Sermons on Not Striving:

Why Church?

Contributed by Kyle Gray on May 20, 2009

How God can use the local church to change the world.

100 million in U.S. don’t go to church at all. 2050 – 10% will attend! My grandkids generation… Instead of spending our time on what the church has become, let’s look at what it’s supposed to be. What it was designed to be. The early Christian church was heavily persecuted, but they stuck ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Steps For Exercising The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 27, 2009

Sometimes we are reluctant to know our gifts. Moses was pulling back from using the gifts God had given him not realizing that God had already given him all he needed. Are we obedient to God so that He can use us as a perfect vessel for His glory?

Opening illustration: Have you ever felt torn in two or more directions when considering how to serve in your church or what job to take? Since you probably can’t do everything you’re asked to do, how do you decide which opportunities for service are best suited for you? Many will be able to relate ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Soul For Sale

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 3, 2009

In America, you can metaphorically and literally sell your soul and be rewarded for it. One wonders how the purchaser intended to collect. We can’t literally sell our soul, but we can lose our soul to gain something else. We need to ponder Jesus’ question

Opening illustration: One would think that selling one’s soul, as Faust offered his to the devil in Goethe’s Dr. Faustus, is only a figment of literary fiction. Medieval as it seems, however, several cases of soul-selling have occurred. Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Economic Downturn: A Time To Refocus

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 8, 2009

Our economic downturn and insecurity can force us back to the Word of God and a reassessment of our philosophy of life: What do we REALLY believe?

Note: This sermon proved too long for a single sermon, and I ended up making a two-parter out of it. Our Economic Downturn: A Time to Refocus (I Timothy 6:17-19) 1. A business owner decides to take a tour around his business and see how things are going. He goes down to the shipping docks and ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Love

Contributed by Darrin Fish on Oct 3, 2009

It’s through Love that we can show Christ in our actions and in our lives. It’s Love that we can lead others to a life in Christ

Love • In Life I have found there are a lot of things that make me stop and wonder. • I wonder why a speaker who "needs no introduction" --- gets one anyway. • I wonder why, when a preacher says, "In closing..." he doesn’t. • I wonder why people will punish a child for lying • But they will tell ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: Christian Church

Conditioned For A God Event (Part 2)

Contributed by Tim Patrick on Oct 8, 2009

This sermon examines some of the conditions that open the way to a God event.

Last week we examined some conditions that open the way to a God event. Throughout history we have heard and read accounts of significant God events. - It was a God event when Moses led the Israelite people out of Egypt. - It was a God event when Moses was used of God to part the waters of the Red ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:4-15

Denomination: Baptist

Rooted In God's Love Series

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 14, 2009

Whether we have begun the journey to emotionally healthy spirituality long ago or just starting, there is a crucial element that we must grasped in order support us during any of our difficult emotional trials.

Back To School Rooted on God’s Love Ephesians 3:16-19 October 11, 2009 Two weeks ago we explored just three ways that we function in unhealthy emotional health. There are many more that those of us who are involved in the small group study will uncover. I just wanted to give you a taste of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-19

Denomination: Church Of God

If My People

Contributed by Richard White on Oct 30, 2009

Using our greatest weapon in order to defeat our greatest enemy and bring revival to our land.

If My People… 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. The sentence, as it continues, forms what is probably the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 55:6-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Challenges Series

Contributed by Jonathan Powell on Mar 26, 2013

Challenges by Paul to the church

Challenges – Are we ready to step up to Paul’s Challenges? 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18 I. Challenge to Churches (12-13) a. We are to Respect, Recognize, and Honor our Leaders 1. Senior Pastor 2. Youth Pastor 3. Deacon Leadership aa. Pray for Them • Prayerless pews equal ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

Why Do You Seek The Living Among The Dead?

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 1, 2013

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the defining factor of the Christian life bringing us into full harmony with God.

For the Christian, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important thing to celebrate. Christianity is the only “religion” that suffers abuse because of its holidays. Imagine if we would start making fun of the pagan holidays? Or what about other religion's holidays? What about ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-12

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Why Do We Need Relationships? Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 8, 2013

This is the fourth message in a series from the book of Ecclesiastes that examines Solomon's wisdom in regard to the mistakes that he had made in his life. This message examines why God has wired us to need and desire relationships.

Dear Diary, “Every time I open myself up for a relationship I get kicked in the teeth. Why do we need relationships? Why should take the risk of being hurt again?” If you are like me you have been hurt and betrayed by someone you thought was your friend. These experiences really cause ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Failures, Just Learning Experiences Series

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Apr 9, 2013

This is the second message in a series on Moses that shows being God's man is never easy. This message teaches that there are never any failures, just learning experiences.

How many of you have ever failed at something? If we are brutally honest we would all admit that we have failed more times than we would like to admit. However, I would like to suggest that there are two classes of people who fail: The ones who give up and the ones who use those failures as ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:11-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

“in Times Of Discouragement” Series

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Apr 18, 2013

God has a word for us in discouraging times.

In 1 Kings 18, we are told about Elijah’s “mountain top” experience. He had challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest and had won! It had been decided that each would place a sacrifice upon the altar and pray to his God. The God who answered by sending fire from heaven upon the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Making Amends Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 23, 2013

James (or actually, Jacob in Hebrew) was one of the most dramatic cases of a changed life after having been an eyewitness to the resurrection.

Show Jesus’ Little Brother video clip from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2BfHfkFJCQ 1. James’ Ossuary A little over 10 years ago, a French scientist made the discovery of an ossuary with the inscription, “James, the son of Joseph, brother of Jesus” on it. An ossuary was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Priorities Of Kingdom Living

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 29, 2013

The more I understand Kingdom Living under the authority of King Jesus, the more I begin to realize the power available to me to live a life pleasing unto the king.

What if in the middle of the night, your house caught fire and you had to evacuate quickly and could only save one item. What would that one item be? What is the one thing you cannot live without? What if you were stranded on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, what is the one thing you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:39-49

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance