Sermons on Half Hearted:

The Cross Anticipated

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 22, 2001

The Cross of Jesus is anticipated in the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, telling of The Father’s Sacrifice, The Son’s Submission and the Lord’s Substitute.

THE CROSS ANTICIPATED If I had to give this message a title it would be "The Cross Anticipated in Abraham’s Sacrifice of Isaac" (Genesis 22:1-19. The story has three characters - there’s the Father: Abraham; there’s the Son: Isaac and there’s the Voice from heaven. The story revolves around three ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Imitating God Without Insulting Him (Part 4) Series

Contributed by Marcus Naugler on Nov 23, 2001

God desires to see His children become like Him in the way they make decisions, the way they speak to each other, the way they act when no one is around, and the way they share His Word.

Imitating God Without Insulting Him (Part 4, The Call) Illustration of last night’s water heater fiasco and no towels. Okay, so it’s about 8:00 and I’m working on some homework, getting gall the things down that I needed for today, checking everything twice. Checking my sermon notes, thinking, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

'tis The Season

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Dec 1, 2001

’Tis the season to live and give, to reach and teach.

‘ TIS THE SEASON Eccl. 3:1-8 INTRO.- ILL.- Someone described the seven ages of man in these ways: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills, wills. Spills - infancy. Drills - childhood. We get drilled about doing this and that. Thrills - Teen years perhaps. I’m not sure they are all that ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

While U Wait, Seasonal Basics For Believers

Contributed by Scott Hippler on Dec 3, 2001

While we wait, do we get frustrated and anxious or do we realize that only through times of waiting can our Lord accomplish some great stuff.

Don’t you just hate to wait? I do. Patience is not something that I am exceptionally good at and as a matter of fact is one of the main areas in my life that God is having to work overtime to bring into line with His will and plan for my life. Christmas is the worst when it comes to waiting. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Healing Of Deep Wounds Series

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Dec 5, 2001

Joseph’s life is an example of how God can bring healing to the deep wounds of our lives.

Life Lessons from Joseph – Part 2 December 2, 2001 INTRODUCTION Show clip from Forrest Gump – Forrest says, “Sometimes there just aren’t enough rocks.” Obviously, that was a scene from the movie “Forrest Gump.” Forrest’s lifelong friend Jenny had grown up in a home where she was abused by her ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:14-21

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hurry Up And Be Patient Already!

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 13, 2001

How James calls on Christians to be patient because Jesus is coming soon and because God blesses patience.

December 16, 2001 James 5:7-11 7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-11

Denomination: Lutheran

"God Became A Human.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Dec 19, 2001

Year A. 4th Sunday of Advent Romans 1: 1-7 Title: “God became a human.”

Year A. 4th Sunday of Advent Romans 1: 1-7 December 23, 2001 Title: “God became a human.” “The Letter To the Romans,” appears first in the Pauline corpus, the collection of letters either written by Paul or by a disciple of Paul, because it is both the longest and the most important. As such it ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Denomination: Lutheran

You Have Been Called To Belong

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Dec 21, 2001

Paul explained his call to the Romans and what he called them to do

December 23, 2001 Romans 1:1-7 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Denomination: Lutheran

Reason For The Season

Contributed by Engleburg Toney on Dec 25, 2001

Christmas is the Devil’s tool to modernize idolatry. He competes with God for our worship. We must know if God is pleased with our celebration of this holiday.

The Reason for the Season It’s finally here, the holiday season. Outside of the Super Bowl, it is the biggest commercialized event of the year. The world is a wild jungle of individuals on a shopping frenzy. The Nativity scenes enlightens landscapes across the map, lights bedeck the borders of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 10:1-6

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

"We Need To Remember That God Is In Control Of Our Lives.”

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Morrissey on Dec 27, 2001

Epiphany of our Lord January 6th, 2002 Isaiah 60: 1-6 Heavenly Father, what makes us miserable is not so much the circumstances of our lives, but our expectations of what and how life should be. Empower us Lord to see your reality. Amen.

Epiphany of our Lord January 6th, 2002 Isaiah 60: 1-6 Heavenly Father, what makes us miserable is not so much the circumstances of our lives, but our expectations of what and how life should be. Empower us Lord to see your reality. Amen. Title: “We need to remember that God is in control of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Why Easter Matters

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 29, 2001

Easter matters because the Christian God has identified with our humanity.

WHY DOES EASTER MATTER? EASTER SUNDAY, 2001 Congressman David Obey of Wisconsin tells the story about the late Senator Hubert Humphrey and Federal Judge Miles Lord. Humphrey and Lord were on a fishing trip in Northern Minnesota. While at a sporting goods store, the Judge noticed a tour bus from ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:14-19

Denomination: Church Of God

Everything Is Failing, But Nothing Has Failed

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 5, 2001

Sermon for Senior Adult Sunday; Joshua’s "retirement speech" identifies his sense of God’s promises kept and focuses on claiming the future for the next generation.

Are you a little tired of all the pious platitudes about failure? You know, the folks who tell you that failure is a good thing because you will grow from failure and you will be a better person? I am a little tired of that. I do not want to grow from failure. I want to be a success. I do not ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 23:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Schoolyard Violence (Opening The Circle)

Contributed by David Swinney on May 11, 2001

The only Biblical, Christian response to the violence of our society is to let the love of Jesus be the rule for the way that we treat others.

Schoolyard Violence (Opening the Circle) Matthew 5: 21-26; 38-48 Sunday Morning, March 11, 2001 Introduction: The Bus Ride Home The boy was already a little worried when he walked up the stairs to of the school bus. He was running late that afternoon, and the front seats, the ones near the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-22, Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Gideon: God's Reluctant Hero Series

Contributed by Rick Bartosik on May 23, 2001

Gideon was an unlikely hero. But God used him in a powerful way, just as He uses all who will believe Him and obey.

"Gideon: God’s Reluctant Hero" Judges 6:1-40 Mililani Community Church Pastor Rick Bartosik June 6, 1999 Today is a very famous day in history, called D-Day. On June 6th 1944, during WW II, thousands of allied troops landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France to begin the liberation of Europe from ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sacrificial Act

Contributed by Lynell Friesen on May 24, 2001

We have life because the grave could not contain it’s prey. Paul told us that Christ conquered even the last enemy - death.

On Good Friday we spoke on Isaiah 53: 4-6 discussing the Universal Depravity of man and the Universal Sufficiency of Christ. Sometimes Christians find that concept hard to grasp. Dr. Barnhouse used this illustration to portray this simple truth to his congregation and I would like to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:7-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed