Sermons on Espiritual Ward:

What's Love Got To Do With It?

Contributed by David Ward on Jan 23, 2006

An Easter message about God’s love from John 3:16

“What’s Love Got to Do With It?” John 3:16 INTRODUCTION: Do you believe God is a loving God? Some of you have a knee-jerk “yes” response, because that’s what you’ve been taught to believe. But do your actions & attitudes reflect that? Down deep, do you really believe that God is a loving God? ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Body By Jesus

Contributed by David Ward on May 13, 2007

BIG IDEA: We need the body of Christ in order to mature in Christ

INTRODUCTION: "White Line Syndrome" is a phenomenon I first encountered when playing basketball in a kid’s league years ago. How it works is, late in the game our coach would call a time-out, and instruct us in what we were to do once play resumed. I remember how clear his instructions sounded in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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

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

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 Sign Of Immanuel

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 10, 2004

The first message in a Christmas/Advent series from Isaiah

“The Sign of Immanuel” Isaiah 7:1-16 INTRODUCTION: Remember the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" Three convicts on the lam have holed up in a barn to spend the night, only to awake to find the barn surrounded by police, with guns drawn, demanding their surrender. One of the three helpfully ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 16, 2004

God’s people can hope for deliverance, because God guarantees it.

“For Unto Us a Child is Born” Isaiah 9:1-7 INTRODUCTION: It’s an unlovely tree in an unlikely place with an unmistakable message. The tree sits along Interstate 30 just outside of Fort Worth, Texas. It is a mimosa tree that appears lifeless, except at Christmas. Each December, for the past ten ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Yoke's On You Series

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 16, 2004

An encouragement to find rest in Christ, and to minister through his strength

“The Yoke’s On You” Matthew 11:28-30 INTRODUCTION: Do you ever find it difficult to follow Christ? Why is it so hard to follow Jesus sometimes? Do you ever get tired? Do you ever find yourself in need of rest? How can I find rest while following Jesus? [READ Matt. 11:28-30] Notice what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Guy Named Steve Series

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 21, 2004

A first-person narrative as Stephen. Big Idea: wherever you go, God will be with you.

“A Guy Named Steve” Acts 6:8—8:1 (Introduction) Good morning! Oh, that’s much better—thank you. My name is Stephen, but you may call me Steve if you’d rather. I guess we’re here for me to share my story with you folks. Have any of you heard of me before? You know me as the first martyr. The ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Your Daddy

Contributed by David Ward on Dec 21, 2004

Big Idea: If you know God as Daddy, then you aren’t His slave, but His child and His heir

God Your Daddy Romans 8:15-17 INTRODUCTION: Fred Craddock, who while lecturing at Yale University, told of going back one summer to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to take a short vacation with his wife. One night they found a quiet little restaurant where they looked forward to a private meal--just the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:15-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The God Of The Unexpected Series

Contributed by David Ward on Oct 3, 2009

An expository message from Acts 12 on how God "shows up" in response to his people’s faith, and lack of faith.

INTRODUCTION: Arthur Burns was chair of the Federal Reserve in the 1970s, and a Jewish economist of great influence in Washington during the tenure of several Presidents. Burns was once asked to pray at a gathering of evangelical politicians. Stunning his hosts, he prayed thus: "Lord, I pray that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Every Day Will Be Christmas

Contributed by Darryl Ward on Dec 5, 2009

Miracles do happen when we hold onto the true meaning of Christmas.

It was 1914. The war to end all wars would not be over by Christmas as had been so optimistically predicted. On the western front, it had ground down to a barbarous war of attrition fought from muddy, waterlogged, vermin-infested trenches, where one had to be constantly wary of artillery and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Anglican