Sermons on Outward Focus:

Rizpah

Contributed by Rickey Shive on Feb 15, 2002

Rizpah, though insignificant in status, proved to be the focus of two defining events in the life of God’s people. It is from her story I hope we can learn some valuable lessons!

Introduction: Rizpah (Riz-puh) was a concubine of King Saul who had bore Saul two sons. She is, in one sense, a very insignificant character. As a concubine, she had very little status nor influential power. Concubines were considered as “secondary wives,” they were inferior to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 21:1-14, 2 Samuel 3:7-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Justice And Mercy Of God Series

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 18, 2006

This is the first sermon in a series of sermons on Isaiah revealing Jesus as a major focus of this prophetic book. Starting in Chapter 1, we see God’s redemptive plan unfolding through the promised Messiah

Isaiah #1 The Justice and Mercy of God Isaiah 1:18-20 SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 1:18-20 INTRODUCTION: I’ve heard people say that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Old Testament ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Telling His Story Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 29, 2003

This message will focus on the salvation message in order to help believers learn a gospel presentation they can share with their friends. Believers are also urged to invite their non-Christian friends and family members to this “reaping” service.

Telling His Story Rev. Brian Bill 3/18/01 I want to begin this morning by reading part of an article written by Bob Greene, a nationally syndicated columnist. “In the hours after the carnage at the school near San Diego—as the sick, too familiar, pit-of-the-stomach feelings returned—the nation ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12, 1 Peter 3:18

Denomination: Baptist

Thyatira: 'tis The Gift To Be Simple Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Feb 3, 2003

True simplicity is a focus on the fundamentals of love, faith, service, and patient endurance. Getting caught up in theological guesses or emotional highs diverts us from "this one thing I do".

Some things are so simple they are hard to understand! Some things are so direct and obvious that we don’t want to accept them as they are. We want to make them complicated. Have you ever tried to describe to someone how to tie a shoestring? It seems simple until you start to teach it. Left ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

Placing Your Trust In God

Contributed by Jeff Budzinski on May 28, 2007

This morning I want to focus on trusting God for everything in our lives. Trusting God means that we must lay aside our self and our plans and embrace the cross of Jesus Christ.

Introduction · This morning I want to focus on trusting God for everything in our lives. · Trusting God means that we must lay aside our self and our plans and embrace the cross of Jesus Christ. · To love God means to trust His power and not our own abilities to perform His will. · He wants you ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Redirecting A Rebel Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jul 9, 2004

This morning our focus in on one last appearance, though this one took place after the Ascension, as Jesus radically redirects a rebel named Paul (also known as Saul – his Hebrew name).

Today we’re wrapping up our series called, “Beyond the Tomb,” during which we’ve studied the various appearances Jesus made between His Resurrection and His ascension into Heaven. This morning our focus in on one last appearance, though this one took place after the Ascension, as Jesus radically ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Faith That God Favors

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 31, 2004

Biblical faith always has God as it’s objective and focus. Therefore the type of faith that God favors is a faith that trusts God for the impossible, then persists in that godly trust until the provision is realized.

THE FAITH THAT GOD FAVORS Text: Matt.9: 29; Matt.15: 28 Intro: What kind of faith does God favor? The obvious answer to that question is, “Real faith.” However, faith is as much a matter of cultivation as it is choice. Though faith begins with one’s choice to trust God, it is developed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:28

Denomination: Baptist

Have A Merry Christmas! Series

Contributed by Jeff Armbrester on Dec 22, 2004

The theme will be relationships. This worship experience will focus on our relationships with family and friends. The challenge will be to move from merely going through the activities of Christmas with our family and friends to knowing those we love on a

Last week we learned that the spirit of Christmas is relationships, beginning with our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Today we see that to have a merry Christmas involves relationships with people. It seems that God screams this message to us every year through the writers of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Methodist

Word Play Series

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Dec 10, 2008

While most Nativity plays at our SS Christmas programs focus on Matthew and Luke, this Word Play is found in John. It tells the story of Jesus’ birth from Heaven’s point of view.

WORD PLAY One of the great highlights of the Advent season is watching our Sunday School students re-enact the Nativity. I remember as a child myself how on Christmas Eve we would have our Sunday School program, receive our goodie bags and go home to open presents. The Nativity play was a central ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-5

Denomination: Mennonite

Earning - Where Does Our Money Come From? Series

Contributed by David Owens on Feb 4, 2008

In the first lesson of this series, we focus on three things: 1 - Everything Belongs to God. 2 - God gives us the Ability to Earn Money. 3 - The Pursuit of Money must be kept in Perspective.

Introduction: A. A Madison Avenue advertising agency surveyed non-church-going people several years ago and asked them their impressions of church. 1. The respondents said, “The problem with church is that the people are always sad, or they talk about death, or they ask for money.” B. A classic ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:10-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Be United Not Divided" 1 Cor. Pt 1 Series

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 20, 2008

We need to united in Christ not divided in Christ! The church was formed by Christ to serve one another and not to focus on ourselves. The church is not about me but about the message of Jesus and about service to the Kingdom of God!

“Be united not divided!” Thesis: We need to united in Christ not divided in Christ! The church was formed by Christ to serve one another and not to focus on ourselves. The church is not about me but about the message of Jesus and about service to the Kingdom of God! Introduction to the book of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Three Benefits Of Worshiping God Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Apr 17, 2009

This sermon looks at three benefits of worship. 1. Worship gets your FOCUS on God 2. Worship increases your UNDERSTANDING of God 3. Worship helps build your CONFIDENCE in God

Three Benefits Of Worshiping God For centuries being a worshiper of God has meant offering the right sacrifices – following the right set of rules – obeying a certain set of guidelines and worshipping on the right day week or in the right place. Do you remember the woman at the well? Jesus is ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Got Joy? Series

Contributed by Steve Bond on Nov 5, 2007

The way of the world seems to focus on pleasing ourselves or pursuing a life of ease. But that brings no lasting satisfaction. God is so much bigger and has so much more for us, no matter our circumstances.

Introduction Years ago, Robert Fulghum wrote a profound essay. This is how it began. “Most of what I really need to know about how to live…I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand box at nursery school. These are the things I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sacred Altars

Contributed by Allen James on Oct 19, 2009

Often times when we think of a sacred altar we focus more on being in the right place rather than being God’s person who is filled with God’s presence.

Sacred Altars • Ezra 1:1-4, 2:1-2, 3:1-7 OPENING IDEA: Where are your Sacred Spaces in life? WEDDING. SIGN. LIFE EVENT. FOOTBALL STADIUM. CAMP. CEMETERY. We often return to these sacred spaces to revisit and/or sometimes to rebuild or resurrect the memory or even that place in life. Feel like ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Resurrection Impact: Peter & Thomas The Result Of The Empty Tomb Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Apr 16, 2010

Easter is not about celebrating Jesus crucifixion it’s about celebrating Jesus resurrection, our focus is not death it’s life. This sermon looks at the effect of the resurrection on Peter & Thomas and us.

I want to take us on a journey back in time Back to Easter Sunday. Not last week, I want to take us back a couple of thousand years. I want you to imagine it’s very early on the first Easter Sunday Morning. Can you imagine Jesus followers waking up and remembering what had happened, remembering ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Pentecostal