Sermons on Fresh Encounter:

Are You Confident To Serve?

Contributed by Laura Martin on Jul 7, 2020

Luke 5:1-11 and Isaiah 6:1-8. What is the starting point for Christian service?

Today’s gospel reading is probably very familiar to you. If you attended Sunday school as a child, it is a Bible story that is popular to tell children. But familiarity can create blindness. In our familiarity with something, we can fail to see what is there. I enjoyed studying to prepare this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-8

The Broken Altar - When Worship Becomes Work Series

Contributed by Barry Tallis on May 2, 2025

The first in a four part series confronts the subtle drift from passionate devotion to empty religious routine, challenging believers to recognize the cracks in their spiritual foundations and commit to rebuilding authentic altars of worship in their daily lives.

INTO: Today we're kicking off a brand-new series that's going to challenge your spiritual comfort zone and reignite your relationship with God. We're talking about being SET APART in a world that wants you to fit in! Have you ever felt like your relationship with God has become more ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 29:13, 1 Kings 18:30, Romans 12:1

Mountain Of Grace Series

Contributed by Jay Tigner on May 7, 2016

When we come to God we come to Him upon the basis of His overwhelming grace.

The title of this message solicits images in our minds of Jesus on the Cross on a mountain called Calvary and rightfully so because it was there that the fullness of God’s grace and mercy was poured out on mankind through the accomplishment of salvation. This morning, however, I would like ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:7-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Crown Of Suffering Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Dec 19, 2018

The scourging Jesus endured would have been unimaginably horrific, but His suffering was from over. Following the merciless beating, Jesus was then subjected to ridicule and mockery. All of this was done for you and me!

The Crown of Suffering Mark 15: 16-21 Our last study ended with a gripping statement: And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. It doesn’t reveal much detail. We are merely told that Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Knowing God's Will: Our Salvation Series

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Jun 13, 2005

God’s will for us is that we be saved.

God’s Will: Our Salvation 1 Timothy 1:12-2:5 As we begin this series of sermons entitled “Knowing God’s Will,” I want to first say that God gets blamed for a lot of things that are not his fault—things like tsunamis and other natural disasters, and evil in the world. We’ve all heard the ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Diamond In The Rough

Contributed by Mark Engler on Apr 20, 2002

We all have trials and tribulations in life. God will help us through them, we are all but pieces of coal and with enough help from God we can be diamonds in His kingdom

Diamonds In The Rough Text: James 1:1-12 Subject: Faith Theme: Testing of our faith Proposition: It’s a joyful thing to have our faith tested. Interrogative: How is the testing of our faith joyful? Transitional sentence: It is joyful because of the results of the testing. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ichabod Series

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Jun 29, 2006

Understanding the glory of God

Ichabod – Glory of God (6) Story of Jennifer’s encounter with the Lord’s voice a short time after becoming a Christian. She had stopped drinking when she became a Christian, but would still go to clubs with friends if she was invited. However, one evening, while at a particular club, she heard ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:10-22

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Settle For A Sideline Faith

Contributed by Steve Greene on Jul 19, 2006

A challenge to help your congregation realize that they have a responsinbility to get in the game themselves instead of settling for a sideline faith.

Don’t Settle for a Sideline Faith – Get in the Game! 1 John 1:1-9 It is possible to attend church your entire life and still spend eternity in hell. That’s a shocking statement! I suspect some might disagree with it at first, but it is the truth. It is possible to attend church your entire ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-9

Denomination: Nazarene

The Radical Invitation Of Jesus, From Exclusion To Celebration Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Mar 17, 2025

In the calling of Levi, Jesus reshapes what discipleship looks like and who qualifies to be a disciple. Would we invite the "Levi's" of our day to follow Him?

Introduction: Is Jesus “woke”? In other words, is He someone who is sensitive to or aware of the injustices experienced by the marginalized? If Jesus were walking on earth today, gathering disciples, would He do so along DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) ethical standards? Would he try to choose ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-39

Denomination: Baptist

One Touch Of Glory And We Cry Holy! Series

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Feb 24, 2005

What causes the throne to come down? When the atmosphere of worship & holiness is as it is in heaven, then the throne comes down.

ONE TOUCH OF GLORY AND WE CRY HOLY! Isaiah 60 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the LORD is shining upon you. 2 Darkness as black as night will cover all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD will shine over you. 3 All nations will ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3

Denomination: Pentecostal

How To Benefit From Trials Series

Contributed by Greg Nance on Feb 7, 2015

Suffering trials is a strange place to find anyone rejoicing, yet that is the surprising instruction of God for us in Christ.

At the heart of the gospel is the amazing truth of how God is willing to suffer to redeem us. Jesus experienced firsthand the greatest human trial imaginable. He endured being betrayed by on of the 12 apostles, deserted by all his closest friends and followers, falsely accused, being mocked and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The God Who Visits At The Appointed Time Series

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Oct 18, 2025

No matter how long you have been waiting, God’s appointed time will surely come, and when it does, nothing can stop it.

THE GOD WHO VISITS AT THE APPOINTED TIME By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Genesis 21:1-2 Supporting Texts: Ecclesiastes 3:11; Habakkuk 2:3; Galatians 4:4; Psalm 102:13; Romans 9:9 INTRODUCTION: Our God is the Master of times and seasons. He does not act randomly or by accident. Every divine ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Speak To The Wind Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 8, 2011

Throughout this series, we’ve been learning the functions of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit which gives our life meaning and ties us to God. It is the Holy Spirit that allows us to understand God’s will for our lives but it is also the Holy Spirit

Breathe: Speak to the Wind Ezekiel 1:28-2:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:5 Throughout this series, we’ve been learning the functions of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit which gives our life meaning and ties us to God. It is the Holy Spirit that allows us to understand God’s will for our ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

The Pollution Scheme Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Nov 18, 2021

The salvation from sin that God bestows through His Son, Jesus Christ, is likened to water. The devil can sometimes muddy the water and cause pain and confusion, as he attempts to pollute the living water within us.

Jesus calls the quickening gift of the Spirit “living water” because mere human nature is . . . barren of all virtue by the crimes of the devil. - Cyril of Alexandria(1) In reference to the arrival of the Messiah, the prophet Isaiah declared, “For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and ...read more

Scripture: John 4:14, 2 Kings 3:19, Jeremiah 2:13, Proverbs 16:22, Proverbs 18:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

An Incomplete Job

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Oct 16, 2006

This sermon encourages listeners to move beyond shallow religious ritualism and to allow God to touch the inner man and deal with the sin in the heart.

Introduction: (To introduce this sermon I played a short video clip showing a man washing his truck. The truck is parked in front of a house in the driveway. As you watch the video the man is meticulous in his washing. He covers every inch of the truck. He polishes the chrome. He washes every wheel ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 7:1-23

Denomination: Baptist