Sermons on Light And Darkness:

Creating A Loving Community For The New Millennium

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

Thinking about what the church must be in the future raises four questions: who are we, who gets in, who leads, and where are we going?

First Baptist Church (New Hampshire Ave), Washington, DC May 31, 1998 Can you believe that it won't be long until we cross over into the third millennium, a full two thousand years after the birth of Christ? Can you believe that we are still here to see it? Why, it seems like it was only ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joseph Of Bethlehem

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 30, 2010

Joseph the forgotten figure of Christmas, (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Joseph the forgotten figure of Christmas, Reading: Matthew chapter 1 verse 18-25. ill: • 800,000 words in the English language. • 300,000 are technical terms. • Average person knows about 10,000 words; • And on average uses about 5,000 words. Words of course play an important part in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Brethren

A Fresh Start

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 30, 2010

Fresh starts as persons or churches do not come just out of guilt, nor out of blame, but out of a radical rebirth

Bethesda First Baptist Church, Bethesda, MD, Sept. 5, 2004 Everybody needs, from time to time, a fresh start. No matter who you are, no matter where you have been, no matter what you have done, sometimes you just need a fresh start. Trying to fix things the way they are doesn’t work; there ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Promise Of The Gift Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 5, 2010

Gifts are a major part of the Christmas celebration, our theme this year looks at "The Gift" that made Christmas what it is. Part one looks at the promise of that gift.

The Gift of Christmas 1 When you think of Christmas what comes to your mind? Before you answer let me tell you a story I heard many years ago. It happened in a grade four Sunday School Class and the teacher was asking the class a question, I don’t know what the context was or why she was asking ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Wesleyan

Do You Know Where You're Going?

Contributed by Dennis Munn on Dec 16, 2010

The best of intentions won't get you to heaven...

Do You Know Where You’re Going? Matthew 7:13-14 13- Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14- Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Denomination: Apostolic

To Be First Be Last Series

Contributed by T D on Dec 31, 2010

Living for Christ means living opposite of what the world says.

Series: It’s Backwards To Be First Be Last Mark 9:33-35 How much of our life do we spending waiting? The doctor’s office, the store, the stoplight – there are hundreds of places we have to wait each day. There is probably a guy out there who has studied the amount of time ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-35

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Rooted In Love

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Jan 2, 2011

As the church, we can model the love of Jesus as we love and accept people. Or we can be exclusive in our love and forfeit our calling to be an authentic church.

A television commercial depicts three business people sitting in the back seat of a taxi. The taxi is stalled in heavy downtown traffic. One man goes berserk. He screams that they will miss the crucial business luncheon they were supposed to go to. The important documents they brought with them ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:13-21

Denomination: Baptist

Business As Usual

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Jan 3, 2011

We can get so caught up in our daily lives that we truly don't discern what God's Will is.

Jesus had essentially one sermon. Everything He did and said revolved around that one message which was "the kingdom of God is at hand." He reminded those who exercised power of any kind on earth that they did not have the last word. He informed them that with His coming and in His person ... God ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:26-29

Denomination: Baptist

How You Can Pass With All F's

Contributed by David Diyanni on Jan 11, 2011

What does it take to succeed in life? This is a great sermon for youth. Catchy title.

How you can pass with all F’s <Show video clip from Lord of Rings, Return of King, when Sam carries Frodo up the hill, friendship> Introduction What does it take to succeed in life? There are many things that are necessary ingredients for us to live lives that are rewarding, meaningful ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Vineyard

Sons, Sin, Swine, And Starving Souls

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 28, 2009

World Hunger Sunday: The younger son found that physical hunger starved his soul; the elder son found that spiritual hunger hardened his heart; the Father hungers for all of his children’s needs.

When I read the Gospels, I know that Jesus must have been a Baptist, and the twelve disciples must have been the Deacons of the First Baptist Church of Galilee. Must have been! Do you know why? Because there is all this talk about eating! Everywhere you turn in the Gospels, there are stories ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Christmas Beatitude

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Dec 2, 2009

It’s the 9th beatitude; the Christmas beatitude. We never hear it from Jesus’ lips but from Paul’s pen. What is it? It’s Acts 20:35!

This past week my wife Nicole and I were out finishing some last minute Christmas shopping. I was driving and she was riding in the passenger seat. All of a sudden, out of nowhere my wife blurts out, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” She said, “I love giving way more than receiving. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:35

Denomination: Baptist

Family Matters I: Honoring God In Our Relationships Series

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 9, 2009

The more the church knows how to please the Lord in all our relationships, the better we will be able to help one another (and others) grow closer to God. [INCLUDES MESSAGE FROM ROBIN OPPERMAN]

Family Matters: Honoring God in our Relationships Ephesians 5:21-33 Intro: In Ephesians 5:8&10 Paul says, “Live as children of light” and “Find out what pleases the Lord.” Well, one thing that pleases the Lord is when His people love one another and honor one another. People who belong to the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-33

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What’s The Rush?

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 28, 2009

Martha and Mary

WHAT'S THE RUSH? (LUKE 10:38-42) Hong Kong is an extremely busy city. Since arriving in Hong Kong in 2008, I have done my best to keep up, especially for the first year. Every working day, I rushed for the 7:24 am Ma Wan ferry, arriving around 16 minutes (7:40 a.m) later at Tsuen Wan West, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Persecution Makes Perfect Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jan 8, 2010

Like Paul, we must be prepared to suffer to present others perfect in Christ

Colossians 1:24 – 2:5 Richard Wurmbrand was a Christian pastor in Romania in the middle of the communist era. In 1945 there was great conference run by the communists where one by one the church leaders of Romania got up and pledged allegiance to Stalin and the communist system. Although ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Why Does God Allow Pain? Series

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 8, 2010

If God really is there and loves me, why do I still hurt?

Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Jeremiah 15:18a It’s always helpful at the start of a journey to know where you’re headed! Let me share some of the “roadmap” for our series on ‘WHY’ – the questions people ask. The well-known artist and songwriter Bill ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 15:18

Denomination: United Methodist