Sermons on Hope Deferred:

I Can See Clearly Now

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Joseph, Pt. 3

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW (GENESIS 41:1-41) Two years before our 2008 summer arrival in Hong Kong, my wife was restless and aching to return to her native Hong Kong, so a year later we decided to give the church a one year’s advance notice because it was hard to find a bilingual pastor, but the church ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:1-41

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Storm In A Teacup Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Apostles, Pt. 7

STORM IN A TEACUP (MATTHEW 14:21-33) Storms are mostly “powerful winds in the air.” My former church in the States, unfortunately, is a street away from extremely wind-friendly Ontario, one of the windiest cities in Greater Los Angeles. Our church’s portable basketball hoop was toppled with ease by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:21-33

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Perfect Marriage? Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Couples, Pt. 1

THE PERFECT MARRIAGE? (GENESIS 3:1-20) Awhile back, I received a tricky e-mail joke, which says: “Once upon a time, a perfect man and a perfect woman met. After a perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding. Their life together was, of course, perfect. One snowy, stormy Christmas Eve, this ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Chip Off The Old Block Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Couples, Pt. 3

A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK (GENESIS 27:1-46) To relatives and friends, guessing who was the favorite child in my family was not difficult. Growing up, my sister was daddy’s girl. The family included two boys and a sister in the middle, each a year apart, but my status as the youngest son status in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:1-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Parent's Work Is Never Done Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Couples, Pt. 5

A PARENT’S WORK IS NEVER DONE (JUDGES 14:1-15:1) Have you heard of the “Are You Ready for Children?” test? MESS TEST: Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now rub your hands in the wet flower bed and rub on the walls. Cover the stains with crayons. Place a fish stick behind the couch and ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Stupid Is As Stupid Does Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Judges, Pt. 3

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES (JUDGES 16) Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger asked an assistant to prepare an analysis on a special assignment. The assistant worked day and night. An hour after he gave it to Kissinger, he got it back. There was a note attached that said redo it. The assistant ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:1-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Too Little, Too Late Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Parables for Seekers, Pt. 10 (Final)

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE (MATTHEW 25:31-46) Shortly after the Pope had apologized to the nation of Israel for the treatment of Jews by the Catholic Church over the years, Ehud Barak, the leader of Israel, sent back a message to the College of Cardinals. The proposal was for a friendly game of golf to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Wind Beneath My Wings Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 25, 2007

Nehemiah, Pt. 5

THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS: FROM ACRIMONY TO AGREEMENT (NEHEMIAH 5) The worst cold war I have ever witnessed was between two pastors I knew. One was the senior pastor and the other was the Mandarin pastor of the same church. Some deacons in the church board wanted to force the old senior pastor in ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-19

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Enjoy Life And Not Just Endure It! Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Dec 29, 2007

How to follow Christ’s example of finding joy while we’re enduring life’s chaos.

HOW TO ENJOY LIFE & NOT JUST ENDURE IT, How Christ’s Suffering Changes My Perspective About Difficult Times (Hebrews chapter five) Today’s message is our last (for now) in the series from the letter to the Hebrew Christians of the First Century but I hope we can revisit this letter at a later ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

If You Had Been Here Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Dec 31, 2007

Effectively bringing people to life in Jesus will take commitment, compassion, and conviction like that of Jesus. - based on raising of Lazarus

It was just 2 weeks ago that our parking lot out here was filled with emergency vehicles. There was a fire truck, ambulance, and police car. Even the St. John’s helicopter landed out there! That was all part of the fall kickoff for the children’s ministry. I appreciate the people who serve in ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-46

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Making The Jesus Connection Series

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Dec 31, 2007

Listening to Jesus’ words about the way He relates to the Father can help us understand the way we’re supposed to relate to the Father, and to Jesus

ding-dong! I went to answer the door. It was a Saturday morning. There on the porch stood a young man carrying some brochures. “Hello. I’m from a group that is concerned about our treatment of the environment. Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?” OK. “Are you troubled by the ...read more

Scripture: John 5:18-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Saturate In 08!"

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 2, 2008

Our theme at New Life for the new year is “Saturate in 08!” It’s a prayer to God to be saturated in 2008 with His Holy presence, His love and His awesome fire!

Lord! - “Saturate in 08” Opening Illustration: “What’s Missing?” from Blue Fish TV – We are moving from 2007 to 2008 this week and some are asking the following question, “What’s missing in my life?” Today I hope to answer that question! Thesis: Our theme at New Life for the new year is “Saturate ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bearing More Than Children

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

God intends that faith is passed on from parents to children and mothers are a vital part of that

I haven’t exactly told me wife this, yet, but I’m ready to move. I am. I’m dissatisfied with where we’re at. On any given day, I could list for you a dozen things that are wrong with our house, wrong with Joplin, wrong with Missouri and with the United States. I’m ready to go somewhere ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Anatomy Of A Growing Church Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 3, 2008

We can learn from the early church how to grow both individually and together.

Anatomy of a Growing Church Acts 2:41-47 Intro: After Peter had been filled with the Holy Spirit and had preached the sermon we read in Acts 2, 3000 people responded and became followers of Jesus. We see in the passage we just read that their lives took on a particular pattern. They began to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Working It Out Jesus' Way (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jan 4, 2008

Part 3!

Working It Out Jesus’ Way (Part 3) Matthew 18:21-35 July 8, 2007 Introduction An elderly man on the beach found a magic lamp. He picked it up and a genie appeared. "Because you have freed me," the genie said, "I will grant you a wish." The man thought for a moment and then responded, "My ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Wesleyan