Sermons on Macedonian Call:

Easter 2016: Empty Promises

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 22, 2020

On the first Easter Sunday, instead of promises full of emptiness, God gave us emptiness that is full of promise. There are at least three of them—an empty cross, empty clothes, and an empty cave. It is the very fact that each of these is empty that assures us that God’s promises are not.

EASTER: EMPTY PROMISES Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 3/27/2016 I just want to take a moment to thank everyone for choosing to spend Easter morning with us here at the Grove. Whether you’ve been coming to the Grove all your life, or this is your first time visiting, or you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:8-10, Romans 6:23, Colossians 3:13-14, John 20:5-7, Matthew 28:5-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Why You Should Listen To Jesus

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jan 11, 2021

Next in series in John. Examines the input of Jesus in our lives

John 3 (4) Why we should listen to Jesus Yesterday I was working in the the high lift, decorating the bay tree in the field. I checked the gas one time and thought, I can finish this before I refuel it. I ended up running out of gas and getting stuck in the air. I started thinking of Elmer Fudd ...read more

Scripture: John 3:31-36

Denomination: Baptist

Wisdom From The Craft Room Series

Contributed by Jackie Shergold on Jan 27, 2021

Following on from the wisdom of God we can find from our garden and shed, we now look at the wisdom we can find from God in our Craft Room.

Wisdom of the craft room 1. Pattern Many craft projects require a pattern. My parchment craft usually has a border around it made of embossed dots or holes pierced and cut. To achieve this I have to follow the pattern very carefully. The most frustrating thing is when you have spent hours on a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, John 15:1-8

Sin: The Struggle, The Revelation

Contributed by Lee Hammond Houston Jr. on Jan 31, 2021

Romans 3:23, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Even the Apostle Paul was one of the “all have sinned.” Only Christ was without sin. Paul sometimes disappointed people, sometimes made mistakes, and sometimes just plain messed up.

Sin: the Struggle, the Revelation Our scripture today is Romans 7:14-8:4. I am breaking it in half, for in the first half Paul writes like a frustrated man, but in the second half Paul reveals a wonderful revelation. Listen to how disturbed Paul is in this first half, Romans 7:14-24. "14 ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35-39

Denomination: United Methodist

The Power Of Weakness Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 19, 2021

The paradox that Paul proclaims here is that a handicap can be a help. A painful problem can be a powerful promoter of what is good. A weakness can be an asset and a strength

One of the most incredible biographies ever written is that of Robert Babcock. As a young boy he made a bomb out of some powder he found in his father's barn. He had a hard time getting it to go off, but when it finally did, it blew up in his face and he was instantly blinded, and remained so ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Proving Jesus Arose From The Dead

Contributed by Dr. Craig Nelson on Mar 20, 2021

Christianity is based and grounded in the Resurrection of Jesus, the promised Messiah of Israel. Every Born-Again Christian should be able to defend this foundational truth.

Christianity proclaims that Jesus rose from the dead and hangs its entire existence on that fact. Yet, there is no practical certainty of it because actual eyewitnesses cannot be questioned due to them being dead! However, a logical case can be made on the certainty of historical evidence. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:14, Galatians 2:21, John 1:1-5, John 1:9-14, Romans 10:17, John 8:36  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Self Service Or In His Service

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 21, 2021

Jesus did not tell us to do anything that He did not do Himself when He told us to love one another in His service. Jesus led His disciples by example.

SELF SERVICE OR IN HIS SERVICE Text: John 13: 1-17 John 13:1-17  Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  (2)  The devil had ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: United Methodist

A Victory With Water Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 25, 2021

Doubtless, numerous volumes could be filled with the victories gained with water. We are examining one that is the Niagara of them all.

After the Russo-Japanese War in which Japan gained a great victory on the sea, the commander of the Japanese fleet visited the United States. William Jennings Bryan was the secretary of state, and it was his duty to toast the visiting commander. Bryan was a staunch prohibitionist however, and ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-11

The Old Or The New Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 27, 2021

All of history is a battle between the liberal and the conservative. One of the most fascinating paradoxes of Scripture is that Jesus was both a liberal and a conservative.

In his book Like A Mighty Army, Halford Luccock tells an interesting story about theatrical history. In the middle of the 19th century the right to produce dramatic performances was limited to a few theaters which had been able to develop a monopoly. Some bright boys of the theater found ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:18-22

How To Repent Of All Sins In Your Christian Life

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Mar 27, 2021

Repentance is a beautiful thing. Repentance is a breaking free from the ties and bonds of this world, and the sins that so easily corrupt us, and a process of being transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Mark 7:20-23 (ESV) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9, Mark 7:20-23, 1 John 1:8-10, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 5:16, Hebrews 10:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Divorce And Remarriage Part 2 Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 28, 2021

Christian couples have an obligation to Christ, and to His body the church to make sure they get all of the marriage counseling available to avoid divorce.

I got a kick out of the story I heard the other day. This man had gone to a psychiatrist, and after a great deal of examination he asked the doctor, "What is wrong with me?" The doctor replied, "I think you are crazy." "I demand a second opinion," the man insisted. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Gifts For The Common Good Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

The reason the church has survived the changes of the centuries, and will continue to do so till the end of history is because it is designed to be adaptable to all of the cultures of the world.

Back in the mid 1800's a light-colored moth was very common in the industrial city of Manchester, England. When these moths landed on the bark of the trees they blended in so well that the moth eating birds could not see them, and the result was that they multiplied rapidly. Some of the moths ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7

How To Be A Successful Husband Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 29, 2021

We commit ourselves in marriage for better or for worse because both our equally possible. Conflict is just as real a potential as cooperation.

The question was asked of a class of Catholic girls-"What is matrimony?" One girl confidently stood and said, "Matrimony is a state of terrible torment which those who enter are compelled to undergo for a time to fit them for heaven." "No, no," said the priest, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

Partners With God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 1, 2021

Man tries to say there are saints and non-saints, but Paul says, all who are in Christ are saints. Man says, there are clergy and lay people. Paul says to the Philippians, you are partners with me in the Gospel.

Chuck Swindoll was told this true story of Joe Gibbs, head coach of the Washington Red Skins. Joe's friend Frank looked out the window one morning and there was his faithful Labrador Retriever sitting on the front porch with something hanging from the dog's jaws. A closer look revealed it ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19-26

The Pleasure Of Positive Thinking Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 5, 2021

Positive thinking does not mean, if you always think positive nothing will ever go wrong. That is wishful thinking, and it won't work. Positive thinking is telling yourself that even when things do go wrong, that is never the last word.

Have you ever watched a movie or play that ended with some basic problems unresolved? It is a great let down, for we expect that no matter how bad the situation is the bottom line will be a happy ending. We are conditioned to this. It is a part of our heritage through our fairy tales, novels, ...read more