Sermons on Obstacles To Growth:

The High Priest Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Aug 29, 2012

Today’s message is in some ways going to sound like last week’s in term’s of what our high priest has done. But I also want to make this very practical in terms of what Peter says in 1 Peter chapter 2 about the body of believers being a royal priesthood.

The first thing I want to do is debunk the traditional idea of priests in the Church. In the Catholic tradition there is a basic holding to the tradition of the Old Testament. Priests in the Old Testament were very exclusive, and could only come from the family of Aaron and the tribe of Levi. There ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-22

The True Vine And The Branches

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Sep 6, 2012

Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches, we need to abide in Him so that we can bear the kind of fruits He desired in us.

THE TRUE VINE AND THE BRANCHES Study Text: John 15:1-16 1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Joh 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit. Joh 15:3 Now you are ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Control Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jun 16, 2013

Control. We bristled under the thought that someone else might be controlling us. And we revel in the thought that we can control our lives. In fact, many of us, if we’re honest, are control freaks.

Control Philippians 2:7-8; Romans 12:1 Dave Navarro has written an article entitled, “The 5 People Who Secretly Control Your Life.” In it, he says, what you may not realize is just how many people influence your life, feeding you ideas about what is “right,” ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:7-8

Denomination: Methodist

Entitlement Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jun 16, 2013

Entitlement is when people feel that the world owes them something without having to do anything to earn it. We llok at entitlement in our culture and then see what Scripture has to say about it

Entitlement James 4:1-3 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 In his commencement speech to the Wellesley High School Class of 2012, English teacher David McCullough delivered some sobering words: “None of you is special. You are not special. You are not exceptional.” He called the graduating ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Denomination: Methodist

Trying Times - "Make Noise And Finish Course" Series

Contributed by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid on Jun 18, 2013

Modern church in trying times, praising God despite division.

Trying Times - “MAKE NOISE AND FINISH COURSE” by Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (5/29/2013, 6/1/2013, 6/15/2013, 6/18/2013) “And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 10:9-10

Denomination: Friends

What Must I Do? Repent Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 28, 2013

John Wesley's charge, "You have nothing to do but save souls," still holds true today.

WHAT MUST I DO? REPENT ACTS 20:18-21 Big Idea: Jesus’ church is commissioned to share the Gospel with the world; that is our single greatest reason for existence. INTRO: In his book “The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission” John Dickson writes about his introduction to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:18-21

Denomination: Nazarene

Prayer Keys - Unity Series

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 10, 2011

When we pray as the first church prayed, God will empower us as he empowered the first church and our altar calls will look like Peter’s altar call.

“They all joined together constantly in prayer...” Acts 1:14 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day,” Acts 2:41 When he went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, it was a ramshackle building with only a handful attending. They were ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Disciples Contend For Greatness

Contributed by John Lowe on Jul 14, 2012

There never was a greater pattern for humility than Jesus, and there was never a greater preacher of it, than Jesus. On several occasions, He had talked to his disciples and followers about it. I wonder, is there a bit of worldly ambition present in these

Capernaum (53) Disciples Contend for Greatness Matthew 18:1-10 A LITTLE CHILD BECOMES AN OBJECT LESSON: At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1) There never was a greater pattern for humility than Jesus, and there ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

It’s Not The Messenger, It’s The Message

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 9, 2013

Paul was direct and focused on what he had to do; he was a messenger of Christ, not of himself or anyone else and he knew it.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Embracing Forgiveness

Contributed by David Scudder on Apr 9, 2010

Philemon was led to Christ by Paul, probably at Ephesus. If Philemon forgave Onesimus what would the other slaves think? If he punished him what would other people think about his testimony as a Christian? Let's notice how Paul gently led Philemon down th

Philemon 1-25 Purpose: To see a real life picture of forgiveness. Aim: I want the listener to repent of any un-forgiveness and humbly extend forgiveness. INTRODUCTION: Philemon was led to Christ by Paul, probably at Ephesus. He must have been wealthy because his home was big enough for the ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Is No Place Like Home. Series

Contributed by David Moore on Aug 11, 2010

This message speaks of how the familiarity, pride & unbelief of Nazareth placed limitations upon the work of God, and can do the same with us.

There’s No Place Like Home! Text: Mark 6:1-6 Introduction: Up to now in our studies of Mark we have largely witnessed the growth of Jesus’ popularity. Everywhere He went crowds thronged, people wanted to be near Him, to hear Him, see Him even to touch Him, but now as we open to this ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Attitude Determines Altitude

Contributed by David Cook on Aug 22, 2010

Sharpen your attitude in the Lord and avoid complancency.

The goal of my sermon this morning is to help you make an attitude adjustment in your outlook on life and walk with the Lord. * In 1977, in Tallahassee, FL, Laura Shultz, who was 63 at the time, picked up the back end of a Buick to get it off her grandson’s arm. Before that ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 17:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

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

The 5000 Or The 12?

Contributed by Joseph R. Main on Feb 6, 2010

What is our goal? To be one of the 5,000 who were fed and listened for a time, or the 12 who lived the life they were called to?

John 6 “ 1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-69

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Batman, The Dark Knight: Endure Series

Contributed by Ken Hubbard on Feb 11, 2010

A sermon about how the hero people need can be found in Jesus Christ, and we can endure in the face of evil and trials.

INTRO: Video * The Dark Knight is now the 2nd highest money maker grossing over 500 million * Just beating the previous record holder Spider Man 3 * Perhaps there is such a draw (in an uncertain time. * Because everyone really does want a hero * And perhaps all of them deal with their own ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational