Sermons on Initiative:

Our Message Series

Contributed by Bill Lyle on Sep 13, 2006

A study in First Peter

1st Peter 1:22-25 Suffering from Happiness: Our Message Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:22-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Paul: Man Of Prayer?

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 13, 2013

Can such a great Christian exist without prayer? Today we enter his prayer closet.

Paul: Man of Prayer? Ephesians 1:15-23 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/130213.mp3 When we think of prayer warriors we think of Moses praying for his people, David confessing his sins and seeking help, Elijah on Mt. Carmel calling down fire from heaven, or Daniel praying when it was against the law ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

Financial Bondage

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Mar 2, 2013

Those who find themselves in unmanageable debt are enslaved to their creditors.

Financial Bondage Those who find themselves in unmanageable debt are enslaved to their creditors. DEBT Romans 13:8 - Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. You are in debt if: * You do not have the money or any other means to pay for ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8

Denomination: Charismatic

The Church And Excluded Fathers

Contributed by Darryl Ward on Dec 5, 2012

A Christian response to fathers being excluded from their children’s lives.

Today is fathers’ day. While I would prefer it was celebrated on the Feast of St. Joseph, the patron saint of fathers, I am grateful Amanda and Maria are making today memorable for me. To mark fathers’ day, I will be speaking about the Church and pastoral care for men, specifically those whom I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:23-24

Denomination: Anglican

Blessed Be God

Contributed by Steve Hereford on Jul 10, 2007

How do you respond to God? Do you "bless" Him? What does that mean? Join Pastor Steve as he explains the meaning of 1 Peter 1:3.

Peter tells his readers to “Bless” God. That phrase is very similar to what we saw in our study of Psalm 103:1-4, where David said: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Assurance Series

Contributed by Daniel Austin on Sep 8, 2010

In difficult times God has always given words of assurance to His people. We need to take heed of the eternal and take assurance from the word of God.

Blessed Assurance 10/11/09 PM Text: Haggai 2:20-23; Zechariah 4:1-14 Introduction: There is quite a bit of uncertainty in the world these days, especially concerning the economy. It seems every day there are reports in the paper and in the news telling us the economy might be getting better, or ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:20-23, Haggai 1:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Facets Of Faithfulness -- Part 1 Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Sep 27, 2010

UNFAITHFULNESS IS SUBTLE, YET DANGEROUS TO OUR LIVES

ON THE ROAD TO RESTORATION A Study In The Book Of Hosea – Part 1 THE FACETS OF UNFAITHFULNESS Hosea 1:1-2:1 PROPOSITION: UNFAITHFULNESS IS SUBTLE, YET DANGEROUS TO OUR LIVES INTRODUCTION: THE PROPHET HOSEA WAS A CONTEMPORARY WITH BOTH THE PROPHET ISAIAH AND AMOS. A PERSONAL LOOK WILL ENABLE US TO ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

As The Deer Panteth For The Water Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 16, 2010

When we are in the spiritual dessert, we need to keep in close touch with God or we will shrivel up with spiritual dehydration. The Psalmist explains his experience in the spiritual dessert, and points us in the right direction.

As the Deer Panteth for the Water Psalm 42 and 43 Rather then spend a lot of time introducing the Sons of Korah and relating their role to the modern Christian, I thought I would share just a little bit about them each week. 1. Descendents of the Korah, a branch of the tribe of Levi. Some ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Prayer Meeting Series

Contributed by Jimmy Chapman on Aug 23, 2007

Many think prayer is a waste of time, but without the ministry of prayer, our work is a waste of time.

Prayer Meeting Acts 1: 14 Many think prayer is a waste of time, but without the ministry of prayer, our work is a waste of time. The thermometer of any church is its prayer meeting. You can do more than pray - but only after you have prayed. You can do more than pray after you have prayed, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:14

Denomination: Baptist

From Selfishness To Service Series

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Aug 15, 2011

Third in a series on the book of Acts. In the middle of the church’s peace, grace, and generosity, there was one dark spot. But the way the church dealt with its problems allowed it to shine.

From Selfishness to Service Acts 5 & 6 (Third in the series What’s Next? The Adventures of Growing in Christ) “Who do you think you’re going to kid? Did you really think you could lie to the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 5:3). “And the Word of God increased; and the number of disciples multiplied” (Acts ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Kingdom Remaining Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Jan 31, 2011

God brought and took kingdoms but the final Kingdom, which is superior to all other kingdoms and is eternal, is here and now!

Last week we learned from the beginning of Daniel Chapter 2 that Daniel, a strong Believer of God, almost got killed because of the unbelief in God of others. From Daniel 2:1-28, we noted that Daniel did the following in response to his predicament: 1. he prayed (Daniel was a man of prayer) 2. ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:29-49

Denomination: Independent/Bible

If . . . Then

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on May 12, 2012

Sermon for the 6th Sunday of Easter

IF . . . THEN / John 15: 9 – 17 Intro: When I was in college I date a young lady. The relationship was getting kind of serious and I said to her one evening, “Do you love me?” Her answer, “What do you think?” I thought the answer was yes; but, she had other ideas. ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Transformed, Not Merely Reformed

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 5, 2011

The Lord does not merely help us fix up our lives or amend our ways; he transforms us into a new creation and wants us to spread this transforming message. But first, we must look more closely at this transformation.

Transformed, Not Merely Reformed (2 Corinthians 5:16-21) 1. Last week, many of you experienced power outages; transformers were exploding 2. Transformers increase (step up) or decrease voltage (step down). 3. It is more efficient to send electricity long distances at a higher voltage, and then to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Taxing Faith

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Dec 6, 2011

A reminder to live as a people set apart by God, for God, and for the people; instead of being a people of, by, and for the world.

INTRO This morning, we’re going to dove-tail onto last week’s message. Okay, now if you remember from last week, the Pharisees asked Jesus by “what authority are you doing these things” — these things being the healing the crippled and the lame, feeding the poor and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Lutheran

Joy To The World

Contributed by James Kevin Bachmann on Dec 10, 2011

A twice-daily spiritual examination can bring to yus the joy of Christ's revelation in his closeness to us.

Joy to the World We rejoice at our enlightenment, the coming of the Light to the world! The darkness that results from our lack of understanding is diminished. We come to see more and more of what has been a cloud of unknowing, the title of a 14th-century book on mysticism. This unknowing is ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-28

Denomination: Catholic