Sermons on Natalie Gilbert:

Reading The Map / Visualizing The Goal Series

Contributed by Mike Gilbert on Jan 25, 2008

The 10 characteristics of a God-honoring church, based on a look at the first century church of Acts 2.

INTRO>We’ve all heard the little saying (show the actions with hands locked together, fingers entwined upside down) ...This is the church, here is the steeple; open it up (wiggling fingers) and see all the people.” However, that is NOT the way it really is...this way is actually upside down from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Baptist

The Gift That Started It All Series

Contributed by Mike Gilbert on Nov 21, 2007

Gift giving at Christmas started with God the Father’s gift to us of His Son.

--*ILL>A ten year old girl named Jenny went with her family and friends to see the Christmas light displays around the city. At one church they stopped and got out to look more closely at a beautiful nativity scene. Her grandma said to her, “Isn’t that beautiful! Look, Jenny, at all the animals, ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

Behold The Lamb Series

Contributed by Mike Gilbert on Nov 28, 2007

Lessons we can learn from the Shepherds of Bethlehem.

--ILL>Without question, the funniest thing I ever saw on television was years ago on an episode of “Candid Camera,” where Allen Funt and the Candid crew pulled a colossal hoax on some of the smartest and groomed for success college students in America. Having put together a supposed aptitude and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Gold, Frankincense And Much More Series

Contributed by Mike Gilbert on Dec 4, 2007

Lessons we can learn from the wise men at Christmas.

-->At a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his one hundredth birthday, elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. Lady Diana’s failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest until she peered ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

No Room Series

Contributed by Mike Gilbert on Dec 14, 2007

Four main reasons Jesus finds "no room" in many persons’ lives.

Intro>On the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco, the pastor was looking over the nativity scene in the church lobby and noticed that baby Jesus was missing from among its figures. He hurried outside and saw a little boy with a red wagon, and in the red wagon was the figure of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

Priority #1: The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Jason Gilbert on Apr 9, 2009

To show believers the importance of the doctrine of the resurrection by answering 4 questions: when did Jesus rise again; why is the resurrection necessary; is there proof to substantiate the resurrection; how did Jesus come back to life?

PRIORITY #1 - THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST 1 Corinthians 15:1-20 This is resurrection Sunday, the day of the year where we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In reality, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the power behind the resurrection, is something that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Parable Of The Tenants Series

Contributed by Gilbert Sefaranga on Mar 30, 2019

Biblical parables reveal hidden truths concerning the Kingdom of God. Judgment, behavior, and/or Biblical principles. An interesting thing about the Parables that Christ taught is the fact that what He often seeks to reveal is hidden.

33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:9-19, Matthew 21:33-46

United Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Aug 28, 2023

As a church, we are in the process of transitioning from traditional Sunday School classes to home-based community groups. In this process, we are going to take a few weeks to consider what it means for us to be a biblical community. We begin with the consideration that we are united.

Introduction Series on biblical community in preparation for the launching of community groups next month we will look at a variety of passages, but most of our time together will be in the book of Ephesians Background Diversity There were cultural, ethnic, and religious divisions in the city - ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

Intimate Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Aug 28, 2023

As we continue to reflect on what it means to be a biblical community, we've seen so far that we are united and the there are norms of that community. In this sermon, we'll reflect on the intimacy or nearness that we experience as a church.

? Possible Intro: ? The pandemic and our nation’s value of rugged individualism have wreaked havoc in our lives - more than we realize. ?I was listening to a podcast this week that contained a conversation between Russel Moore and Sam Alberry. Both are believers and apologists. Both attend ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3, Romans 5:5

Denomination: Baptist

Transforming Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Aug 28, 2023

We are not who we once were and are not yet whom God is creating us to be. We are together as a church - being transformed or renewed.

The Second Best Day of My Life ? December 31, 1994 After 5 years of on and off dating, nearly 2 years of engagement Danielle and I got married. We assembled at her home church with close to 300 guests, 10 attendants, a few musicians, many family members, a Bible teacher, and a pastor We got dressed ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-22, Romans 12:2

Denomination: Baptist

Yoked Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 5, 2023

Our unity as a biblical community is strengthened because we are yoked together - knitted together as members of one another with practical ethics that we are intended live out in order to foster that community.

YOKED Joel Gilbert / General CommU.N.I.T.Y. / Ephesians 4:25–32; Ephesians 5:1–2   Introduction There are organizations for people with any number of interests. Often, membership in these societies comes with an expectation for some advocacy or education, financial support, or simply ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Rough Beginnings Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 11, 2023

In this sermon, we consider the back story of the letters to the Thessalonians - the founding of the church. It's tumultuous beginning helps us to understand a bit of the environment into which the new church was planted and some of the ongoing struggles they faces.

Pre-quals Every story has a back story. We may not always gain insight into the back story, but there are things impact characters and cultures. When George Lucas wrote the original Star Wars series, he had in his mind some of the events leading up to the movie that many of us were first ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-10, 1 Thessalonians 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

Twelve Years Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on May 27, 2025

A lot can happen in twelve years. In Luke 8:40-56 we learn of two different groups of people who had completely different experiences and yet encountered Jesus in profound ways.

Solomon Northrup was born around 1808 in New York to a former slave. His father, who eventually married a woman of mixed ethnicities, had been emancipated in the will of his deceased owner. They had two sons who were born free. Solomon took after his father in learning how to work the land, but ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-56

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is Enough Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Jun 9, 2025

Christ is fully sufficient for our every need, empowering us to serve others and meet challenges by entrusting Him with our limitations and needs.

Faith evangelism training a few days Learning an evangelism method Then sent in teams of three to specific doors My turn came to share the gospel - I was scared. I shouldn’t have been, but I was. I knocked on the door, introduced myself and the team, and then began by asking the question, “In ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Call Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Jun 16, 2025

While Jesus announces for the first time to his disciples his call to the cross, He calls us to confess who he is and calls us to live a crucified life.

I would guess that we are probably similar in that we get so many unwanted calls each day. Somehow, I’ve been getting calls for some group who says they can get me on Social Security Disability. Other times I’ve been on the list for VA loans - except I’m not a veteran. I’ve received calls for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:18-27

Denomination: Baptist