Sermons on Fixed Purpose:

Sunday School: Catch The Vision! Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 27, 2004

Some experts believe that Sunday School is on the decline. They suggest that the SS hour has been added to the church service (2:00 hour services now common, often with 1:15 devoted to music) therefore SS is unnecessary.

Chances are, you don’t know Edward Kimball. He lived over a hundred years ago. He was a Sunday school teacher in Boston, where a young teenager became part of his class. The young man was a country boy. He didn’t know the ways of the city or of the church. But, he came to Kimball’s Sunday ...read more

Denomination: Other

Power In Partnership

Contributed by David Dewitt on Mar 2, 2004

There is true power in the church when the pastor and the people partner together to accomplish the work of Christ.

Power in Partnership Exodus 17:8-13 February 8, 2004 Introduction World’s Fair Partnership During the summer of 1904 an unlikely partnership was formed at the World’s Fair St. Louis. The summer was unusually hot and people were searching the fair for something to help cool them off and Arnold ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-13

Denomination: Church Of God

Ten Qualities In A Church God Blesses

Contributed by David Seeley on Mar 5, 2004

A church that is blessed by God is no accident. There are certain characteristics that bring a church to the place where God can bless it.

A church God blesses is… 1. A church where God is welcomed Ps 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2. A Praying Church Lu 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Holiness

Fellowship: Formed For God's Family Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 7, 2004

Levels of Fellowship: 1. Membership: Choosing to belong. 2. Friendship: Learning to share. 3. Partnership: Doing my part. 4. Kinship: Loving believers as family.

(Note: The outline of this sermon and some of the content have been adapted from Rick Warren’s material on 40 Days of Purpose.) I often think of the stories my grandma told about the Depression era when people would pool their soup beans and eat at each other’s homes. Times were hard, but there ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-12

Denomination: Methodist

Blending Into The Woodwork Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 13, 2004

A quiet, introverted people can still bear witness if they will first determine to be obedient, and then will affirm who they are, where they are, as an opportunity for witness.

One of the defining moments of my life the day I was the first to arrive for class. I sat for a couple of moments alone in a corner of the classroom, waiting for others to show up. A young woman came in the door, looked around, and then said to someone behind her in the hall, “There’s nobody ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

What's The Big Deal?

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 14, 2004

This is about undistracted worship.

Do you remember “Let’s Make A Deal” with Monty Hall? People would dress up in goofy costumes and carry signs to get his attention so he would come to them to make a deal. They would barter and trade. Unknowingly contestants would trade away a new car for 5 baby pigs. Or, they would trade away ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Heart Of Worship Is Our Heart Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 15, 2004

This is about authentic worship.

As I mentioned last week, worship is a broad term. It is often misunderstood. I want to come back to Rick Warren’s definition given in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, “Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship.” That’s a boiled down definition of worship. What happens ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:11-16

Denomination: Wesleyan

Can Worship Change Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 15, 2004

This answers the question about worship and change.

We don’t do well at predicting the future. In 1962 Decca Recording Co said the Beatles would never make it. Gary Cooper once said, “I’m just glad that it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.” What was he talking about? Gone with the Wind. In 1899, the director of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Denomination: Wesleyan

First Things First Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 15, 2004

This is about getting priorities straight.

Worship is bringing pleasure to God. One way we bring pleasure to God is by doing his will for us, and his church. We have two big problems though. The first is that we may think we are inferior, and the second is that we have our own ideas about what is best. I. We are not INFERIOR. When I was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

Revival

Contributed by Kevin Keeling on Mar 20, 2004

2 Chron 7:14 There Is A Condition to Revival 14 If my people, which are called by my name,

2 Chron 7:14 There Is A Condition to Revival 14 If my people, which are called by my name, There Is An Action for Revival shall humble themselves, The Depends on God and pray, The Devation to God and seek my face, The Departure from sin and turn from their wicked ways There Is A Reaction ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

Especially Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 21, 2004

Three times the word "especially" appears in the New Testament, prompting us to be intentional in fellowship, to emphasize family life, and never to forget the centrality of the message of the Cross.

Dealing with people is always messy. There is no way you can work with human beings and have everything neat and clean. When you deal with people, you get a mess. They misunderstand, they misinterpret, they make mistakes, they get it wrong. And that’s just on Sundays! The rest of the week is ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:10

Denomination: Baptist

Avoiding Spiritual Amnesia Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 27, 2004

Knowing the Bible helps us remember how to navigate through life issues, how to interpret what is happening in our lives, and how to find hope in bleak times.

At the very end of the longest chapter of the Bible, 176 verses about God’s word, comes this stout declaration, “I do not forget your commandments.” “I do not forget your commandments.” That is a tall order, to promise that you will not forget. How can you promise that you will not forget? ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:167-176

Denomination: Baptist

Prepare To Die

Contributed by Paul Decker on Mar 28, 2004

Jesus was preparing to die.

PREPARE TO DIE! John 11:45 – 12:11 S: Jesus, Death, Sovereignty, Worship Th: The Road to the Cross Pr: JESUS WAS PREPARING TO DIE. ?: How? KW: Events TS: We will find in our study of John three events that show how Jesus was preparing to die. The _____ event was the… I. SCHEMING (45-53) II. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Should You Join A Church? Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Mar 30, 2004

The first sermon in this series on Church Membership is designed to help believers understand the necessity of membership in a Bible-believing church. (See also "Which Church Should You Join?" by the same preacher.)

Scripture In May 1855, an eighteen-year-old boy went to the elders of a church in Boston. He had been raised in a Unitarian church, in almost total ignorance of the gospel, but when he moved to Boston to make his fortune, he began to attend a Bible-preaching church. Then, in April of 1855, his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Which Church Should You Join? Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Mar 30, 2004

The second sermon in this series on Church Membership is designed to help believers know what characteristics to look for when seeking to become members in a Bible-believing church.

Scripture Why do churches have so many people on their membership rolls who give little or no evidence of Christian commitment or even conversion? Why do many churches find it difficult to motivate members to give, serve, pray and share their faith? The answer is simple. The members were allowed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed