Sermons on Ezras Dedication:

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

The Road To Revival Series

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Oct 3, 2007

The road from Babylon to Jerusalem reminds us of another road - the road to revival.

1. THE INDIVIDUAL "Cyrus king of Persia". Throughout the history of the Church God has used individuals to bring about revivals e.g. Martin Luther in the Reformation, Florrie Evans in the Welsh revival, W P Nicholson in 1920s Ulster and Duncan Campbell in the highlands and islands of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 1:1-11

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

Who God Uses Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Nov 3, 2007

Do we have to be obedient to God for His will to be accomplished? Far from it. God doesn’t depend on us for anything. Even though we can never expedite or stifle God’s plans, our level of obedience will determine our reward.

1. God uses kings to keep His Word (1-4) 2. God uses His people to keep His Word (5) 3. God uses other people to keep His Word (6) EZRA 1:1a There are so many questions in life, aren’t there? For at least 3000 years, philosophers have worked on trying to answer only two questions—what is real ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 1:1-6

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

Hall Of Fame # 4 - Hezekiah Series

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Nov 29, 2007

An overview of the life of King Hezekiah.

INTRODUCTION In the middle of Ezra’s ’hall of fame’ there is reference to one of Judah’s godly kings - Hezekiah. His descendants were among those who returned from exile in Babylon. How proud those 98 Jews must have been of their illustrious forefather. In this sermon we focus on the highlights of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 2:16

Sacred Worship Series

Contributed by Allen James on Nov 6, 2009

A sermon challenging both believers and non-believers to express true worship to Jesus Christ.

Sacred Worship • Ezra 3:8-13 Key Phrase: When we define worship that’s true, the question is not simply WHAT but WHO. FOUR REMINDERS ABOUT WORSHIP 1) Remember worship is CLEARLY REPRESENTED in Scripture (v 10) • Sacred worship is God’s idea… not our idea… It’s a Biblical thing… • "There is ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 3:8-13

Denomination: Baptist

Sacred Community Series

Contributed by Allen James on Nov 6, 2009

God desires to create sacred communities who are wholly devoted to Him.

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: ARRIVING TO FIND THINGS MUCH WORSE THAN EXPECTED INTRODUCTION: As Ezra returns from Babylon to Jerusalem he discovers the people have a serious SIN PROBLEM. Rather than becoming a SACRED COMMUNITY they had become a COMFORTABLE COMMUNITY who had wandered from the words of ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 7:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Restauremos Nuestro Altar

Contributed by Pastor Neftali Baez on Aug 26, 2009

Educativo

Tema: Restauremos nuestro altar Libro: Esdra cap 3:1-4 Introducción: Conforme a lo que hemos aprendido segun el A.T nos enseña que hubieron grandes hombres que, como forma de agradecimiento edificaron altares a Dios por ejemplo: 1) Noé en Gn 8:20 "Y edifico un alta a Jehová" en ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 3:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical Free