Sermons on Keeping Watch:

Promises: Barnabas

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 30, 2009

As we grow older we find meaning in encouraging others, especially the young. Trusting them is equivalent to trusting God.

We like to say that age is a state of mind more than it is a set of numbers on the calendar. We tell each other, "You’re only as old as you feel." But you know, I’m finding that it is important to know what you feel. It is important to listen to yourself as you age. I am not referring to aches ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Leadership Traits Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Feb 8, 2009

What do you picture when you think of a leader? What traits do you think a leader should have? Our passage today tells us what Nehemiah’s leadership traits were, and they might surprise you.

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com/ It’s time for us to rethink our picture of leadership in the church. And, by the way, when we talk about leadership in the context of Nehemiah, we’re not talking specifically about pastoral leadership. If anything, Ezra is the model for pastoral leadership. ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Ruth: Quitting Is Not An Option Series

Contributed by Ralph Juthman on Feb 10, 2009

This part 1 of a series on the life of Ruth. The theme is how God providentially moves in the lives of those who commit to Him.

RUTH: QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION Ruth 1:1-22 By Pastor Ralph Juthman INTRODUCTION: Illustration- Ladies/Men Answer this Question, what is the title of your favotite movie, TV show or book ( other than the Bible). There are obvious differences. Personally, I like movies/tv shows and books that ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Pentecostal

Moses' Rap

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 12, 2009

Moses used poetry and music to challenge Israel to remain faithful to God’s covenant.

You can hardly go to a sporting event without hearing the pounding beat—Boom, boom, BOOM! Boom, boom, BOOM! We shall, we shall ROCK you!” When I was younger, many of my favorite radio and television programs were sponsored by a company that guaranteed to make you as safe as the Rock of Gibraltar. ...read more

Denomination: *other

God’s Top Ten Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Sep 23, 2008

An overview of the 10 commandments and specifically their benefits for people today. They help us know God, know ourselves, and know love.

God’s Top Ten Exodus 20:1-20 Since 1997, an anti-lawsuit group from Michigan has held “The Wacky Warning Label Contest” every year. They do it to highlight the absurd effects of lawsuits on warning labels. Last year (2007), Kevin Soave of Farmington Hills, Michigan, submitted the winning label. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Time Out

Contributed by J Bernard Taylor on Sep 30, 2008

Just as the ball players take time out from the game, we must take time out to spend with God.We take time out for rest and refreshment. We take time out for reflection before we return to the game. We finally take time out to receive our reward.

All of us have seen it many times on our television screens or in person. Ten men rush frantically up and down the basketball court. Suddenly the piercing shriek of a whistle is heard above the roar of the crowd and someone shouts “Time Out”. Or picture a baseball diamond. It is a crucial ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

We Have A Purpose (Part 2) Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 14, 2008

We need to discover our specific SHAPE so that we will know what kinds of service God has ordained for us.

A. The story is told of a little boy named Johnny who had trouble pronouncing the letter “R”. 1. To try to help him with the problem, his teacher gave him this sentence to practice at home: “Robert gave Richard a rap in the rib for roasting the rabbit so rare.” 2. A few days later the teacher ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Your Blessings Come, My Will Be Done

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Oct 14, 2008

Prophets ought to be encouraging but Isaiah said, "You are going to die." Hezekiah was hesitant about dying. He didn’t want to die. He wanted to live. After all, who wants to die? He was a good king, by comparing him with others. He got rid of the Baal

Did you know that some people live too long! Have you ever known anybody like that? Hezekiah did. He lived too long. As the years go by, you ought to get sweeter but some folk get sour and rotten. I’d like you to look at this. Come over here to second book of Hezekiah 2:1.... Are some of you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 20:1-20

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Our Vision: Transformation Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Oct 17, 2008

Our vision at New Life is simply "Transforming lives, one at a time."

Our Vision: Transformation Text: 2 Cor. 5:17-18; Rom. 12:1-2 Introduction 1. Illustration: The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but transformation, a process that might be slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Denomination: Methodist

Show Me The Money

Contributed by Monty Newton on Oct 18, 2008

"What’s in your wallet" is to used as responsible citizens and to support God’s purposes in the world.

Title: Show Me the Money Text: Matthew 22:15-22 The Big Idea: “What’s in your wallet” is to be used as responsible citizens and to support God’s purposes in the world. Introduction On Thursday, September 18, 2008, Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden appeared on ABC Good Morning ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Born Again. Now What?

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 19, 2008

We’ve all heard and used the phrase "Born Again" but just exactly what does that mean?

Born Again Born Again! What a neat, overused, misused, abused, redundant, nonmeaningful term. If you google “Born Again Celebrities” you get a wide range of folks. Some like Amy Grant and Johnny Cash you might suspect, others like Mr. T I had forgotten about. I had heard that Jane Fonda had ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-8

Denomination: Wesleyan

Permeation Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Oct 22, 2008

First of a four part series on how our church impacts the community through the ministry of our members.

In light of all the recent news about the financial crisis in our country, I thought it was rather interesting that I came across this article from June of 2004 that reported that Freddie Mac had adopted a new logo in order to “reflect the company’s renewed focus on its vital housing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:33

Denomination: Baptist

Lord Of My Rocking Boat Series

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 25, 2008

If Jesus isn’t Lord before you get in the boat, He can’t be the Lord of your rocking boat.

The super tanker, Edmund Fitzgerald was built in 1958 at the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, MI. Possessing an overall length of 729 ft. it was the largest tanker ever to sail the Great Lakes. On Nov. 9, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald left her port in Superior, Wisconsin en route to a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Rescues

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 26, 2008

When Jesus stopped at the Well in Samaria he was performing a spiritual rescue and demonstrating guidelines for us to do the same

She was rescued twice. Two times, two complete strangers made a decision to rescue her, within two days of each other. Not bad, huh? Her name was Kelly Moore which means absolutely nothing to you. You don’t know Kelly Moore but most of you know some of the circumstances about the day that she ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

Amid The Flood

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 26, 2008

Dramatic monologue as if Martin Luther were the preacher, telling his own story. Time period is the Wartburg stay; focus is on hope and trust in a changing world, "amid the flood" of change.

[Backstage] Walled up here in this fortress, kept practically as a prisoner, prevented from teaching, prohibited from preaching, what good am I? What can I accomplish in such a place? I was not born for idleness, nor for solitude. I was born for action. I was destined by Him who holds in His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Denomination: Baptist