Sermons on Half Empty:

Giving Up Lent For Lent

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Feb 23, 2015

I am giving up Lent for Lent this year, at least the way the Church typically does Lent. Lord is not interested in what I give up for just 40 days and return to it. He is interested in me giving up the sins in my life which will make Easter more joyous

TITLE: GIVING UP LENT FOR LENT SCRIPTURE: ST LUKE 9:22-24 / II CORINTHIANS 13:5-6 Although Easter is the most significant of the Christian holidays it does not enjoy the kind of enthusiastic fanfare afforded Christmas or even Thanksgiving. Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Now & Later: What God Started He Will Finish! Series

Contributed by David Simpson on Sep 15, 2014

God works in the believer now and later. Used the Now & Later candy as a treat for each person attending the special outside worship service called September Start Up. God is working in you NOW and God will finish His work in your LATER.

Sermon Lanier Christian Church September Start Up - Outside Worship - September 14, 2014 David Simpson What God Started - He Will Finish! (Now & Later) Philippians 1:6 "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Membership Not Required Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 21, 2013

We may not say there are membership requirements to be a Christian in our churches, but does our behaviour say otherwise? Membership requirements don’t have to be verbally stated, they can be communicated with a look, with avoidance, and so on.

Back in the mid-nineties I was working in the golf business for a couple years. One course I worked at in Vancouver required $75,000 to join and there was about a 3 year waiting list, then it was about $350 a month for monthly dues as well. In the winter I went down to a very exclusive private ...read more

Like Father, Like Son Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Aug 15, 2014

Do people see you and see godliness? As we mature, those of us who claim Christ as Savior, should see our lives continually transformed into a life that is more Christ-like. How can we see that and what does it look like?

Like Father, Like Son Ephesians 5:1-20 Slide Intro I am sure most of us have heard the phrase, Like Father, Like Son. It’s a great saying when your kids do something positive, but not so great when they don’t. For the Christian, those who have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can A Christian Use Marijuana?

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Aug 28, 2015

With the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana, the Christian must evaluate if using pot is an acceptable practice or a sin.

In those States where the use and sell of Marijuana is illegal, the answer is straightforward. The Christian must abide by the laws of secular government (Romans 13:1-2, 5) which means that the use and sell of Marijuana is clearly prohibited. As our Nation moves closer to the legalization of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Flexibility - A Crazy Idea

Contributed by Chris Bartholomew on Jul 21, 2020

From Gideon we learn four steps to being flexible enough for God to use us in His Kingdom.

Flexibility - A Crazy Idea Judges 6-7 We are in the second half of a series called “Heroes of Hope.” It is a 5 week series that looks at some Heroes from scripture that had a huge faith in God. We started by looking at the story of Moses and the Israelites departure from Egypt. We discovered that ...read more

5 Ways To Bless Your Children! Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 22, 2018

The position of fatherhood comes with a grave responsibility from God and with the gift of fatherhood also comes the power to shape, guide and transform the lives of their children for success, for purpose and for the fulfillment of their children’s divine destiny.

How to Bless your Children! Question: How many here want to bless your children? Your Grandchildren – your spiritual children? Main Scripture Text: Proverbs 20:7: “The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.” (NIV) New Living Translation The godly walk with ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:7, Proverbs 18:21, Numbers 6:24-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joy To The World - A Study Of Philippians- Part 4 "Joy In Giving"

Contributed by Randy Edwards on Dec 19, 2016

Part 4 of our series on joy

Joy to the world A study of Philippians Part 4 “ Joy in Giving “ If you have been watching the news or TV lately It seems that a countdown to Christmas calendar is very common Shortly after or even before Thanksgiving We begin seeing – Blank ---days until Christmas notices ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Bitter Cup Of Gethsemane Series

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Mar 24, 2014

Jesus drank the bitter cup of Gethsemane which contained the wrath of God which we deserved!

Mark 14:32-42 The Bitter Cup of Gethsemane Also; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46; Mark 14:32-42 (LK Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.) They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-42

Denomination: Baptist

Going Out On A Limb

Contributed by Charles Jones on Feb 2, 2020

God is looking for someone who will act in Faith someone who is willing to go out on a limb. Someone who won’t question what, where or how God is leading you all you need to do is obey.

Going Out On A Limb    SCRIPTURE: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." Jeremiah 23:5; "And, behold, there was a man named ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lessons Learned From Lepers

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Nov 22, 2020

As we approach Thanksgiving, today's message looks at the lessons we can learn from a bunch of lepers on our giving thanks and our being thankful.

Lessons Learned from Lepers Luke 17:11-19 ** Watch: https://youtu.be/YxEDC54pClo As I look at the Thanksgiving story and it’s history, and then look at how we celebrate it today, I see some obvious shortcomings in the way we choose to be thankful. Let me give you a real short history lesson. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Foursquare

Guided By God Series

Contributed by Brian Williams on Nov 13, 2024

Are you committed to letting God guide you, are you taking hold of His Word and letting Him speak to you? What steps have you taken after hearing His call on your life?

We are in Genesis 24 in our Dust to Life series. Sarah had died and Abraham knew that it was time to prepare Isaac to carry on the blessing that God had promised him. He had learned through the school of hard knocks to trust God and be guided by Him throughout his journey. And now in his old age he ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 24:1-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Light In Earthen Vessels

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 29, 2022

God saw a lowly farmer like Gideon as a mighty warrior. When God looks at each of us, He sees a mighty warrior too. However, that warrior doesn’t appear unless we put our trust in the Lord and rely entirely on Him in faith.

Our text today will come from the New International Version. In our message we’re going to view a story about an ordinary man who had an intense struggle with trusting God, and this man’s name was Gideon. We will learn how when Gideon finally trusted the Lord, that he understood what it meant to ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-40, Judges 7:16-22

Denomination: Baptist

Don’t Worry… Be Happy! 1 Of 2

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 30, 2022

Several years ago, a very popular song that made the top ten list of favorites among many Americans was called, “Don’t worry…Be happy!”

It was sung by Bobby McFerin and the words go like this: “Don't worry, be happy In every life we have some trouble But when you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy now” “Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Mark #57

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 30, 2022

In 1858, the Illinois legislature, using an obscure statute, sent Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln, although Lincoln had won the popular vote.

When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said he felt, “Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.” (Source unknown) All of us know that feeling. Life is filled with disappointments. Most of us will do anything to keep from having ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:1-12

Denomination: Baptist