Sermons on Pencils:

Turtle Top Theology Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 23, 2009

Is there anything wrong with wanting to be great?

OPEN: One of Dr. Seuss’s more famous poem is called “Yertle the Turtle” “ On a far away island of Salamasond, Yertle the turtle was king of the pond. A nice little pond. It was clean. It was neat. The water was warm, there was plenty to eat. Until - one day - the king of them all decided the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:46-50

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Striving To Be A Church Of Christ

Contributed by David Owens on Sep 8, 2009

Principles to insure that we are indeed a church that belongs to Jesus.

Introduction: A. I love the old story told of the man who was shipwrecked on a beautiful, deserted South Pacific island. 1. Years later, he was discovered by a passing a navy ship. 2. Upon their arrival at the shore they were met by the shipwreck survivor. He said, “I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Greater Love

Contributed by Jim Heidebrecht on Jun 21, 2007

Delivered at Hopewell on Memorial Day weekend. It is important to remember the Service, Sacrifice, and Love of our Heroes, the greatest of which is Jesus Christ!

GREATER LOVE (John 15:13) Intro: Memorial day – about remembering Sometimes, we are not so good at remembering things: 3 sisters, getting up in age: All in the living room in the evening. Gerty got up to go to bed, halfway upstairs she stopped and asked, was I going up, or going down? Mabel ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13

Denomination: Baptist

What Were You Expecting?

Contributed by Michael Hollinger on Feb 22, 2007

We Need to Expect God everywhere

Title: What were you expecting? Text: Luke 1.5-25 MP: We need to expect God everywhere. Intro: Sadly, I just couldn’t find this story on the Internet, but I remember one of those “human interest” news stories from a few years back. It seems that a tourist from somewhere in Eastern Europe had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Christ Makes All The Difference Series

Contributed by Kent Kessler on Mar 24, 2007

Does one person really make all the difference? When do things make all the difference? When we are changed, moved to laugh or cry, celebrated and sacrificed for. “Why The CHRIST Makes All The Difference” explores why Jesus makes all the difference to Eas

What Difference Does Easter Make? “Why the CHRIST Makes All The Difference” 2 Corinthians 5:21 Does one person really make all that much difference? When I was in the fourth grade I had a SS teacher who wasn’t like any of the SS teachers I had before. Bruce challenged us with one thing: memorize ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Denomination: Methodist

One Heart And Mind

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jul 9, 2007

Let’s think about what contributed to their unity of heart and mind. 1- They were unselfish 2- They were witnesses 3- They were gracious

INTRO.- ILL.- Rotterdam, New York—A young bride who got into an argument with her husband of a few hours ran him down with a car and killed him on the way home from the wedding reception, authorities said. The county district attorney said 21-year-old Joan Kenison drove over her 23-year-old ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-35

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Great Confession

Contributed by Mark Hall on Feb 24, 2013

Overcoming spiritual deception by confessing Christ

OUR GREATEST CONFESSION In order to prepare you for this message, I want to first remind you that last Sunday we found that by comparing God’s word with this generation we could easily see that spiritual deception and spiritual blindness is rampant in America and the world. In addition, we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Desire - Only Met In Jesus Series

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Feb 26, 2013

The deepest desires of our hearts are meant to be met as we experience God's glory, but fulfillment of our desires has often been hijacked by cheap imitations provided by our culture.

In preparation for today’s message, continuing our exploration of the glory of God, I read a sermon by CS Lewis entitled “The Weight of Glory”. And it launched me down a path that I am going to attempt to describe, and hope that you might accompany me on, this morning. Now, the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Denomination: Baptist

Opportunities Right In Front Of You

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 24, 2008

If you want to understand the Lord’s will, be wise by looking for the opportunities He sets before you, especially in difficult circumstances.

“Opportunities Right in Front of You” Luke 9:10-17 When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn’t work at zero gravity (Ink won’t flow down to the writing surface). In order to solve this problem, they hired Andersen Consulting. It took them one decade ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Witnessing Done God's Way Series

Contributed by Stephen Collins on Jan 6, 2009

Part 5 of "Being the Church," focusing on the importance of sharing your faith in a relational manner.

Being the Church Part 5: Witnessing Done God’s Way Scripture: Acts 8:25-40 Icebreaker: When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:25-40

Denomination: Church Of God

Elisha - Equipped For Service

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Aug 16, 2008

Shows how we can follow the example from Elisha in being properly equipped for God’s service

Elisha - Equipped for Service II Kings 2:1-15 Are you ready for tomorrow? Kids are you ready for tomorrow? Do you have all your notebooks and pens and #2 pencils crammed into your backpack ready for that bright and early wake up call? Teachers are you ready for tomorrow? Lessons plans in order, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Stand Still And See

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Sep 12, 2008

We will not have to fight our own battles if God is in control of our life.

Text: “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you” (2 Chronicles 20:17). If you stop and think for a moment, you and I have faced many enemies in our life time. As a child there were other children who thought they ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:5-14

Denomination: Christian Church

Shift Family

Contributed by Tim Hedberg on Dec 10, 2007

God is with us always.

It doesn’t take long for us to learn of God’s desire of the first couple in the Bible. In the first chapter of Genesis, v. 27, the text tells us that God created "male and female." And in the following verse, v. 28 we read “God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-72

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Do You See When You Pray? Series

Contributed by Chuck Debardeleben on Dec 18, 2007

What if you didn’t have to force yourself to pray because you were convinced that prayer unleashes the power of God?

WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU PRAY? 1 KINGS 18:38-46 Let me as you a question that might seem contradictory, “What do you see when you pray?” As a camp counselor for a summer I was given supervision of the youngest campers for the week. Ever experienced living with six and seven year olds in a cabin ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:38-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

It Is Well With My Soul Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Judges, Pt. 5

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL (RUTH 1:14-18) The hymn “It is Well with My Soul” was written by Horatio Spafford after a series of disasters struck his family. Spafford, a successful businessman and a close friend of the evangelist D.L. Moody, lost his only son at about the same time the Chicago fire in ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:14-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible