Sermons on Guard Rail:

Is God Hidden? Series

Contributed by Mark Haines on Nov 17, 2001

An exploration of the reasons why God seems hidden when we go through adversity and how we can build our trust in him despite it all.

Introduction: There are three ancient questions that are as current as this morning’s news. I call them the “Three Questions No One Asks Out Loud.” 1. Is God unfair? 2. Is God silent? 3. Is God hidden? Plunging into these questions is not simply an intellectual exercise. They are vital issues in ...read more

Scripture: Job 13:20-24

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Living Bread = Jesus' Flesh

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Aug 12, 2003

A sermon for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 14 The sermon is about Jesus giving Himself for us

9th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 14 John 6:35, 41-51 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 The Living Bread=Jesus’ Flesh   35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am ...read more

Scripture: John 6:35-51

Denomination: Lutheran

A Closer Look At Christmas Traditions

Contributed by Keith Foskey on Jun 8, 2006

We are going to look at a few of the traditions that surround the Christmas season.

OPENING JOKE: “RATS” A minister once enlisted four children to help him preach his Christmas sermon on “The Star.” He gave each child one of the four letters to hold up so he could make a point on each letter of the word “Star.” When the children stepped forward and turned around, they were in ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making Your Life Count: The Wisdom Of Godly Arithmetic

Contributed by Johann Neethling on Jun 24, 2006

God gives every human being exactly 86,400 seconds every day. This message focuses on the importance of "Godly" as opposed to "human arithmetic" in numbering our days.

MAKING YOUR LIFE COUNT: THE WISDOM OF GODLY ARITHMETIC Psalm 90: 12 1. I received the most incredible news this past week – and I expect that each of you either has or will be receiving yours as well – that an account had been opened in my name at Life Bank with a daily deposit of $86,400. Isn’t ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12

Denomination: United Methodist

Don't Be Afraid! Just Believe!

Contributed by Charles Degner on Jul 9, 2003

Jesus shows Jairus that we have a God with skin on - someone who understands our pain and weaknesses, but who can do something about it!

Mark 5: 21-24, 35-43 Pentecost 6 A Lutheran pastor who grew up in a missionary family in Papua New Guinea recalls living through some of the tremendous thunderstorms that are common in that region. As a child, he was quite frightened when the storms came in the middle of the blackened night. In ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Denomination: Lutheran

What's The Use? Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 18, 2003

Why do we do what we do in worship services? This is expository and topical of why the Bible is useful for us today, with lots of stories and quotes.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – What’s the Use? The US standard railroad gauge – that’s the distance between rails – is 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches. Why such an odd number? Because that’s the way they built them in England, and American railroads were built by British expatriates – that is, people who used to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:7

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving: It's Not Easy

Contributed by Harold Orndorff on Sep 10, 2004

Thanksgiving, while perhaps something we most need to do, turns out to be the most difficult thing we do. A brief examination shows us why.

Thanksgiving: It’s not easy Introduction: Thanksgiving: we have celebratory day for it every year. It’s a very American holiday, and it is deeply ingrained in our culture. We devote a day just to thanksgiving - at least that is what we claim. That doesn’t sound so tough. In fact, you wouldn’t ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Do Baptists Have To Be Right?

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 29, 2007

Does doctrine matter or do we just need to be saved and feel good?

Scanning some of the blog comments on MySpace.Com I find a common theme that Baptists need to be right or are intent on everyone else being wrong. The old rock song asked, "Why Does It Have To Be Wrong Or Right?" It is kind of a goofy song because in most things we want right or wrong. We want ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:18-19

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiveness Is Not An Accident

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Feb 22, 2007

On Ash wednesday, we realize that God is always ready to forgive those who go to him in honest repentance.

Forgiveness is Not an Accident Psalm 51:1-17 (NRSV) February 21, 2007 Ash Wednesday On the corner of State Roads 5 and 120 up in LaGrange County, there is a campground. The best thing about the place is that there is also a little ice-cream shop on the corner. It’s a great place to go in the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17

Denomination: Methodist

"Surrounded By A Great Cloud Of Witnesses"

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Aug 13, 2007

A sermon for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost sermon on the second lesson from Hebrews

12 Sunday after Pentecost Proper 15 Lectionary 20 August 19 Hebrews 11:29-40 Hebrews 12:1-2 "Surrounded by a Great Cloud of Witnesses" The sermon this morning is based on a our second lesson from Hebrews I would like to quote just part of the text from Hebrews 11: 29* By faith the people ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Denomination: Lutheran

Powerless

Contributed by Jerry Flury on May 7, 2003

Our powerlessness is the result of at least one of three things and more often than not is the result of the combination of all three - Lie Faith, Lax Lives, and Little connectivity!

POWERLESS MATTHEW 17:14-21 INTRODUCTION: In Matthew 10:1 we read that Christ gave the disciples power over and the authority to act against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. They were sent into Galilee to preach the kingdom of God and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Hardened Heart

Contributed by Robert Baldwin on Aug 2, 2004

God was teaching Pharoah that he was no match for God.

A Hardened Heart (Exodus 7:1-13) Intro. The first six chapters of Exodus tell us of Moses, his birth, his preparation, his faults and his arguments. He is the Deliverer, certainly a type of our Lord. The next six chapters will tell of the deliverance of the nation of Israel, the picture and the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 7:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Fruit And The Fig Tree Series

Contributed by Ewen Huffman on Aug 6, 2004

What is Jesus looking for when He goes to the fig tree? Fruit! That’s what He’s looking for in our lives.

The cursing of the fig tree. Mark 11:11- 26. WBC 8/07/04am A stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard is tailgating an honest man. Suddenly, the light turns yellow, just in front of him. He does the honest thing, and stops at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:11-26

Denomination: Baptist

"The Presence Of The Holy Spirit"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jan 8, 2005

A sermon with an emphasis on baptism.

Acts 10:34-43 “The Presence of the Holy Spirit” By: Rev. Kenneth Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA www.parkview-umc.org Cornelius was a Roman officer, a Gentile, a part of the occupation, and therefore he was Peter’s enemy and his oppressor. At the beginning ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

Denomination: United Methodist

Friends

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jun 3, 2003

A Sermon for the 6th Sunday after Easter

6th Sunday of Easter John 15: 9-17 "Friends"   9 ¶ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: Lutheran