Sermons on Fig Tree Does Not Blossom:

"In" But Not "Of"

Contributed by Dan Cormie on May 4, 2007

Who or what is the church, what does church membership look like, and how is the church to be "in" the world but not "of" it.

Dakota Community Church May 6, 2007 “In” but not “Of” John 17:14-16 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are ...read more

Scripture: John 17:14-16

Denomination: Mennonite

The Measure Of Christ

Contributed by Riaan De Villiers on May 14, 2007

There is a fullness that we need to acquire and it is the full measure of Christ. But what does it mean and how do we achieve it?

The Measure of Christ Ephesians 4:11 – 16 Ephesians 4:13 Colossians 1:26 – 27 There was a mystery that was hidden throughout the ages but is now revealed – Christ in us. But then it goes on and says that Christ in us is a hope of glory. Christ = the glory of God – John 1:14. Christ in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Habits Of The Holy Series

Contributed by Frederic Whittier on May 16, 2007

Sermon #5 Final sermon in Holiness series. This sermon looks at the question "What does a holy person look like"?

Habits of the Holy Various Scriptures It’s May again. Time for our annual reports. Every year, we are asked by our denomination to report the “number of people sanctified this year through local church ministries.” What does that mean? For instance, shall we count how many prayed, or how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5

Denomination: Nazarene

Chosen By God

Contributed by Steve Hereford on Jun 26, 2007

What does the Bible teach about election? In this message, Pastor Steve examines this subject in light of Ephesians 1:4.

Ephesians 1:4 says, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him" (emphasis mine). The word “chose” is the Greek word eklego. It means “to pick out, select” (Vine) or “choose out for one’s own self” (Wuest). This word “indicates ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jephthah: The Rough & Tumble Guy Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Aug 26, 2007

How does an outcast rebel outlaw end up in the hall of faith and did Jephthah really sacrifice his daughter?

The story we are going to look at in Judges 11 and 12 today is one of the strangest and most troubling in the Bible. It’s about a notorious man who comes to the rescue of Israel, then promptly vows to sacrifice his own daughter and gets into a big fight where 42,000 fellow Israelites are killed. Or ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Massive Exit Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 4, 2007

God does not want us to be ignorant about the rapture. We need the hope and endurance that knowledge about the rapture brings.

The Massive Exit (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) 1. Operation Evacuation Various Christian groups have been helping flooded areas recently. Here is an August 29, 2007 report: "ROCHESTER, Minn. (BP)--More than 570 disaster relief volunteers from the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention and eight ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

24.11 Prayer Is . . .? Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Sep 9, 2007

Jesus said "When you Pray" but what does that mean for us in 2007? And how do we put it into practice?

And then Jesus looked over the crowd and said Matthew 6:5 And when you pray. Prayer, what is prayer? Roger Babson “Prayer is the greatest unused power in the world.” Charles Trumbell “Prayer is realising the energies of God.” Phillip Brooks “prayer is in it’s simplest definition, is merely a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-8

Denomination: Wesleyan

Reaching For The Invisible God Series

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Apr 6, 2007

How can we find the invisible Christ in our daily life? Where does our faith enter in?

December, 2006 “Reaching for the Invisible God” John 1:1-18 Introduction: The opening lines of Howard Thurman’s famous Christmas poem, The Work of Christmas, describes where we find ourselves today--at the end of an old year and at the start of the new one. Only a week after the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

Killing The Giant Of Criticism Series

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Apr 15, 2004

A critic is one who points out how imperfectly other people do what the critic does not do at all!

1 Samuel 17:25-28 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear. Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:25-37, 1 Samuel 16:4-7

Denomination: Church Of God

Transformed Into Living Sacrifices Series

Contributed by Warren Bird on Feb 11, 2003

Exposition of Romans 12:1-2. What does it mean for us to be "living sacrifices" and how are our minds to be "transformed"?

INTRODUCTION What does being a Christian, being someone who has received God’s mercy, mean for the way we live our lives? How does being a Christian make a practical difference, day to day, for you and for me? In my next few talks I am going to work through the answers that Paul gives to that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What God Says In Tragedy

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on Sep 15, 2001

Does God speak in tragedy? I believe the Scriptures help us see what God says in the midst of a tragedy.

What God says In Tragedy C.S. Lewis said, “Pain insists upon being attended to, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” There are those who think God is silent in a time like this. I don’t think He is. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 39:5

Denomination: Baptist

What About Hell? Series

Contributed by Randy Croft on Nov 15, 2002

People often ask how a loving God could torture people in hell forever? What does the Bible say?

Will God Torture People Forever? by Randy A. Croft Does is really matter what a person believes about hell? Years ago, preachers used to fill people with terror describing the pain and suffering of hellfire. One preacher said that the fires of hell are so hot that if a sinner were ...read more

Scripture: Jude 7:7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"The Swan"

Contributed by Phil Anderson on May 31, 2004

What does the Bible truly have to say about our self-worth? Where do we find it?

“The Swan” Psalm 139:1-24 PS 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-24

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Praying Like Elijah

Contributed by Chris Hodges on Jul 28, 2003

To note that prayer really does make a difference in order to encourage people to become Christians in order to take advantage of prayer.

Praying Like Elijah Text: James 5.13-18 Thesis: To note that prayer really does make a difference in order to encourage people to become Christians in order to take advantage of prayer. Introduction: (1) James believed in prayer. He prayed so often that his knees became ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Raising Children

Contributed by Jack Russell on Feb 25, 2005

Today we dedicate a child to God. What does that mean for his parents and the community of faith in which he will grow?

This morning, for the second time in three weeks, we welcome into the community of faith a new child, Lars Hickey. Two weeks ago it was through infant baptism, today through dedication. It’s not my intent this morning to debate the issues of infant baptism vs believer baptism. Rather, let me ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed