Sermons on Ladder:

Thanksful Living

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Nov 21, 2005

We need times of Thanksgiving to give balance to all the times we face criticism and complaints.

Thankful Living 2 Corinthians 9:11-15 Aren’t you glad we have annual Thanksgiving celebrations? For one thing you can get all the great food you would ever want. You can also watch all the football you would ever want to see. It is also a time to get together with your family and relatives and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:11-15

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Napkin Is Still Folded - Easter

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 4, 2006

The significance of the folded napkin in the Jewish culture makes some powerful points in considering the resurrection. Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Presentation.

THE NAPKIN IS STILL FOLDED JOHN 20:1-7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/NapkinFolded.html [Please see link above for more info. on this matter. Concept for this sermon originally preached by Dr. Clyde Box. I receive many questions as to the historicity of the "Napkin Legend"...Dr. Box reportedly ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Proposing A New Image For Old Age

Contributed by Richard Pfeil on May 17, 2005

A message for "older members" month (May) that challenges myths about aging and what people can do in thier twilight years.

Proposing a New Image for Old Age Sunday, May 5, 2002 TEXT: II Corinthians 4: 7, 16-18 You might find today’s sermon title a little funny. It’s a beautiful Sunday in May and we’re talking about getting old. What made me start thinking along this line was something in our Presbyterian ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Is Your Issue

Contributed by Juan Lane on May 27, 2005

We should all realize that we all have issues

What Is Your Issue Scripture Reference: Mark 5:25-34 (KJV) Mark 5:25-34 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:25-34

Denomination: Pentecostal

True Manhood

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 18, 2006

True manhood is marked by: 1. Sacrifice 2. Responsibility 3. Faithfulness

The Arrow shirt company ran an ad in magazines for Father’s Day. It used an acrostic using the word FATHER. It is a takeoff on the acrostic for mother: “M is for the miracle of Being. O is for its origin in love. T is for the tenderness of seeing. H is for a home no wind can move, and so on.” ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Making Every Effort Toward Godliness Series

Contributed by Wes Richard on Oct 1, 2005

God empowers us to live ethical, holy, upright lives in a corrupt world

Making every effort toward godliness II Peter 1 Soon after Sue and I arrived here 20 years ago, we began to print a simple church directory each year, mostly so that we all had a way to connect with each other. Soon long-time members began to say they were having trouble putting names with the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-21

Denomination: Brethren

Waiting 101 Series

Contributed by Mark Batterson on Oct 18, 2005

Most miracles are forfeited because we give up too soon.

A Course in Miracles: Waiting 301 05.20.05 Pastor Mark Batterson This evotional concludes A Course in Miracles. Our next series will be The Game of Life beginning in June. To check out old evotionals visit the evotional archive @ www.theaterchurch.com. Waiting Rooms I went to see the doctor ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Do We Take Communion?

Contributed by Darrin Fish on Dec 10, 2007

Many times we end up doing things for the wrong reasons I thought it would be a good time to explain why we take communion every week

A church had an unusual ritual every Sunday morning. • Before the church sang the Doxology, they would stand up, • everyone would turn to the right and face a blank white wall, • and they would sang. • Every Sunday they did this • Finally a visitor to the church was confused and asked, • “Why ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:20-33

Denomination: Christian Church

Making Your Move Series

Contributed by John Braland on Sep 27, 2006

Risk is always easier to walk through when you feel like the deck is stacked in your favor. It’s easy to gamble a few bucks when you have a few hundred more in your back pocket. It’s easier to risk speaking the truth to a complete stranger than risk tel

Today is part three in my World Poker Tour series and today I need to ask you this question: When is the right time to take a risk? When is it time to move ahead, to step up to the plate, to throw in your cards and go all in? In the first week of this series we talked about going all in. Last ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Communion? Series

Contributed by Wade Allen on May 29, 2007

A sermon examining why we observe communion at Central Christian Church.

A church had an unusual ritual every Sunday morning. Before the church sang the Doxology, they would stand up, everyone turned to the right facing a blank white wall, and they sang. Every Sunday without fail they did this. A newcomer to the church was confused by this and asked, “Why do you do ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-33, 1 Corinthians 11:14-33

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Quest For Christ Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Apr 9, 2007

God presents choices to all people today. It is our responsibility to follow Him in the right choices.

Tonight marks the end of our journey through the greatest sermon ever preached—The Sermon on the Mount. Sunday morning we went on a Quest for Blessedness as we looked at the Beatitudes. Sunday night we went on a Quest for Purpose as we looked at how Jesus calls believers to be salt and light in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-29

Denomination: Baptist

The Values Of The Person God Prospers Series

Contributed by Jason Pettibone on May 14, 2007

Observations of the kind of values that Jesus outlines in the Beatitudes. (Heavily in debt to Dallas Willard for seminal thoughts!)

Last week, I talked about the need for a transformed heart, made alive by God’s Spirit. If our desire is to please God and enjoy His blessings, our heart must be renewed daily, and we must discipline our hearts so they are undivided! We need not be ‘miserable Christians’ frustrated by the gap ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Blindness & Light

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 23, 2007

This story addresses: 1. The question of suffering. 2. The reality of spiritual blindness. 3. The hope of a new world

A recent article reported, “The blind will be able to see the light with a new bionic eye implant which is said to be available within 2 years. The development of the bionic eye will at last restore blind people’s sight. The prototype high tech implant will be fitted to approx 50 to 75 patients, ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-11, John 9:1-26

Denomination: Methodist

Afflicted By Affluence

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jul 31, 2007

If we put Jesus first, then others, and then ourselves, we will be able to spend time at his feet, learning his Word in our lives. Otherwise, we become like Martha in today’s Gospel passage: busy, but not blessed.

Other Scriptural passages: Genesis 18:1-10a(10b-14) Colossians 1:21-29 Psalm 15 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) Two years ago, on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

A Soft, Stone Pillow

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 9, 2007

This one verse contains a very SURE promise, a very SWEEPING promise, and yet a very SELECTIVE promise. Only God could make a rock solid promise into such a soft pillow for tired hearts. Link included to formatted text, audio, video, PowerPoint.

A Soft Stone Pillow Romans 8:28 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SoftStonePillow.html A man was asked, “What color are the Pastor’s eyes?” “I don’t know,” he replied, “when he prays he closes his eyes, and when he preaches, I close mine.” There’s nothing that helps me sleep better than a soft ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Denomination: Baptist