Sermons on Ezras Dedication:

Getting Where You're Going Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on May 31, 2008

Are we prepared for the journey that awaits us?

In his book, Gentle Thunder, Max Lucado tells the story of Sir John Franklin. It was 1845 in England. In 1845, America was at the beginning of what was called “Manifest Destiny.” That was the idea that we were destined to explore and inhabit and eventually annex the west. While we were ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 8:21-32

Denomination: Baptist

Where To Start? Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on May 31, 2008

Sometimes the toughest thing about a project is knowing where to start.

Have you ever had a project that was so big, you just didn’t know where to start? My garage is like that. It was a mess before we moved in and it’s only gotten worse. It absolutely drives me nuts. Several years ago, when we lived in Mississippi, I had a beautiful tool shed. I had pegboard on ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 8:33-36

Denomination: Baptist

Counting Change Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on May 31, 2008

Newton’s First Law of Motion states: Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it. Do the forces of sin around you compel you to change?

Turn with me to Ezra 9. EZRA 9:3-5 After putting it off for a long time, a man finally went to the doctor. After the examination and all of the tests and blood work, the doctor just shook his head. He told the man, “You are in terrible shape. In order to pull out of this, you’re going to have ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 9:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Broken Prayer Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on May 31, 2008

What does the prayer of corporate confession look like?

Three theologians were having a deep theological discussion while they were walking down the street one day. They were talking about prayer. More specifically, they were talking about the most effective positions of prayer. The discussion got pretty intense so they actually stopped there on the ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 9:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

Almost Right Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 27, 2008

The question isn’t whether we’re going to encounter opposition. The question is, how are we going to handle it when it comes. The remnant did exactly what they were supposed to do—almost. They stood strong in the face of opposition but they didn’t quit

1. How did the opposition respond to the remnant? a. With distrust (1) b. With deception (2) 2. How did the remnant respond to the opposition? a. With discernment (3a) b. With determination (3b) c. With direction (3c) It would be nice if everything in life was easy, wouldn’t it? It would be nice ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Swimming Upstream Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 27, 2008

Do you ever feel like everything is opposing you? That is what the remnant was experiencing. The first step to facing our opposition the right way is to "know our enemy."

In our walk as Christians and in our work as a church… 1. We must stand against the persistence of our opposition (4:4-7) 2. We must stand against the pervasiveness of our opposition (4:8-10) 3. We must stand against the persuasiveness of our opposition (4:11-16) 4. We must stand against the ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 4:4-24

Denomination: Baptist

Obedience Works! Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Mar 3, 2008

In one sense, the remnant was just like us--they had free access to the Word of God. God had just spoken His Word to them through Haggai and Zechariah. God’s Word was available--what were they going to do with it? What are we going to do with it?

1. Obedience was immediate 2. Obedience was inspired 3. Obedience was inclusive 4. Obedience was investigated Imagine if you will, not having access to a Bible. Throughout history, that’s the way it’s been for most people. In the early church, the Bible consisted of the Greek translation of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 5:1-4, Ezra 5:7-17, Ezra 5:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Restoring Religion Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Jan 5, 2008

Who is worship supposed to be about? God. And it is His worship that He was restoring in Jerusalem in this passage. This message looks at restoring our religion.

1. Worshipped as family (3:1 – they gathered together as one man) 2. Worshipped fittingly (3:2 – in accordance with the Word of God) 3. Worshipped freely (3:3 – in spite of the fear of the nations) 4. Worshipped fully (3:4-5 – they kept all the feasts and offered all the offerings) It seems like ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 3:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Hall Of Fame # 8 - The Levites Series

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Jan 14, 2008

Levites are mentioned throughout scripture. This sermon suggests some adjectives that could be used to describe them.

INTRODUCTION Famous Levites in scripture - Aaron (Exodus 4:14) & Barnabas (Acts 4:36). They were descendants of the tribe of Levi and were assistants to the priests. Four words spring to mind in connection with Levites: 1. PRACTICAL Their work was practical rather than spiritual. OT Levites = NT ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 2:40, Ezra 2:1

God's Presence

Contributed by Donato Solano on Jan 22, 2008

Submission to God and His powerful presence are two of the keys of success as we journey in life. Our submission can be demonstrated through fasting.

INTRODUCTION 2008 is a journey that no man has charted already. How can we know what are the prospects in life in store for us in this journey? In today’s scripture, Ezra ask Israel to fast to ensure themselves of success and prosperity in their journey back to Jerusalem. They did not just pray ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 8:21-23, Ezra 8:24-36

Denomination: Baptist

Restoring Resources Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 10, 2007

God created material things for us to use to glorify Him. The problem is, we have placed His stuff in the wrong account. We have taken God’s stuff out of His glory account and transferred it to our materialism account. And when it’s in our account, it’

1. The first account transfer is from one house to another. 2. The second account transfer is from one hand to another. 3. The third account transfer is from one land to another. EZRA 1:7-11 In 1985, the year that I graduated High School, do you know what the #2 song on the Billboard charts was? ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 1:7-11, Ezra 1:7-18

Denomination: Baptist

Groundbreaking Ceremony

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Nov 14, 2007

Groundbreaking Ceremony for a new building

November 11, 2007 Song – Esther Welcome and Opening Remarks – Rick Stacy Welcome to all our guests, friends, and families of MCC Introduction of special guests, Midwest Construction Representatives, and Bankers Building Team Leader and remarks Midwest Representative and remarks Brief Challenge – ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 3:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hall Of Fame # 2 Series

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Nov 19, 2007

A look at 3 of the leaders mentioned - Zerubbabel, Nehemiah and Mordecai.

INTRODUCTION Leaders are important in every area of life. Winston Churchill was one of the great leaders of the 20th Century. David Ben Gurion was another. Leaders are particularly important in the work of God. We are going to look at 3 leaders mentioned in Ezra 2:2 - 1. A GOVERNOR - ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 2:2

Christ Our Altar Series

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Feb 20, 2008

Sermon about the brazen altar. According to Hebrews 13:10 Christ is our altar.

TEXT "Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God". INTRODUCTION There is much ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 3:2

Le Courage Du Croyant

Contributed by Créteur Fabien on Feb 24, 2008

Courage (vient du cœur). Force de caractère, fermeté que l’on a devant le danger, dans la souffrance ou dans toute situation difficile à affronter. Qui ont donné lieu à des expressions familières, comme prendre son courage à 2 mains. Faire appel à tout

LE COURAGE DU CROYANT, DU LEADER Introduction sur le sujet (10 min) Courage (vient du cœur). Force de caractère, fermeté que l’on a devant le danger, dans la souffrance ou dans toute situation difficile à affronter. Qui ont donné lieu à des expressions familières, comme prendre son courage à 2 ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 10:4

Denomination: Pentecostal