Sermons on Finish Strong:

Divorce -- What's In A Vow

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jan 28, 2001

This sermon deals with the issue of divorce in today’s society.

What’s In A Vow 9/29/96 Eccl. 5:1-8 Matthew 19:1-12 What’s in a vow. There’s a V in a vow and it indicates that victory is possible when the vow is kept. There’s an O in a vow and it indicates that opportunities for many things to happen, some good, some not so good, and some bad. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Prophecy: Words To Us From God?

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Jan 28, 2001

Are there some ways other than the Bible through which God lets us know what He desires and what He expects from us?

RYAN: Pastor Dan, there is something I need to tell you right away. DAN: Are you sure it can’t wait until after the worship service is over? RYAN: No. No, this is important. DAN: OK, what is it? RYAN: Well, God told me that we need to change the color of the church carpet. DAN: Oh, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

Denomination: Baptist

Confidence Without A Calendar Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 30, 2001

Three ways Christians can face the future confidently without speculating about the details of Christ’s second coming.

Note: This sermon was introduced with a drama called "Party Like It’s 1999" (www.dramaministry.com). With the year 2000 on the horizon, it seems that more and more people are talking about all the possible disasters that could take place. Extremist author Gary North predicts that the y2k ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Getting Our Bearings Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

Two ways to get our bearings and stay on course in the spiritual journey.

When I was a child my mom and adoptive father bought a sailboat with fantasies of sailing around the world. But first we had to learn how to sail…which included learning how to navigate. One of my earliest memories was going out in our little sailboat from Marina Del Rey, and my adoptive dad ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Will Of God

Contributed by Richard Deem on Mar 1, 2001

Often the commited Christian finds it difficult to discern the will of God. It may surprise you to know that it is possible to be in the will of God and not really be aware of it!

TEXT: Acts 16:6-10 INTRO: In 1984 my family attended a Spiritual Retreat (Conference) in Bertchesgaden, West Germany. This was an annual event for those involved in the Ministry to the Military in Europe. These were "high times", indeed. Not only were we "high on a mountain, nestled in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:6-10

Denomination: Church Of God

Owning The Mission Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 29, 2003

Do we value the same things that Jesus places a value on? While people are eternally lost apart from Christ, these same people are of tremendous worth in God’s eyes. Amazingly, God chooses us to be involved in redemptive relationships in such a way tha

Owning the Mission Rev. Brian Bill 1/28/01 Jim had a passion for God, a love for people, and a burden to communicate the gospel. But he wrestled with the question of how to bring the message of Christ into a setting that seemed so far from him. How could he help people see and embrace the truth ...read more

Scripture: John 20:21, Luke 20:21

Denomination: Baptist

What About Other Religions? Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 30, 2003

Our society values diversity and recites the mantra of religious tolerance. Jesus made it clear that that only way to heaven is through Him. His teaching, by its very nature, was and is, very exclusive. In order to help us know how to live and minister

What About Other Religions? Rev. Brian Bill 5/13/01 As has been the tradition for the last seven years, Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia, agreed to host their community’s baccalaureate service again this year. But this time, the organizers wanted to include speakers ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, Acts 4:12

Denomination: Baptist

Let's You And Him Fight Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 2, 2003

Attempting to sow conflict works on the basis of insecurity and the need to compete. But God in Christ is about reconciliation, forgiveness, acceptance.

No doubt we love our children and think they’re wonderful. But if you ever need proof of the perversity of human nature, just watch the children. If you ever doubt the Biblical idea that all sin and come short of the glory of God, just stop at the playground and watch a while. Children fight. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-31

Denomination: Baptist

God Bless America

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 25, 2003

God has blessed America. Now it’s our turn.

GOD BLESS AMERICA I Tim. 2:1-6 INTRO.- Here is some of America’s craziness. ILL.- Someone wrote these interesting words entitled, "Only in America." 1- Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance. 2- Only in America are there handicap parking places in front of a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 1 Timothy 2:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Time For New Clothes Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 27, 2003

Midlife feels like a time for new clothes .. signs of mortality are showing up. We need new "shoes" to climb out of self-centeredness, and a new "coat" to enable us to travel out of our comfort zone.

I’ve always been glad that in this church we wear pulpit robes. I’m glad of that because pulpit robes keep you from noticing what the preacher is wearing. I don’t want you to think about what I am wearing. I don’t want you to think about my clothes because you are likely to discover that my ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 102:18-28

Denomination: Baptist

Rags To Redemption

Contributed by Robert Parker on Jul 1, 2003

Only God can bring us from the gutter to glory... From turmoil to triumph and from Rags to Redemption. Trust and lean on the Lord and watch Him work on your behalf.

Psalm 107 : 1 – 13 (107:1) “ O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (107:2) “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” (107:3) “ And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52, Psalm 107:1-12

Denomination: Christian Church

Give And It Will Be Given To You

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 3, 2003

Giving is an attitude that allows us to give all that we are, have and possess in the Holy Spirit to provide greater glory for God.

Give and It Will Be Given To You (Luke 6:38) We cannot expect our situations to improve unless we learn how to improve our attitude about giving. Giving involves far more than money. Giving is an attitude that allows us to give all that we are, have and possess in the Holy Spirit to provide ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Worship: Why? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 8, 2003

We worship because that is the way we can express our deepest fears and instabilities; we can be freed from ourselves; and we can gain motivation for the use of our lives.

Few things are shared in by more human beings than worship. Worship is something nearly everybody does, in one way or another. Now I didn’t say that everybody goes to church. Obviously not. Not even half of the American population attends any kind of worship on a regular basis. The Gallup Poll ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-12, 1 Peter 2:4-11

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding From The Whirlwind Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 11, 2003

First person pulpit drama, with "Job" responding to Elihu’s counsel and God’s probing. Designed to lead worshippers to the Communion Table as a sign of God’s understanding of human suffering.

Do you hear? Do you see? The wind, the wind, the whirlwind?! Do you feel it? Is its hot breath on you as it is on me? The whirlwind, the whirlwind! I can scarcely stand up, it is so strong! Are you not blown away with these winds? Are you not devastated? No. No. I suppose not. Few there ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Walk The Way Of The Wise Men

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jan 15, 2003

the visit of the wise men to see Jesus

January 19, 2003 Matthew 2:1-12 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran