Sermons on Five Foolish Virgins:

Keeping The Faith

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

We have hope only because we have faith. We only hope for what we believe is attainable. And we believe, or have faith, in God because of his love for us.

(Lectionary Reading is 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18 -- 9-15 is left out) Collect prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-18

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Ever Expanding Joy Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 30, 2007

The world is both a hard and a beautiful place. We may experience stratospheric highs in one season only to plunge into abyss. but we more often have to work our way through the regular ups and downs, and bumps of life.

Introduction There was once a farmer who began to look at his farm through critical eyes. Every place he looked on his farm he saw something wrong. So he decided to sell and move somewhere else. He contracted a realtor who came out to look things over. Then the realtor called to get the farmer’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Descending Into Greatness Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 30, 2007

Putting others before ourselves will bring us to our knees. Learning to give ourselves away is also the first step to a deeper experience of true joy.

There is something that stirs deeply within us when a man or woman gives up their life for another. A few decades ago Roger Rosenblatt wrote a moving tribute in Time Magazine. It was about a passenger on Air Florida Flight 90 that crashed into the Potomac River. The nameless 50-some-year old man ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Get Risky For God Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Oct 30, 2007

We all need someone who can speak truth into our lives, whatever the cost. We also need to be that someone for another friend. Such relationships, based on hearts united in Christ, form bonds that allow us to risk great things for God.

Introduction I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to forget that the letters in the New Testament were first written as real letters. They deal with real life and real people—but I can forget that. I mean I don’t write letters that sound anything like Paul’s letter to the church in Rome! My ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Former Failures Fortifies Future Faith Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Nov 1, 2007

WE Christians can learn a great deal about our coming "Better Resurrection" as is stated in Hebrews by studying about those who once lived died and were resurrected back to this temporal life.

HEBREWS 11:21-39 FORMER FAILURES FORTIFIES FUTURE FAITH I. FORERUNNERS: A. Frailty. B. Foretelling. C. Future. II. FREEDOM: A. Feebleness. B. Failure. C. Fear. III. FACT: A. Fellowship. B. Fulfilling. C. Fragrant. A Better Resurrection is the promise given here by the writer ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:21-39

Denomination: Methodist

Show Me The Coin Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Nov 18, 2007

We owe the one who owns us.

Show Me the Coin…Whose Portrait is This? And Whose Inscription? Matthew 22:20 Rev. Brian Bill 11/18/07 A little boy wanted $100 very badly and prayed to God for a whole week, but nothing happened so he decided to write Him a letter. When the Post Office received the letter addressed to God they ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

From Exiled Shepherd To Exodus Leader Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

Though our own lives may seem insignificant or confusing, God is able to take them and use them for His great purpose

He single-handedly saved the Jewish nation on several occasions. His life foreshadows that of Jesus, and he’s like Him in many ways. He predicted Jesus would come. He makes an appearance in the Bible many years after his death. His body is buried by God himself – an honor we read about no one ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bearing More Than Children

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

God intends that faith is passed on from parents to children and mothers are a vital part of that

I haven’t exactly told me wife this, yet, but I’m ready to move. I am. I’m dissatisfied with where we’re at. On any given day, I could list for you a dozen things that are wrong with our house, wrong with Joplin, wrong with Missouri and with the United States. I’m ready to go somewhere ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Obey The Right Thirst Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

People outside of Jesus are like a field ready to be harvested and Jesus and them are dependent on us taking the first steps to reach them

Without apology, I’m standing in front of you this morning to suggest you need to change. It’s not because there’s something about you that I don’t like. It may not even be anything I know about. But I’m telling you that you need to change, and so do I. Being a Christian is all about changing, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Extreme Makeover – World Edition Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

God is ready for us to be dead and reborn rather than just “made over.”

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. I had the verse put above the signature line on our checks. I had heard it in a song. It hits home with me. The Message paraphrase puts it this way: Proverbs 4:23 (The Message) Keep vigilant watch over ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Am The Vine

Contributed by Ben Peak on Jan 3, 2008

So we have Jesus as the Vine, God the Father as the Vinedresser, and us as the branches. Having made those distinctions, let me share with you the lessons I think we can learn from this passage.

A while back we began a study of the times throughout the Gospel of John where Jesus said, “I am…” I am the Light of the world. I am the Door. I am the Good Shepherd. I am the Bread of Life. Tonight I want us to close out this series by looking at another one of these statements that Jesus ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Holiness

When God Doesn't Want To Hear It Series

Contributed by Ken Osso on Jan 5, 2008

This is the first of a two-part series on the parable of the lost son. Heading into the New Year, this first message looks closely at the story of the lost son and the good news we have of a fresh start.

When God Doesn’t Want to Hear It Luke 15:11-32 I sat at my desk staring blankly at the screen with a bit of a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t know exactly where to begin, and I wasn’t even sure God wanted to hear it. I had just scrolled through the pages of a Word document where ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-24

Denomination: Nazarene

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Series

Contributed by Daniel Richter on Jan 10, 2008

Jesus rises triumphantly from the grave

Well, we’ve come to the end of the Book. We’ve covered a lot of ground in the last few months and looked at the story of this man: Jesus Christ. We’ve looked at His birth; we’ve looked at the beginnings of His ministry. We’ve looked at the authority that He had over nature, calming the sea and ...read more

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Brethren, Pray For Us

Contributed by David Scudder on Jan 16, 2008

Pastors need prayer and encouragement, but it is important for the congregation to first KNOW what pastors actually do.

Brethren, Pray For Us I Peter 5:1-4 Acts 20:28-31 Ephesians 4:11-13 Purpose: To explain the responsibilities that pastors have. Aim: I want the listener to select pastors wisely and pray diligently for them. INTRODUCTION: I have a two fold purpose for reviewing what the Bible teaches about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Stand And Be Counted

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 23, 2008

At a church-sponsored rally for census involvement. Census taking may seem invasive, but the information leads toward justice; God is able to use the census for His purposes; and it reminds us of the vast task of redemption to which we are called.

When Rev. Gray asked me to preach, the answer was easy. I am just about always ready to preach! You know how it is with preachers, especially Baptists: we can come up with a Scripture to cover all occasions, we have an opinion about everything, and we believe that everybody is waiting to hear our ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 7:1-9

Denomination: Baptist