Sermons on Espiritual Ward:

Why Bother To Keep On Praying?

Contributed by David Ward on Aug 16, 2005

We should persist in prayer because God’s justice is certain, but our faith is in question.

“Why Bother To Keep On Praying?” Luke 18:1-8 INTRODUCTION: Do you ever feel as though your prayers are being returned unopened? Does it ever feel like you’re just getting heaven’s voice mail? Like you’re just getting a runaround and you wonder, “Is there anybody else up there I could speak to?” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trial By Fire

Contributed by David Ward on Jun 14, 2006

BIG IDEA: In times of testing, God’s people fight fire with faith.

“Trial By Fire” Daniel 3 INTRODUCTION: One time on a school field trip I visited Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. As the tour boat approached Fort Sumter, our teacher asked if the guides would be dressed in blue or in gray. Sumter had been a Union fort in Confederate territory ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:13-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Visit From Pilate

Contributed by David Ward on Apr 22, 2006

This is a first person narrative sermon as Pontius Pilate, with a challenge to "choose your king."

“A Visit From Pilate” John 18-19 (INTRODUCTION) Greetings, people of Living Hope Community Church in the city of Durham in the province of Northern Carolina. My name is Pilatos. You may call me—Pilatos. I despise the name “Pilate.” For one thing, I do not care for your modern-day flying air ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Games People Play: "Sorry!" Series

Contributed by David Ward on Sep 21, 2006

From a "Games People Play" series on the Sermon on the Mount, this is a message about forgiveness.

Games People Play: “Sorry!” Matthew 6:9-15 INTRODUCTION: "Sorry!" is a board game based on the ancient Indian game Pachisi. Players try to travel around the board with their pieces faster than any other player. The game title comes from the many ways in which a player can negate the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Games People Play: Hungry Hungry Hippos Series

Contributed by David Ward on Sep 25, 2006

When we commit ourselves to God, He commits Himself to us.

Games People Play: “Hungry Hungry Hippos” Matthew 6:25-34 INTRODUCTION: Hungry Hungry Hippos is the game of get all you can while the getting is good. [Demonstrate game] My kids love to play Hungry Hungry Hippos; unfortunately, so do most Americans as we play for all the "marbles" we can. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Games People Play: "Trivial Pursuit" Series

Contributed by David Ward on Sep 26, 2006

BIG IDEA: Instead of pursuing the trivial, we should invest in the eternal.

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY: “Trivial Pursuit” Matthew 6:19-24 INTRODUCTION: Trivial Pursuit is a board game for 2-6 players or teams, in which winning is determined by your ability to answer general knowledge and pop culture trivia questions. The game was created in December 1979 by two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Games People Play: Clue Series

Contributed by David Ward on Sep 27, 2006

Big Idea: A forgiven person is a forgiving person, but a deceiving person is a deceived person.

Games People Play: “Clue” Matthew 7:1-5, 15-23 INTRODUCTION: Doug Lansky has been a travel writer and photographer for many years. In the course of his travels he has collected photos of odd signs from around the world. Some samples: ß A white highway sign in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, says, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:19-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

All The Wrong Kinds Of People

Contributed by David Ward on Aug 26, 2006

Jesus calls all the wrong kinds of people to join his revolution. Apparently, the wrong kinds of people are just right for Jesus.

“All the Wrong Kinds of People” Mark 1:16-20 Mark 2:13-17 INTRODUCTION: If you were going to start a revolution, what kinds of people would you recruit? What demographic would you target? What character qualities would you look for? I suppose it might depend on what kind of revolution you were ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things You Can't Talk About In Church: "Doubt" Series

Contributed by David Ward on Aug 26, 2006

BIG IDEA: God is good enough to welcome our questions, and great enough to handle our doubts.

Things You Can’t Talk About In Church: “Doubt” Habakkuk 1-3 INTRODUCTION: 3 children of a missionary couple were called in for dinner after they’d been playing outside. Their mother said, "Be sure to wash your hands." The little boy scowled and said, "Germs and Jesus. Germs and Jesus. That’s all ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Promises Of The Shepherd

Contributed by Michael Ward on Mar 28, 2005

Celebration of Psalm 23 reviewing the promises of Good Shepherd to His faithful flock.

Introduction This is undoubtedly the most famous and oft-quoted of the Psalms. But why? Perhaps it is because of the comfort the Shepherd brings. But also, we see the promises of the Shepherd that we enjoy not only in this life, but in the eternity to come. This is a psalm of the Great Shepherd ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Walking With God In Wisdom Series

Contributed by David Ward on Jun 11, 2005

BIG IDEA: Walking with God means walking His way, for His pleasure, by His power.

“Walking With God in Wisdom” James 3:13—4:10 INTRODUCTION: One theme that runs throughout the Star Wars movies is the temptation to give in to the Dark Side of the Force. The Dark Side is seductive, for it appeals to our desires. The Good Side involves self-denial, discipline, sacrifice. The ...read more

Scripture: James 3:13, Acts 22:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Begatitudes

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 10, 2003

A Christmas message from Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. Big Idea: God’s plan always comes together.

“The Begatitudes” Matthew 1:1-17 Introduction: Many of us need to hear a message of hope this morning. Some in our church community are pretty discouraged right now. There’s a grayness that’s overshadowing our lives, and the season we’re in often makes it worse, not better. ß Some are facing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Broken Lampstand Series

Contributed by David Ward on Jan 26, 2005

A first-person narrative as Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, whose big idea is "be faithful, not fearful."

“Broken Lampstand” Revelation 2:8-11 INTRODUCTION Have you ever suffered for your faith? Even a little? To be faithful and be treated badly seems wrong to us—and it is wrong! There is malice in the world, such cruelty that only comes from the evil one, the destroyer. But our Lord prophesied as ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Agapomen Allelus Series

Contributed by David Ward on Jul 27, 2003

This was the next-to-last message in a series from 1 John on John’s command to "love one another"

"Agapomen Allelus" 1 John 4:7-21 Introduction: A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a mousetrap! Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There is a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21, 1 John 4:20, 1 John 4:1

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dueling Spirits Series

Contributed by David Ward on Aug 2, 2003

BIG IDEA: How can we recognize false prophets? By what they say, and by who listens to them.

“Dueling Spirits” 1 John 4:1-6 Introduction: How can you tell if someone is lying to you? [ASK] How do you spot a lie? Some people give it away in their body language--not making eye contact, for example. What about spiritual things? How can we recognize a “false prophet”? This is more ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational