Sermons on Measuring Line:

Ditch Patrol

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Jul 15, 2009

The story of the Good Samaritan turned inside out. God calls all of us to go into the ditch to help others who have fallen into the ditch.

We’ve talked about two major things concerning you and me. One is God’s unconditional love. In Luke, Jesus tells the story of the Prodigal Son which is His most famous story about the unconditional love of God. He came to demonstrate that and did so clearly. Another thing we’ve talked about and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:30-37

Denomination: Baptist

A Study In Elbows And Fingertips

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Jul 15, 2009

God understands the difference between elbows of unconcern or casualness and fingertips of faith.

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, I found this one story of a study in elbows and fingertips. It is the story of how God understands the difference between elbows of unconcern or casualness and fingertips of faith. The story is the setting of our Lord returning from some time of rest and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-53

Denomination: Baptist

Salvation Panic

Contributed by Paul Searight on Oct 1, 2008

How doctrines of election and predestination relate to our chosing God, Him choosing us and crucially the surety of our salvation.

Salvation Panic When Andy emailed me last month to say that the theme was ‘Chosen from Eternity’ I replied saying that we would need to open the question of predestination. Now predestination isn’t in itself a problem – the idea that God foretold who would be saved and who would not before he even ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Missing The Party

Contributed by Gerald Albers on Oct 1, 2008

I would like us to study the parable of the prodigal son considering our own relationship with God, centering our lives on Jesus, and having intimacy with the Father. Oftentimes, our anger and refusal to "join the party," as it were, causes us to miss muc

MISSING THE PARTY Luke 15:25-32 ________________________________________ On New Year’s Day 1963, USC played Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. The Wisconsin quarterback, Ron VanderKelen, was one of the all-time great college quarterbacks. I was fourteen years old at the time, and our family was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Survivorman Part 1

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

Livin’ Thru The Dry Times. Learn survival lessons and tips.

SurvivorMan Pt. 1 No one likes to talk about the dry times. At least that is true most of the time. Les Stroud who stars in SurvivorMan not only talks about it he films it and profits from dry times. We prefer that everyone would believe that we are always living the good life. That everything ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:1-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Respect Life Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 2, 2008

A look at the 6th commandment, "You shall not murder," with the practical implications of what it means to maintain healthy relationships in a healthy society through respect for all human life.

Respect Life (Exodus 20:13) An attorney was speaking to a woman who had just lost her husband. He said to her, “Your husband did not leave a will, so we need to know the last words he ever said to you.” She replied, “I don’t want to tell you.” The attorney said, “Look, he did not leave a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:13

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Claiming Our Canaan Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 11, 2008

Most said, we have absolutely no chance of possessing this Promised Land. But where they saw only giants, the ’minority report’ of Joshua and Caleb saw God! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

Claiming Our Canaan Joshua 1:1-13 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ClaimingOurCanaan.html We’ve come “Out of Africa” now into the wilderness. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is a picture of our salvation. We were slaves, in bondage to sin, the toughest master you’ll ever serve. Sin takes us ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Abraham Factor Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 13, 2008

God did more than start a "religion" with Abraham. He started a "relationship" - a relationship that models what God desires to do in our lives.

OPEN: A third grader once wrote a homework assignment where he was supposed to "Explain God." "One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make grown-ups, just babies. I think because ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God’s Wedding Gift Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Oct 15, 2008

An examination of the 7th commandment against adultery, showing us how to fully enjoy God’s wedding gift of sex in the marriage relationship.

God’s Wedding Gift Exodus 20:14 At the end of their first date, a young man in a bygone era took his favorite girl home. He decided to try for that important first kiss. With an air of confidence, he leaned his hand against the wall, smiled, and said, “How about a good night kiss?” “Are you ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:14

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Expectations We Place On God

Contributed by Christopher Easton on Oct 17, 2008

Sermon on the golden calf episode in Exodus.

Text: Exodus 32:1-14 Lightning and thunder are roaring at the top of the mountain. Smoke is billowing all around as if the whole mountain side were on fire! Moses was meeting with God there. The people dare not go to where Moses was for fear that God himself would break out against them! It was an ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-14

Denomination: Holiness

Spiritual Rescues

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 26, 2008

When Jesus stopped at the Well in Samaria he was performing a spiritual rescue and demonstrating guidelines for us to do the same

She was rescued twice. Two times, two complete strangers made a decision to rescue her, within two days of each other. Not bad, huh? Her name was Kelly Moore which means absolutely nothing to you. You don’t know Kelly Moore but most of you know some of the circumstances about the day that she ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

Christianity And Divorce Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 28, 2008

Divorce is a near universal experience as pervasive as it has become. Some of you are still dealing with the pains of divorce. For some, it may be hard to sit here without tears running down your face. Others of you are struggling in your marriage and sec

Christian and Divorce Matthew 19:1-10 How many of you have been touched by divorce, either yourself or through a family member or friend? Raise your hands. Divorce is a near universal experience as pervasive as it has become. Some of you are still dealing with the pains of divorce. For some, it may ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

God Speaks Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Oct 31, 2008

First sermon in series on Hebrews

Christianity – A Superior way of Living – God Speaks to Us slide Hebrews intro There are times when living the Christian life is hard. Some people may lose friends when they become a Christian because they may not do the same things as they used to. Some people who are brought up in a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christianity - A New And Better Covenant Series

Contributed by Scott Kircher on Oct 31, 2008

Sermon 9 in Hebrews Series

Christianity – A New and Better Covenant This Covenant has a better Priest (7:1-17, 7:20-8:5) Jesus’ Priesthood cannot be destroyed by… …Death (7:23-25) …Sin (7:26-28) This Covenant has a better Hope (7:18 – 19) This Covenant has better Promises (8:6 – 13) Unconditional Promises vs. ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

David: A Man After God's Own Heart

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Nov 1, 2008

When we understand that the Lord desires for us to come to Him with “unveiled faces,” completely open, honest, and unvarnished, a wonderful transformation begins to take place and we begin to see things as they really are.

A college student had two problems common to many: low grades and no money. Knowing that her parents wouldn’t look kindly on her dilemma she devised an ingenious plan to soften the blows of reality and wrote this letter: Dear Mom and Dad, Just thought I’d drop you a note to let you know how I’m ...read more

Denomination: Baptist