Sermons on First Class:

Nailprints Don't Lie

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 19, 2003

Thomas dealt with his loss by postponing his choices and by absenting himself from the community. We do the same; but the nailprints of our shame and our guilt tell the truth about us.

 We respond to loss in a variety of ways. There is no predicting how people will act when they lose something they cherish. I have seen everything from screaming and wailing to solid stoicism to outright laughter. I have conducted funerals where people have wept openly, and others ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-29

Denomination: Baptist

Let Him Save Himself (Whose Line Is It?) Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 20, 2003

The Chief Preists and Teachers of the Law challenged Jesus to save Himself, come down off the cross... then they’d believe in Him. Why didn’t He do that?

OPEN: April 15th was just this past week, and I ran across this bit of information about the IRS that I wanted to share with you this morning. According to the "Newhouse News Service:" Over the past 193 years, the federal government has received approximately $4 million in unsolicited funds from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:39-43

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blessed Hunger Pangs

Contributed by Rob Woodrum on Apr 22, 2003

Being hungry and thirsty for righteousness isn’t about fufilling obligations, it’s about an ardent desire to be right with God.

MATTHEW 5:6 "Blessed Hunger-Pangs" (This message begins with an opening video "The Fast" from Highway Video’s Classics collection. www.highwayvideo.com) Being hungry is never pleasant. In fact, hunger can inspire bizarre behavior in us as humans. When we’re hungry, we sometimes do foolish ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Isaiah 55:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Guard Your Heart

Contributed by Peter Langerman on May 6, 2003

Guard your heart, for from it come the issues of life

Proverbs 4:20-27 20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Shedding Light On That Relationship

Contributed by Paul Decker on May 6, 2003

Jesus is the light of the world.

SHEDDING LIGHT ON THAT RELATIONSHIP John 8:12-30 S: Jesus Th: Light of the world Pr: JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. ?: what? What does that mean to us? KW: Implications TS: We will find in our study of John 8:12-30 that there are three implications to Jesus’ declaration of “I am the light of ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12-30

Denomination: Baptist

Can The World Take Me Away? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 12, 2003

So much in our lives seems temporary; but God can give us a fresh start, can transform our incompleteness, and can give us hope.

Somebody asked me, when I was getting ready to take study leave, “Why are you doing this? Are you going for another degree? Are you preparing to take another job? And did the deacons make you do this?” Well, I said, I’m taking the study leave because I don’t get much reading time under normal ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Wonders Of A Woman's World Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on May 12, 2003

All of us, men and women, have doubts about how well we are doing in this world. In this message, we are thinking through seven of the significant doubts that a woman might have. If you answer all these “I wonders” in the right way then your life and fa

MOTHER - Job Description POSITION TITLE : Mom, Mama, Mommy, Mother JOB DESCRIPTION : Candidates must be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Denomination: Baptist

Our Sovereign God Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 13, 2003

The word “sovereign” is both a noun and verb. As a verb it means, “to rule,” and as a noun it means “king” or “absolute ruler.” To say that God is sovereign is to say that God is in charge of the entire universe all the time.

Our Sovereign God I came across a couple of children’s prayers this week. Johnny had been misbehaving and was sent to his room. He emerged a couple minutes later and informed his mother that he had thought things over and had even said a little prayer. The mother was very happy and said, “If ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:34-37

Denomination: Baptist

One Nation Under God

Contributed by Abraham Shanklin on May 19, 2003

As a nation there should be one song we sing in harmony and that’s the song of praise. We owe a lot to the invisible yet very visible God who continues to make His mark in everyway

One Nation Under God Scripture Reference: Psalm 33:1-12 Introduction Last nights final of the U.S. Open Tennis championship was an awesome display of power and skill. Venus and Serena Williams served balls upwards of over 100 mph. These were two sisters, ranked number one and number two in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:1-12, Psalm 31:31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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