Sermons on Improving:

What Is Your Aim?

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Aug 11, 2008

As you read this sermon you will be led to evaluate your aim in life.

This weekend the Olympics began in Beijing, China. The world will be focused on China for the next several weeks. There are thousands of world class athletes competing for medals. Their aim is to win a gold medal. They have focused their entire lives on this goal. I would like to use the Olympic ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Denomination: Baptist

9 Biblical Principles To Friendships

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Aug 26, 2008

We all need friends, but few understand the basics about forming quality friendships.

9 Biblical Principles to Friendships: John 15:13-15 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13-15, Ephesians 4:15

Denomination: Baptist

"Waking Up"

Contributed by J. Curtis Goforth, O.s.l. on Aug 31, 2008

Sermon for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost centered around the statement by Jesus, "What will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?"

"Waking Up" Sermon on Matthew 16:21-28 Pentecost +16-A August 31, 2008 The Rev. J. Curtis Goforth, O.S.L. There’s a great movie that came out several years ago entitled Waking Ned Devine. The movie is set in a tiny little coastal village in Ireland called Tullymore. And one of the main ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: United Methodist

Relating Righteously Series

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Nov 17, 2008

Husbands, wives, children, employees, and employers listen up!

Ephesians 5:22-6:9: Relating Righteously Pastor Eric J. Hanson November 16, 2008 Introduction Last time we left off with a verse that sets the tone for today’s message. Verse 21 of Ephesians 5 commands all followers of Jesus Christ to “submit to one another”. What is our motivation for this? The ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Has Thanksgiving Gone To The Dogs?

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Nov 19, 2008

Today let us not be forgetful, but let us be thankful!

HAS THANKSGIVING GONE TO THE DOGS Text: Ps. 103:1-5 Introduction 1. Read Ps. 103:1-5 2. Illustration: In his book FOLK PSALMS OF FAITH, Ray Stedman tells of an experience H.A. Ironside had in a crowded restaurant. Just as Ironside was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Denomination: Methodist

A Thankful Heart Is Not Optional

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Nov 25, 2008

This message looks at the importance of having a thankful heart.

“A Thankful Heart is not Optional” Romans 1:16-25 Several years back the Peanuts comic strip pictured Charlie Brown bringing out Snoopy’s dinner on Thanksgiving Day. But it was just his usual dog food in a bowl. Snoopy took one look at the dog food and said, "This isn’t fair. The rest of the world ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Perplexed Couple (Pastor Dale) Series

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Nov 30, 2008

Every parent has stories to tell – from drug and alcohol dependency, teen pregnancy, the call from the local police detachment and the runaway that hasn’t called home in five years...It’s tough being a parent regardless how old the child is.

Perplexed: adj. 1. Filled with confusion or bewilderment; puzzled. 2. Full of complications or difficulty; involved. Parenting (in using the words parenting or parents I also refer to caregivers or guardians or anyone having the responsibility of taking care of or having cared for children) is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-35

Denomination: Salvation Army

Remarkable Redeemer - Advent 2

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 11, 2008

Christ, our remarkable redeemer.

Remarkable Redeemer, James 1:12-18 Introduction A sign in a convenience store read, “Check Cashing Policy: To err is human. To forgive, $10.” It’s a funny way to recognize the fact that we make mistakes, but it’s also evidence of the way many people think about forgiveness. To forgive is to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12-18

Denomination: Christian Church

The End Of The Curse Series

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Dec 12, 2008

The blessing is not the encouragement to begin, but the progress of the work.

Wouldn’t it be great if good health was contagious? All a well person would have to do is breathe on a sick person and he would get better. A person without AIDS could give a blood transfusion to a person with AIDS and they would be healed. The contagion of meningitis would work the opposite way, ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:10-19

Denomination: Mennonite

The Greatest Gift Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Dec 16, 2008

The fourth message in the Advent series for 2008.

The Greatest Gift 2 Cor. 9:15 Intro Christmas is a time of giving. And that means Christmas is a time of shopping. Ever since the wise men from the east showed up at the Jesus Christ manger carrying gold, frankincense, and myrrh, people have been exchanging gifts at Christmas. Of course, it’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:15

Denomination: Baptist

It's Better To Be Good Than Fair Series

Contributed by Phil Smith on Dec 21, 2008

We spend WAY too much energy trying to balance the books of our relationships. Jesus did not teach us to be fair, but to be good. His birth beautifully illustrates the lesson.

Php 2:5-11 – ...Christ Jesus: ...being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Light The Candle: Jesus Has Come

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 24, 2008

For Christmas Eve, just prior to the lighting of the Christ Candle. When we take our light from the Light of the World, we will be changed and we will leave traces of that change behind us.

One of the world’s great natural wonders is Mammoth Cave, in my home state of Kentucky. In Mammoth Cave there are more than 300 miles of caverns, there are mineral deposits that supplied the American army during the War of 1812, there are fish that have no eyes and need no eyes since they live ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:68-79

Denomination: Baptist

Does The Reformation Still Matter?

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 26, 2010

After 500 years, does the Reformation still matter? After all, a recent poll showed that over half of American Protestants didn’t even know that Martin Luther’s writings and actions inspired the Reformation. And this was a multiple-choice question with

Intro After 500 years, does the Reformation still matter? Do we still need a day every year to remind us of the Reformation? After all, a recent poll showed that over half of American Protestants didn’t even know that Martin Luther’s writings and actions inspired the Reformation. And this was a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-28

Denomination: Lutheran

Battling And Building

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 19, 2010

They had a tool in one hand and a sword in the other. They had to multitask and keep one eye on the work and the other eye on the enemy. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Battling and Building Nehemiah 4:11-23 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BattlingBuilding.html Building is a battle. Just finding good weather is tough for roofers. It's too hot or too cold, it's raining or there's frost and it's too slippery. It's too steep!! Or the Pastor is too demanding!!! ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:11-23

Denomination: Baptist

Hear The Voice

Contributed by Matthew Blau on May 31, 2012

From Psalm 29, When we hear the voice of God we need to act. But we must be careful it is God's voice we are listening to.

Hear the Voice I am amazed at how the Lord puts us where we need to be. This past Wednesday I worked on my sermon and finished the bulletin. And I was struggling with the sermon. On my way home I was still thinking about it and praying about it when I remembered my wife had said I was looking ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 29:1-11

Denomination: Methodist