Sermons on Pause:

Believing God Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 21, 2002

Abraham is such a great man of faith that at times its hard to relate to him. God knew that, so He told us few things about this super-hero of the faith that help us understand how powerful his faith really was.

OPEN: A man once told a story about his 84 year old grandmother. Apparently, she fiercely maintained her independence and lived alone in the old family home. Her 4 children lived in the same town, but she rarely called them except in emergencies. It was with some apprehension, therefore, that he ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hisstory - Contagious Christianity Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 26, 2004

The Cross is a central focus of Christ’s story. But why? Why did Jesus need to die on the cross?

VIDEO – Session 7 – “Putting It All Together” (up thru the phrase “There’s No Middle Ground”) OPEN: Richard Bandler tells one story about visiting a mental institution and dealing with a man who insisted he was Jesus Christ - not metaphorically, not in spirit, but in the flesh. One day Bandler ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hold The Rope

Contributed by Tim Patrick on May 30, 2009

In this sermon you will learn to uphold other believers as they serve Jesus Christ.

(In introducing this sermon give everyone a piece of rope.) State: a rope is such a common ordinary item. Yet, a rope can fulfill a worthy task. Today we are going to look at a passage where a rope played a significant role in an act of service. The text is found in Acts 9:25. “Then the disciples ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:23-25

Denomination: Baptist

Scattering The Seed Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 13, 2008

Farming in the days of Jesus wasn’t like today. But the church that Jesus began, and the way Jesus set it up haven’t changed over the ages.

OPEN: A man walked into a flower shop and asked for some potted red geraniums. "I’m sorry," said the clerk in flower shop, "we are completely sold out of all of our potted geraniums. But I’d be more than happy to give you a deal on something else. Could you use African violets instead?" Replied the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dare To Take A Stand! Series

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jul 17, 2008

As Christians, we need to take a stand for God. It’s not always easy. During GOOD TIMES – When things are going right - We get complacent. During BAD TIMES – When everything seems to be going wrong – We get discouraged … blame God … look to ourselves for

Opening illustration: In her famous book and film, “The Hiding Place” Corrie ten Boom tells the story of a Dutch Christian family, her family, who had a heart for the Jewish people. Her grandfather Wilhelm started a weekly prayer group in 1844 in the city of Haarlem, near Amsterdam for the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-30

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Light Of The Season Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 25, 2011

We tend to take Christmas lights for granted. They're so common and so much a part of Christmas that we don't often give them much thought. But how tragic if we neglect the most important light of the season.

OPEN: We tend to take Christmas lights for granted. We see them on Christmas trees, and on bushes and buildings throughout the city. They’re in practically every store and mall, and sometimes we’ve seen them in synchronized musical displays on homes. So, we tend to take Christmas ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-13, 2 Samuel 19:24-30

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christ Our Anchor And Refuge

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Jan 22, 2012

If we practice now walking closely with Jesus, when things are going ok, then when the rough times come, we will be grounded to the Anchor and be safe in the storm

When was the last time you faced a real storm in your life? Think back about what you went through, and about how you got through that time of real difficulty. Today, we’ll give some serious thought to how it is we can weather the bigger trials that come our way. When we face hardship, when we’re ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Putting First Things First Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Jan 23, 2012

Let's keep the main thing the main thing.

Putting First Things First Haggai 1:12-15 Rev. Brian Bill 1/22/12 A couple weeks ago, Reed Blunier, age three, came up to me and gave me a gift. He said it was for “Pastor Cheesehead.” It was a book called, “Kids Say the Cutest Things About God.” I’d like to read a ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

The New Deal

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Sep 18, 2011

A different twist on the parable of the vineyard owner that offers who to those in desperate need of relief and recovery through the reforms of Jesus Christ.

INTRO Between the years 1933 and 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted a series of economic programs called “The New Deal.” "His programs served as a response to the effects of the Great Depression, and “focused on what historians call the "3 Rs": Relief, Recovery, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Lutheran

Is God A Tiger Parent?

Contributed by Monty Newton on Sep 26, 2011

Ideally, when a Christian's profession and practice meet... it's a match.

Title: Is God a “Tiger” Parent? Text: Matthew 21:23-32 Thesis: Ideally, when a Christian’s profession and practice meet… it’s a match! Introduction The meat of our story today is about a father who had two sons whom he asked to work in his vineyard. Adrian ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Would You Like To Get Well?

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Oct 18, 2011

Jesus still speaks and when we obey the power fills us, life changes and it is good.

Would you like to get well? Oct 16, 2011 Jn 5:1-15 Intro: 38 years is a long time, don’t you think? About half a lifetime. 38 years ago, 1973, Nixon was in the middle of the Watergate scandal, Montreal won the Stanley Cup and there was barely a hint of an Edmonton Oilers, the Academy ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

We Don’t Deserve - And So We Serve Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 26, 2010

Sunday Morning Church is only a pre-game warmup for "real worship". Find out what real worship is all about and why it’s important we not think about it the same way the world does.

OPEN: A Sunday School teacher was teaching her children the benefits of unselfishness. She concluded by saying’ "The reason you are in this world, children, is to help others." After a moment’s silence, a little girl piped up "Well, then, what are the OTHERS here for?" As I studied Romans 12 ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-16

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Principles Of Leadership

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 6, 2010

Nehemiah was by far one of the best leaders in all of history. And anyone who is willing to follow the principles put forth in this book can also become a great leader. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Principles of Leadership Nehemiah 2:11-16 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/PrinciplesOfLeadership.html He was by far one of the best leaders in all of history. And anyone who is willing to follow the principles put forth in this book can also become a great leader. Nehemiah had walls to build, and ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:12-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Sanctity Of Life

Contributed by Jim Mccutchen on May 8, 2010

The penalty for killing an unborn eagle in this country is a fine of up to $5000 and up to five years in prison But,the killing of an unborn baby is not considered a crime at all, as long as the mother approves.

THE SANCTITY OF LIFE INTRO: A.Vince Lombardi was one of the most outstanding coaches of the Green bay Packers. Due to his success each year the winner of the Super Bowl receives a trophy called the Lombardi Trophy. Each year Vince would start each summer camp the same way. He would get h is ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:5

Denomination: Christian Church

The Power Of Prayer

Contributed by David Cramer on Sep 11, 2009

The power of prayer

George Mueller was known for his powerful prayer. In the course of his ministry to the orphans of England, he never asked for financial assistance from men - only God... and he constantly received what was needed to the penny. Once while on his way to speak in Quebec for a engagement. On the deck ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational