Sermons on Name In Vain:

How To Return To God Series

Contributed by David Dykes on Apr 4, 2003

Prodigals still exist. These individuals rebel, stepping away from God’s blessings, indulging in reckless living and ruining their lives. But God runs to meet those who are at the point of total desperation and who are willing to repent and return home.

How to Return to God Luke 15:11–24 by David O. Dykes INTRODUCTION The parable in this passage focuses on the character and nature of the God of the Bible. It’s usually called the parable of the Prodigal Son but I prefer to call it the parable of the Loving Father. Jesus uses this story to teach ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Four Promises Of Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Apr 18, 2003

One of God’s favorite words is “forgiveness.” As we look at the first words of Jesus on that last day, we can’t help but say, “God really thinks this is important.”

But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:34, Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Pentecostal

Telling Others The Gospel Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Apr 29, 2003

This morning we’re going to look into God’s Word in order to find out how the Apostle Paul did evangelism.

Making an Impact: Telling Others the Gospel Thank you, Kids Choir for that excellent reminder. God will use our feet, our hands, and our mouths to tell others the gospel. Our former co-workers in Mexico City are missionaries today because of Ken Hanna’s direct influence in their lives. Just ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34, Acts 2:47

Denomination: Baptist

The Three Seekers Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 13, 2003

Surely one of the great stories of Christmas is the account of the visit of the Wise Men from the East. This delightful tale of strange men from some faraway land who brought Christmas presents to the baby Jesus is filled with mystery and intrigue.

The Three Seekers In our series that we’re calling Christmas Characters, we looked at Herod two weeks ago: - Herod was preoccupied with power. - Herod was preoccupied with possessions. - Herod was preoccupied with prestige. - Herod was preoccupied with paranoia. Last week we focused on Mary, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Our Creator God Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 13, 2003

I have three purposes this morning: 1. To declare a biblical basis for our God as the Creator. 2. To help you gain courage to do what is right. 3. To motivate you to be involved

Our Creator God The people who started college this past fall… Have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan era They were 11 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up Their lifetime has always included AIDS ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Making Investments That Last Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 21, 2003

This morning we’re going to learn about 4 vows, or promises, that the people of God made in Nehemiah 10.

Making Investments That Last I heard about this man who bought a parrot. It was a beautiful parrot but he had a really bad mouth. He could swear for five minutes straight without repeating himself. The man was embarrassed because the bird was driving him crazy in front of people. He tried to ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 10:1-39, Nehemiah 10:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Standing By Our Promises Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 21, 2003

We all fail to keep our pledges, don’t we? Our good intentions and plans often fall by the wayside. Sometimes we blatantly break our promises but other times, we just kind of drift away, a little at a time.

Standing By Our Promises As many of you know, I really like Snicker bars. For the past year, whenever I would go to Dairy Queen, I would always order a Snicker Bar Breeze. All I had to do was walk in and one of the workers would start filling a cup with chunks of tasty nougat. It was automatic ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 13:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

Recipe For A Great Mom

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Mar 8, 2002

Recipe: 1 Great Woman A discerning amount of hospitality A pinch of Godly Contentment A Trusting Husband A little Child raise (don’t just let rise) until the child is grown.

A wealthy Texan was in the habit of giving his mom unique gifts on Mother’s Day. One year it was lessons on hang-gliding. the year before that it was the entire record collection of Slim Whitman’s hits. But this past year he felt he had outdone himself. He purchased a rare kind of talking bird that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-26

Denomination: Baptist

Refocusing Our Priorities Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Mar 11, 2002

The diagnosis, consequence and solution to misplaced priorities coinciding with an all church focus of stewardship.

In the Jules Verne novel The Mysterious Island, the author tells the story about five men who escape from a prison by hijacking a hot air balloon (www.PreachingToday.com). As the balloon rises into the air, the wind blows it toward the ocean. As the hours pass, the surface of the ocean draws closer ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gospel, The Power Of God

Contributed by Steve Malone on Mar 11, 2002

LISTEN – for 2,000 years people like Paul have given it ALL up for Christ and His Gospel – Why? That’s what I want us to try to answer today – in a message about divine weapon #2 - The Gospel – the power of God.

The Gospel, The Power Of God Divine Weapon #2 It was dark, it was cold – he had been in these cramped quarters for quit some time. He wasn’t sure whether it was day or night. Nor was he sure just how long he had been there. Now he had always wanted to come back to this city, but he had hoped it ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Running With Endurance"

Contributed by Mike Hays on Apr 6, 2002

Like disciplined athletes we are called to cast off everything that would prevent us from running with endurance the race set before us.

“Running With Endurance” Hebrews 12:1-3 On Monday of this past week I went to Bishop McGuinness High School where Nate was running in a track meet. There were 7th-9th grade boys and girls from all over the state who left their homes early in the morning to make their way to the track. I sat ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Make Up Your Mind Series

Contributed by Jim Mooney on Dec 30, 2000

This sermon will encourage Believers to become stable minded in a confused world.

HOW TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND Growing Up Rather Than Giving Up - Part 3 James 1:5-11 I want us to look at what James has to say on "How to Make up Your Mind". Life is full of decisions and life is basically a series of choices we make every day. We have to evaluate, decide, draw conclusions. Frank ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lessons From The Back Shelf

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 2, 2001

What to do when your life gets "put on hold."

Lessons From the Back Shelf (What to do when life gets put on hold) Jeremiah 32-33 December 31, 2000 Back shelf events ¡V now there¡¦s an oxymoron. The words just don¡¦t fit together. The back shelf is where you go to rot. There are no events. It¡¦s where you¡¦re put when the world ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

How Grace Changes Everything Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 4, 2001

When we encounter God’s grace, it changes everything because we die to our old way of live, are introduced to a new way of life, and find a new master.

In his book "What’s So Amazing About Grace," Christian author Philip Yancey writes about a friend who invited him out for a cup of coffee one night (Yancey 179-80). This friend, it turns out, is contemplating leaving his wife after 15 years of marriage because he’s found someone younger and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Honor To Whom Honor Is Due (The Fifth Commandment) Series

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 4, 2001

God has established relationships of authority in our lives and we honor God by respecting these relationships of authority.

Our generation is more cynical about authority figures than any other generation in our nation’s history. There was a time in American life when we thought we could trust the major social institutions, but those times are long gone. At one time confidence in our federal government soared, but then ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:15, Exodus 20:12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational