Sermons on Origin Purpose:

A Dead Church Series

Contributed by Jason Cole on Feb 26, 2004

Jesus addresses several churches in the nook of Revelation. One of the churches is called a dead church. The question we need to consider is are we a dead church? Are we dead spiritually?

"A Dead Church" Introduction: Each week in America, paramedics arrive on the scene of an accident where the victim has crossed the barrier between life and death. There is no heartbeat. Breathing has stopped. All the vital signs of life are absent. But the paramedics do not accept this death as ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Missions: The Great Mandate

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Feb 26, 2004

Missons must be the heartbeat of our church.

Matthew 28:18-20 Missions: The Great Mandate Introduction A. Beginning today and continuing through the 18th of this month I want to bring a short series of messages that deal with this subject of missions. It has been rightly said that missions is the heartbeat of God, and it must also be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Sunday School: Catch The Vision! Series

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 27, 2004

Some experts believe that Sunday School is on the decline. They suggest that the SS hour has been added to the church service (2:00 hour services now common, often with 1:15 devoted to music) therefore SS is unnecessary.

Chances are, you don’t know Edward Kimball. He lived over a hundred years ago. He was a Sunday school teacher in Boston, where a young teenager became part of his class. The young man was a country boy. He didn’t know the ways of the city or of the church. But, he came to Kimball’s Sunday ...read more

Denomination: Other

Power In Partnership

Contributed by David Dewitt on Mar 2, 2004

There is true power in the church when the pastor and the people partner together to accomplish the work of Christ.

Power in Partnership Exodus 17:8-13 February 8, 2004 Introduction World’s Fair Partnership During the summer of 1904 an unlikely partnership was formed at the World’s Fair St. Louis. The summer was unusually hot and people were searching the fair for something to help cool them off and Arnold ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-13

Denomination: Church Of God

What Kind Of Church Do You Want?

Contributed by David Seeley on Mar 5, 2004

There are many types of churches today. Some are doing great things for God. Others...well, they just need to be reminded of their purpose. This message is a challenge to churches of all denominations to refocus upon what God has called them to do.

What Kind of Church Do You Want? Mark 2:1-12 I. A Museum? A lot of old relics lying around—You can look, but don’t touch. Many of these relics have never been moved in 30 years. They last evangelist that tried to move them was overcome so badly with the dust that he had to evacuate the building. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Holiness

Ten Qualities In A Church God Blesses

Contributed by David Seeley on Mar 5, 2004

A church that is blessed by God is no accident. There are certain characteristics that bring a church to the place where God can bless it.

A church God blesses is… 1. A church where God is welcomed Ps 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2. A Praying Church Lu 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Holiness

Fellowship: Formed For God's Family Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 7, 2004

Levels of Fellowship: 1. Membership: Choosing to belong. 2. Friendship: Learning to share. 3. Partnership: Doing my part. 4. Kinship: Loving believers as family.

(Note: The outline of this sermon and some of the content have been adapted from Rick Warren’s material on 40 Days of Purpose.) I often think of the stories my grandma told about the Depression era when people would pool their soup beans and eat at each other’s homes. Times were hard, but there ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-12

Denomination: Methodist

Blending Into The Woodwork Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 13, 2004

A quiet, introverted people can still bear witness if they will first determine to be obedient, and then will affirm who they are, where they are, as an opportunity for witness.

One of the defining moments of my life the day I was the first to arrive for class. I sat for a couple of moments alone in a corner of the classroom, waiting for others to show up. A young woman came in the door, looked around, and then said to someone behind her in the hall, “There’s nobody ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

What's The Big Deal?

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 14, 2004

This is about undistracted worship.

Do you remember “Let’s Make A Deal” with Monty Hall? People would dress up in goofy costumes and carry signs to get his attention so he would come to them to make a deal. They would barter and trade. Unknowingly contestants would trade away a new car for 5 baby pigs. Or, they would trade away ...read more

Scripture: John 2:13-22

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Heart Of Worship Is Our Heart Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 15, 2004

This is about authentic worship.

As I mentioned last week, worship is a broad term. It is often misunderstood. I want to come back to Rick Warren’s definition given in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, “Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship.” That’s a boiled down definition of worship. What happens ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:11-16

Denomination: Wesleyan

Can Worship Change Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 15, 2004

This answers the question about worship and change.

We don’t do well at predicting the future. In 1962 Decca Recording Co said the Beatles would never make it. Gary Cooper once said, “I’m just glad that it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.” What was he talking about? Gone with the Wind. In 1899, the director of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Denomination: Wesleyan

First Things First Series

Contributed by Wesley Bishop on Mar 15, 2004

This is about getting priorities straight.

Worship is bringing pleasure to God. One way we bring pleasure to God is by doing his will for us, and his church. We have two big problems though. The first is that we may think we are inferior, and the second is that we have our own ideas about what is best. I. We are not INFERIOR. When I was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20

Denomination: Wesleyan

Glorifying God By Worship Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Jan 1, 2005

Our ultimate goal in life is to glorify God. This sermon explores how we bring glory to God by worshiping him. We do so by examining what worship is, why we should worship God, and how we should worship God.

Scripture Our ultimate goal in life is to glorify God. The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “What is the chief end [or goal] of man?” The answer given is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” The reason we exist is to bring glory to God. God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Lion And The Lamb Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jan 4, 2005

This interactive sermon uses responsive reading and music to lead the congregation in worship centered around the Heavenly Worship Service in Revelation 5.

Jesus – The Lamb that was Slain Revelation 5 - A Worship Service HOLY HOLY HOLY 1st service vs. 1,2 2nd service vs. 1,2,3 Welcome & Announcements – Ronnie / Rocky Scripture: Revelation 5:1-7 – Greg Smith PART 1: Revelation 5:1-7 THE LION AND THE LAMB These verses of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Church On The Launching Pad [missions] Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 7, 2005

Vision casting message, also appropriate for missions and for preaching in the new year. THE CHURCH OF GOD, THE COMMANDERS OF GOD, THE CALL OF GOD, THE COMMISSION OF GOD. Powerpoint at website.

Revive ‘05--The Church on the Launching Pad Acts 13:1-3 Powerpoint for this and hundreds more free sermons at our website: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons.html In 1983, a movie was released called “The Right Stuff”, a documentary of the US Space Program. After years of testing and sending animals ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:1-3

Denomination: Baptist