Sermons on Loss Of Service:

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

"a New Life In Christ!"

Contributed by Grady H Moore on Mar 10, 2022

Many call it a new birth! It's actually a new life, a transformation brought about by the Spirit of God.

Notice 3 things in this passage of scripture. First... I. We see our life BEFORE we accepted Christ. -We were spiritually dead, but were made alive in Christ. v1 -We see our former sinful lifestyle. v2-3 II. We see our life CHANGED when we trusted Christ. -Notice God's mercy and love. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Loving Jesus First

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 11, 2022

Martha was working in the kitchen to earn Jesus’ approval, while Mary was sitting in the living room listening to Him teach. But Jesus had no problem with Mary. Why? Because our love of Him must come before our service.

The living room intimacy Mary enjoyed with Jesus will never come out of the busyness of Martha’s kitchen. Busyness . . . breeds distraction. - Joanna Weaver(1) One time a counterfeit bill made it into circulation and no one knew it was fake for quite some time. It was spent hundreds of times on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

Is The Lord Really King Of Your Life?

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 15, 2022

A young boy faithfully attended Sunday school. He had been taught by the same teacher for a number of years.

She had a way of telling stories, and she would always routinely end her stories by saying, "And the moral of the story is…" Every Sunday she would tell a Bible story and say, “And the moral of the story is…” As the young boy began to grow older, he was promoted to another class. He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:4-5

Denomination: Baptist

Do Not Say, "I Am A Youth!”

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 15, 2022

This message looks at a teenager who was called by God. Jeremiah was like any other youth; no different than teenagers today. But the Lord was able to use him in an amazing way! God wants even those who are young to serve Him.

I would like to begin our message with a short account concerning a great evangelist in recent church history. “Dwight L. Moody was once asked, ‘How many converts did you have last night?’ Moody answered, ‘Two and one half.’ The other person said, ‘Two adults and a child?’ ‘No,’ Moody replied. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-12

Denomination: Baptist

Are We Truly In The Hands Of God?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 9, 2023

What are our hands good for doing?

What are our hands good for doing? They can make things. They can comfort and they can chastise. They write words. Hands can make signals and signs. Hands can be on the offense and hands can be on the defense. Without hands we could not eat, unless we put our face down on to a plate of food but ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:73

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Can We Stand In The Gap?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Dec 27, 2023

What is it to stand in the gap for someone else? Is it to stand in the place for another?

In Chapter 22, we learn why judgment would be placed on Jerusalem (22:2-16), how it would approach them (22:17-22), and who would be affected by it (22:23-31). The Jewish leaders were particularly liable for the ethical environment of the country since God had picked them to lead. Those actions and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:1-31

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Can These Dry Bones Live Again?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 1, 2024

How many dry bones can we find in our lives and in our churches?

I have a bone to pick with you. In the valley of dry bones, we can learn something about ourselves and our local churches. Let us take a moment to find out what these dry bones can tell us. Some Bible scholars, theologians, teachers, or preachers may say that the translation of this chapter ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

Am I Using Faulty Tools?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jan 30, 2023

The simple things or actions during our Christian walk of faith are just as important as with the things that seem major.

2 Kings 6:1-7 Elisha has now succeeded Elijah as a prophet to the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 2:1-18). He has by now already prophesied and God has performed a few miracles through him. But now we will see something peculiar, he makes an axe head float. This situation shows how God cares for His ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean To Be Commissioned?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Feb 6, 2023

Isaiah’s perspective on God in the initial four verses gives us a feeling of God’s significance, power, and mystery. Isaiah's case of perceiving his sin before God urges us to admit our own wrongdoings.

Isaiah 6:1-13 The image of absolution that Isaiah gives advises us that we are pardoned as well. At the point when we perceive how incredible God is, how guilty we are, and the degree of His absolution, we get the strength to accomplish His work. How does our idea of the significance of God match ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1

Denomination: Independent/Bible