Sermons on Fertile Ground:

The Vine & The Branches

Contributed by Steven Buhr on Jan 25, 2008

Am I connected to the Vine? If not, I need to be re-connected.

November 4, 2007 – John 15 ‘The Vine and the Branches’ Gardening, it’s something many people like to do, especially here in Victoria where you can usually do it year round. How many folks here are the ‘garden variety’, green-thumb, can make anything grow, win a prize at the Saanich Fair kind of ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Compass, Unitard, Well Worn Boots

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Dec 4, 2006

Let your congregation know the three things that a disciple of Jesus can not be without. (heart pointed to Jesus, a willingness to grapple with Jesus in relationship--get to know who he really is, and to walk in His steps. Scripture is taken from a vari

Compass, Unitard, Well Worn Boots “Compass, Unitard, Well Worn Boots” (say these three seemingly unrelated things out loud, in the tradition of Johnny Carson’s character, alluded to below, but then proceed to talk about the following material first, before giving the “question” that those ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dreams And Interpretations Series

Contributed by Jyoti Banerjee on Nov 27, 2006

God gave Joseph dreams and interpretations of dreams but he needed to work on Joseph’s life to bring those dreams alive.

If you have not been part of St Stephen’s morning services for the past few weeks, you might have missed our series on the life of Joseph. Here was a young man, born into a well-off family already well-equipped with sons. Yet his father Jacob favours him over the others, possibly because his mum ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Forever Secure: The Unshakable Promise Of Salvation

Contributed by Chris Layton on Apr 4, 2003

This morning, we stand at the crossroads of one of the most pivotal truths in all of Scripture: the doctrine of eternal security, often summarized as "once saved, always saved."

Forever Secure: The Unshakable Promise of Salvation Hebrews 6:1-9 Introduction: The Heart of the Gospel • This morning, we stand at the crossroads of one of the most pivotal truths in all of Scripture: the doctrine of eternal security, often summarized as "once saved, always ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Clay People

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Jun 18, 2003

Ever felt like a grasshopper? Unimportant, inferior, low-down? Israel felt that way when Moses’ spies reported back from their excursion into the Promised Land. They said, "And there we saw the giants, . . . and we were in our own sight as grasshoppe

CLAY PEOPLE SCRIPTURE: Genesis 3:19; Jeremiah 18:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:7 Introduction Ever felt like a grasshopper? Unimportant, inferior, low-down? Israel felt that way when Moses’ spies reported back from their excursion into the Promised Land. They said, "And there we saw the giants, . . . ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Consider The Lilies

Contributed by James May on Jul 30, 2003

Sometimes we just need to stop and realize how much God cares for us and just what he does to supply our every need.

Pastor James May CONSIDER THE LILIES Matthew 6:26-29, "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:26-29

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Friend Of God

Contributed by Kl Burrus on Oct 5, 2007

What does it take to be God’s friend? What was it that Abraham and God had that made theirs such a unique friendship?

THE FRIEND OF GOD “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23). There is within the human personality a need that is universally felt. It is a need that is sought and ...read more

Scripture: James 2:23

Denomination: Baptist

It’s Not Just What We Say

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Dec 28, 2010

What we say has the power to destroy or to build up. As Christians we should in every case seek to build up those around us.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the famous British preacher of the nineteenth century, was once invited to preach in London in a public auditorium called the Crystal Palace for a special service. The facility seated almost 24,000 people. A day or two prior to the event, Spurgeon went to the Crystal ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Baptist

Misfortune Is God’s Megaphone

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Mar 3, 2013

Misfortune Amiplifies God's Call to Repent 1) Individually; 2) Immediately

Did you hear the shocking news out of Egypt on Tuesday? 19 tourists died when a hot air balloon exploded and plunged 300 meters to the ground. One moment these people were enjoying something they had dreamed of doing for years - floating above ancient Egyptian ruins in the soft light of an early ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

What Does God Say About The Sanctity Of Human Life?

Contributed by Daniel Owens on Jan 8, 2008

Every human life is valuable and precious to God. This is the very reason he sacrificed his one and only son.

Intro: L.R. Agnew, a professor at UCLA Medical School, gave his students this scenario: "Consider this family history: • The father has a venereal disease • The mother has tuberculosis • They have had 4 children: The first of whom was blind The second died as an infant The third is deaf The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Starting From Scratch Series

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jul 15, 2007

It is helpful to see the events in the Ephesus Church’s life and what we can learn: to do things right, as Ephesus did them right, to pick up pointers as the Apostles gave them advice, and to avoid the mistakes that Ephesus made.

Starting from scratch Ephesus - Year 1 Acts 18.19-27 For 9 sessions it is my intention to trace the Church at Ephesus as it unfolds in the New Testament. From Acts 18 to Revelation 2, we see the first half century of this primal church’s life. As it grows there are valuable lessons to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:19-27

Denomination: Mennonite

Gideon, The Reluctant Hero Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Jul 29, 2007

Have you been afraid that your lack of skills, background, or ability to hear God disqualifies you for service? Learn how God worked with a timid man and turned him into a hero.

Do you remember the Sand People from the original Star Wars movie? They lived on Tatooine - I guess their proper name is: Tusken Raiders. Anyway - these nomads were covered all over with rags with little lenses or something to see and breath out of. They carried these big sticks and traveled on ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-40

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Seeing God Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 18, 2009

God’s servants need to focus on God’s activity rather than the negativity of God’s people.

1) And Yahweh proceeded to speak to Moses, “Go, ascend from this place, you and the people you caused to ascend from the land of Egypt toward the land which I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your seed, I will give it 2) And I shall send a messenger (angel) before your presence ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-23

Denomination: *other

Broken: How God Uses Defective People

Contributed by John Beukema on May 1, 2013

The Bible is filled with stories of fractured lives and messy situations. From these we can learn truths about how God works.

Bob Dylan wrote a song called “Everything is broken.” Here are some of the lyrics. Broken bottles broken plates Broken switches broken gates Broken dishes broken parts Streets are filled with broken hearts Broken words never meant to be spoken Everything is broken. He’s right. ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:1-25

Denomination: Brethren

Having, Losing, Choosing

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 31, 2009

Whatever we think we possess can be lost. God gives it to us for only so long as we need it, but after that it becomes an idol. We must choose to give away time, talent, treasure for things that do last, and for life itself.

Almost nothing that you and I count on to be permanent really is permanent. Almost everything that we think will last forever, it turns out, can be destroyed. Anything we have we can also very easily lose. We live in a monumental city. Capitol Hill, the monuments, the Federal Triangle, the White ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

Denomination: Baptist