Sermons on Natural Olive Tree:

Biblical Theology Of Church Planting

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 13, 2001

``If you want to study something, begin with its origins.’’ In this lesson we want to ask the Lord’s help in examining the origins, nature, aims, Biblical commands, and methods of the apostles first century church planting Biblical Theology of Church Pla

A Brief Biblical Theology of Church Planting From The Acts of the Apostles Learning Objectives 1. The students will be able to explain how the first church started and grew. 2. The students will be able to explain five principles from Acts that will help their church grow. 3. The ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"Fly High" Acts Pt. 26 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 11, 2007

Paul’s journey reveals how to sink a ship (a life, a family, a ministry) in three easy ways. Don’t listen to sound advice, allow discontentment to take root in your life, and think that you are exempt from the forces of nature.

Fly High – Acts pt. 26 Opening Illustration on the lighter side of life: See video clip from AHA.COM what not to do when you get stuck in the snow! Thesis: Paul’s journey reveals how to sink a ship (a life, a family, a ministry) in three easy ways. Don’t listen to sound advice, allow ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:1-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abandoned To The Potter

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Apr 5, 2008

When clay is soft and pliable it is easy to make an impression on. When it becomes dry and hard change doesn’t come easy. In fact it can’t come unless the potter applies water and pressure to bring a pliable nature back to the clay.

JEREMIAH 18; Go down to the shop where clay pots and jars are made. I will speak to you while you are there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Is Your Church A Cruise-Ship Or A Battleship?

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 5, 2011

Which image better describes a church? Your church? I know, it’s a metaphor. All metaphors break down at some point. When making a choice, our natural inclination is to choose the cruise ship over the battleship any day.

Opening illustration: watch an illustrative audio-video clip Introduction: On the surface we would believe that the early church in Acts was blessed with outstanding growth due to the anointed preaching of the apostles; their balanced practices that would evolve into much of our church programming ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Whale Of A Rescue Series

Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Feb 10, 2011

The LORD is Sovereign, accomplishing His purposes. The LORD is over all Creation, preparing ways to second chances that we would never have naturally figured. The LORD is available to all and shows great Mercy and Compassion. Has the LORD sent you a wh

Given at Glorious King Jesus (GKJ) on Sunday, February 13, 2010. Apex, NC Preacher: Sterling C. Franklin, Rev. Webcast: http://bit.ly/GKJ-Webcast (case-sensitive) Scripture Reading: Psalm 116:1-9 1 I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lessons From Facing A Broken Economy

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2009

We have all been through downturns before but this one is different. It has multiple, complex causes. It is global in nature and no one knows how long it will last or if the bailouts will work. What can we learn in a downturn? Based on a Bill Hybels ser

Lessons from Facing a Broken Economy Romans 8:28-39 Bill Hybels tells the story of finishing a meeting at his church and bumping into a woman who asked about their PADS Ministry which hosts people one night a week who need a place to sleep. They have between 30 and 50 people who show up. They ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Denomination: Methodist

Knowing His Love

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Mar 23, 2010

Paul tells us that there are four dimensions to Christ’s love that we need to not only perceive but to comprehend. These can't be understood naturally but require the Holy Spirit to illuminate our eyes to be able to grasp the wonder of Christ’s love.

Knowing His Love Ephesians 3:14-21 As humans we can only visualize the world around us in three dimensions. Our nervous systems are equipped to conjure images in merely three dimensions. We can visualize height, width, and depth. It is difficult for us to imagine a fourth dimension. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

Part 4 -- Prayer For The Overcast Days Of Life Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Nov 2, 2009

What we have here in the 3rd chapter of Habakkuk is undeniably one of the great prayers of the Bible. Prayer should be a natural part of our Christian experience. Part of our walk with Christ should be a personal prayer life....Prayer is our responsibil

PRAYER FOR THE OVERCAST DAYS OF LIFE Habakkuk 3:1-2 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth. 2 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:1-2 (MSG) A prayer of the prophet ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Sowing & Reaping Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Nov 12, 2009

The creation precept built into the very fabric of all creation, both physical & spiritual, is that a person reaps after the same manner & nature that they sow. Every thought, attitude or action has its own reproductive cycle. You reap what you sow.

GALATIANS 6: 6-8 SOWING AND REAPING The principle of reciprocity is certainly being taught here. Though the initial thought is that their ministers should have a material return for what they spiritually sow in the life of the believers the principle extends beyond that arena. The creation ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:6-8, Galatians 6:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

A Remedy For Wretchedness

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jun 28, 2015

Paul desperately wants to be delivered from the influence of indwelling sin. He struggles, as do we all, with his corrupt nature. Through Christ we overcome and make progress...yet the more we grow, the more in touch we are with our faults.

Do you ever feel like a hopeless mess? The Apostle Paul sure did. In Romans 7 he berates himself for his shortcomings: “What a wretched man I am!” Paul's problem was a serious condition. Sin enslaves; it takes over. Jeremiah writes that the human heart is “desperately ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-25

Denomination: Congregational

Then His Training Kicked In Series

Contributed by Maurice Mccarthy on Jul 21, 2015

A message about dealing with conflict. We can react from the natural man or the spiritual man. Often in life we start by responding in the flesh, but if we are smart we can let our training kick in and turn situations around in a marvelous way.

(Note to pastor's, a link for the video I used is included at the end of the message. Handout notes available on request.) Then His Training Kicked In PPT 1 Series title We are in a series of messages on matters of the heart, or things that affect us emotionally. Last week we talked about ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:5-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Punk In Me

Contributed by Jim Caswell on Nov 22, 2016

Under the right circumstances even the best of us will will say no to God and let our "punk within us" take over. Only Jesus can deal with the "punk" in me. God makes a way to deal with our sinful nature through a child at Christmas.

Title: The Punk In Me Date: 11/27/16 Place: BLCC Text: Matthew 1.18-21, John 1.9-14, Colossians 1.19,27 CT: Only Jesus can deal with the punk in me. [Screen 1] FAS: I had the privilege to sit and listen to Max Lucado back in October down in Pigeon Forge. He opened with a story that many of us can ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-21

Denomination: Christian Church

Jesus’ New Directive For Forgiveness Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Sep 2, 2017

Our Lord comes through crisp and clear on how we are to deal with hurt and abuse. For one thing, our Lord specifically forbids retaliation. Our natural tendency is to want to get even, but that’s just the opposite of what Jesus taught.

Capernaum Lesson: Jesus’ New Directive for Forgiveness Matthew 18:21-35 Bible Reading: Matthew 18:21-35 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Baptist

Just Around The Corner – Is Victory!

Contributed by John Gaston on May 28, 2018

You’re PREDESTINED TO GLORY! You have a future so bright, so awesome, so wonderful that your mind can’t even conceive it! God has put his overcoming nature within us; we are going to win!

JUST AROUND THE CORNER – IS VICTORY! 1 John 5:4-5 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. One day a big Hulk of a guy got onto a bus. Standing 6'8" tall and built like a wrestler, with arms hanging down to the ground, he glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn’t pay!" 2. Naturally, the bus ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:4-5

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Full Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Richard Papafio on May 29, 2018

When a man is full of the Holy Spirit he honours the true nature of God and lives as such. Like Stephen emulated Christ by asking for forgiveness for his killers from God at the point of death. He was able to because He was full of the Holy Ghost

May the peace of the Lord be with you. Topic: FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST Acts 7:54-60 King James Version (KJV) 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:54-60

Denomination: Charismatic