Sermons on Empty Vessels:

In The Beginning Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on May 1, 2002

In the Beginning, Part 1 of 7.

BEGINNINGS INTRODUCTION The new is as old as the Bible, the more things change the more they remain the same, whatever will be has been and there is nothing new under the sun. People repeat themselves tediously, predictably and laughably. Chapters 1-11 talk about who God is, what He did and why he ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Beware

Contributed by Gerry Pratt on May 29, 2002

When things seem to be going well.....BEWARE....this is exactly the time when satan lulls us into a sense of false security...only to spring his wicked traps.

BEWARE ILLUSTRATION: Look at the beautiful bird sitting on the tree limb...soaking in the sunshine...singing such a beautiful song. This bird seems so, at peace, with everything. She seems to have a full belly and a beautiful day awaits her...BAM...CRASH! 1. The lights go out...the cat got ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Fool For Christ And An Idiot For Everybody

Contributed by Michael Bird on Feb 8, 2002

This sermon outlines the two main ideas of 1 Cor 1:18-25 as (1) The Cross divides and Unifies; (2) The Cross fulfills God’s plan to outwit human wisdom.

1 Cor 1:18-25 Introduction [Illustration] I would like you all to play make believe with me for a moment. Pretend that my name is Jose Samblanco and I have just arrived off the boat from Peru and I’m proclaiming to you the good news that a Peruvian peasant by the name Carlos Hernandez was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 1 Corinthians 1:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gift Of The Warm Heart Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 24, 2001

Christmas can be a very stressful time. But Simeon and Anna hold 3 secrets to getting hold of the peace and tranquility that Christmas is supposed to offer us.

AP story reported in the Indianapolis Star 12/25/99 Dateline LOS ANGELES – A shopping mall Santa Claus had a meltdown after refusing to cuddle a bawling toddler, calling the mother evil and ripping off his beard and costume in front of startled children. Kelly Fornatoro, 33, said she told Santa ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Why Look You For The Living Among The Dead?"

Contributed by Quintin Morrow on Mar 30, 2002

An apologetic and evangelistic message on the truth and consequences of the resurrection.

Easter Sunday, 2002 St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church The Rev’d Quintin morrow The men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:5-8

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Truth About The Resurrection

Contributed by J.d. Tutell on Mar 31, 2005

A look at the evidence of the resurrection and what it means.

What is the Easter Bunnies favorite sport? Basketball. What do you call the Easter Bunny after a hard days work? Tired. Okay I know those jokes were bad, I mean I had to look them up, but I used them to illustrate a simple point when it comes to Easter the world tends to focus on the Easter ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Complacency Of The Manger

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Dec 16, 2005

We can get complacent when driving the same route every day and become oblivious to the dangers - and Christians can become so used to the manger we get complacent with the meaning of it.

I heard the story once of a great Cherokee wood carver. He took logs and sat them on a stump outside his back door and sat in front of that log sometimes for hours just staring at it. Finally, he would pick up his carving tools and start carving the most beautiful of things out of the wood. He ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-5

Denomination: *other

The Shadow And Light Of The Graveyard Series

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 4, 2012

Reflecting on Mary Magdalene’s visit to the tomb, we see her sorrow turn to joy upon seeing the risen Christ.

April 8, 2012 John 20:10-18 Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:10-18

Denomination: Lutheran

One Mother - Two Nations: Part #1 Esau Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Oct 8, 2011

Two main points from the life of Esau: 1. He was more concerned about the here-and-now than he was with the here-after. 2. Godliness comes by choice.

One Mother – Two Nations Part #1 - Esau “Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.” Genesis 25:27 (NASB) God has always shown blessings to his people – take Rebecca as an example. For many years she had be barren. Now the Lord opens her ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Does The Church Exist?

Contributed by Jose R. Hernandez on Apr 9, 2011

Let us remember that as the church, God has put us in charge of something extremely important. God has put us in charge of witnessing for Christ in all places and at all times.

One of the realities about the church of today is that there are a large number of believers that are very confused. I am not speaking about the false doctrines and sects; I am speaking about the confusion that there is reference the purpose of the church. I say this because when we ask a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:6-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

More Than Just A Love Story Series

Contributed by Thomas Donelan on Jun 8, 2010

In the first in a series of messages on the book of Ruth, a great love story set against the backdrop of the era of the Judges of Israel, we see the high price of sin and Ruth's great confession and how it applies to the church today.

Ruth Chapter 1:1-22 Introduction J. Vernon McGee calls Ruth "An addendum to the Book of Judges. A brochure of beauty. A bright picture on the black background of the judges."[i] Ruth 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rising, Running, And Reporting

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 21, 2010

For many, life is a panicky run. Serious things happen to us, and we run to tell somebody. The reaction may be to go home and do nothing, and to leave others weeping and perplexed. But when we encounter the risen Christ personally, not as an abstractio

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC, March 26, 1989 (Easter Sunday) When you see someone running, do not jump to any conclusions about why that person is running. If you see somebody pickin’ ‘em up and layin’ ‘em down, well, there could be a lot of reasons why. And ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Coup De Moi Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jul 13, 2009

If you want to know if you’ve truly been born again answer the question: "Who is your spiritual daddy?"

I guess it’s a sign of the times in which we live, but a couple of years ago I saw a billboard on I-85 in Charlotte that said, “Who’s the daddy?” There was a picture of a baby and an ad for a genetic testing lab beneath the picture. It’s sad that young folks are so promiscuous they have to have a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

God Pursued Us

Contributed by Diana Ball on Dec 17, 2008

A message of how a loving God made Himself smaller for us, so that we could grow larger in Him through Jesus Christ.

I heard the story once of a great Cherokee wood carver. He took logs and sat them on a stump outside his back door and sat in front of that log sometimes for hours just staring at it. Finally, he would pick up his carving tools and start carving the most beautiful of things out of the wood. He ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Denomination: Nazarene

Playing A New Game Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 4, 2007

Man has played "Hide and Seek" with God since the Garden of Eden, but God has a different game He wants us to play. Do you know what it is?

OPENING: What do you think the first game is that a child learns? For my boy Jonathan, his 1st game was "hide and seek." When he was about 1 year old he was sitting with me in the living room and had watched me put his blanket over my head and play "peek a boo." Then with a sly grin he put the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ