Sermons on Human Effort:

Life Cycles Series

Contributed by David Welch on Nov 17, 2006

First in a series on the unlikely heros of faith introduced in Hebrews 11

Chico Alliance Church October 6, 2002 Pastor David Welch “Life Cycles” Unlikely Heroes: Part One Introduction God uses all kinds of people to accomplish His work. We ought to consider it a privilege that God includes imperfect fragile humans to bring about eternal impact. Oftentimes a whole group ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-5

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Mephibosheth And Me

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 20, 2006

The story of Mephibosheth is a perfect illustration of the Gospel. I used this sermon on a "Friend Day" when we expected many visitors.

Introduction: A. Today I want to tell the story of a man named Mephibosheth. 1. Now there’s a name for you! Anyone want to use that name for their son? 2. It’s so hard to pronounce that I thought about giving him a nickname for today. 3. I thought about just calling him “M.” 4. Then I thought ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Can God Do With Your Fish?

Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 22, 2006

Being available to God - The Loaves & Fish

What can God do with your fish? – Luke 9:10-17 Gladstone Baptist Church – 4/12/05 pm I’ve got a question for you tonight? Who likes Anchovies? Those little fish that people put on pizzas. You either love them or hate them. Okay, who like sardines? When I was a kid, a typical Sunday lunch ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

On The Verge Of A Miracle

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Nov 22, 2006

We are on the verge of receiving God’s blessings and miracles in our lives, but there is something we must do first.

Please turn to the fourth book of the New Testament, JOHN 5:1-9. That will be our main text for today. ‘Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is, in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate, a pool which in Aramaic is called Bethesda, and which is surrounded by five ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9

Denomination: *other

Commitment

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 19, 2005

Commitment to worship and work.

INTRO.- ILL.- A journalist was assigned to the Jerusalem bureau of his newspaper. He got an apartment overlooking the Wailing Wall. After several weeks he realized that whenever he looked at the wall he saw an old Jewish man praying vigorously. The journalist wondered whether there was a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:34-39, Matthew 10:24-39

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Commitment To Witness

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 19, 2005

We all need to be committed to witnessing for Christ.

INTRO.- ILL.- You have perhaps heard the old story told about a pig and a chicken walking down the road together. As they walked along they read a sign advertising a breakfast to benefit the poor. The chicken said to the pig, “You and I should donate a ham and egg breakfast.” The pig replied, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Taking The Fear Out Of Halloween

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Oct 26, 2005

The truth of God’s Word will take the fear out of Halloween.

INTRO.- ILL.- One dark night two guys were walking home after a party and decided to take a shortcut through the cemetery. When they got to about the middle of the graveyard they were startled and stopped moving. There was this terrifying noise, “TAP-TAP-TAP” coming from the shadows. Trembling ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Shake That Ole Snake Off Into The Fire!

Contributed by Val Black on Oct 27, 2005

Spiritual vipers often appear out of the fires of life.

SHAKE OFF THAT OLE SNAKE INTO THE FIRE I. Background: The religious Jews (Pharisees & Sadducees) want to kill Paul. Paul goes to the Temple in Jerusalem and is recognized by the Pharisees. They start to beat Paul but he is rescued by Roman soldiers. Paul gives a defense before the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-6

Denomination: Charismatic

Laughing At God's Promises

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Oct 28, 2005

Sometimes God’s promises are so amazing they are hard to beleive! Yet God does the amazing.

In the movie “It Could Happen to You” which is said to be loosely based on a true story, Nicolas Cage plays a cop who stops in to a diner and doesn’t have enough money to give a tip to the waitress, so he makes an unbelievable promise. He says that he has a lottery ticket and if he wins, her tip ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:7-15

Denomination: Methodist

Becoming And Looking Different

Contributed by David Sorn on Nov 5, 2005

Christians must remember that they are called to put off their former way of life, to renew their minds, and to put on the new self, which will produce a Godlier lifestyle.

Let us pray... Our passage today is from Ephesians 4:20-24. It says: 20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:20-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Commitment To Thanksgiving

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Nov 15, 2005

We have it so good. We enjoy it so much. We express it so little.

INTRO.- ILL.- One man wrote, “The day before Christmas became a thanksgiving day for my family. The station wagon was packed with kids and travel stuff for the 400-mile trip to Grandma’s. As is our custom, before leaving we asked God to protect us on the road. He did, but in an unusual way. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 6:17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Could Be Thankful - 'if ...'

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Nov 16, 2005

A 2-step formula to help us realize an attitude of gratitude.

The Pilgrims didn’t have too much of anything, did they? They had no transportation, they had no indoor plumbing, and they didn’t even have nice homes. Yet they saw reasons to give thanks to God for the many blessings they did have. What were some of the blessings He gave to the Pilgrims? ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:3-20

Denomination: *other

Listening To God Series

Contributed by Dan Borchert on Nov 17, 2005

Many of us hear things, but often we do not listen. Unfortnatly we often do the same to God. We need to be listening to God. We look at 4 voices God speaks to us with

Acts 8:26-40 Listening To God Introduction A. Note the title today it is “Listening to God” B. Key word “Listening” C. It does not mean hearing D. There is a difference E. My dad has either gave me, or taught me the ability to tune things out – I’m not sure which one it is F. That ability ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Wise And The Otherwise (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Nov 23, 2005

In today’s text we have what some have called "God’s Wisdom Test." This is a kind of personal exam by which you can see how wise or otherwise you really are in all your relationships. James lists 6 distinguishing marks of wise person.

Scripture Robert Fulghum wrote a book titled "All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Listen to what he wrote: Most of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, ...read more

Scripture: James 3:17-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Heartbreak Of Disappointment Series

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Nov 29, 2005

Part 1 of 3 part series. God will never waste a hurt. He uses the broken heart of disappointment to make us more like Christ and to minister to our world through us

The Heartbreak of Disappointment Scripture: I Corinthians 6:19 Exodus 2 & 3 Theme: Sometimes God allows us to be disappointed so that he can shape us and prepare us for the tasks to which he has called us. Seed: Devotional by Oswald Chambers Purpose: To help the congregation realize that ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan