Sermons on Motivating People:

Joseph

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Dec 14, 2005

Advent is a time of preparation and repentance, and it turns out that Joseph’s story has a few things to teach about those very things.

Joseph…the husband of Mary. The Bible doesn’t really tell us that much about Joseph. Legend has it that he was an elderly widow. Supposedly that explains why he was able to honor Mary’s virginity during the first months of their marriage and why he quietly disappears from the narrative sometime ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Joseph

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 19, 2005

A Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Sermon

Christmas Eve Service Luke 2:1-14 "Joseph" Sermon   2:1 ¶ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Stephen

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 26, 2004

Stephen had rights - he could have walked away from the confrontation with the Jews - but as a Christian he had responsibilities. The challenge is how to balance these

Acts 7:51-60: Stephen Story: 26 Christians were executed at Nizhizaka Hill in Nagasaki, Japan on 15 February 1597. Amongst them was a young seventeen year old boy, Thomas Kosaki, who was to die for his Christian witness along with his father. He wrote a letter to his mother the evening before ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

Denomination: Anglican

No One Said This Would Be Easy Series

Contributed by Peter Schmidt on Dec 29, 2004

On the day after Christmas, on St. Stephen’s Day, we learn that though getting to heaven is easy through Jesus, carrying his cross on earth often times isn’t. But if being a Christian is difficult, it is even more so for the unbeliever.

Festival of St. Stephen Matthew 23:34-39 I have always had a healthy respect for all branches of the military, and not to take anything away from the other divisions of our armed forces, but one branch particularly stands out in my mind: the Marine Corps. What is their slogan that you see on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:34-39

Denomination: Lutheran

Mary – A Symbol Of Trust

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Feb 5, 2005

Mary can teach us to trust God with reckless abandon

– adapted from Caught in a higher love by Carolyn Baker Alexander the Great, one of the greatest military generals who ever lived, conquered almost the entire known world with his vast army. One night during a campaign, he couldn’t sleep and left his tent to walk around the campgrounds. As he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Man With The Foot Shaped Mouth And The Cross Shaped Heart

Contributed by Chanon Mullens on Feb 11, 2005

Peter, In all His faults was still worthy to serve Christ

1. WHO WAS THIS MAN SIMON? • He was the third disciple called by Jesus (VS 42) • Andrew 1st and John 2nd • Peter was Andrews brother (VS 40) • Jesus recognized Simon before he was officially introduced • He immediately recognized Simon’s leadership qualities and changed his name • This was ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-42

Denomination: Baptist

Stephen The Witness And Martyr Series

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Feb 21, 2005

Stephen is a model for us of a Holy Spirit directed witness.

Stephen the Witness and Martyr Acts 6:8—8:1 Intro: There is a Conspiracy of Silence in so many churches… Thinking that we can merely live good Christian lives as our witness, without telling people the why: telling about Jesus Christ. God’s acts have always needed explanation to be clear. ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Consistently Inconsistent

Contributed by Guy Glass on Sep 14, 2004

A Character study on the life of Peter

Consistently Inconsistent A Character Study on Peter INTRODUCTION: Looking at the life of Peter, it is easy to make comparisons. One of the most vivid would be to that of the Prophet Elijah. Peter seems to be the New Testament Elijah, at least in his emotions. Up and down in relatively short ...read more

Scripture: John 1:40-42

Denomination: Baptist

Pressure

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Oct 13, 2004

Do I ever feel like I am in a pressure cooker, or that I am being pulled and pushed in every direction? Well, I can respond like Herod. I can be manipulated by it to the point where I am forced to make decisions contrary to what I know is right. Or I can

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: The Hope College Women’s basketball team had made it to the national playoffs. The final game saw Hope 20 points behind with 10 minutes left to play. The team remained calm and began to narrow the gap. Then with just 5 seconds remaining, a 3 point basket tied the game. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Baptist

"Stephen: Full Of Faith, Grace And Power"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 24, 2004

Stephen was Prayed up, Prepared, Projected Christ and was Profitable for the Kingdom

We’re looking today, at the account of possibly the shortest lived Deaconship in the history of the church. The Apostles are finding themselves, as the Jerusalem congregation grows, having to deal with mundane issues that threaten to take them away from their appointed mission, which is prayer ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

"Philip: Preacher On The Run"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 25, 2004

Our opportunity for service may be in sight in a moment, and bypass us in another if we’re not ready to run to obedience. Philip ran to do God’s bidding.

Following the Acts record it would appear that the newborn church had been pretty cozy and comfortable, up until the martyrdom of Stephen. It had begun with a very public demonstration of God’s power in the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter and the others had boldly proclaimed their risen Lord ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Orthodox

He Came...preaching

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Feb 19, 2006

Four marks of biblical preaching

Luke 3:7-20 He Came…Preaching Woodlawn Missionary Baptist Church February 19, 2006 Introduction What is your definition of great preaching? From time to time I hear comments about sermons or preachers that cause me to make mental notes about what people consider to be great preaching. For some, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-20

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering Through Suffering

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Mar 12, 2006

The story about the Sisters of Lazarus help us to develop a response to suffering.

She was a successful business woman, actually she was a successful business owner and that was virtually unheard of in the time and society she lived in. Remember this was 2000 years ago in a culture that was slightly male centered; actually it was very male centered. Females weren’t exactly ...read more

Scripture: John 11:30-37

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Importance Of Knowing History

Contributed by Paul Decker on Mar 19, 2006

We must not be set in opposition to God.

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING HISTORY Acts 7.1-53 S: Church C: Purpose of the Community Th: A People with Purpose Pr: WE MUST NOT BE SET IN OPPOSITION TO GOD. We must not set ourselves in opposition to God. KW: Pleas TS: Since Stephen stands accused of blasphemy, we will find four pleas he makes in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-53

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Death, A Blessed Conflict

Contributed by Paul Decker on Mar 26, 2006

We have good news to tell.

A GOOD DEATH, A BLESSED CONFLICT Acts 7.54-8.8 S: Proclamation C: Purpose of the Community Th: A People with Purpose KW: Comparisons TS: The story of Stephen’s death demonstrates three comparisons between good and evil. Pr: WE HAVE GOOD NEWS TO TELL. Type: Narrative I. REVELATION ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Baptist