Sermons on Measuring Line:

Devoted To One Another Series

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 21, 2009

Being devoted to one another in brotherly love requires a decision, determination, and demonstration. We put it into practice by being present, attentive, and expressive.

Introduction: A. The story is told of an attorney who gathered the entire family for the reading of the will. 1. Relatives came from near and far, to see if they were included in the bequests. 2. The lawyer somberly opened the will and began to read: a. “To my cousin Ed, I leave my ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Choose To Worship Series

Contributed by Neil Olcott on Sep 21, 2009

Today I want us to understand that worship will not happen unless we make the conscious choice to be worshippers!

Intentional Worship – Sermon Title: Choose to Worship September 20th, 2009 Main Idea: The only way you and I will ever be able to worship is if we make the decision to do so. Issues: Difference between an attender and a worshipper. Intro: Nothing in life just happens by default. Even doing ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Shaking The Family Tree Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 4, 2009

This message looks at the genealogy of Christ as given by Matthew, why it was given and what we can learn from it

Shaking the Family Tree We made the pilgrimage this summer. Not to Mecca or Jerusalem but to Grand Manan Island in the Bay of Fundy, our ancestral home, so to speak. There have been Guptills and Greenes, Bancrofts and Cheneys, Wilsons and Bradburys on Grand Manan ever since the island was settled ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Wesleyan

Trialful Joy

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 8, 2009

Trials and tests are no fun. James doesn’t tell us to consider it fun but to "consider it all joy." Trials and tests are gut wrenching and drawn out at times, but the one thing that we must know is that God is with us through the whole ordeal.

Opening illustration: After William Carey was well established in his pioneer missionary work in India, his supporters in England sent a printer to assist him. Soon the two men were turning out portions of the Bible for distribution. Carey had spent many years learning the language so that he could ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Conquerors All

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 8, 2009

We are bored. Feelings shut down because we strive for security and for status, and even for spirituality, but nothing works. Only allegiance to the risen Christ provides fulfillment.

Of all the diseases of our time, the most serious one is boredom. Of all the sicknesses this flesh is heir to, the most fatal is boredom. Not AIDS, not homicide, not heart disease nor cancer, but boredom. Oh, I don’t suppose any mortuary ever tagged a cadaver’s toe with "boredom". I don’t suppose ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

He Asked - Jesus Answered

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Oct 9, 2009

Some people are willing to fulfill the requirement to attain eternal life in God’s kingdom and some find it difficult.

Text: “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (v. 17) Did you ever ask that question? Have you ever given any thought to how one inherits eternal life or how one can be assured of spending eternity with Jesus in His kingdom? There are people who do not give consideration ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Denomination: Christian Church

Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 17, 2009

We damage ourselves as well as the others when we write off whole peoples through racism. When we see them as persons, with human faces, we discover that to write them off is to damage ourselves. Fellowship in Christ leads us to value difference.

A widow, shortly after her husband’s death, was going through his papers. She found a couple of old certificates, yellowed with age and crumbling into dust. They had been made out to her husband more than fifty years ago, and seemed to be some kind of promissory notes. Some sort of company had ...read more

Scripture: Esther 7:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Time In The Trenches Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 19, 2009

What does it mean for us to "take up your cross" and deny ourselves. I signed up for the benefits! I didn’t sign up to die.

OPEN: I recently read the true story about a preacher who was standing at the door shaking hands as the congregation departed. He grabbed one man by the hand and pulled him aside. The preacher said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!" The man replied, "I’m already in the Army of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Alternatives To Money Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Oct 20, 2009

Money is not the solution to our lack of significance, purpose, joy, or love.

Intro: This morning I want to suggest something extremely radical, subversive, and even confrontational. It is a message our culture does not want you to hear. And although I won’t get arrested, and probably even won’t upset you by saying it because “on the surface” it will sound reasonable, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Disabled Nation

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 24, 2009

America reminds me of these 70 kings in our text: Dethroned and Disabled, and reduced to settling for scraps which fall from above sparingly. And we used to sit feasting at the table of the KING of Kings. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPt.

Disabled Nation Judges 1:1-7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DisabledNation.html America and Israel are much alike. They remind me of each other. And both remind me of these 70 kings in our text: Dethroned and Disabled, and reduced to settling for scraps which fall from above sparingly. America ...read more

Scripture: Judges 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Endurance: Who Told You To Stop? Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 26, 2009

Faith is not based upon success or failure. Success and failure have one thing in common, they allow us to become closer to Jesus Christ.

I ran track in High School and my thing was running the sprints, 100, 200, hurdles, relays and such. In my Junior year the School hired a new track coach. At every practice this coach would give a short talk on strategy and tactics for our next track meet. At first, we were all bored to tears with ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:13-52

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reporting For Duty

Contributed by Mike Rickman on Nov 6, 2009

Our nation is engaged in a spiritual war and the church must rise up to re-establish the bible as the foundation of who we are as a nation.

November 8, 2009 Morning Worship Text: Joshua 6:7 – 7:25 Subject: Gideon Title: Reporting for Duty On Wednesday of this week we celebrate Veteran’s Day. I want you to stop for just a moment and think about all the freedoms that you have. I want you to think about the lines from the Declaration ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Want To Know Christ Series

Contributed by Steven Buhr on Nov 12, 2009

Jesus is Lord, and I want to know Him, more and more every day. What about you?

We’ve been moving through the book of Philippians and are halfway through the letter now. Paul writes this letter while in prison for spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. I’d like us to watch a short clip of Paul as he addresses the church. Watch and listen to him as he reminds us of Who it is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Old Rules Uncloaked

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 13, 2009

MLK Sunday: In the beloved community we no longer need to think of over and under. The old way is a prison; Christ sees us as sinners in need of grace, and therefore all children of His, family.

When our children were small, they liked to play games with us. But they liked it best when they could win. Whether it was crazy eights, or chutes and ladders, or just hide-and-go-seek, our children loved to play games as long as they could win. If they lost too much they would burst into tears and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:25-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Talented Tenth

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 16, 2009

The old Wshington-DuBois debate is mirrored in Jacob: his trouble was from his own foolishness as well as from others’ deceit. The way out was to receive God’s promise of greatness and to act now to offer concrete help to those coming after.

Almost exactly a century ago, American listened to a debate between two great thinkers, two men who had unquestionable credentials, first-rate minds, and powerful pens. Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois. In September 1895, in a speech in Atlanta, Booker Taliaferro Washington advocated ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:10-22

Denomination: Baptist