Sermons on Living Now:

C. S. Lewis' The Great Divorce Series

Contributed by Jeff Cheadle on Dec 9, 2005

An examination of C. S. Lewis’ view of Heaven and Hell in The Great Divorce and The Problem of Pain.

The Life & Legacy of C. S. Lewis #5 “The Great Divorce” Matthew 7.7-13 This weekend we’re continuing our series on The Life and Legacy of C. S. Lewis by turning our attention to one of his most intriguing works of fiction, The Great Divorce. The title The Great Divorce is a twist on William Blake ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Brings Us God

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Dec 18, 2004

This sermon was preached on the Fourth Sunday in Advent with the basic text being John 1:14, "The Word Became Flesh." It is a message on His Incarnation.

Jes Brings Us God --John 1:1-14 “This is about a modern man, one of us. He was not a scrooge; he was a kind, decent, mostly good man, generous to his family, upright in his dealings with others, but he did not believe in all that Incarnation stuff that the Churches proclaim at Christmas time. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

I See The Light! Series

Contributed by Steve Lawson on Jan 7, 2004

The strength of our faith is tied up in our ability to hear God.

I think that it’s important to consistently remind ourselves that we do not serve a silent God. Throughout the pages of Scripture we see a God who is involved in His people’s lives and wants to speak to them and DOES speak to them. We see in the Bible a God who desperately wants to redeem mankind ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:17-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Learning To Accept One Another Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 13, 2004

So what is the Joseph effect? For Joseph it wasn’t about labor (carpentry), it was about love. Life is about love.

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Is There A Conflict Between Faith And Science? Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 28, 2002

Those seeking truth should consider: 1. Christian faith birthed science. 2. Miracles are not things done against natural law, but according to natural law. 3. To close the door to the possibility of the existence of God goes against the very fabric

How do you explain miracles to a scientist? How do you explain science to a Christian? Can it be done, and is there a conflict between the two? How do we use objective critical reasoning and still believe in things like the parting of the Red Sea, a virgin giving birth to a child, shriveled ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-25

Denomination: Methodist

Praying Like Jesus Series

Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Nov 29, 2006

Prayer needs to be the primary way we encounter God and grow in our relationship with Him. Jesus modeled and taught on prayer, particularly through the model of “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Last week I shared our need to get connected to God, the only way to experience an abundant, fruitful life is to get connected to God. We get connected to God through Jesus. The Scripture passage we used last week was Jesus’ words, “you cannot bear fruit unless you remain (abide) in me.” The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

Following Jesus Into The Wilderness

Contributed by William Mouser on Mar 14, 2006

Lent is one of the earliest observances of the church. Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness is a model for spiritual preparation for future effectiveness and fruitfulness in ministry.

Psalm 25, Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-13 For most of the past 500 years, there was an almost infallible way to tell Catholics from Protestants: the Catholics were the ones who had a cross-shaped smudge of ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. But, those times are changing. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-13

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Unstrained Mercy Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 27, 2006

Unstrained mercy needs to be constrained by the same constraints that God himself recognizes: by wisdom, by justice, by the long-term, eternal good of the person you are trying to help.

Every week it seems like there’s another new disaster. Wasn’t Hurricane Katrina enough, without adding Hurricane Rita to it? We were all so overwhelmed by the magnitude of those twin crises that many of us probably didn’t even pay much attention to the fires in California. After all, they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Preposition "Eis" In Acts 2:38

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on Jun 30, 2006

This is an examination of the meaning of the Greek preposition "eis" as we determine whether remission of sins precedes or follows repentance and baptism.

During the last Century, theologians who believe that salvation is attained only by belief in Christ have made the assertion that the Greek preposition eis translated in Acts 2:38 as “for” should be translated “because of”. They assert that the Greek would suggest that one must repent and be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Will Make A Way Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Jan 20, 2006

How God makes a way when your problems seem unsolvable.

This is the 3rd installment in the 4-part series on Second Chances. We’ve been looking at the times the Bible uses the phrase "a second time" and we’ve been learning more about how God gives each of us numerous opportunities to do His will and experience the joyful life He offers. It is so good ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:10-13, Acts 7:13-40

Denomination: Baptist

A Crucified Christ Series

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Apr 12, 2005

God has determined to save people in a way that appears foolish to the wisdom of man: through the message of the cross.

I’m trying to decide what picture to put on my gravestone. I was hoping you would help me decide. How about a picture of a noose to represent a hanging? How about a flame to represent a burning at the stake? How about a sword to represent a beheading? How about a stone to represent a stoning? ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Mission Defined: S-P-U-D

Contributed by Eldon Reich on May 3, 2005

Mission sermon using a potato as mission emphasis. Hand out potato, or stack altar witht hem in a call to action for missions.

APRIL 24 MISSION DEFINED-- S.P.U.D. Matthew 25:31-40 How many of you remember playing with Mr. Potato Head? My brother and I had one on the farm. We nicknamed him SPUD. Spud was a real friend to us: We could make him into whatever face we wanted. We could make SPUD smile. We could make SPUD ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-40

Denomination: Methodist

Making The Right Kind Of Impression

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Nov 17, 2008

Message about how Christians are supposed be looked on with favor, not with disgust, as happens so often today. While the gospel is offensive to many because of its call to repentance (and which is the basis for the world "hating" Christians), Scripture

Making the Right Kind of Impression Acts 2:42-47; 5:12-13 November 2, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED (AND ADAPTED) IS FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Introduction My intention for today was to continue working through our passage in Matthew as we look at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Wesleyan

God's Conflict Resolution Series

Contributed by Stephen Collins on Jan 6, 2009

Part 10 of "Being the Church," focusing on the reality of conflict and how the Bible instructs on dealing with it in a Christ-like manner.

Being the Church God’s Conflict Resolution Scripture: Acts 15:36-41 Icebreaker: Two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they decided to talk to the town sage. The first man went to the sage’s home and told his version of what happened. When ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Church Of God

The Lifted Up Servant Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jun 30, 2008

Our passage teaches us of a violent grace. Though man would cast down the Servant, God would lift Him up and glorify Him. He who man esteemed not, God would magnify.

ISAIAH 52:13 15 - 52:15 THE LIFTED UP SERVANT John 12: 32-33 The text we begin today may be the best know in the Old Testament. The passage is certainly one of the riches and most unmistakable prophecies in the Bible. Our text begins the fourth ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-15

Denomination: Baptist