Sermons on Past Successes:

From The Stable To The Table [last Supper]

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 15, 2005

"Christmas Carol" style look at the Past, Present, and Future--remembering the birth, the life, the death, and then the ’breath’ of the Risen Christ! Leads well into communion. Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint.

From the Stable to the Table Hebrews 10, Luke 22:7-20 ----- Formatted Text, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation are at: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Stable2Table.html ----- Not long after Christmas comes the Easter season. We are reminded that Christ was ’born to die.’ Lying in the cradle, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

Looking For Resurrection Hope

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Apr 25, 2011

Jesus became the living promise that springs-forth renewal and life, and the hope everlasting that we too can we too can live without fear, eternally past the grave, and forever with Christ.

INTRO Hope is faith in the immutable promise that miracles prevail when the darkness tries to win-out with cries of despair. Hope is a gift from God that helps us yearn, and live a life that believes and moves with the pledge of a better tomorrow. And what’s more, hope springs-forth ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Psalm 23 Part Ix "In The House Of The Lord Forever" Series

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 11, 2011

Psalm 23 has been about the story of God's salvation. This lesson ties together the past 8 lessons to show of God's salvation and how He prepared a way for us to enter heaven.

Psalm 23:6b “and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” As we close our series on the 23rd Psalm we end with the best passage of all. The 23rd Psalm is about Salvation. We see where we are born into this world lost just as sheep. We are blind and need a shepherd. But the Lord ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:6

How Do Believers Deal With Homosexuality? Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Jul 8, 2013

The Supreme Court of our nation offered a controversial decision regarding marriage this past month, and it is setting up our culture to acknowledge a lifestyle that is contrary to God's Word. How do we respond?

Sermon Brief Date Written: July 05, 2013 Date Preached: July 07, 2013 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Series Title: Biblical Truths for Societal Pressures Sermon Title: How Do Believers deal with Homosexuality? Sermon Text: 1 Tim 1:3-6 [HCSB] Introduction: I want you all to know ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:3-6

Denomination: Baptist

Back To School

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Sep 13, 2012

We are in training in God's school of Christlikeness. Having already received the diploma, we are transformed by Christ to renounce the past, live godly lives in the present, and look forward to our future with hope and not fear.

This week we sent our son back to school as he had his first taste of Junior High. Sometimes I look back to my High School years and believe it or not I wish I could do it over again and learn those lessons that I didn’t take so seriously and also not worry so much about things that ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Making Sure To Put On Every Piece Of Armor

Contributed by Doug Koehler on Aug 28, 2009

It is easy to skip over God’s instruction trusting in past encounters with God. However, the Lord wants us to daily be prepared so that we can stand against the devil and his cunning.

An Astronaut is ready for the first time to walk in space. He has spent countless hours in simulations. He has already taken off from earth and is now in outer space. He has his space suit on and so he is protected from head to toe against the deathly cold of space. This astronaut seems to be as ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Greater Than Moses Series

Contributed by Carl Allen on Mar 25, 2008

For the writer of Hebrews is was important to get across the point to his Jewish brethren that Jesus was greater than Moses. The people were stuck on the past and their traditions, and had missed the Messiah who was right there in their midst.

Jesus Greater than Moses Hebrews 3:1-16 Intro Up to this point the writer of Hebrews has been doing his best to convince the non-believing in the area of the necessity of receiving Christ. The people are still stuck on their traditions and some see Jesus as equal to, or less than Moses. They ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Purpose Of Angels Series

Contributed by Charles Cockroft on Feb 25, 2008

The past few years has produced many books about angels.Most of the things that we believe about angels have been told to us through hear say, fantasies, and misinformation

Angel Ministry 1 The past few years has produced many books about angels. Not only Christian books but many secular books, trash magazines, and TV shows. 70% of Americans believe in angels. Most of the things that we believe about angels have been told to us through hear say, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-24

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Heartfelt Happiness Hones Historic Holiday

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Nov 18, 2007

Being thankful is not a Biblical option-it is a command. As I look at my situation in life from the past, to the present to the future-I want to obey this command and I have reasons to so do.

PSALMS 95:2 HEARTFELT HAPPINESS HONES HISTORIC HOLIDAY I. HERITAGE: A. Home. B. Hardiness. C. Hedges. II. HIATUS: A. Health. B. Happiness. C. Homeland. III. HOPE: A. Heaven. B. Harvesting. C. Hallowedness. “Thanksgiving” is an unique American tradition. While we have ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 95:2

Denomination: Methodist

Buried Under The Oaks Of Shechem

Contributed by Fred Parker on Dec 15, 2007

As we peer into the subdued shadows of our pasts, it is often extremely difficult to discern those indiscriminate things that are disturbing our devotion to God in the present. ___ E. Fred Parker (November 6, 2004)

BURIED UNDER THE OAKS OF SHECHEM Written by Rev Fred Parker November 6, 2004 FOCUS As we peer into the subdued shadows of our pasts, it is often extremely difficult to discern those indiscriminate things that are disturbing our devotion to God in the present. ___ E. Fred Parker (November 6, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-4

Denomination: Apostolic

On That Great Gettin' Up Morning

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 26, 2009

For Remembrance Sunday: getting past grief means crying out honestly and insistently for help, and it means having confidence in the God who raised Christ from the dead and thus defeated death itself.

The hymns we have sung and the Scriptures we have read have one important word that is common to all of them. That word is "morning". "Morning", as in "good morning". "Morning" is an important Biblical image. I am leading us to worship around the symbol of morning today because I want us to use it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-3

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Looking Forward Or Backward?

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jan 10, 2008

Happy New Year’s Eve! As we look back to our past and the resolutions that we haven’t fulfilled, and look forward expectantly, we look to the forgiveness found in the cross of Christ.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three In One who was our hope this year and is our hope for eternity to come. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, For many of us, our New Years resolutions seem to resemble carbon dating – where we can establish the date ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Denomination: Lutheran

Flaws, Failures And Faith Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 11, 2015

Our past does not define us, God redeems us. Our mistakes do not define us, God teaches us. Our faith in God defines us, God uses us.

All of us have them. Some of us have more than others. • There are those who are crippled by them, others can rise above them and continue to live with confidence. But all of us have them. • What am I talking about? Flaws and failures. Our imperfections and mistakes. Flaws ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-11, Judges 11:30-40

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Pardoned And Beyond (September 11, 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Sep 9, 2022

Paul deals with many of the same things we have all had to deal with before we became a Christian. Everyone has a past, everyone needs a pardon and everyone is called to proclaim the Gospel.

PARDONED and BEYOND (September 11, 2022) Text: 1 Timothy 1:12 -17 1 Timothy 1:12-17 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. (13) Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Selling Herself Cheaply Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Feb 4, 2021

God makes room for all, even for those women we routinely dismiss because of a soiled past. If God accepts Rahab the prostitute, He will accept me if I look to Him in faith.

“Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, ‘Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist