Sermons on Margaret Landon:

The Da Vinci Code:

Contributed by Don Hawks on Aug 20, 2004

· WHAT DAN BROWN GOT RIGHT · WHAT BROWN GOT WRONG · WHO CARES? Web resources and congregational outline at the end

SLIDE 1 WELCOME, ATTENDANCE PAD You may want to refer to today’s outline that I’ve provided to follow some quotes from the book I’m discussing, as well as some other quotes and Bible readings. SLIDE 2 THE DA VINCI CODE (Dan Brown): WHAT’S THE STORY ABOUT? First of all I want to address why I am ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:9-14

Denomination: Methodist

More Than Hatch, Match, And Dispatch Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 13, 2000

The church is for far more than empty ceremony on occasions demanded by tradition; it is the steward of new life, with a rich and full experience that employs the diversity of gifts God has given it.

Last week you seemed to get a big charge out of my little story about going to a wedding rehearsal and wasting time waiting for a key person to arrive. When I said that I didn’t know what we’d do on Sunday afternoon if he didn’t show up, you let out a belly laugh. You assumed I was talking about ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

God Bless America

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 30, 2001

God has blessed America. Now it’s our turn.

GOD BLESS AMERICA I Tim. 2:1-6 INTRO.- Here is some of America’s craziness. ILL.- Someone wrote these interesting words entitled, “Only in America.” 1- Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance. 2- Only in America are there handicap parking places in front of a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Use Music For Greater Advancement Of Christ's Kingdom & Righteousnen

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 19, 2002

How To Use Music For Greater Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom and Righteousness (Matthew 6:24-33)

How To Use Music For Greater Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom and Righteousness (Matthew 6:24-33) Andrew Fletcher in 1709 once said, “Give me the making of the songs of a nation and I care not who makes the laws.” Music has a powerful influence with every person on the planet. Illustration: I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pain Ignores The Appointment Book Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 20, 2001

Many of us dislike dealing with unplanned events, but those who need us need us now. So either we paralyze or we panic, unless we learn to work together inside God’s grace and unless we discern that He is giving us time in which to grow our faith.

I have the utmost admiration for anybody who can live amid constant crises. I cannot do that very well. If you are the kind of person who can keep your sanity when there are ten unplanned things happening around you, I salute you. How do you do it? That’s not me. That’s not my skill. I like ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-56

Denomination: Baptist

When Thou Hast Done, Thou Hast Not Done Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Aug 25, 2001

Sermon prepared for observance of my fifteenth anniversary as pastor; confession that, like Joseph of Arimathea, I have waited too long to be bold and then have done my work all to alone; but that the basis for pastor and people is the grace of the Cross

If I know anything at all about life, I know that all of us want significance. We want to know that our lives have had meaning. We want to know, after we have invested a few years, that we have counted for something. We want significance. Years ago, I heard a lecture by Victor Frankl. Some of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

What To Do When Your Lose Your Security Series

Contributed by Michael Cassara on Sep 8, 2001

Learn from King David how to handle life when you start losing the things that provide you security.

SEEKING GOD FAITHFULLY- A LOOK AT THE LIFE OF DAVID What To Do When Your Lose Your Security 1 Samuel 18:6-21:15 INTRODUCTION The scene is a four engine jet liner. The pilot’s voice comes on the intercom: "Those of you on the left side of the plane have probably noticed that one ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Cracking The Da Vinci Code

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 22, 2004

The Da Vinci Code is one of the hotest novels on the market today, what should the church’s response be?

(I began this message with a clip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy discovers the Grail) Let’s start by saying that the Da Vinci code focuses on a subject that many of us know little about and that is the Holy Grail, as a matter of fact the sum total of most of our knowledge ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

Denomination: Wesleyan

When Sensitivity Is Dulled Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 17, 2004

Where does interpersonal insensitivity come from? Ignorance, alienation from God, loss of feeling, destructive self-absorption. How can sensitivity be regained? Learn, learn Christ, let the relationship govern, be renewed.

There has been an accident. You’ve been hit hard, and you cannot lift that leg. They examine you, they flex your muscles, they look for broken bones. If the condition persists, they may stick pins into the soles of your feet. They are trying to find out whether you can feel anything. They are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

At An Adoptable Age Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 8, 2003

What time is it in your life? Joseph may have been at a crossroads, when his original plan had gone astray, when his chances were running out; but God had a unique place for him.

To give a child a home, with security and love, is one of the highest callings anyone can follow. When you share of yourself with a child, you are living up to God’s intention that we be fruitful and replenish the earth. When you give security and love to a child, you are fulfilling humanity’s ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

More Than Hatch, Match, And Dispatch Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 20, 2003

People expect only the ceremonial from the church. But God wants to give us a rich, varied, and outward-reaching life.

Last week you seemed to get a big charge out of my little story about going to a wedding rehearsal and wasting time waiting for a key person to arrive. When I said that I didn’t know what we’d do on Sunday afternoon if he didn’t show up, you let out a belly laugh. You assumed I was talking about ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Road Maps For A Far Country

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

For Father’s Day: Fathers who say "yes" to everything provide a road map to disaster; who keep their children at arm’s length point to alienation; but who may also go home themselves to lead their children home. (Maps were displayed)

I have always liked maps. Any kind of map fascinates me. You can learn so much from a map. If it is a road map, you can find out how to get from here to there and back again. When I was in elementary school and the classroom got boring, like most kids, I would doodle. But while some kids ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32, Galatians 4:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

God Bless America

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jun 25, 2003

God has blessed America. Now it’s our turn.

GOD BLESS AMERICA I Tim. 2:1-6 INTRO.- Here is some of America’s craziness. ILL.- Someone wrote these interesting words entitled, "Only in America." 1- Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance. 2- Only in America are there handicap parking places in front of a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 1 Timothy 2:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Groan For The Glory

Contributed by Clyde Grimes on Dec 28, 2002

Sermon focuses on stirring up our spirits to long for the purposes of God to be fulfilled.

Groan For The Glory (Romans 8:18-25) I. Life in the Present Age A. Suffering is the normal Christian experience B. Our suffering should be viewed through the eyes of eternity II. All Creation Is Groaning A. All creation is in tune with God—it excitedly awaits the fulfillment of His plan B. All ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Sardis: Alarm Bells Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 12, 2003

God is working to get our attention. Sometimes He uses alarm bells when we must respond immediately. Sometimes He uses alarm clocks to focus us on our daily disciplines. What is best, however, is the inner body clock, the inner drive to be a Kingdom pe

The greatest challenge any speaker has is to gain and to hold the attention of his audience. Speech teachers tell us that if we are going to practice anything, practice both the opening and the ending of a speech. That may be all that anyone remembers. So how does a speaker gain and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Baptist