Sermons on Harry Houdini:

The Pains Of A Relevant Pastor

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Feb 5, 2003

I thought it would be profitable if we would use this Preaching moment to highlite THE PAINS OF A RELEVANT PASTOR. For I am foolish enough to believe that A RELEVANT PASTOR WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN THAT IS PAIRED WITH THE TASK OF TENDING THE FLOCK

One who is Hurled, Thrown into the Path of a People who are Bent on Self-Destruction Must Be Relevant. He must be Germane to a Grieving Generation. His Applications must be Appropriate for the Aches of His Age. His Preaching must be Pertinent to the Problems of His Parish. His Sermons must be ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When Seats Become Set-Ups

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Feb 6, 2003

IT IS A fact THAT You have been SET UP for FAILURE, FRUSTRATION and the FORFEITURE of all that which you have FORCLOSED! In practice, your FAITH has FAILED to FUNCTION in the FACE of SET UPS. YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN SEATS BECOME SET UPS.

Perhaps you are wondering, ’Why it is that your Service always seems to SET YOU UP?’ I don’t know, but I’m Speculating. I’m not sure, but its possible that you might be puzzled as to Why your SERVICE ultimately SET YOU UP for FAILURE? I can’t be absolutely certain, I have a sneaking suspicion ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 20:24-27

Denomination: Baptist

Kept In The New Millennium

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Feb 6, 2003

In our Text, we are privileged to overhear David expressing his confidence of BEING KEPT FROM DANGER IN A FUTURE FRAUGHT WITH FEAR, FRACTURES AND FATALITY. He speaks of A TIME OF TROUBLE.

In our Text, we are privileged to overhear David expressing his confidence of BEING KEPT FROM DANGER IN A FUTURE FRAUGHT WITH FEAR, FRACTURES AND FATALITY. He speaks of A TIME OF TROUBLE. A period in which Foundations, Family, Friends, Finances, and even Faith at times, ARE BROKEN IN PIECES ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:5

Denomination: Baptist

The God Of The No More

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Feb 6, 2003

The Apostle Paul sees a Mass of Huddled People, Disowned Yet Reconciled, in Heaven’s Embassy on earth. There they are, Joined Together and Made One, with no middle walls to separate or enmity to isolate. Yet, while possessing Peace, they are wondering: WH

Tucked away in Verse 19 of Paul Letter to the Church at Ephesus at Chapter 2, is the Text of Scripture I want to raise to level of consciousness. I have tagged and targeted for teaching EPHESIANS 2:19. It reads in the KJV: "Now therefore you are NO MORE strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19

Denomination: Baptist

A Child's Ministry

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Feb 13, 2003

The Challenge facing the church today is: IS THERE A PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN IN MINISTRY? IS THERE A LAD HERE WITH GIFTS TO OFFER? IS THERE A GIRL HERE WHO HAS GIFTS TO OFFER? Well, let’s see as we approach our Target Text.

“I will give my voice to the Lord. All the words I bring, all the songs I sing, I will give them to the Lord. I will give my hands to the Lord. All the things they do will be good and true, I will give them to the Lord. I will give my heart to the Lord. All the things I love are for Him above, I ...read more

Scripture: John 6:9

Denomination: Baptist

I Saw The Lord

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Feb 13, 2003

Now the relevance of this passage of Scripture is this: THE LORD STILL REVEALS HIMSELF IN ROUGH TIMES. And certainly, the infant days of this Twenty-First Century are ROUGH TIMES!

“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw …” During the ruthless reign and rule of the Roman Emperor Domitian (the last year of his reign in the year A.D. 95) something momentous and marvelous happened: the Risen Christ pulled back the veil of mystery which ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:12

Denomination: Baptist

Keys To An Effective Ministry

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 2, 2003

One major problem that confronts many localized churches is that they are very conscious of the fact that the Ministry of the Church is supposed to be Effective, Effectual and Efficient, but they are at a loss as to how to make it so. So I want to give yo

One major problem that confronts many localized churches is that they are very conscious of the fact that the Ministry of the Church is supposed to be Effective, Effectual and Efficient, but they are at a loss as to how to make it so. Their dilemma is How to move from the Supposed to the Actual. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Redemptive Role Of Africans

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 2, 2003

This message deals with How God uses Persons of African Descent in His Redemptive Plan based on the Young Egytpian Man found in the field in our Target Text. This message was preached during Black History Month in Bryan, Texas.

WE NEED TO TALK! Jesse Semple, a Harlem cab driver, asked Derrick Bell, a profound Black author, “Tell me what’s to celebrate about the condition of Black people who die too soon, go to prison too long, and come to know life’s blues far too early? Tell me how a holiday for Dr. King or a month of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:11-19

Denomination: Baptist

A Renewed Mind

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 2, 2003

God desires not only a Change in the Mind of His children at the time of conversion; He also desires a Mind that is Totally Renewed. The Reason evil spirits can work is that we have not been liberated entirely from a Carnal Mind.

God desires not only a Change in the Mind of His children at the time of conversion; He also desires a Mind that is Totally Renewed. The Reason evil spirits can work is that we have not been liberated entirely from a Carnal Mind. We may start out with a Narrow Mentality which cannot tolerate others ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-32, Romans 6:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

A Restored Mind

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 2, 2003

It is interesting to have a Whole Side of You that is Not Tapped: that’s Your Spiritual Side. And we’ve live so long simply dealing with the Intellect and the Flesh, the Sensual and Intellectual Side, that a Whole Side of Us Goes Untapped; and that’s Our

In MARK’S GOSPEL, CHAPTER 5, is recorded the incident of JESUS AND THE DEMONIAC, or THE MAN WHO WAS POSSES- SED WITH THE LEGION; and a Legion in the Roman army was 6,000 men. Now Matthew and Luke see Two Men and Mark only deals with One. And the theologians tell me that Mark’s is the Middle ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of A Praying Church

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 3, 2003

In order to be An Exhibition of God’s Power thru the Principle of Evangelism, We Must Have An Effectual Prayer Life. I submit to you that basically Acts 4 is an account of A PRAYING CHURCH. In Verses 23-31, Luke records the epitaph of A CHURCH AT PRAYER.

In order to be An Exhibition of God’s Power thru the Principle of Evangelism, We Must Have An Effectual Prayer Life. I submit to you that basically Acts 4 is an account of A PRAYING CHURCH. In Verses 23-31, Luke records the epitaph of A CHURCH AT PRAYER. Some Wonderful Things Happened When This ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:23-31, Acts 4:23-33, Acts 12:5-12

Denomination: Baptist

When The Message Is Over

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 3, 2003

Now the vital issue of concern to all of us is: What Act or Activity Follows the SpokenWord? Following the Public Proclamation of the Lecture or Lesson, the Exposition or Exegesis, or the Sermon or Message, the question is: What Happens?

I submit to us that the Preaching of the Gospel, the Teaching of the Text,the Sounding of the Script,Should Effect a Host of Heavenly Activity Among the Hearers of the Word! Yet, I hasten to add this appendage, the Ideal is seldom Realized in the Realm of Our Here and Now. A Host of Heavenly ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:37-47

Denomination: Baptist

Salt: The Maintainer Of Health

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 3, 2003

Since verses 13-16, discloses how we are to Function in a world that hates us, I thought it would be helpful if we would look at One of the Functions of Salt as the Maintainer of Health. One of the primary functions of Salt is to Maintain Health, to keep

In Verses 13-16, Jesus reveals Our Function in a world that hates us, even Our Relationship to a world that has gone mad. In summing up the Attitude of Kingdom Citizens, the Lord now turns to those 12 young, eager, enthusiastic disciples who were nearest to Him on the mountain; and He says to them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Denomination: Baptist

When Water Thirsts

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 10, 2003

Now I acknowledge the fact that in the natural order it sounds foolish, even funny to talk about Water being Thirsty! Who ever heard of water getting dry and needing a drink? What could quench the thirst of water? If water got thirsty, what would it ask f

Holy Father, I ask that You order my steps in Your Word; that you temper my temperament as I teach the text; that You pace my passion as I pull and promote proven principles from this powerful passage; and that You allow my proclamation to be powered by purpose. I offer this petition in the ...read more

Scripture: John 19:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

Before The Lamp Goes Out

Contributed by Norris Harris I on Mar 10, 2003

This message deals ith Equipping our Children for ministry before the Lamp of Enlightenment Goes Out.

I. There are Two Challenges facing the Church: 1. To Enlighten the Children - verse 7 2. To Equip the Children - verse 1 II. If we accept these Challenges, then the Lord Will elect the Children - verses 6, 8, 10. III. Children Have Had Ministries as it relates to the Kingdom of God. 1. Ishmael ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist