Sermons on Initiative:

Morning Follows Mourning

Contributed by Christopher Clarke on Jan 8, 2011

Christ prepares His disciples for his death and resurection in concert with the story of Lazurus.

The sermon today is from John 11, the first 45 verses. If you really want, I will read it, but I think it best if I paraphrase it a little. Jesus is with his disciples a couple of weeks, maybe a month before Passover when he gets word from his friends Mary and Martha that their brother Lazurus ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Christian Church

Lesson 2: Genesis 3- Sources Of Sin

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 17, 2011

Taking a deeper look at Genesis 3 and the sources of sin.

Genesis 1:3 – “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 1. Our enemy will use ordinary things to trip us up and destroy ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Encouragement

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Jan 10, 2012

Christians owe a lot to Barnabas. We owe Paul to him who went on to write 14 epistles. We also owe Mark to him who wrote the Gospel According to Mark. Thus, in a sense, we owe almost half of the New Testament to Barnabas, even if he did not write a singl

Intro: At the time of the writing of Hebrews, there was a great persecution. Our natural tendency during trials is to save our own skin or act to each his own. But Hebrews exhorts us to encourage one another. Encouragement is an act that helps someone be a better believer, even when life is rough ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25

Denomination: *other

Coming Out Of Comfort Zone

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Feb 13, 2012

When we hit the ’end of the road’ in the journey of faith, we discover it is only a bend

Coming out of comfort zone “Female of this species is a lot deadlier than the male?” No, no , I am not referring to Black widow -that venomous female spider inhabiting Western part of US whose deadly sting can send one to an early grave. Rather, I was ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

Denomination: *other

Strong Leadership In Painful Times Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 5, 2011

Discipline in the church and in the family have their similarities. Whether a conflict is with children in our family or God’s household in a church family, several principles apply.

Strong Leadership in Painful Times (2 Corinthians 2:1-11) 1. WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Frank and Louie the cat was born with two faces, two mouths, two noses, three eyes — and lots of doubts about his future. Now, 12 years after Marty Stevens rescued him from being euthanized because of his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

"The Lord's Supper"

Contributed by Allan Kircher on Oct 12, 2011

Paul instructed, “You cannot partake of the Table of the Lord, and the table of demons.”… Sincerity is called for and Hypocrisy is to be dispelled.

“the Lord’s Supper” Pastor Allan Kircher SPBC October 16th 2011 INTRODUCTION: 1. Psalm 96:9; John 4:24 Worship is an eternally important and challenging subject.  To be performed so as to please God.  “Worship IS ACTION!  Is not associated with ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Denomination: Baptist

"Pro Sports And Our Paycheck"

Contributed by Brad Henry on Oct 21, 2011

We can become discontent when we look at other peoples income. We were happy when we got hired to do a position and happy with our wages. This lesson will help you to see how you can get out of this rut of always wanting more.

Matthew 20:1-15 ““For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-15

Discovering Genesis, Part 13 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Nov 9, 2011

Part 13 of this series begins to examine the life of Abram and his response to God's calling him into service. It is because Abram knew the Lord's voice that he was able to respond, which is exactly the same way we should be living today.

Discovering Genesis, Part 13 Genesis 12:1-9 Introduction - This morning we examined the people of Babel; and their rebellion to God - Prayerfully, we also saw the challenge in ourselves as well through them - Our response to God is most important when we think of worship - It is because of the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Happened In The Upper Room? Series

Contributed by Charles R. Peck on Aug 15, 2012

This message talks about the day the church was birthed.

What Happened In the Upper Room? Acts 2: 1/4 Let us take a trip back to the Day of Pentecost where in the Upper Room one hundred and twenty men and women had gathered to wait for the promise of the Father, where the church was birthed with power and great glory. Everything had been prepared, with ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-8

Denomination: *other

The Great Turnaround

Contributed by Jon Mackinney on Jun 16, 2011

There has never been any event in human history as powerful at Christ's battle in the Garden of Gethsemane. And we are the beneficiaries of it.

Passage: Matthew 26:36-46 Intro: This is one of the most challenging passages to preach in the Bible. 1. not because of great controversies. 2. but because there is so much going on, at so many levels. 3. Christology, soteriology, theology, hamartiology 4. at yet also very simple; a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Belt Of Truth Series

Contributed by James Parker on Jun 18, 2011

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against

Last week we began a new series on Ephesians chapter 6. We talked a little bit about the fact that as christians we are in a battle, and if we are in a battle we should act as soldiers. Last week we read Ephesians 6:10-18, which speaks of the battle and the tools that God has given the christian to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Beyond The Boundary Of Impossible Series

Contributed by James ( Jim ) Highland on Apr 6, 2011

Jesus teaches His disciples how to overcome the boundary of "impossible".

Making the Impossible Possible John 6:1-13 Our lives are filled and often controlled by boundaries. A property owner can point out his property line and call those who cross it “trespassers.” The highway patrolman cruises the public roads and looks for those who exceed the speed ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Our Kind Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Rob Hall on Nov 20, 2012

this Psalm expresses our trust and dependence upon God

OUR KIND OF PRAYER Text: Ps. 25 Intro: 1. sing the youth song---unto thee, O Lord, Do I lift up my soul… 2. That is taken straight from Ps. 25, our text for tonite. 3. Read the Psalm 4. What do we see of the psalmist as he looks to God? I. WE SEE HIS SPIRIT A. sacrificial---v. 1-2 I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 25:1-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

He Still Came Part 2

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 13, 2012

The genealogy of Jesus is a central part of the biblical record. Who are these people in the line of Christ and what do they teach us?

View powerpoints: 1. Perspective on rich and poor (pic of child crying in anger because she got an iphone with only 16 GB instead of 32 GB next to a pic of a starving African wearing sandals made from two liter Coke bottles). Comment: Which of these do we most identify with? 2. Teach your ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Decisions, Decisions (Genesis 13) Series

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Sep 30, 2008

Trusting Jesus will lead you to contentment and contentment will empower you to love.

Fill in the blank to this statement: The grass is ( )on the other side of the fence. What does this mean?? We all have a tendency not to be happy with what we have or where we are at. We have a tendency to imagine something better for us. Is this good or bad? Proverbs 11:23 states, The ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 13:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible