Sermons on First Seal:

The Persecuted Church Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 16, 2011

(Preached on July 4th): This message focuses on the first church-wide persecution in Acts. Attention is given to the implications the Gospel has for believers as members of both God's kingdom and a country.

* The difficulty in approaching a July 4th message: - We sometimes "read" America into Scripture when we shouldn't - Bible doesn't reference America as a country of predict the events of July, 1776 * If we're not careful, we end up using today to exalt a nation instead of Christ - We do not worship ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Consternation Created Conversion Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Jul 22, 2008

Once the sailors decided to rid their ship of Jonah, a type of sin, they saw first hand the awesome power of God. This awarness of His majesty led them to become believers in Him.

JONAH 1:16 CONSTERNATION CREATED CONVERSION I. CONSTERNATION: (They Feared Excessively) A. Cessation. B. Certainty. C. Convicted. II. CELEBRATION: (They Offered a Sacrifice) A. Collectively. B. Cleansing. C. Conversion. III. COVENANTED: ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:16

Denomination: Methodist

The Gospel In Genesis

Contributed by Timothy Dolan on Jan 5, 2008

God’s Good Creation; Man’s Separation; and God’s Provision for Sin; give us an outline of the first gospel (proto-evangelium) in Genesis 3:14-17.

The Gospel in Genesis Genesis 3:15 1. God’s Purpose is Goodness. Read Genesis 1:4; 1:18; 1:25; for everything that God created, he said it was ‘good’; He reached the pinnacle of His creation in verse 27 (read), and then when he finished creating he said in verse 31…. A. Pretend you were ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:14-17

Denomination: Baptist

Heaven & Earth 1: In The Beginning Series

Contributed by Ewen Huffman on Jan 7, 2008

The first sermon in a series on "bringing heaven, (God’s rule, the Kingdom of God) on earth". Adam and Eve, humankind, were placed on this earth with a missional purpose right from the start.

Heaven & Earth 1- "In the beginning" 1 "In the beginning" 1.1 Adam & Eve had commission right from the start 1.2 Perfect world when humans placed? yes- "it was v good!" Gen 1 hints Gen 1 ’darkness’ ’the deep’ chaos. Ps 29. Leviathan Is 27:1 1:28 "fill & subdue" clear in Gen 2, 3 serpent Eden is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Half-Time Pep Talk

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Feb 26, 2008

Things can be pretty tough there in the first half of the game. Certainly Timothy was not having a really great time. So let’s listen in to Paul’s half-time talk.

Passage: 2 Timothy 2:1-13 Intro: Most team sports have some kind of intermission, half-time. 1. and if you have played on a crummy team, like the football team I played on in HS, you have heard the half-time “pep talk.” 2. supposed to energize, encourage, send the team back out with a “rah ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Log Off Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 17, 2007

Get the plank or log out of your own eye first. We uncover one of the crucial disciplines (and often neglected in our age) for doing this: self-examination.

Series on the Mount Log Off Matthew 7:3-5 September 16, 2007 Last week we look at the need for discernment of right and wrong. We saw how Jesus wants to tread cautiously when judging others being careful not to condemn them. We look at the context of judging that we are to refrain from judging ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:3-5

Denomination: Church Of God

It's All In The Timing Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on May 5, 2004

First of 5 on the Jesus Controversy. Key Understanding: God is expressed in Jesus It’s not the teaching, the philosophy, or the concepts of love and compassion that made Jesus controversial. It’s the person.

4/18/04 – It’s All in the Timing The Feast of Shelters Slide #1 The Feast of the Shelters was the third of the great annual festivals In the Jewish tradition there are several feasts. These events are a sort of religious holiday where several days are given to the celebration of life and the ...read more

Scripture: John 7:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Is This Jesus?

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on May 13, 2003

In these first few verses of Hebrews, we get an overview of God’s view of who Jesus was. It may surprise us the language that God uses to describe His Son.

Passage: Hebrews 1:1-4 Intro: When we don’t understand something, or we fear something, we tend to trivialize it Il) standing on the tee of a shot over water, onto a small green surrounded by sand traps, you’d be amazed at how we talk to ourselves. 1. we cut things down to a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Overpowering, Overcoming, And Overwhelming Birth Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on May 19, 2003

The Birth of the Church. Babies change everything... Parenthood also changes with each baby. Here, some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first...

Mother’s Day – The Overpowering, Overcoming, and Overwhelming Birth Babies change everything Yes, parenthood changes everything. But parenthood also changes with each baby. Here, some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first: PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH 1st baby: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love And Longing Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 13, 2011

God's plan for our transformation begins and ends with love. First we taste God's love. Then we crave God's Word. Then and only then do we love God's people.

Kung Fu Panda is the story of a flabby, out-of-shape panda bear named Po who longs to learn the ancient art of kung fu. Amazingly, Po is selected by the village leaders to become the Dragon Warrior – the greatest kung fu master of all time. But in spite of his new status, Po is still a big, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Brand Of The Cross Series

Contributed by A. B. Simpson on Oct 8, 2009

It is the cross of Christ which is the object at once of His shame and His glory. This classic sermon by A. B. Simpson looks first at the marks of the Lord Jesus, and then at their reproduction in His followers.

"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal. 6:17). The word marks in this text is translated by Rotherham, "brand marks." The world describes a mark that has been branded into the flesh, and suggests the idea of the cruel practice of certain ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:17

Denomination: *other

The Great Destruction Of Israel And Jerusalem Series

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jul 11, 2012

The subject of the whole chapter could be the great salvation of Israel and the coming kingdom of God. But first we have to look at verses 1& 2 which speaks of the great destruction of Israel.

Revelation chapter 11 is one of the most important and one of the most exciting chapters in Revelation. Five reasons: 1. It points to the rebuilding and destruction of the temple of Jerusalem. 2. It shows the destruction of Jerusalem by the Gentiles. 3. It ties in with the prophecies of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 11:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Jehovah - The One And Only Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 9, 2008

1. The Proclamation 2. The Prohibition 3. The Plea. God’s first commandment must be received Submissively, Sincerely, and Scripturally. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

Jehovah: The One and Only Exodus 20:2-3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/JehovahOneAndOnly.html I. A Proclamation. v. 2 “I am the Lord” – a statement of the reality of God. For centuries scientists and philosophers have tried to ‘establish’ the existence of God. But nowhere does the Bible make ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:2-3

Denomination: Baptist

Disciples And Miracles Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jun 18, 2014

Jesus calls the first disciples and they willingly follow Him, but there is MUCH more to see in the powerful chapter about how Jesus interacts with those around Him as God's true servant.

Disciples and Miracles Mark 1:16-45 Introduction - Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” who acts, immediately -- He is the ultimate servant; giving Himself clearly for all who will receive -- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-45

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Missing Christmas: The Innkeeper Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Nov 8, 2021

We’re doing this little three-part series entitled The Characters of Christmas in order to see the magic of Christmas in the faces of those who first experience its warmth and joy.

No one wants to miss Christmas. “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose” – who would want to miss such a magical experience? But how do you get the most out of Christmas – the full experience of Christmas? Yes, you’ll watch your favorite Christmas movies, and you’ll ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist