Sermons on Good Planning:

Christmas - Joy Or Despair?

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 13, 2001

Herod issues an order that all little boys two years old & younger in Bethlehem are to be murdered. In horror, we wonder how anyone could have reacted that way to a baby’s birth.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2014) A. Please listen as I read these familiar words found in Matthew 2:1-12. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem & asked, ‘Where is the one who has ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of God's Glory Series

Contributed by Ken Alford on Nov 22, 2001

NOTHING LIMITS THE GLORY OF GOD. Here are five qualities of God’s powerful glory.

September 7, 1997 -- PM THE POWER OF GOD’S GLORY Luke 4:1-14 INTRODUCTION: It is the closing scene in the motion picture, Ben Hur. The sky is disappearing behind the ominous looking cloud formations. The movie camera takes a long shot of three crosses rising out of a distant hill. Then the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Where Do We Go From Here? Series

Contributed by William Jewett on Nov 27, 2001

part 4 of our series on worship as a lifestyle not an event or place

God is the Audience of My Worship Gordon Dahl said, "Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, work at their play, and play at their worship." William Temple, the renowned archbishop of Canterbury, defined worship as quickening the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 95:1-7

Denomination: *other

Taking A Stand

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 1, 2001

Gideon moved from being a defeatist and doubter to being a doer.

TAKING A STAND Judges 6:1-22 In the mountains of East Tennessee, there is a beautiful little church with a strange name. On the sign out front the name is artfully written: “Compromise Church.” There is a story behind the name. The church had been built early in the 20th century and the ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-22

Denomination: Methodist

When You’re Down!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 3, 2001

Jesus says that part of the solution to a troubled heart is trust, & he tells His apostles to trust in 3 things. #1 - Trust in My Presence, #2 - Trust in My Promises, #3 - Trust in Me.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED 2018) TEXT: John 14:1-6; John 12:13,19 A. Have you ever had one of those days when everything goes wrong? It ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:3, John 14:1-6, John 12:13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Prayer Of Jabez

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 8, 2001

Jabez prayed a model prayer that God would bless him, increase his territory, place his hand upon him and keep him from evil.

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Denomination: Methodist

Higher Ground

Contributed by Randy Santiago on Jan 9, 2001

Vision

Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish." The NIV translates it different but equally as powerful. "Where there is no revelation, the people cast of restraint." "Where there is no vision the people wander aimlessly." "Where there is no vision the people fall apart; they ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 29:18

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hate The Sin, Love The Sinner

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 10, 2001

I want us to see Jesus - His attitude toward sin, and His attitude toward sinners. And in order to do that, let's look at 3 people and their encounters with Jesus.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (Revised: 2022) TEXT: Matthew 9:10-13; John 4:1-42; Luke 7:36-50, 19:1-10 ILL. There is a story about a pilgrim standing outside heaven, longing to enter, watching as others were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13, John 4:1-42

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cost Of Following Jesus

Contributed by Howard Harden on Jan 13, 2001

Luke shared three encounters from Jesus’ life to teach us the cost of following Jesus.

The Cost of Following Jesus Luke 9:57-62 I recently was moved by an encounter I had with a little girl. We were in line at the small town store where I live. She was small and dirty. Her clothes were unwashed, her feet barefoot. Dirt was upon her face, but she did not notice. She ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Baptist

Palm Sunday - Jesus Was Weeping!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 31, 2001

I wonder, is Jesus still weeping today? When He turns & looks into our lives, I wonder, will He weep once again because of what He sees?

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK (REVISED - 2019) TEXT: Luke 19:28?44 I wish simply to remind you this morning of a familiar Bible event. It began early Sunday morning (Palm Sunday, we call it today) as Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44, Luke 19:28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Healing Power Series

Contributed by Bob Hostetler on Jul 5, 2001

The 2nd step in the biblical process of Healing the Hurts You Don’t Deserve

Healing the Hurts You Don’t Deserve: The Healing Power Scripture Text: John 11:35, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 It had happened suddenly. Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha and friend of Jesus, fell sick. His strength ebbed as his fever crept upward. He took to his bed, and ...read more

Scripture: John 11:35, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Healing Process Series

Contributed by Bob Hostetler on Jul 5, 2001

The fourth and final step in the biblical process of Healing the Hurts You Don’t Deserve

Healing the Hurts You Don’t Deserve: The Healing Process Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-17 Good morning. My name is Bob Hostetler, and I’m not a patient man. I know--I know, some of you are shocked. I know my kids are thinking, “Yes you are, Dad, you’re VERY patient.” But it’s true. I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Rules: God-Tested Secrets For Relationships

Contributed by Bob Hostetler on Jul 6, 2001

Three secrets to apply to your relationships, from Ephesians 5 and 6

The Rules: God-tested Secrets for Relationships Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-6:1-9 Intro: I hold in my hands a book that has been much talked about since it first appeared in 1995. Its critics call it hopelessly old-fashioned and unrealistic; its fans say that it is a refreshing return to ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Worship

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jul 16, 2001

What is worship? How do we worship, and what prevents us from worshiping?

We probably all have some kind of mental picture of what it means to worship. Depending on your church background, when you think of worship you may think of classical sacred music - a great choir, singing the Hallelujah chorus. Or perhaps what comes to mind is the image of a traditional brick ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:11

Denomination: Baptist

Discipleship

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Aug 3, 2001

What is discipleship? What does it have to do with the church?

This morning, we continue our look at the five purposes of the church, the five primary reasons that we relate to one another as a body of believers, rather than just living out our faith privately as individuals. So far, we’ve looked at three - evangelism, worship, fellowship - and today, we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24

Denomination: Baptist