Sermons on Move Forward:

The Candidate, Commitment, & Criteria

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 29, 2006

Jesus’ teaching on true discipleship separates the serious from the satisfied. Not many will step forward and stand out...how about you? Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Template.

The Candidate, Commitment, & Criteria Matthew 16:21-26 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/CandidateCommitmentCriteria.html ----- (Mat 16:24) "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." INTRODUCTION: The passage of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-26

Denomination: Baptist

Waiting For Christmas

Contributed by Erik Estep on Dec 15, 2005

What is it you’re looking forward to this Christmas? What kind of gift would you like to get? There’s a gift just waiting for you that can transform your life.

Intro: It’s always exciting thinking @ X-mas. For me, one of the fun parts of X-mas is just watching my kids get excited @ it. Let me share w/you some letters kids wrote to Santa Claus. -“Dear Santa Claus, when you come to my house there will be cookies for you. But if you are real hungry ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-32

Denomination: Baptist

Back, Back, Way Back

Contributed by Dan Mahan on Oct 22, 2006

A look at how Simon changed to Peter, the rock; how he changed from following Christ from a distance to stepping forward in His committment to Christ. A challenge on committment to all believers.

Back, Back, Way Back Rev. Dan Mahan “Peter was following far behind.” Luke 22:54 In Matt. 16:13-19, Jesus asked the disciples a question. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The response varied: “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54

You've Fallen...but You Can Get Up! - Backsliding

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 11, 2006

The best of men are men at best. Peter backslid, as do all of us. But God can help us to "Fail Forward." Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

You’ve Fallen…But You CAN Get Up! Luke 22:54-62 INTRODUCTION: Faith Healer: on platform at coliseum, said, I have faith that 2 people will be healed…where are you? A man ran down the aisle, named Harry [w/ lisp]. Asked what his ailment was, he replied, I can’t talk wite [right]. He was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:54-62

Denomination: Baptist

How To Overcome A Critical Spirit

Contributed by Jim Erwin on Dec 13, 2007

You can be someone who steps forward. You can look at the positive and the good and how something could be. This is the right way to handle a critical spirit in your own life.

How to Overcome a Critical Spirit Numbers 13:16-33 Near the end of C. S. Lewis’s "Chronicles of Narnia" Aslan the Lion takes Lucy, Edmund, Peter and everyone to the New Narnia--to what we would call "heaven" or the New Creation. It is a place of astonishing light and beauty; a place where every ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:16-33

Denomination: Baptist

We Are Only Renting These Bodies Of Ours

Contributed by Charles Jones on Sep 7, 2011

On this earth every Christian is a renter, but in the world to come each of us looks forward to being a homeowner. Since this life is just a meager sojourn for us, our hope is anchored on heavenly horizons.

We Are Only Renting These Bodies of Ours For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 Have you ever rented a house or an apartment? Renting has its advantages but it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

Image And Reality Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 4, 2010

The Mass is offered in union with the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, his free self-offering, on Calvary. It is not a repetition, but a re-presentation of the one sacrifice, and carries forward into our work on earth.

December 6, 2010 St. Nicholas The Spirit of the Liturgy Today’s reading from Isaiah makes most sense if it was written at the time of the Babylonian exile. Because Israel had rebelled against the Lord, the covenant was voided and all the curses specified in Leviticus and Deuteronomy were ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

Come To The Table (Thanksgiving Communion Message)

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on Dec 13, 2016

Thanksgiving, for many of us, is both a memory in our past and a moment we look forward to. This morning, Jesus has set a table himself and has said to us, “Come to the table!”

Come To The Table (Thanksgiving Communion Message) 1 Cor. 11.23-29 11/20/16 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker A Thanksgiving, for many of us, is both a memory in our past and a moment we look forward to. 1 I can remember all the smells of stuffing, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes w/ ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

Denomination: Baptist

Elijah’s Speech To The Undecided Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Jun 5, 2018

IT WAS A DAY to be remembered, when the multitudes of Israel were assembled at the foot of Mount Carmel, and when the lone prophet of the Lord came forward to defy the four hundred and fifty priests of the false god.

3-21-04 Title: Elijah’s Speech to the Undecided Text: "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; if Baal, then follow him."—1 Kings 18:21. IT WAS A DAY to be remembered, when the multitudes of Israel were assembled at the foot of Mount Carmel, and when the lone ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Preparation For The Celebration

Contributed by Judith Hand on Dec 12, 2014

We celebrate Christ from the Cradle to the Cross to the Crown Using Isaiah, John and I Thessalonians the birth and ministry of Jesus is explored as we look forward to His second coming now.

Preparation for the Celebration Most of us are busy preparing for a Christmas celebration now. We want to gather with family and friends, feast, give gifts and remember the coming of Christ into the world 2,000 years ago. Now it seems to me that our last Christmas celebration couldn’t have ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-11

Denomination: Methodist

The Ways To Greatness (2) -The Challenges Series

Contributed by Nelson Emeonu on Jul 23, 2014

The way to greatness or prominence is not an easy one but out of fire comes out a precious gold. God knows the way of the righteous. He can even use an enemy to push them forward.

THE WAYS TO GREATNESS (2) -THE CHALLENGES GENESIS 39:7-21 God is a master planner. He follows and directs His children till He gets best out of them. His thought is always good no matter the sudden appearance of darkness on their path. The way to greatness or prominence is not an easy one but out ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:7-21

Denomination: Anglican

I Make All Things New

Contributed by Les Buttolph on Jan 2, 2024

Heading into the New Year, we each choose our path forward. Taking the path of Christ leads us to His Kingdom on earth where He makes all things new.

Last week we were lighting Advent Candles, in the midst of the Christmas celebration, and now here we are, standing on the brink of the New Year. But even though Christmas Day is past… the holiday music on radio and in the stores has ended, and Christmas items are being drastically marked down in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

The Authority Of Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Nov 23, 2022

Jesus Christ is central in our faith. The Old Testament looks forward to Jesus Christ. It has an attitude of anticipation. In the New Testament the really big claim is for the supreme authority of Jesus Christ.

When I was in college one of my courses included outdoor repelling down a sheer cliff. This is not what you normally do in college. We were not reading about repelling and answering questions, we were out on rocks. The first lesson to repelling is check the ropes. Do not take for granted that ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 15:19, Matthew 7:28-29

Denomination: Baptist

No Turning Back: Following Jesus In A World That Pulls You Away

Contributed by Antonio Manaytay on May 27, 2025

This sermon revisits the old hymn, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, which is a powerful testimony of faith in Jesus.

My dear brothers and sisters, We live in a world of constant pressure—to perform, to conform, and to compromise. Standing firm for our faith in this world can feel not just difficult—but dangerous. Some of you feel it in the workplace, in school, in your own homes. Some of you feel it online, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-62

Denomination: Pentecostal

The High Calling Of God Series

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Sep 26, 2017

for what has God called us? Or are we content to sit and do nothing? Do we have "Short-timers disease?" Call God is for us to be more like Jesus every day.

Philippians 3:12–14 Opening Illustration: When I was in the military, we had disease that was rampant among those that was nearing the completion of their military service. It was called “short-timers disease." I have seen this over and over again throughout my life. You could always tell ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Baptist