Sermons on Offerings Of Praise:

Looking Both Ways

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 22, 2000

We are going to look back at some of the obstacles and opportunities the church has faced the last decade, and look ahead at some obstacles and opportunities which may be in our path during the next ten years.

A few weeks ago I was sitting at my desk planning my sermon schedule for the holiday season. I came up with topics for Advent, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, but I really wasn't sure what would be appropriate for the first Sunday of the year 2000. So, I paged through my files and came across an ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Where Will You Be?

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Dec 4, 2000

Are you a Believer, or an ’I don’t know’, or an ’I don’t care’?

Where will you be, 5 minutes after you die? I have seen that question printed on a tract to be handed out. I have heard the question asked. I have asked that question, on occasion, of people I’ve witnessed to. Let’s use that question today as a spring-board for discussion, and think it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Denomination: Orthodox

Get A Life- / Group

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 5, 2000

This sermon was preached to introduce our LIFE Groups to the congregation

They were the ultimate church plant. They started with 11, grew to 120, then to 3000. Not bad, as a matter of fact very good. But how did they do it? I guess that question has to be asked by anyone who is even remotely interested in church growth. What was the secret that they had that allowed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Wesleyan

An Awkward Situation

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 5, 2000

Looks at Peter’s denial of Christ

IT’S A COLD DAY FOR SEPTEMBER WAS ALL I THOUGHT TO SAY. WHEN I SAW YOU ON THE STREET THE OTHER DAY. I KNEW SOMETHING CHANGED BETWEEN US ALL THE TALK WE MADE WAS SMALL. BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHEN THEY’VE HEARD YOU SAY IT ALL. IT’S AN AWKWARD CONVERSATION IN A MOST PECULIAR WAY. HOW DID ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:31-35

Denomination: Wesleyan

Making Your Election A Sure Thing

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Dec 7, 2000

The Scripture tells us how to make our election in Christ a sure thing.

MAKING YOUR ELECTION A SURE THING II Pet. 1:5-11 INTRO.- ILL.- Two political candidates were having a hot debate. Finally one of them jumped up and yelled at the other, “What about the powerful interests that control you?” The other guy screamed back, “YOU LEAVE MY WIFE OUT OF THIS.” What’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

By The Sweat Of Your Brow

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Dec 14, 2000

Christians need to be hard-working people.

BY THE SWEAT OF YOUR BROW Gen. 3:19 “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” INTRO.- Sweat and dirt. Those don’t sound very inviting or interesting to me. DO THEY TO YOU? God ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Game Of Life

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Dec 14, 2000

Life is similar to the Olympics.

THE GAME OF LIFE I Cor. 9:24-27 INTRO.- ILL.- A man was discussing his tennis technique with a friend. He said, “My brain immediately barks out a command to my body: ‘Run forward, and fast.’ It says, ‘Start right now. Drop the ball gracefully over the net and then race back to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Washing Dirty Feet (Cancelled Debts)

Contributed by John Skaggs on Oct 18, 2000

(Matthew 6:9-15 NASB) "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

(Matthew 6:9-15 NASB) "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. {10} 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. {11} 'Give us this day our daily bread. {12} 'AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS. {13} 'And do not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6-8

Enoch

Contributed by Stuart Uren on Oct 18, 2000

Introduction While only a handful of verses in the Bible mention Enoch, he stands out as arguably the most righteous man who ever lived apart from Christ.

Introduction While only a handful of verses in the Bible mention Enoch, he stands out as arguably the most righteous man who ever lived apart from Christ. For those who don’t know Enoch from a bar of soap, he was born 662 years after Adam. Read Genesis 5:18-24, Hebrews 11:5-6, Jude 1:14 (Other ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:8-26

The Sword And The Stone

Contributed by Steve Hong on Oct 18, 2000

Turn to Nehemiah chapter 4 Since the beginning of time, people have fought with each other.

Turn to Nehemiah chapter 4 Since the beginning of time, people have fought with each other. Empires against Empires, Nations against Nations, People against People... A group of historians has compiled the following information: In the last 5,600 years (since 3600 B.C.), the world has only had ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-23

Taking The Church To Task

Contributed by Duke Jeffries on Oct 18, 2000

A. INTRODUCTION 1.

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Our text passage this morning represents an enormous "pause" in a complicated theology lesson. The writer of the epistle has begun teaching about the priesthood. He has reminded his readers of their historical priesthood; he has just mentioned the mysterious Old Testament figure ...read more

The Watchman

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 30, 2000

We are the watchman and have a responsibility for knowing God ourselves and making him known to others.

In a major speech to the country on March 23, 1983, Ronald Reagan outlined a national plan of defense called the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which soon became known as “Star Wars.” In the speech he said, “What if free people could live secure in the knowledge... that we could intercept and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 33:1-16, Ezekiel 33:1-33

Denomination: Methodist

A Wise Fool

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 1, 2001

Solomon’s mistakes were that he started out well, but did not end well, he was a minimalist and he allowed his strength to become his weakness.

Have you see the bumper sticker that says, “I took an IQ test and the results were negative”? Sometimes very intelligent people can get very negative results on their IQ tests. For instance, people are paid a lot of money to write the things that appear on the packages and products we buy. But a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:1-15

Denomination: Methodist

Easter's Surprises

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 1, 2001

What God does is eternal -- We are surprised by significance. What God does is impossible -- We are surprised by power. What God does is unexpected -- We are surprised by joy.

I will never forget walking into the funeral home several years ago to meet with the family who had just lost a 40-year-old son and husband. He was not dressed in a typical suit, but a pair of bib overhauls and a dirty ball cap. He had died of a heart attack, but in the pocket of his ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4

Denomination: Methodist

God's Call Series

Contributed by Eddie Snipes on Jan 13, 2001

This begins with the historical evidence from the ancient kingdom of Ebla that validates the life of Abraham and then I will look at God’s call. How He used Abram’s humanity, weakness and faith to open the door of God’s purpose.

God’s Call Genesis 11 ends with the genealogy leading up to Abram (later Abraham). Terah took his son Abram and his wife Saria, and grandson Lot and headed toward Canaan. They did not get to Canaan, but dwelled in the city of Haran (which is probably named after Abram’s brother who died after he ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-10, James 2:20-24

Denomination: Baptist