Sermons on New Beginnings:

2015: Year Of Renewal

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 29, 2014

Our nation is walking the same road that Israel took centuries ago and lost all their blessings. Therefore it is imperative that the church rises up and takes hold of their responsibility to lead the people in a godly way so that we are renewed.

Opening illustration: A British newspaper reported that a woman had hidden $20,000 worth of jewelry in a plastic bag, hoping to prevent burglars from finding it. Later, having forgotten about it, she accidentally threw the bag out with her garbage. Several workmen searched for 9 hours in a landfill ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:21-27

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Never Again Be Put To Shame!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Dec 31, 2014

You will not be ashamed nor will you be disgraced for trusting Him! Can we say Amen?

Promise Word for 2015! Joel 2:27”You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” Wish you all a wonderful New Year! Here is the promise word for you: my people shall never again ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:15-27

Denomination: Pentecostal

Behold I Have Set Before You An Open Door

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Jan 2, 2015

1. OPEN DOOR 2. OPEN GATE 3. OPEN WINDOW 4. OPEN HEART 5. OPEN MIND 6. OPEN HEAVEN 7. OPEN WOMB 8. OPEN EYES 9. OPEN EARS 10.OPEN HAND

REV 3:8 : '...BEHOLD I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOOR WHICH NO MAN CAN SHUT' OUTLINE 1. OPEN DOOR 2. OPEN GATE 3. OPEN WINDOW 4. OPEN HEART 5. OPEN MIND 6. OPEN HEAVEN 7. OPEN WOMB 8. OPEN EYES 9. OPEN EARS 10.OPEN HAND THE MESSAGE BEHOLD I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOOR WHICH NO ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-8

Denomination: Pentecostal

Heaven – It Is Not What Most People Think

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Nov 15, 2011

Probably one of the most messed up Christian concepts is that of heaven, our final destination, which is nothing like the pictures created by our church traditions!

Heaven – it is not what most people think Illustration The two professors stood nose to nose as they shouted at one another. “The craters on the moon are the result of volcanism,” cried one. “You are an idiot,” screamed the other, “the craters on the moon are ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25

Denomination: Christian Church

It’s Not Just Our Building That’s New - So Are You!

Contributed by Daniel Habben on Jun 28, 2015

A reminder of the change that God has worked in us through faith in Jesus. This change takes away our guilt and motivates us to live for others, not ourselves.

Do you still marvel at the transformation? People in the community do. A week ago Saturday a man pulled up in the church driveway, got out of his truck, and started pacing around the parking lot with a bemused look on his face. When I went outside he gestured at the church with tattooed arms and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Making Resolutions That Count

Contributed by Jeffrey Sims on Dec 26, 2013

The majority of us make New years resolutions only to fail. Why not make some resolutions that count and keep them

In a few days around 60 hours to be more exact that ball at times square is going to drop and millions of people all over the country will usher in the start of a brand new year. My friends 2014 is upon us a new year a chance to start fresh and set some goals and make some resolutions that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Looking Ahead To 2014

Contributed by Richard White on Dec 27, 2013

HOw will we approach the new year? What if this is the year the Lord returns?

What are our goals for 2014? 1 Thess 5:1ff Remember those videos of returning heroes? The ones where a loved one was deployed away from home and returns unexpectedly to their family? Some of my favorites are one called “The Poppies.” The girls are a British group and sing their hearts ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Telling God What To Do

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 29, 2013

We get angry and disappointed with God, failing to see His purpose in life's hurts. We can learn to trust His will.

Have you ever been angry at God? When people ask God to “damn” something, they’re usually making a strong point without breaking dishes. Deep down inside they’re disappointed with God, though their expletive is usually not a prayer at all. It is, however, a way of telling ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 74:1-12

Denomination: Congregational

Accountability

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jan 2, 2014

Exploring the possibility of starting accountability groups in our church. What might they look like? How did John Wesley use them? Can they be used for spiritual growth or are they just "sin control" groups like AA?

Video review of 2013 - (Photos from various church events set to the music of "Press On" by Selah) What a great review. Some events were missed but it looks like we’re a group of believers who love one another. What about our personal lives? What about our personal relationship with Jesus? ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:3

Denomination: Nazarene

Vision 2014 And Beyond

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 2, 2014

God is calling the Body of Christ in 2014 and beyond to (i) Be the WATCHMEN for the DYING NATION (ii) Be the PROPHETS to the DYING GENERATION and (iii) Be the PREACHERS/MESSENGERS to the DYING WORLD.

Opening illustration: Many of us appreciate the Robertson family’s strong commitment to biblical principles and their refusal to back down under intense media pressure over Phil Robertson’s comments in a recent interview on moral values. As the Robertson controversy winds down - at ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16-19, James 5:8-11, Romans 10:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Christians Are Under Law Or Under Christ Or We Are In Rebellion.

Contributed by David Leach on Jan 6, 2014

What is the difference between seeing God’s words as Law and seeing them as Grace?

1 We Christians are under law or under Christ or we are in rebellion What is the difference between seeing God’s words as Law and seeing them as Grace? LAW: The Law demands that we do our utmost, using our unrighteous human nature, to comply with the righteous requirements of the written ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Christians Have Two Natures One Utterly Corrupt The Other Totally Divine

Contributed by David Leach on Jan 10, 2014

What my human nature really looks like – Oh yes, and so does yours too.

We Christians have two natures one utterly corrupt the other totally divine Eph 4:22-24 (Written to Christians) That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man (human nature) which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts… and that you put on the new man (divine nature) ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:22-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Godly Forgetfulness

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jan 12, 2014

If not left behind us, our pasts, our mistakes and sins are ever in front of us, and we spend our time tripping over or dodging them. God wants us future- focused, not past-ensnared.

The following is a brief homily given during a weekly mid-week event called: "The Feast" at Yonge Street Mission in Toronto, Canada. The future is a big mystery. One thing that we all share in this room is a lack of knowledge about what’s going to happen in the future. Often we think of the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What God Said To Me At 4 A.m. In Guangzhou China

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Jan 14, 2014

This tells the story of an insight God gave me into John 14:1-4 the morning before I held my adopted daughter for the first time.

I want to tell you a story about an insight that God gave me into John 14:1-4, the passage where Jesus speaks of going to prepare a place for us. This is the story of something that happened to me several years ago while I was in Guangzhou China. Karen and I were in Guangzhou to complete our ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

If The Law Can’t Save Us, What’s The Point Of Having It? Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 20, 2014

A look at how the Law is not there to get us to God, but to show us how far we are from Him.

THE POINT OF THE LAW: The Law doesn’t get us closer to God; it helps us understand how far from Him we are. - 1 Timothy 1:7-8. - Romans 3:20. - The initial thought about the Law would seem to be: it’s to get us to God, therefore it’s for the righteous. - The reality is that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:7-11

Denomination: Baptist