Sermons on midrash:

Spiritual Entrepreneurs Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 22, 2013

God wants us to invest his Word; how can we do this?

Spiritual Entrepreneurs (Mark 4:21-34) 1. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our little worlds that we forget we are building an international Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. 2. Look how silly we act: FAIRBANKS, Alaska, July 19 (UPI) -- Police in Alaska said they arrested a man accused of punching ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:21-34

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Displeasing Jesus Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 26, 2015

There are many ways people to displease our Lord, but even His most sincere followers can trouble Him in unique ways.

Displeasing Jesus (Mark 10:13-16) Blog stories: “Today, I went to my new job at a pre-school. I was really excited because everything was going so well, and a little boy even said he was drawing a picture of me. He even gave it to me when he was finished. Well it was me, but I was also on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Personal Price Tag Of Being A Social Climber Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 24, 2015

If you desire to be among the prestigious members of society, you have to pay a steeper price than meets the eye; to climb socially, you may have to drop spiritually. Yet there are a few other reasons to question social climbing.

The Personal Price Tag of Being A Social Climber (Proverbs 23:1-8) 1. In her book, The Overspent American, Harvard professor Juliet Schor informs us most people are concerned about social status, but they live in denial. 2. She claims they rationalize to themselves they need a new car because ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wise And Wiser Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 22, 2017

Wisdom is about making good choices, and it is also about know what to typically expect in life and in dealing with otherås. We can always gain more wisdom as we incorporate particular concepts.

Wise and Wiser (Proverbs 25:1-7) 1. Last week, I finally carved out some time to water blast our back deck. Between rain, cold, and busy schedules, it was no easy task. 2. Neither is water blasting. Last time I did it, 3 years ago, not such a good result; it would cut little trails into the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:1-7

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Apostle Of Love Addresses Sin

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 20, 2017

John was noted as being the Apostle of Love, and he wanted his church family to have a clear conscience, a sense of security, and an appreciation for their Savior. This meant straight talk about sin, forgiveness, and even apostasy.

The Apostle of Love Addresses Sin (I John 1:7-2:2, 2:18-20, 5:16-18) 1. Nobody knows us like the people who live with us. 2. Old man Morris had died. A wonderful funeral was in progress and the town’s Rabbi talked at length of the good traits of the deceased, what an honest man he was, how he ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Isaiah 53 Flashback Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 15, 2014

When people grasp the atoning work of Jesus and turn to him, his death on the cross begins to make sense.

The Isaiah 53 Flashback (Isaiah 52:13-53:6) 1. Looking Back The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Johnny interrupted with this triumphant announcement: "My Mommy looked back once while she was driving, and she turned into ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Developing The Outward Focus Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 17, 2014

Paul has addressed our personal lives, church life, family life. These are introverted concerns, about us and those we are close to. As he concludes his letter, he wants to make sure we also transition to an extroverted focus.

Developing the Outward Focus (Colossians 4:2-6) 1. I have my taxes all done. I am one of those persons who gets stressed up by paper work and red tape, so I found it stressful just preparing my stuff for the tax preparer. So I have to tell an IRS joke. 2. The pastor got a call form the IRS. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Horse Sense Without The Horse Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 7, 2012

We should never assume that common sense is common. We all have gaps in our wisdom spectrum, and we all need to review to stay sharp. Today we will look at four obvious bits of divine advice.

Horse Sense Without the Horse Proverbs 20:15-18 1. I like horses okay, but they I am not a horse-person. 2. But for much of history, horses were crucial. As a result, we have developed a lot of idioms involving horses. 3. “Many terms and phrases in the English language harken back to a time not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:15-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Irreversible Decisions Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 12, 2010

Many decisions are truly crossroads: you cannot reverse them or their consequences, try as you might. Therefore, we need to take decision making seriously.

Irreversible Decisions (Numbers 14:26-45) 1. The most important thing about you is your God and your relationship to him. This is more important than: education, health, vocation, family, intelligence, talent, riches… 2. Near the top of the list, perhaps second, is who you are. The sum ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:26-45

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wisdom And The Quality Of Your Life Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 17, 2019

A wise person accepts and acts upon realities that others deny or ignore. The sooner we get these down, the better!

Wisdom and the Quality of Your Life (Proverbs 27:19-26) 1. Some people are amazingly shrewd. Take this joke: 2. Morris (the father) says to his son:“I want you to marry a girl of my choice.” The son says: I will choose my own bride.” Morris says:“But the girl is Bill Gates’daughter.” The son ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 27:19-26

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Love God's Word More

Contributed by Luke Vasicek on Jan 16, 2024

Grow in Loving The Bible

Please rate! Thank You! How Do We Love The Bible? Introduction 1. We _Study_ the Bible. 2 Timothy 2:15 A. We study because There’s a correct and incorrect way to _interpret_ and apply God’s Word. 2 Tim. 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Denomination: Bible Church

Dust

Contributed by William Nieporte on Feb 4, 2013

Sermon preached at a community Good Friday service in Richmond, Virginia

DUST “Good Friday Community Meditation” I don’t know what things have been like around your house, but around the Nieporte’s’ household, we’ve been focusing on SPRING CLEANING. Now throughout the year we do clean the house. We mop floors, vacuum the carpet, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

My Journey From Jew To Christ Follower - Part 2

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Sep 18, 2021

Part 2 of 2 of my journey to Christ and what it means within the church

My Story: Jew to Christian September 19, 2021 Have you ever watched a movie and it seems to abruptly end? Usually that’s the sign of a sequel. I think the most famous, and maybe this dates me, has to be the “Who shot JR?” episode on the program Dallas. You wait for the ending, and it’s not fun. ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26, Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

God, The Heart-Broken Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 22, 2011

Like a grieving husband who has been deserted by the wife he loves, God reflects upon his relationship to unfaithful Israel.

God, the Heart-broken (Hosea 12-13) 1. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa police arrested an expelled student after thwarting what they called a "catastrophic" plot to set off a bomb at his former high school next week, authorities said Wednesday. Police Chief Jane Castor said Jared Cano, 17, had threatened ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Kingdom Preview: The Monumental Transfiguration Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 15, 2014

The Transfiguration was a deep, amazingly meaningful event that tells us more than we can contain. In it, we catch of glimpse of Jesus unlike any other and weave together an entire tapestry of spiritual truths.

Kingdom Preview: The Monumental Transfiguration (Mark 9:1-8) 1. Christianity is not primarily about a philosophy of life, a code of ethics, a religious institution, a series of rituals, or a cultural identification. It is those things, but not primarily. Christianity is centered upon Jesus, not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible