Sermons on Joyfuly Service:

Are You Willing To Be Offered?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 19, 2022

We are to shine like lights in a shadowy world. And to do that, we may have to be offered up for the sake of others.

In light of everything that Christ was willing to do for them, Philippians 2:12-18 explains how Christians ought to live. The directive to “work out” salvation is to let the new birth in Christ manifest itself in one’s actions. Believers should serve God without complaining or griping as part of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Second Most Important Decision Of Your Life Series

Contributed by Dr. Dave Hartson on Aug 8, 2022

The first most important decision of your life is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Find out in this sermon, what is the second most important decision of your life.

Introduction We make decisions every day of our life. According to Cornell University, we make 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. And if a person lives to age 75 that means, in our lifespan, we will make 945 billion decisions. But let’s be honest, some decisions are more important than ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Minister On Purpose Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on May 5, 2021

This message looks at ministry or service. “Every believer isn’t a pastor, but every believer is called into ministry. God calls all believers to minister to the world and the church. Service in the body isn’t optional for Christians” - Rick Warren

This morning we’ll be viewing the purpose of “ministry” or “service.” In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says, “Growing up, you may have thought that being ‘called’ by God was something only missionaries, pastors, nuns, and other ‘full-time’ church workers experienced, but the Bible says ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Sharing Ministry Together

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on May 13, 2021

When the volunteer workload is placed on the shoulders of just a handful of people, then these individuals get burnt out; and since they can’t do everything, then a lot of needs go unmet. Ministry is something to be shared among all believers.

I wish to begin our message by sharing a personal account contributed by a pastor who was serving at a church in Washington State during the wake of the Mount St. Hellens eruption. This pastor said, After Mount St. Helens blew up in May 1980, [the] church needed cleaning up. Ash was in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Looking For Spiritual Loopholes?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 20, 2022

Who is my neighbor? Trying to justify self? There are no love loophopes.

LOOKING FOR A LOOPHOLE…? By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Text: Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? What would it take to make me happy? What if every dream ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:36, Psalm 142:4, Luke 10:29

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Doing My Part Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Aug 15, 2022

The church consists of ordinary people doing extraordinary work in Christ

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Servant Leadership Series

Contributed by Michael Monica on Jan 1, 2023

Understanding Servant Leadership

Matthew 20:17-28 & Luke 18:31-34 [Intro] (1) Review: The Rich young man and the laborers in the vineyard / 11th hour workers. (2) Jesus / disciples are journeying closer to Jerusalem where Jesus will be betrayed and given over to the chief priests and he will be crucified. The disciples most ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Time To Get Back To Work

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 2, 2023

It appears like everybody needs something from us, family members, friends, bosses at work, the schools that we may attend, our churches, clubs, etc. We wind up racing through life, taking care of the necessary, the immediate, and the urgent.

Repeatedly the important is abandoned. Our problem is not the volume of requests or lack of organizational skills, but values - what is really important to us. Our values and our priorities are reflected in how we use our assets/resources. Frequently our activities give a false representation of ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Simple Steps For An Extraordinary New Year

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jan 6, 2023

Psalm 22 begins as a lament - a desperate plea to God from someone who knows how much he needs God. The terms are clear - without God there is no hope. With God there is always hope, and David gives us a map here, finding hope when challenges are all around us

_____________ To receive sermon notes in your email inbox, subscribe here: https://forsythesermons.substack.com/ To receive emails from John Dobbs on topics of faith, books, photography, and miscellany: https://johndobbs.substack.com/ To watch videos of sermons from Forsythe Church of Christ: ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 22:22-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Are We To Do When God Does Nothing?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 11, 2023

This is a story about one of two men that did not die. Enoch had walked with God and was taken so that he did not see death, Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind.

In the preceding chapter, Elijah has a contest with evil prophets. In this chapter, Elijah flees for his life. In verses 1-4: Jezebel was maddened with regards to the passing of her prophets since they had told her what she wanted to hear, forecasting her future glory and power. Their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Let Us Alone That We May Serve The Egyptians

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 15, 2021

Have you noticed that many things in life do not seem to change? For example, in our text, God delivered the Children of Israel from Egypt. But once they were delivered from Pharaoh, he changed his mind and decided to pursue after them and to bring them back.

When the Israelites saw them in pursuit, the Bible says, “…They were sore afraid…” In that fear they turned to Moses and said something that was very disturbing. We read, “…And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Daily Sacrifice

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 24, 2022

Paul has provided guidelines for how believers are to live in a sinful world.

Paul provides guidelines for living as redeemed people in a fallen world, moving from the theological to the practical. We are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Christ, to follow the law, to love our neighbors, and to especially care for the faithless. In the Old Testament, priests had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Do You Have Vision?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 26, 2022

Vision is both a physical necessity and a spiritual necessity. Lacking either one can be detrimental in our well being.

In this verse, the prophets’ revelation is referred to as a vision. Crime and sin thrive in places where people are ignorant of God. Public morality is dependent not only on knowing about God but also on adhering to God’s laws. People must know God’s ways and follow His rules for both nations and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, 1 Samuel 3:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Taking Inventory

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 26, 2022

The process of counting what a company has in its inventory is known as taking inventory. Can we apply this same process to our Christian walk?

Taking Inventory of the Church: Paul is discussing a trip with Barnabas. Why did Paul take this second missionary journey and what was the purpose? Why would they want to go? Why should they? What has happened since his last visit? How many have been converted? He wants to go back and check on the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean To Appeal For The Useful?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jul 7, 2024

An example of grace in how it demonstrates the action of true Christian fellowship.

Paul wrote this letter as a plea for a runaway slave of Philemon’s named Onesimus. He had stolen from Philemon then ran away to Rome where he met Paul. Subsequently he accepted Christ as his Savior, so Paul was writing this letter as he was sending Onesimus back to Philemon, but he wanted Philemon ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible