Sermons on Name In Vain:

Impact And Impotence Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Oct 2, 2008

A changed heart doesn’t guarantee that you will change the world.

If you’re like me you’ve been keeping up with the federal government’s attempt to bailout failing housing and financial markets this week. I found an article from Reuters in which the blame for this economic slump has been traced to a decline in Christian influence in our nation. DALLAS ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Three Ways To Hinder Your Spiritual Growth Series

Contributed by Hal Seed on Oct 3, 2008

The Parable of the Soils describes four ways to respond to God. Three of them hinder spiritual growth. In this parable Jesus is saying, "You must take responsiblity for your personal spiritual growth."

[This sermon is contributed by Hal Seed of New Song Church in Oceanside, California and of www.PastorMentor.com. Hal is the author of numerous books including The God Questions and The Bible Questions. If you are interested in The Bible Questions Church-wide Campaign, please visit and watch Hal’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Peace Boulevard Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 8, 2008

The Biblical word "peace" [Greek ~ Irene] signifies far more than merely the absence of war. It carries the idea of completeness and wholeness. It conveys a sense of inner-satisfaction and fulfillment. It communicates the idea of contentment and serenity.

Opening illustration: A four-year-old and a six-year-old presented their mom with a houseplant. They had used their own money to buy it and she was thrilled. The older of them said with a sad face, "There was a bouquet at the flower shop that we wanted to give you. It was real pretty but it was too ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Why Jesus Drank And I Don't

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 12, 2008

We know Jesus drank wine but is that a reason or excuse for social drinking?

Why Jesus Drank and I don’t In 1983 I witnessed a disaster of a wedding. Angela and I were standing up with another couple that we had gone to Bible College with and it was like the pastor just didn’t care. He dropped papers, fumbled through his readings and forgot names. It was horrendous. And ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

Take A Load Off

Contributed by Jordon Leblanc on Oct 17, 2008

Learning to know God so intimately that we can trust Him completely and rest in Him fully.

Not many of you have had a chance to visit our apartment since we moved in, but if you have, you’ve probably been in our spare bedroom. Right now, it’s a haven for our foster cats. We have 9 foster cats right now, including 7 8-week old kittens. In that bedroom, we also have a single bed so we can ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jesus Christ Frees The Condemned

Contributed by Mike Cleveland on Oct 19, 2008

Jesus Christ freed the woman caught in adultery.

Let’s open our Bibles to John 3. Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities tells the story of a man by the name of Charles Darnay. Charles Darnay was a young Frenchman condemned to die by the guillotine. But when his friend, Sidney Carton, heard about Darnay’s sentence, he was determined to find ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

No Pain, No Gain Series

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 25, 2008

C.S. Lewis wrote: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Luke 8: 40-56 What motivates you to make changes in your life? Think back to a time when you made a change in your life and ask the question, “What motivated me to make that change?” I’ve always been interested in what motivates people to make changes in their lives so this past week I did a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-50

Denomination: Baptist

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

Is Love The Defining Mark Of Our Church? Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Oct 28, 2008

God’s compassion for the world and power in his people combine for an unassailable testimony of his grace and greatness.

Scripture Introduction Jesus “did not speak to them [the crowds] without a parable…” (Mark 4.34). And the Apostle John shows us that Jesus’ parables were often acted teachings, the most famous of which is in John 13: “Jesus laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Good Deed Must I Do? Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 30, 2008

The rich young ruler’s question was off-base. It assumes that we can do one overriding deed to win God over; it is possessive; and it is self-centered.

I am not very good at giving gifts. I just have a hard time, when Christmas and birthdays and anniversaries roll around, a hard time giving the right gifts. It’s not that the folks I want to give to are picky or unworthy; it’s just that I can’t seem to figure out what they want and get it. For ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

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

Give And Take Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 6, 2008

An examination of the 8th commandment and what it means for building healthy relationships when we don’t take from those relationships, but work to give.

Give and Take (Exodus 20:15) There is an old story about two neighbors, a baker and a farmer, who didn’t get along very well. You see, the baker was suspicious of the farmer, suspecting that he wasn’t getting his money’s worth when he paid for a pound of butter. He weighed the farmer’s butter ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:15

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Rhythms Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Nov 13, 2008

Part 4 in series The Shape of Things to Come. Dave explains Wildwind’s membership commitments, why church membership is important, and asks people to consider membership in the church.

Rhythms The Shape of Things to Come, prt. 4 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers September 27, 2008 It has been a long time, but after much preparation, a lot of money spent, and with more than a little bit of anxiety, the wedding day has finally come. The bride looks beautiful, having ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-27

Denomination: Free Methodist