Sermons on Family Altar:

Just Be A Branch Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 22, 2005

Expository sermon--don’t try to be the vine--be a branch. Major considerations: (1) Our Relationship with the Lord (2)Our Responsibility to Him (3) Our Reward in Him.

Just Be A Branch Fortifying the Foundations #34 John 15:1-17[1] 4-25-04 Intro 1. Have ever struggled in you walk with the Lord and found yourself asking, “How can I make Christianity work in my life?” There is no passage in the Bible that better answers that question than Jesus’ words in John ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-7

Denomination: Charismatic

Donation Or Duty?

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 22, 2005

Uses story of Good Samaritan to discuss our attitudes toward our own resources and toward the needs of others. Uses clip from movie "Forrest Gump" to illustrate power of kindness.

Donation or Duty? Luke 10:25-37[1] 11-28-04 Intro The story of the Good Samaritan—a powerful reminder of how we are to respond to the pain and needs of those around us. Most of us are familiar with the story in our text. Most of us want to respond like the Samaritan and not like the priest and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Charismatic

Hallmarks Of Godly Ministry Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 23, 2005

What criteria do you look for in order to discern whether a ministry is the real thing or a counterfeit? How do you know whether a ministry is trustworthy not?

Hallmarks of Godly Ministry 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20[1] 10-17-04 Intro I have taken as my subject this morning from 1 Thessalonians 2—The Hallmarks of Godly Ministry. What criteria do you look for in order to discern whether a ministry is the real thing or a counterfeit? How do you know whether ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

Denomination: Charismatic

Looking Forward To That Day Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 23, 2005

Expository sermon exploring the second coming of Christ and how the anticipation of that event should affect our lives now. Clip from movie "Titanic" illustrates urgency of Evangelism.

Looking Forward to That Day I Thessalonians 4:13-18[1] 11-07-04 What are you looking forward to in life? What goals have you set and how are those goals affecting the way you life? Isn’t it amazing how our hopes and dreams determine the choices we make in life—determine the sacrifices we are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Charismatic

Does Suffering Mean God Has Abandoned Me? Series

Contributed by Ross Anderson on Oct 25, 2005

Not even the worst afflictions you might face can cancel out God¡¦s purpose or God¡¦s favor in your life.

You might have heard that, on the next to last day of our vacation, Nancy and I were rear-ended as we were pulling off the freeway in San Jose, California. Thankfully we weren¡¦t hurt, but the car was undriveable, and we were 850 miles from home without transportation. For a while we felt not ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Need For C.r.e.e.d.

Contributed by Steven Dow on Apr 1, 2005

Do you think that creeds are dry and dusty? Think again! Take a look at the important role they play in the life of faith.

THE NEED FOR C.R.E.E.D. Acts 2:14,22-36 April 3, 2005 Thesis: Historical creeds may seem dry and dusty in our digital age, but they play an important role in the life of faith. Fans of Rich Mullins may have been surprised when he sang the Apostles’ Creed on a CD collection of his songs. Mullins ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-36

The Four Purposes Of Prayer (1 Of 4) Series

Contributed by Jim Moynihan on Apr 1, 2005

To live effective lives as Jesus’ disciples we need to pray.

I’ve preached on prayer many times and I’ve tried to do it in such a way that you will be able to easily remember how to pray and to be motivated to pray. Yet I don’t think we are taking full advantage of this most powerful and useful resource we have as Christians. So, I am beginning a four week ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1, Luke 1:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Knowing The Name Of God Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 3, 2005

Names are important to us because they often do more than just identify an individual; they can actually reveal who a person is, and what he or she is like.

During a job interview, a woman was asked to give her name. She replied, “My name is Lilly.” When the boss wanted to know why she was named after a flower, she told him, “My parents gave me that name because when I was born a lily fell on me from the sky.” A couple days later, the boss interviewed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 75:1

Denomination: Baptist

Rules Of Engagement

Contributed by James May on Apr 6, 2005

We are in a spiritual war right now. Joshua’s words to Israel just before he died will give us the basic "Rules of Engagement" for winning this war with the devil.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT By Pastor Jim May Joshua 23:2-13 The Old Testament contains examples and stories that have a very real meaning to life right now. I have heard a number of people say that they don’t like to read the Old Testament or that it simply confuses them. I find those ancient texts ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 23:2-13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Five Ws Of Worship

Contributed by Chip Monck on Feb 15, 2005

A look at the Who, What, Where, When and Why of worship.

THE FIVE “W”S OF WORSHIP Sometimes you come across some information that you wish you would have seen before you took a given action, or moved in a certain direction. For instance, it wasn’t until just a few days ago that I came across these “Top Ten Questions to Ask Before Changing Your Churches ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 29:2, Matthew 5:4

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Excellent Spirit

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on Mar 1, 2005

Ignorance about spiritual warfare is a disaster and when things go wrong, people are caught in the enemy’s web.

There was a brother called Lucky. He knew the Bible but not very fervent. One day, he was about to go to work and he prayed the usual three- minute prayer. The Holy Spirit asked him to continue and he did. After a few minutes, he decided to stop and goes to work. At the bus stop, he ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:12, Daniel 6:3

Denomination: Pentecostal

Smyrna: Grace Under Fire Series

Contributed by David Gauthier on Jun 22, 2001

Jesus Himself identifies with the persecuted church, and offers His grace and words of comfort.

Intro: The Persecuted Church · A prominent national leader in the unregistered Protestant house church movement in China was executed Oct. 14, 1999 by firing squad. · Chechen militants kidnapped a young Baptist deacon and are demanding that his church sell its building and use the money to pay ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get You Clothes On Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jul 9, 2001

You see, it is not enough to just get rid of the bad it,.Because if we only take off the bad, and never get around to putting on the good >>> we are placing ourselves in a very dangerous situation. (Jesus is Enough - part 5)

Jesus Is Enough - Part 5 "Get Your Clothes On" Many years ago there was an emperor who was so fond of new clothes that he spent all of his money on them. He did not give himself any concern about his army; he cared nothing about the theater or for driving about in the woods, except for the sake ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

She Left Her Waterpot

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Aug 4, 2001

She came looking for water and found eternal life!

Three guys were out having a relaxing day fishing. Out of the blue, they catch a mermaid who begs to be set free in return for granting each of them a wish. Now one of the guys just doesn’t believe it and says, “Okay, if you can really grant wishes, then double my IQ.” The mermaid says, “Done.” ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-42

Denomination: Baptist

The Winning Attitude

Contributed by Charles Holt on Aug 6, 2001

In this message we find the keys to Paul’s triumphant attitude despite all the hardships including abandonment of friends. I offer six suggestions of how to move past our disappointments.

Charles W. Holt email: cholt@gt.rr.com THE WINNING ATTITUDE But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; (Phil. 1:12) I had a dream the other night. I dreamed a large and prosperous church called ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-21

Denomination: Assembly Of God