Sermons on Giving Spirit:

What To Do About A Broken-Down Church

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 7, 2009

God is not committed to maintaining a church just because it is there. His commitment is to maintain us if we show compassion, particularly on the young. Restoration of our church life in challenging times begins with repentance, self-examination.

Two or three weeks ago, on a Sunday morning, I noticed several of you staring straight up here, right into the notch of this arch. I too looked up there, and what we all saw was a sizable piece of paint and plaster hanging there by a mere thread. It looked as though it was poised and ready just in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Financial Crisis And The Bible

Contributed by Michael Russell on Jan 12, 2009

The application of some of the Old Testament law to the financial crisis - in particular, debt-related slavery and the prohibition on charging interest.

The financial crisis and the bible This year, you could barely read the news without a mention of the financial crisis. Some of the jokes summed it up well: With the current market turmoil, what’s the easiest way to make a small fortune? Start off with a large one. How do you define optimism? ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:12-18

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

A Crash Course In Character Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jan 14, 2009

God wants to shape your soul to be just like Jesus. Will you cooperate?

John Ortberg tells of a man in a church he once pastored whom he called Denny. Denny was not a happy man. He had attended church his whole life, but he had never been happy. Even the expression on his face was perpetually negative – so much so that one day a deacon asked him, "Denny, are you ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Time Of Jacob's Trouble Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Jan 29, 2009

This sermon is Christ explanation in Matthew to the disciples on the his return to them before the tribulation.

A Biblical View of the End Times THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE Matthew 24:1-31 Intro: Today, we continue our study of what the Bible has to say about the end of time, and the events that will take place as God completes His great plan. Thus far, we have considered the Rapture of the church and the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Curse Of The Mummy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jun 9, 2008

Who could the Pharaohs (mentioned in Exodus) have been, and what can we learn from the curse associated with their reign?

OPEN: A few months ago I was reading an article about King Tut (his full name was Tutankhamun). The ancient Egyptian pharaoh, and artifacts from his tomb, were making a tour and would be stopping in at Chicago to be displayed at one of the museums there. As I read the article I became intrigued ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:6-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Adventure In The Advent

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jun 28, 2008

Christmas Series

THE ADVENTURE IN THE ADVENT (MATTHEW 2:1-12) Three weeks before Christmas, I was tricked by the moderator who wished worshippers with a “Happy Holidays” greeting at the start of worship. I echoed the same in return instead of saying “Merry Christmas!” For many years I was dismayed with the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What's Happening In America?

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jul 3, 2008

What is causing Americans great concern about our country? 1- The economy 2- The moral decay

Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance." Don’t you wish that the Lord was the God of America? INTRO.- What’s good about America? How about peace and security? ILL.- A lady said: Security and peace of mind were part of the reason we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pride And Prejudice Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jul 22, 2008

When we are envious or jealous of the life someone else has, we show we are not grateful for what God has given us. Also a section that deals with the issue of Interracial marriage found in this passage.

There was once a young man decided to join a monastery that had a vow of silence. The monks were not allowed to speak with the exception of their birthday. Once a year on their birthday each monk could come before the monk in charge and speak two words. They always chose their words ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 12:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Secret Of The Hidden Room Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 12, 2009

The Ark was the center of the worship at the Tabernacle. What made it so important, and what does it teach us about what Jesus did for us?

OPEN: A black Methodist preacher, was sent to a formerly all white church in Cincinnati, Ohio. His daughter, Leontine Kelly remembered it was the most magnificent church she had ever seen. • It was a Gothic structure with beautiful polished wood. • It had a beautiful crystal chandelier. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 25:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Road To The Cross Series

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Apr 15, 2009

The way a person faces their death can tell you a lot about them.

John 17:1-26 February 17, 2007 The Road to the Cross You can tell a lot about a person by the way in which they face their own death. Some people are afraid, others bold, some are angry and selfish, while others are calm and selfless. Seeing someone in their final days can evoke a sense of ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26

Denomination: *other

Palm Sunday – The Betrayal Of Christ

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Apr 18, 2009

The closest companions betray Christ because of the reality of life.

Palm Sunday – The Betrayal of Christ Over the last few weeks we have been examining snapshots of Jesus’ ministry. In particular moments that took place in Jerusalem and around the temple. Today is Palm Sunday. A day that we remember the parade that occurred when Jesus and his followers ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

"In The Begining . . ." Series

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on May 1, 2009

(PowerPoint Slides and Cell Study Notes freely available by emailing Emile@Wolfaardt.com) Discovering the phenomenal truth that from everlasting to everlasting, the eternal sovereign God had you on His mind.

Journeying With John “In the Beginning” John 1:1a I want to welcome you to the start of the one of most profound journeys you have ever taken in your life. I have asked God that this journey will be the most Jesus revealing, truth establishing, perspective shaping, ministry empowering and life ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1

Denomination: *other

Blocking And Tackling Series

Contributed by Steven Spillman on May 2, 2008

“The secret of success is in the blocking and tackling. Focus on the blocking and tackling and everything else will come along.”

It was something I should have learned in High School football. After all, I played tackle; it would have made my experience more meaningful if I knew it then. But I didn’t. It was a lot of years after high school; when I was in business and a mentor shared it with me. “The secret of success is in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:37-39

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Narnia: Knowing Aslan Series

Contributed by Michele Oskins-Carrell on Jan 2, 2006

"Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – December 4, 2005." "Knowing Jesus means knowing that Jesus does not excuse your sin, but that he offered himself as an atonement for your sins, which also means that Jesus has taken the blame for your

"Prayer Introduction: If you have walked around the church’s buildings at all you have seen an obnoxious number of Narnia posters all over the place. There are two reasons for this. First, I requested some free posters and they sent a couple hundred. Secondly, I am hoping that you are getting ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

Faith & Future

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 8, 2006

1. Our faith in the future is built on God’s faithfulness in the past. 2. Our faith determines our Future. 3. We need to build an altar of faith for future generations.

An old Chinese proverb says, “May you live in interesting times.” That has certainly been the case for the world this past year. Mark Bowden, editor of The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, offered this observation about the year we have just come through: “The world was wracked with pain in 2005, ...read more

Denomination: Methodist