Sermons on O Little Town Of Bethlehem:

Baptism: Magic Or Mission?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 14, 2010

"How can I get God to do what I want?" is the poor question that has led to erroneous concepts of baptism. Baptism is, to the contrary, our signing on to how we can go what God wants.

The problem is that if you don’t ask the right question, you’ll never get the right answer. If you ask the wrong question, you’ll never get the answer you want. A long time ago I learned that it is the wrong question, definitely the wrong question, to ask, "Are we having dessert tonight?" If I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Farmville - Life On The Farm Pt. 1 Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Feb 19, 2010

Farming is no game. Understanding life on the farm is necessary for survival. Learn the laws and learn the lessons in order to live successfully in Farmville.

Farmville Life on the Farm – Part 1 I. Introduction Unless you have spent some time on Facebook you are probably asking, “What is Farmville?” I am glad you asked! Farmville is a real-time farm simulation game. The game allows members of Facebook to manage a virtual farm by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Bible: An Ancient Book With A Current Message

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 27, 2010

The third of three sermons on the Bible and its importance

As I begin this morning, I am asking you to dip into your historical awareness (realizing as I do that not everyone loves history) with this question. (Slide 1) In your opinion, what has been the most important military battle in history? No one mentioned (Slide 1a) The Battle of Salamis. The ...read more

Scripture: Esther 1:10-22

Denomination: Church Of God

Courage Series

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Mar 4, 2010

Courage is simetimes a choice...Faceing ptoblems is not reason to hold on to fear.

Last week as a sort of a set up for the Book of Philippians as a letter that we can learn how the apostle Paul reacted to his personal situation. We found a thread of Joy, and encouragement in the book. The underlying point of looking at the scripture is that we live in and are affected by the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30

Denomination: Congregational

Where Is The God Of Justice?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 25, 2010

For Martin Luther King Day 1988: It is irresponsible to continue to whine about God's absence in the face of injustice. He is refining His church to address justice, and will bless us when we give ourselves without reserve to His purposes.

Some twenty-four centuries ago, when the prophet Malachi's ears were assaulted by an impertinent question, he heard it as a confession of irresponsibility. When the men and women of Judah shouted at this prophet, who had accused them of wearying God, who had charged that their blabbering talk was ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What's In It For Me?

Contributed by Joel Smith on May 18, 2009

If you will live for Christ like no one else, later you can live with Christ like no one else.

Today I speak to you as a free man. School is out for summer. I haven’t had this much freedom since I was a teenager. It’s been a good year, though. Not only have I learned to rely on God and witnessed more of His faithfulness, I learned a lot about my subject areas. I was truly challenged ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Centrality Of Love

Contributed by Jim Kane on May 18, 2009

First Sermon of a post-Easter series on love.

(Slide 1) A song from the 1950’s said that “Love is a many splendored thing.’ I would also suggest that love is a very resilient thing as the following situations reveal. First, the resiliency of love reveals itself in the story of two newlyweds. Now prior to the marriage the groom was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1

Denomination: Church Of God

Out Of Sequence

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on May 25, 2009

When some teenagers asked me a question about the relationship between baptism and the Holy Spirit, it forced me to rethink some of my assumptions. Here’s how I presented to them.

It’s interesting to note that when we take certain verses out of their context, we end up creating our own systems to replace God’s “system.” God’s system is called covenant or relationship. Our systems tend to be what we can control. But, of course, we aren’t the ones in control when God is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38

Denomination: *other

Don't Ring Out

Contributed by Steve Ely on May 28, 2009

Have you ever wanted to throw in the towel? Felt like walking away? Quitters never win! Too many Christians give up when it gets tough. Don’t ring out! Stay in the fight.

Don’t Ring Out Ring bell 3 times. I. Introduction It is called Hell Week. The soldiers are pushed to their limits physically, mentally, and emotionally. They are forced to operate with little to no sleep. They are put through evolutions or exercises that exhaust them and stretch them. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Paul's Final Words Series

Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on Jun 16, 2009

The final words of a person are important. The same is true of the Apostle Paul to the Romans church (and to us).

Paul’s Final Words Romans 16:17-27 * September 11, 2001, is a day that will live in infamy. Everyone is aware of some of the events of that day. We know that radical Islamics took over several commercial planes to wreak havoc and death on the USA and her people. Additionally, we know that at the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:17-27

Denomination: Baptist

New Law, Old Principle Series

Contributed by David De Kock on Jun 17, 2009

To follow Christ is an amazing adventure

Genesis 22:9-18 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Charismatic

Guiltless Grief

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 22, 2009

We can deal with grief if we allow ourselves to recognize its complexity, if we accept the love of caring friends, and if we permit God to use the grief to change us.

They stood at the gravesite, looking at the flower-covered casket of their father. The committal service had been over for ten or fifteen minutes. Everyone else had gone back to the cars. But the two sisters stood there, lingering long, staring into space. Their faces were masks: no emotions, no ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Messiah Who Gives Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Jun 29, 2009

Jesus tells us that the secret in giving is the motivation of our heart.

A Messiah Who Gives Text: Matthew 6:1-4 Introduction 1. Illustration: A mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson. She gave the little girl a quarter and a dollar for church "Put whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the other for yourself," she told the girl. When ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-4

Denomination: Methodist

Amazing Grace: Verse Two Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jul 8, 2009

This is the second in a 4 sermon series adapted from David Jeremiah’s book, Captured by Grace. Each point is derived from a verse of Amazing Grace and tells the story of John Newton. Powepoint available.

AMAZING GRACE: VERSE TWO Scott Bayles, pastor Based on Captured by Grace, by David Jeremiah First Christian Church, Rosiclare, IL The story of John Newton is one of the greatest before-and-after stories ever told. As Captain of a slave ship, John Newton dealt in human cargo. He sailed the African ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8

Denomination: Christian Church

The Sower Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Aug 31, 2009

God spreads his word among all kinds of people, many people will respond to his word with less than saving faith but some people do respond positively and we get the privilege of seeing them grow in faith and bear fruit.

By Rev Bill Stewart "Farmers call for HECS-style loan to see off drought" "Cost of carbon regime ’modest’ " "Man of the land supports laws of nature" "Recycled water ’will have bugs’ " All these headlines come from the front page of this Wednesday’s copy of The Australian newspaper ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Anglican