Sermons on F Jim Cymbala:

God's Three Beacons

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 1, 2001

God uses His word, the Holy Spirit, and circumstances to direct us.

Bob Munford tells of a certain Italian harbor that can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted in the harbor on three ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-16

Denomination: Church Of God

The Face Of Faith Series

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 1, 2001

Abraham illustrates Paul’s belief in salvation by faith.

Introduction: Did you have any childhood heroes? Who were they? What was it about them that made them a hero to you? One of my heroes was Captain James T Kirk of the starship Enterprise. It was his ability to command and direct that fascinated me. Heroes are human examples of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-22

Denomination: Church Of God

Introducing The 1st Team Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Sep 7, 2001

The origin of community is found in the triune nature of God.

Introducing The "1st Team" Pastor Jim Luthy Football season has broken out all over our television sets this weekend. For as long as I can remember, football games on T.V. always began with the introduction of the starting lineups. It used to be that each player would get to introduce ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:14, Deuteronomy 6:4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Striving, Living, Thriving, Giving Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Sep 7, 2001

Our vision (Striving to see the Living Christ in a thriving church of giving people) did not originate with us, but with God.

Striving, Living, Thriving, Giving Hosea 14 Pastor Jim Luthy At the top of our invitation cards, on our information brochure, and on our web site, you will find a vision statement for our church: Striving to see the Living Christ in a thriving church of giving people. Striving. Living. ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 14:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Faces Of The Stranger Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Sep 21, 2001

Let’s talk about what makes it difficult for us to form community, and in so doing, we will also find an explanation for the turmoil our world is seeing and has always seen.

The Faces of the Stranger Pastor Jim Luthy I’ve really wrestled this week whether to return to our series on community or to talk about the recent attacks on our nation. On one hand, we are being asked to return to normal, whatever that means, and these messages on community are meant to equip us ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-8, Matthew 23:2-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Tale Of Two Gardens

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 6, 2002

It was in a garden that humanity fell and it was in a garden that humanity was redeemed!

TALKING POINTS: 1. A mother was teaching her young son to use the phone. She showed him which numbers to push and explained about the dial tone and the sound of the other phone ringing. The process had begun. The son waited anxiously for the call to be completed, but no one picked up the phone on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8, Genesis 3:1-24

Denomination: Church Of God

Live A Life Of Love Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Apr 9, 2002

Having pursued understanding and received grace, Paul calls us to live on another level. It begins with living a life of love, which requires that we continually put off the old and put on the new.

Live a Life of Love Pastor Jim Luthy Ephesians 4:25-5:2 In the film "Grand Canyon" an immigration attorney breaks out of a traffic jam and attempts to bypass it. His route takes him along streets that seem progressively darker and more deserted. Then the predictable nightmare: the man’s fancy ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Case Of Mistaken Identity?

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 11, 2002

If we choose to live for and with God, then we must understand who we are in Him.

TALKING POINTS: 1. Last week we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and we looked at the tale of two gardens, the Garden of Eden and what happened to humanity when they disobeyed God and the Garden of the Empty Tomb and what it undid from the first garden. As I prepared that message, I was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-13

Denomination: Church Of God

Not For Sale

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 23, 2002

How do we make ourselves acceptable to God? We can’t! We can only make ourselves available to Him and accept His forgiveness.

1. Last week as I introduced our current series, Living in Light of Easter, I asked you a question, “Who Are You?” It is a question about identity because when we make the decision to acknowledge the sin in our life and choose to accept and receive God’s forgiveness of our sin, those choices ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-24

Denomination: Church Of God

The Confidence Of God

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 23, 2002

One of the ways that we live in the light of Easter is by living in the confidence of God.

1. Today, we continue our April series, Living In the Light of Easter,” by examining the second I am of our identity, as Neil T. Anderson says, in Christ, “ I am secure in Christ.” 2. Last week we looked at being accepted in Christ. And we are accepted on the basis of our faith and trust in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:6

Denomination: Church Of God

Making Sense Of The Mess In Israel And The Middle East

Contributed by Jim Butcher on May 3, 2002

An attempt to clarify the details of the murky situation in Israel and the Middle East.

[This message was written during the unrest in Israel during the spring of 2002.] Our Goal: “Being aware of the situation when you ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem.’” The Two Major Combatants: 1. Israel. - almost exclusively Jewish. - the vast majority of its people ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Third Time

Contributed by Jim Kane on May 6, 2002

We are significant in Christ because we have been created to be significant.

Several years ago a professor at a New England college, loved by students and alumni, adopted a plan to help discouraged students. Whenever he noticed a discouraged student, he made it a point of giving that student a better mark than what he really deserved and of seeing that others in the class ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

Denomination: Church Of God

The Touch Of God Series

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 25, 2001

The Christmas touch is the touch of God that includes touches of many kinds that will help us, and other, experience God¡¦s touch on our lives.

As I began to write this morning’s message, I became very much aware of the fact that for the first time since Vietnam, we are at war during the Christmas season. I don’t remember having this same kind of awareness as a child and young teenager during that time although as I look out this morning I ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14, Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Church Of God

The Real Small Group Leader Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Nov 29, 2001

Jesus longs to be present as the center of our gatherings, just as he promised, to be light and to give life.

The Real Small Group Leader Pastor Jim Luthy Last week, I mentioned the optimum group size was probably between 2-12 people. That being said, I’m sure any of you who have worked with a group of others would agree there are times when it seems the optimum group size is one. Working with others ...read more

Scripture: John 3:26-30, Ephesians 3:16-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Will You Be My Neighbor? Series

Contributed by Jim Kane on Dec 3, 2001

One of the ways that we reach and touch others as we build bridges of care and friendship in Christ’s name is by reaching out to our neighbors like the innkeeper

(Begin with side entrance to the theme of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Go through the opening routine.) For many years Fred Rogers sang to us, "Will you be my neighbor?" The idea of the neighbor came into the discussion between a Pharisee and Jesus Christ when Jesus was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Church Of God