Sermons on Human Effort:

Consider The Source Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 16, 2003

Job, struggling to find his source of meaning, is frustrated with Bildad, who finds meaning in the past; and with his own feelings, looking for meaning in the present. Look to Christ, who provides meaning from the future.

Sooner or later, we all come to a point where we wake up and ask ourselves what life means. This life we are living: does it matter? All this energy we are putting in on studying or working or church or family or whatever: is it really necessary? I submit to you that most of us at one time or ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Finding Secuirty And Significance Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 16, 2003

When marriages crumble, we often hear people say that they just must have been “wrong” for each other. More often than not, being right or wrong for someone depends not on some mysterious compatibility quotient, but on how willing and able we are to help

Finding Security and Significance There are a lot of jokes and one-liners about marriage. It’s probably because as beautiful as marriage is, as set forth in the song we just heard, it’s also extremely challenging and can be pretty ugly at times. It was George Burns who said, “I was married by a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

Life Is Not Fair Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 29, 2003

Life seems unfair to the disappointed, the cheated, the cynical. It was unfair to compel Simon to carry the cross -- injustice piled on. But God uses injustice to stir His people to action, to help us get beyond mere survival, to give us to one another.

Life is not fair. It just isn’t. The playwright MacLeish has his character “J.B.” scream out something we are all afraid to say, but it might be true: “If God is God, He is not good; if God is good, He is not God.” What an awesome thing to think, let alone speak! “If God is God, He is not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:21-24

Denomination: Baptist

Church Growth - How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days Series

Contributed by Ken Kersten on Jun 3, 2003

The title of this message is “How to lose a guy in ten days". Unfortunately, most churches usually lose them in about 10 minutes. Let’s explore why that happens.

How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days Matthew 28:18-20 True story – Football team getting killed – guy fumbles and it rolls over by a teammate. The guy that fumbles yells, “pick it up” to which his teammate responds, “You pick it up. You dropped it.” Well, I’ll tell you what, God is looking for some ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 122:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Believers Look To The New Jerusalem Series

Contributed by Timm Meyer on Jun 4, 2003

EASTER 6(C) - Believers look forward to the New Jerusalem because the gates are open and God’s glory shines in it.

BELIEVERS LOOK TO THE NEW JERUSALEM REVELATION 21:10—14, 22, 23 MAY 25, 2003 REVELATION 21:10-14, 22,23 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11It shone with the glory of God, and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:10-22

Denomination: Lutheran

The 29th Chapter Of Acts!

Contributed by Michael Milton on Jun 6, 2003

A sermon for Pentecost, this message seeks to lift out the expository truths of Acts 2.1-21 and apply them for contemporary life.

Introduction to the Scripture I leave our series on Mark this week for a message on Pentecost and next week for a message on FatherÕs Day. FatherÕs Day is a holiday we know about, but many of us may have no idea what Pentecost is all about much less that it could be a holiday! Last week, one of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Character And Commitment Series

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Jun 6, 2003

This is an adaptation of a book by John Maxwell on Leadership.

I. Two weeks ago I talked about the need for leaders, and the need for us all to get involved doing what it is that God has gifted us to do, to see that this church becomes what God wants it to be, and has the impact on this community that God intends it to have. A. It would be unfair to ask you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:62, Matthew 20:25-28

Denomination: Baptist

Healthy And Thriving

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Jun 9, 2003

The Scriptures show us examples to emulate and also examples to avoid. Today, we look at an example to avoid in order to be a healthy, thriving church.

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: There has been an incredible emphasis in recent years on church health. Many believe that if a local church is healthy and functioning the way it should, natural growth will be the result. The removal of growth-restricting diseases that often plague the body of ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:9-11

When 2 Wrongs Make A Right

Contributed by Ric Freeman on Jun 9, 2003

God’s forgiveness and mercy

How many of you have ever been wrong? (show hands) How many of you have ever had to undo, redo, or make do because of your bad-do? You know what? Welcome to the human race. If you’ve never screwed up and been totally wrong -- you haven’t lived, breathed or existed !! Welcome to the Jonah club ! All ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

How Do You Smell?

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 9, 2003

When you are around others what do you smell like? Do you give off the fragrance of life or the odor of death? Can people smell the fragrance of Jesus in your life or do they smell the vile odor of rotting flesh.

How do you Smell? Thesis: When you are around others what do you smell like? Do you give off the fragrance of life or the odor of death? Can people smell the fragrance of Jesus in your life or do they smell the vile odor of rotting flesh. Intent of message is to encourage the graduates and the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, John 11:38-40

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Universality Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 11, 2003

Thanks to Constantine’s move, the church gradually began to think of its universality as power rather than as an evangelical mandate. Christ is to be lord of our political life, our cultural life, our everyday life -- every aspect.

Christ is lord of all! What a bold statement! Maybe even an arrogant statement! Lord of all? Do we believe that? It was said of one preacher that “for tender minds he served up half a Christ.” Behind that lie two realities – first, that many of us don’t want the full gospel, we’d rather just ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 1:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Waiting For God

Contributed by John Woodward on Jun 12, 2003

The disciples had to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit; what do we do when we are waiting for God to act in our lives?

 Sermon Waiting for God Gracious God: Grant that we might hear what you would have us hear, grant that we might see what you would have us see, and grant that we might do what you would have us do. Amen. I would like to focus this morning on those times when we must wait for God -- ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-14

Denomination: Congregational

Broken

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Jun 12, 2003

If your life has been broken into many pieces come to Jesus.

“Broken” Ps. 51 : 17, 34 : 18, 69 : 20, & Prov. 17 : 22 Many times we talk about being hurt and broken, we believe the saying that time heals all wounds, we believe that a few comforting words, a little sympathy will make everything alright, and we don’t understand when people don’t seem to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:17-34, Proverbs 17:22

Denomination: Apostolic

The Last Psalm Explains What "Hallelujah" Is All About

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jun 12, 2003

worship is simply defined in Psalm 150 by describing who we worship, how we worship, and who can worship

June 15, 2003 Psalm 150 Name this tune. “You put your right arm in, you put your right arm out, you put your right arm in, and you shake it all about.” It’s called the “Hoke Poke”. When I went back to Wisconsin for my sister in law’s wedding - they did it. It’s a very popular song ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 150:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Playing Follow The Leader Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 18, 2003

Leaders must lead with truth instead of deception, with grace instead of power, and with unswerving commitment to the the least and the lost.

Several things prompt this message. First and foremost, I bring this message because I know that it is crucial to teach and re-teach our church’s vision. Everyone needs to understand what we are trying to do as a church. Just saying it once or twice does not get the story told. I want to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-19

Denomination: Baptist