Sermons on First Christmas:

Life Is Not Fair Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 29, 2003

Life seems unfair to the disappointed, the cheated, the cynical. It was unfair to compel Simon to carry the cross -- injustice piled on. But God uses injustice to stir His people to action, to help us get beyond mere survival, to give us to one another.

Life is not fair. It just isn’t. The playwright MacLeish has his character “J.B.” scream out something we are all afraid to say, but it might be true: “If God is God, He is not good; if God is good, He is not God.” What an awesome thing to think, let alone speak! “If God is God, He is not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Church Growth - How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days Series

Contributed by Ken Kersten on Jun 3, 2003

The title of this message is “How to lose a guy in ten days". Unfortunately, most churches usually lose them in about 10 minutes. Let’s explore why that happens.

How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days Matthew 28:18-20 True story – Football team getting killed – guy fumbles and it rolls over by a teammate. The guy that fumbles yells, “pick it up” to which his teammate responds, “You pick it up. You dropped it.” Well, I’ll tell you what, God is looking for some ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 122:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Down To Earth Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 4, 2003

Spiritual laziness comes from poor theology and from creating the illusion of activity, leading to burnout. The grace of Christ takes us beyond such posing.

My topic today is spiritual laziness. Spiritual laziness. Now we are all familiar with physical laziness. Physical laziness is like spring fever, when the warmth of the air and the sound of the birds is far more attractive than the piles of paper on your desk or the lectures in your classroom. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Denomination: Baptist

Swallowed Up Or Spewed Out Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 6, 2003

God disciplines us when we turn aside from His will: either we get swallowed up in addictive behavior, churchianity, busy-ness, and controversy; or God spews us out as ill-equipped, unreceptive, divisive. Confess our distress, admit our limitations, and

What parent does not dread this awful experience? In your care is a small child. You turn your back for just an instant –to answer the phone, to get a drink of water – and when you come back to that child, she is coughing and choking, clutching at her throat. Those curious eyes saw something ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Revelation To Laodicia - The Church That Makes God Sick Series

Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004

The Letter to Laodicia - about what makes God sick - a lack of commitment

The Revelation to Laodicea Have you ever been sea sick – you know, just continually wreaching – not for the skys, but yeh, I won’t go into it any more. At least you have to look on the bright side - you are the fish’s best friend. No it is not very fun at all being sick. Not fun at all. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Invisible World Of Faith Series

Contributed by David Jenkins on Nov 18, 2004

The invisible world of faith

Hebrews 11:1-3, “1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Be Of Good Cheer, A Strange Request

Contributed by Marvin Walker on Dec 2, 2004

Many lessons can be learned from Paul’s shipwreck experience, Life can be full of heartache, disappointment, and grief; but we still have abundant reason to "BE OF GOOD CHEER."

There is nothing righteous about a gloomy, despondent, pessimistic attitude in a believer. In fact, these things are the opposite of righteousness. Those who honor God the most are those who walk before Him with a cheerful heart, full of joy, believing His precious word and rejoicing in His ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:10-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Successful Christian

Contributed by David Shipman on Dec 4, 2004

Being a Christian means something. There are promises in the Bible and if we are not experiencing the promises it is hard to make a case that we are successful in our Christian walk.

I want to talk this morning about being a successful Christian Many people would define being a successful Christian as being a Christian that makes it to heaven. Do you know what the definition of success is in our dictionary? “Desirable Outcome” or “one that succeeds” I want you to think ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Believer Is Not To Continue In Sin (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Mark Engler on Dec 7, 2004

Just because we are under grace and not the law does not mean that we should sin. Sin is something that traps, entices, and can control you; it is very hard to break away from. We should not seek to abuse God’s grace, but to live under His grace day in

By: Mark Engler, Mt. Vernon Christian Church, Mt. Vernon, MO Sermon done with help from The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible The Believer is Not to Continue in Sin (Part 3) He Does Not Have License to Sin, 6:14-23 Intro: Just because we are under grace and not the law does not mean that we ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:14-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Identity—who Am I? Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Dec 9, 2004

STRENGTH FOR DAILY LIVING #1 God will renew our strength as we remember our real identiy. The answer to the question “Who am I” is found in knowing WHOSE I AM! Your identity is established in heaven by God—you are a child of God!

INTRODUCTION: The movie Chariots of Fire tells the story of Eric Liddle, an Olympic champion and missionary to China. Eric would run with a reckless abandon; his sister commented that the movie failed to capture the wildness of Eric’s running; when he would run it was as though he would suddenly ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-19

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Tenacity—what Will I Choose? Series

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Dec 9, 2004

STRENGTH FOR DAILY LIVING #4 What will we choose? Our choice is critical, continual and convincing.

INTRODUCTION: Do you remember the story “The Little Engine That Could?” A trainload of toys was being taken over the mountain to all the children in Sunshine Valley, but unfortunately the engine broke down. One by one different engines came by, but none were willing to take the trainload of toys ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-19

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Holiness Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 12, 2003

Holiness is the gift of an identity, appearing to be too good to be true, but received by accepting forgiveness.

Today’s message is framed by incidents provided by two church members. I will not be naming the players, but they have given me both the beginning and the ending of this message on holiness. The beginning: a few days ago one of you told me that you came to worship each Sunday so that you could ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16

Denomination: Baptist

Broken

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jun 12, 2003

If your life has been broken into many pieces come to Jesus.

“Broken” Ps. 51 : 17, 34 : 18, 69 : 20, & Prov. 17 : 22 Many times we talk about being hurt and broken, we believe the saying that time heals all wounds, we believe that a few comforting words, a little sympathy will make everything alright, and we don’t understand when people don’t seem to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:17-34, Proverbs 17:22

Denomination: Apostolic

God Is God And I Am Not

Contributed by Dennis Cocks on Jun 16, 2003

In our Scripture verses this morning we see God comparing man with Himself. He has all wisdom, knowledge, and all power, while man, man is nothing but dust. Steven Curtis Chapman put it this way in one of his songs, “God Is God And I Am Not.”

GOD IS GOD AND I AM NOT TEXT: ROMANS 11:33-36; PSALM 103:13-22 INTRODUCTION: In our Scripture verses this morning we see God comparing man with Himself. He has all wisdom, knowledge, and all power, while man, man is nothing but dust. Steven Curtis Chapman put it this way in one of his songs, “God ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:33-36, Psalm 103:13-22

Denomination: Baptist

Ambassador

Contributed by Eric Bland on Jun 20, 2003

The necessity of being an ambasssador, being reconciled to and accepting Christ.

Ambassador Eric A. Bland Paul, a man that I admire very much, was a man that was willing to give up everything in order to serve our Lord and our God. He was willing to give up the uppity up lifestyle to subject himself unto God. And because he was willing to give up the world, God was able to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist