Sermons on Optimizing:

Faith Like A Child Series

Contributed by Jamey Stuart on Dec 5, 2005

Using the Polar Express as our spring board this message deals with how we lose childlike faith and explores 4 ways that we can rebuild our childlike faith

Service opens with a drama with a story about the importance of a childhood Bible and how it reminded her of a faith that over time she had lost... Introduction: I had a Bible similar to the one Lisa described. It zipped up and had a colorful scene on the cover of something in the Promised Land. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Even In Judgment, God Is Merciful

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Nov 8, 2001

How God shows mercy even when he does decide to judge.

November 11, 2001 Jeremiah 26:1-6 1 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: 2 "This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 26:1-6

Denomination: Lutheran

Faith In Action

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

We all have it. Some more than others. Some people want more of it, while others try to deny having any of it at all. We rely on it to get us through each day, and it’s our key to eternal life.

Other Scripture used: Genesis 15:1-6 Hebrews 11:1-3(4-7)8-16 Luke 12:32-40 Psalm 33 or 33:12-15, 18-22 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:32-40

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Ecclesiastes: Wisdom For Postmoderns 3 - Is Wisdom Enough? Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Aug 7, 2008

HOw do gain wisdom? Sometimes we find that what works in one situation backfires in another. But ecclesisastes helps us to see that the only source for wisdom is God himself.

Wisdom is one of those things we all aim for as we go through life. We try to teach it to our children from an early age. We want them to avoid the mistakes that we or others have made. So what do we do? We teach them the same way people have done it for millennia: through the use of proverbs. You ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:1-20

Denomination: Anglican

Keeping Loss From Paralyzing You Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Sep 3, 2005

Actions to keep loss from paralyzing you - taken from the story of the healing of the paraplegic.

The worst natural disaster in American history occured this past week. The destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina was devasting. It looks like there may be hundreds dead, thousands who lost all their possessions and billions of dollars worth of damage. The city of New Orleans is fighting for ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

You Can Discover Abundant Life

Contributed by John Mayes on Apr 26, 2006

The purpose of this sermon is to describe and explain the abundant life in Christ.

Living an Abundant Life in Christ Introduction: Our world is full of unhappy and dissatisfied people. For this reason, people everywhere are looking for answers to the emptiness they feel inside. These people will try anything, if it might bring them some sort of satisfaction or happiness. ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Seventy Weeks Of Daniel Series

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Apr 27, 2006

The popular dispensational view, or the “Home Alone” view is that these things allegedly deal with ten nations arising from the European federation, the Antichrist, a revived Roman Empire, a seven-year peace treaty with national Israel, and the Great 666

INTRODUCTION In my two experiences of ordination, in both cases I was challenged on eschatology, the study of end times issues. First in 1990 from a dispensational perspective - I was not committed to the pretribulation rapture, because I could not see it in Scripture. In about 1992 I became ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 9:24-27

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Sustained Commitment

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 9, 2006

In order to have a sustained commitment, you need to: 1. Focus on the goal. 2. Focus on fact, not feeling. 3. Focus on growth.

The backdrop for this day on the Christian calendar, which we call Palm Sunday, is the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast. Jesus has come riding into town from the Mount of Olives on a small donkey. Crowds are following him and shouting in excitement. The Bible says, “The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-8

Denomination: Methodist

God Will Change Your Laughter Into Laughter

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Feb 4, 2005

A sermon on how god appeared to Abraham and Sarah to encourage them in the promise - somewhat like when Jesus was transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration.

February 6, 2005 Genesis 18:1-15 Dear friends in Christ, The writer to the Ecclesiasties had this to say about laughter - Ecclesiastes 2:2 “Laughter is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?” Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15

Denomination: Lutheran

Growth Problems

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 25, 2007

In our text about the early church let’s consider some of the growth problems they faced and how they overcame them. Or some of the things that hindered their growth. 1- Complaining 2- Lack of workers 3- Poor organization

INTRO.- Growth problems. Ever had any? I have. I was born with a heart murmur. Guess I got over it. I’m still here after running many marathons in my forties. I remember standing in the street in Huntsville, AL, (Rocket City) with about 1200 other runners waiting for them to shoot the gun to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reason For Hope On The Road Ahead Series

Contributed by Joel Smith on Jan 1, 2009

The road ahead is about to get rocky, but, we have reason for hope.

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. It’s 2009 and what makes this new year unique is there’s more reason for pessimism than optimism at what it will bring. Maybe you’ve heard some of the dire predictions about what the near future holds. A couple of weeks ago, economist and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 28:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Sinners At The Table Of Grace

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on May 10, 2010

An exposition of our need for the grace we can receive at God's Table of Grace - the communion table or the Lord's Supper

Sinners At The Table of Grace TCF Maundy Thursday Sermon April 1, 2010 It’s easy for us, looking around and seeing all the horrendous sin in our culture and in our world, to think we’re OK. It’s easy for us to look at the rampant sexual sin, the adultery, the moral free-fall our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"In God We Trust", Really?

Contributed by Christopher Glenn on Aug 22, 2011

Do you really trust God as a normal part of your life? The truth is that faith comes down to one word and that one word is - TRUST. We can know something in our heads but never experience the reality of that thing in our lives because there is a world of

"In God We Trust Really? Pastor Chris Glenn The Community Church 11/7/10 Hebrews 11:1 On the face of our money are the words: "In God We Trust." A few years ago, the use of those words on our currency was challenged in court. The case reached the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Laying Down The Law Series

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jun 22, 2010

God lays down the law because He konws what we need to experience blessing in life.

“Law & Order: SPU – Laying Down the Law” Ex. 19:1-25; Ps. 19:7-13 Their teenager, with a brand-spanking new drivers’ license, is asking to use the car at night for the first time – and to pick up several friends to go to the mall. So mom and dad lay down the law, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:1-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Message From The Beginning Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 3, 2010

The message from the beginning is two-fold. 1- We should love people 2- We should loathe evil

INTRO.- ILL.- A prominent lawyer's son dreamed of following in his father's footsteps. After graduating from college and law school with honors, he returned home to join his father's firm, intent on proving himself to be a skilled and worthy attorney. At the end of his first day at work he rushed ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ