Sermons on Fig Tree Withers:

Steps To Spiritual Renewal Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 21, 2003

The first myth is that the Bible is too confusing to read. In verses 1-8, we’ll see that the Bible, instead of being confusing, is actually a book that you and I can comprehend ­ You can understand it!

Steps to Spiritual Renewal I received an email this week from Janelle Becker, one of our missionaries serving in the Philippines. She’s been there for about 10 weeks and is learning the language and beginning to understand the culture. In her email, she forwarded what her co-worker wrote about a ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 7:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Putting First Things First Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 21, 2003

In chapter 8, Ezra and Nehemiah comfort the afflicted. In chapter 9, the comfortable are afflicted. Joy and grief are two sides of the same coin. After a thrilling encounter with God, which causes them to break into celebration, the believers now come

Putting First Things First Earlier this week I was sitting in my office when I received an email from my youngest sister. She and her husband have been attending a church for a while and have become interested in spiritual things. We’ve been praying for both of them for quite some time and have ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:1-37, Nehemiah 9:2-36, Nehemiah 9:37-38

Denomination: Baptist

A God Who Gives Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 19, 2003

The Christmas narrative is in danger of being relegated to a sweet story that is just read once a year. Some of us have heard it so much that we’re no longer moved by the magnitude of the Majesty becoming a man. We must never forget that this is holy hi

A God Who Gives As we prepare for Christmas, sometimes I wonder if we have allowed the Savior to be stolen from our celebrations. We’ve sterilized the spiritual and been inoculated by the familiarity of the nativity. “Merry Christmas” has been replaced with “Happy Holidays.” Have you noticed ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:26-38, Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Praying For The Right Things Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 19, 2003

In the light of the Lord’s impending return, we’re to pray that our faith will grow and that our love will increase. Since those who don’t know God will be punished when Christ appears, we must avoid mediocre spirituality and apathetic prayers.

Praying for the Right Things One of my favorite commercials is for a cell phone company in which cellular static has caused some confusion between a married couple. The wife had just asked her husband to bring home “a movie, something old.” The husband however, thought she said, “Bring home a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord Who Leads Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 20, 2003

Since this psalm is so familiar, we’re in danger of missing the depth of its meaning. And, because it’s setting is in the world of sheep and shepherds, many of us city slickers can slide right past its richness.

The Lord Who Leads Most everyone has heard of Psalm 23. It’s a poem with no peer and has been called the sweetest song ever sung. Abraham Lincoln read it to cure his blues, and President Bush proclaimed it publicly to calm our nation’s fears after 9-11. I read these words out loud a week ago ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Hannah: A Model For Motherhood Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 26, 2003

Using What God Has Given A man from out east had always dreamed of owning a cattle ranch and had finally saved enough money to buy his dream spread in Wyoming. His best friend flew out to visit and asked, “So, what’s the name of your ranch?” His buddy

Hannah: A Model for Motherhood In a recent Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, Calvin is standing by his mother’s bed when he says, “Hey, Mom! Wake up. I made you a Mother’s Day card.” His mother was very pleased and started to read it out loud. “I was going to buy a card with hearts of pink and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Can You Pass A Camel Through The Eye Of A Needle? Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Mar 31, 2003

Jesus didn’t ask everyone he met to follow him. He asked the original twelve disciples–and He invited the Rich Young Ruler to follow him. The young man refused. Like many people, he was fooling himself about what it takes to have eternal life.

Can You Pass a Camel Through the Eye of a Needle? Luke 18:18-30 By Dr. David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION During this Christmas season, there are plenty of Scrooges out there. I heard about one lady who was fumbling in her purse to get her credit card to pay for a purchase. The cashier noticed she had a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-30

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiving The Unforgivable Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 2, 2003

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” The Cross is the only place we can find forgiveness. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done, or how often we’ve done it, we can be forgiven - not because we deserve it, but because we don’t.

Forgiving the Unforgivable The last words of a dying person are normally never forgotten. A person’s closing comments often reveal their pain and agony. Some enter eternity without saying anything, while others utter sentiments that disclose their values, priorities, and innermost ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-34

Denomination: Baptist

The Word Of Triumph Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 2, 2003

“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’” This cry from the Cross is a shout of victory! Jesus fully paid the price for our sins, stamping "paid in full" across the ledger sheet of our lives. Since Jesus paid it all, we don’t have to

The Word of Triumph Do you ever feel like your life is littered with half-completed projects? Even though I value being able to complete what I start, my days are often filled with unfinished business. From my childhood tree fort that had only one wall, to receiving an “Incomplete” in my college ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Denomination: Baptist

Lessons From A Leper Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Apr 3, 2003

We all have a deadly problem only Jesus can fix. When we admit our need and cry out for Jesus, stepping out in faith, we receive the power to accomplish the directions God gives us according to the Bible.

Lessons from a Leper Luke 17:11-19 by David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION Have you ever had a totally lousy day? I read about a man who was sitting in a bar, looking at his drink. He stayed like that for half-an-hour. Then, a big trouble-making truck driver stepped up next to him, grabbed the drink from ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Baptist

When You Get Bent Out Of Shape Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Apr 10, 2003

Whatever is broken in your life, Jesus can fix it. When suffering or religious rules bend you out of shape, let Jesus get you bent on the joy of God’s kingdom.

When You Get Bent Out of Shape Luke 13:10-21 by David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION I recently read a funny story that illustrates how most of us are never satisfied. Frank and Mabel had been married for 40 years. Frank turned 60 a few months earlier and they were celebrating Mabel’s 60th birthday. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-21, Matthew 12:9-14, Luke 13:10-13

Denomination: Baptist

Being Good Citizens Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Dec 2, 2004

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” In Philippians 1:27, Paul acknowledged the fact that we are also citizens on earth and must therefore be careful about how we live:

I heard former President Jimmy Carter interviewed on WGN Radio a couple weeks ago. In commenting about the current presidential campaign, he said, “I’ve never seen it so negative and there has never been a sharper divide in our country.” He then said that of the 52 elections he has monitored around ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Twelve Can Do's For Life's Can't Do Attitudes

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 5, 2004

Paul buoys himself and the Phillipians with a promise from God that encompasses twelve can do’s that are antidotes for the poison of "can’t do attitudes":

Twelve Can Do’s for Life’s Can’t Do Attitudes (Phil 4:13) "I can do everything you ask me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." (Phil. 4:13 - Living Bible) "I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to anything ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Uunashamed Of The Gospel Of Christ Series

Contributed by David Jenkins on Dec 7, 2004

Are you Unashamed of the Gospel of Christ?

Romans 1: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,[1] for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."[2]” ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Your Faith - Fact Or Fiction Series

Contributed by Sheldon Boyd on Apr 22, 2007

This is from a series on attitudes I did. I got a lot of ideas form a book by James MacDonald. You can hear this message at our web site www.cornerstonenaz.org.

LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE – PICK A GOOD ONE Your Faith – Fact or Fiction? Sunday March 11, 2007 Scripture Reference: Romans 12:2, Hebrews 11:1-6 Intro. A. Last week we looked at the attitude we want to get rid of which is doubt, but during that message also talked a lot about faith because the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6

Denomination: Holiness