Sermons on Fiery Trial:

A Bitter Goodbye Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 28, 2009

Life’s crossroads can be messy, but sometimes you cannot walk around the mud, but you must march right through it. Yet even [when we are] walking through the mud, God does not abandon His children.

A Bitter Goodbye (Genesis 31:17-55) 1. At Kokomo’s Jackson Morrow Park, Marylu and I were hiking. We like to walk several times a week, and a walk in the woods can add an pleasant environment. I decided to take a short cut near the creek…I thought the ground was solid, but I immediately sunk in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:17-55

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Playing It Safe: Job's Friend Zophar Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 7, 2009

For Lent and Annunciation: Zophar’s counsel is to "play it safe" by sticking to ideas rather than engaging persons. He thinks that security is the goal. God in Christ takes the risk of loving us and living with us.

Every human heart is so made that it can be hurt. Of that I have no doubt. Every human heart is subject to hurt, to pain, to shock. Every one of us is subject to feelings that we do not enjoy -- disappointment, anger, despair, guilt, anxiety -- a whole range of painful feelings. And we either deal ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

You Must Put Up With The Rain To See A Rainbow

Contributed by Richard Cook on Aug 25, 2009

Teaches people that, if you want to see God’s deliverence and glory, you sometimes must endure hardships and pain.

Genesis 9:12-14 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:12-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ain't Life Sweet?

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Aug 25, 2009

God turn those bitter life experiences into sweet ones.

Diligence which is concerned with Moses? attitude to his assignment. What assignment has God given you in your family? What assignment or duty has God given you in this church? What assignment or duty has God given to you, in your community? Who are you called to bring from one ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27

Denomination: Baptist

This Is The Pits

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Aug 27, 2009

Sometimes life seems like the pits but God can even take the pits and make them useful!

Genesis 37:18-36 Verse 20-We shall see what will become of his dreams There is someone who wants to crush your dreams! Satan is out to get you, to discourage you, to detain you, to derail you from reaching your dreams! Just remember the brothers who gave Joseph so much trouble had slept ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:18-36

Denomination: Baptist

The Brand Of The Cross Series

Contributed by A. B. Simpson on Oct 8, 2009

It is the cross of Christ which is the object at once of His shame and His glory. This classic sermon by A. B. Simpson looks first at the marks of the Lord Jesus, and then at their reproduction in His followers.

"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal. 6:17). The word marks in this text is translated by Rotherham, "brand marks." The world describes a mark that has been branded into the flesh, and suggests the idea of the cruel practice of certain ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:17

Denomination: *other

Perseverance Series

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Mar 24, 2009

There is a process in our becoming all that God credated us to be. This is the human side of the divine change.

James 1:2-4, 22-25 “Perseverance” INTRODUCTION When it comes to travel, I think many of us are highway people. We want to go the fastest way possible in order to get to our destination as quickly as we can. We aren’t really interested in seeing the sights or stopping at the tourist ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-25

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Get Past Frustration: Experiencing The Power Of The Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Charles Wallis on May 7, 2009

The disciples were frustrated because Jesus was leaving, but the Holy Spirit gets us past frustration.

How to Get Past Frustration: Experiencing the Power of the Holy Spirit I. Introduction a. Have you ever lost your power? Were you frustrated? b. Personal Story: “My car wouldn’t start…I found out the battery connections were dirty…” c. Main Point/Theme: We can get past frustration when we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Suffering And The Human Condition: Where Was God? Series

Contributed by John Barry on Jun 12, 2009

The editor-in-chief of Bible Study magazine addresses the topic of suffering and God’s place in it and through it.

I was in a room close to 7:00 AM playing Jazz with my High School Jazz Band. We had band practice at 6:00 AM Monday to Friday mornings. (What kind of deranged person came up with that idea?) As I was sitting there at the drum set playing along half-asleep, the intercom began to come on and off. It ...read more

Denomination: *other

New Beginnings Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 15, 2009

In Ruth 1:19-22 we see a New Beginning moving from a 1) Total Loss to a 2) Total Gain.

The chalk cliffs of Beachy Head on England’s south coast are the British answer to the Golden Gate Bridge: a place of beauty and stillness that has a terrible allure, both practical and aesthetic, for suicidal people. Neil and Kazumi Puttick, a married couple jumped to their deaths on the evening ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

Denomination: Other

Experiencing God

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Oct 24, 2009

When Job had fully experienced God, he came to understand more about God, life, and himself.

Most preachers will tell you that the Book of Job can be tough to preach from. The story line itself isn’t exactly a feel-good experience, but you have to admit, it does make you think. Job discovered a new understanding of God’s purpose, and his suffering gave him a new perspective of himself as ...read more

Scripture: Job 42:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How To Worry Well Series

Contributed by Gary Stebbins on Oct 27, 2009

How do we live fearless lives as Christians? God’s heart is that we not just survive, but thrive (adapted from a series taughty by Pastor Larry Osborne, North Coast Church).

Introduction Fearless the series continues- last installment. We will be addressing the topic of worry today. Much to worry about today and even be fearful of. How do we master our fears/concerns as Christians? How do we worry well? Do you know someone who worries? Do you worry? What do you worry ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Denomination: Charismatic

You Anoint My Head With Oil

Contributed by Moy Hernandez on Oct 31, 2009

We are all hurting for one reason or another and we need God’s spiritual and physical healing. We want God to set us apart for his purpose and will and to anoint us with His Holy Spirit for His service.

Captain Moy Hernandez, Jr You Anoint My Head With Oil Psalms 23 When we think of Psalm 23, a Psalm that I am sure we have all heard and may even be able to recite from memory, we understand it to be a Psalm that brings us great promises from God. First, of all that our Lord is our shepherd and we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 23:1, Psalm 23:5

Denomination: Salvation Army

Why The Wilderness

Contributed by John A. Peck on Nov 3, 2009

Often the wilderness is a dangerous place, frought with danger, anxiety, vulnerability. Out there, we are usually the prey or the victim, but it is also the place where we encounter God.

Why are we meeting God in the wilderness (where else?) We are, generally speaking, city dwellers. We live in cities, towns and villages, but for the most part we stay out of the wilderness unless there is something there for us. But in the Bible, a lot of important things happen in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Orthodox

Refiner’s Fire

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Dec 5, 2009

Advent #2 - What to do about the heat in your life

1See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4

Denomination: United Methodist