no sin but He had problems. Even before sin, Adam and Eve had a problem. Their problem was, should I obey God or not?

A woman who wanted her apartment painted while she was out of town was very fussy. She insisted that the ceiling be painted the exact shade of her ash tray. The painters after trying to mix this exact shade unsuccessfully finally hit upon a solution to their problem. They painted the ash ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-4

Hope Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

How can you tell if a Christian is exercising this living hope? They will be expecting good to come out of all circumstances. They will be focusing on the best and not the worst. They will seeking for ways to do instead of grumbling about what can't be done.

Billy Graham in his book Hope For The Troubled Heart tells the story of the lone survivor of a shipwreck who was marooned on an uninhabited island. He managed to build a hut in which he put everything he had saved from the wreck. He prayed to God for rescue as he daily scanned the horizon for a ...read more