Sermons on First Seal:

Stephen, First Martyr Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jan 2, 2022

Stephen: "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit." What is known about him is what is truly important. He was faithful, even when faced with certain death.

Stephen, First Martyr Who was Stephen in the Bible? Acts 6:5 introduces a faithful man of God named Stephen: "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit." Nothing is known about the personal life of Stephen—his parents, his siblings, or whether he had a wife or children; however, what ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:5

Denomination: Baptist

Loving Jesus First

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 10, 2022

Martha was working in the kitchen to earn Jesus’ approval, while Mary was sitting in the living room listening to Him teach. But Jesus had no problem with Mary. Why? Because our love of Him must come before our service.

The living room intimacy Mary enjoyed with Jesus will never come out of the busyness of Martha’s kitchen. Busyness . . . breeds distraction. - Joanna Weaver(1) One time a counterfeit bill made it into circulation and no one knew it was fake for quite some time. It was spent hundreds of times on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

The First Christmas Gift

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 18, 2022

Christmas is a time of giving, and it means that many of us need to think about what kind of gifts we plan to give to those we love.

Why? We know that while a gift can bring joy to some, it can also bring sadness to others. For example, men have come to realize there are some things you do not buy for your wife on her birthday or at Christmas. Men who have been married for a long period of time have learned some things. • ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:11-19

Denomination: Baptist

First Place Only Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

It is important to see that our part is to seek and exert the energy in diligent search. It is God's part to see that we find.

Gerald Kennedy in his book The Christian And His America tells of hearing the head of one of the largest airplane companies at a luncheon where he was reporting on the situation facing America in the field of air defense. He described the growth of our air force, and the probable growth of the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 2:4-5

Return To First Love Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021

Revival; renewal, and repentance: They are all the same experience of getting back to first love-to the love that puts Jesus in the center of life. This is not a rare need, but a constant need, because we, as Christians, tend to decline.

O Henry tells a short story of the lad who grew up in a small village and sat next to a lovely young lady so innocent and sweet. He left that village for the big city where he got in with the wrong crowd and became a thief and a pick pocket. One day as he was working the crowd, doing quite well, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1

Our First Love Series

Contributed by Lanny Smith on May 17, 2022

Zeal for Christ and His Word must always be covered in love. Love for God and for others.

Lord of the Lamp Stands Revelation 2:1 NLT 1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: Angel - lit. “messenger.” Likely the person(s) who represented ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-8, Acts 19:28, Acts 20:29-30, Ephesians 5:11, John 13:34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Putting God First Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 26, 2021

If God is not Lord of all, He's not your Lord at all.

On Monday, Beth and I traveled north on 74. When merging onto westbound 80, the car in front of us unexpectedly swerved to avoid another car. Because of wet pavement, it started sliding sideways and spinning in circles. Beth started praying out loud for the driver while I braked and pulled onto ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Loving God First Series

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Oct 15, 2022

Focus on Matthew 22 and How we can keep the Greatest Commandment.

Loving God First One day, a young Christian, wanting to become all that God had for him, visited the home of an elderly Christian man. He had heard that this old man had never lost his first love for Jesus over many years. The elderly man was sitting on the porch with his dog, taking in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46

Denomination: Anglican

The First Deacons Are Appointed

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Oct 20, 2022

The purposes of church government are to organize the ministries of the church, maintain doctrinal purity, and to promote the mission of the Church

The First Deacons are Appointed Acts 6:1-7 Before we look into how we should understand this text, it is helpful to review the challenges to the unity of the church we have already uncovered. The unity of the Church is an important theme. When we go back to Acts 2:1, we see that they were all in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The First And Second Commandment Series

Contributed by Christopher Arch on Apr 13, 2020

This is from a series I preached on the 10 Commandments.

Title: The 10 Commandments – I&II Script: Ex. 20 Type: Series Where: GNBC 10-6-19 Intro: I remember being a 6yrs old entering Kindergarten at Kendall Elementary School in Marion, IN, in the fall of 1972. As walked through the entry doors and stood in the foyer in plain view on the wall ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Seeking God First

Contributed by Omolola Ajiferuke on Apr 16, 2020

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you.

We won't have to worry about so many things in life if we will just sit at the feet of Jesus, spending time with him and learning to know him. But it's usually the other way round. We chase other things and try to figure out life on our own. Often times we get tired and exhausted and come ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

He Was First A Refugee.

Contributed by Mark Van Cuylenburg on Jan 4, 2021

As long as there are wars there will always be refugees from wars. How do we receive refugees?

Matthew 2:13-23 The escape to Egypt When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23, Hosea 11:1

Denomination: Baptist

The First Perspective Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Dec 18, 2019

Perspective is important. Our decisions and how we live our lives are based on how we see things. This morning in our passage, Mary gives us the very first perspective of Christmas.

Introduction: Perspective is important. Our decisions and how we live our lives are based on how we see things. I hold in my hand a glass. Is it half empty, or is it half full? Your answer depends on your perspective. Two shoe salesmen from the same shoe manufacturers are sent to two different ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Denomination: Baptist

Seek Ye First

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 17, 2020

Giving first place to the things of God.

SEEK YE FIRST. Matthew 6:19-34. 1. Heart-Treasure. “Treasure not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,” begins Matthew 6:19. Moths destroy clothes (cf. Isaiah 51:8). Even gold and silver can become cankered (cf. James 5:2). Thieves can literally “dig through” mud-brick houses. No, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Zechariah - In The First Person

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 12, 2016

An advent sermon about the life of John the Baptist and his parents as told from his Father Zechariah's perspective

Title: Zechariah - in the first person Text: Luke 1:5-25 and 3:1-20 Big idea: “May our prayers rise to heaven like incense.” It’s been 400 years since we have heard from a prophet. And as a result, things have been upside-down in our nation for far too long. We have long suffered under the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational