Sermons on Personal Edification:

Week 3: Faith & Friends Series

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 23, 2021

How can we encourage those who are suffering?

There was a study done in 2004 which found that the number of people without any close friends tripled since the last study in 1985. Nearly a quarter of the people surveyed said that they have no one in their life that they can confide in (America Sociological Review, June 1, 2006). We live in a ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:11-13, Job 4:4-9, Job 3:1-4, Job 3:11

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus On Trial Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 3, 2021

Today, the civil phase begins. The story of Jesus’ trek between Gethsemane and Golgotha is known as the Passion. You really cannot truly understand the cross until you understand how Jesus got there and what took place on the day He was crucified.

Johnnie Cochran was the famous defense attorney of OJ Simpson. Many of you will remember his closing arguments in that case, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” He was once asked whom he would have liked to defense. Cochran’s answer is telling: “Jesus is the person I would like to have defended. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Truth About Questioning God Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

Few places will assist us more in answering our questions about suffering, as does the little book called Habakkuk. Habakkuk’s contribution to the Bible is unique.

Amanda Blackburn was home with her 14-month-old child early Tuesday morning. Her husband had left early in the morning from their home in Indianapolis for the gym. It was a normal Tuesday in just about every way. But the young pastor would not speak to his wife again as a home invader broke into ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

War Of Your Worlds Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

When you see yourself as an alien and an exile with your citizenship in heaven, and God as your only Sovereign, you stop drifting with the current of the day. You ponder what is good for the soul and what honors God in everything.

When is something worth nothing? Zimbabwe’s central bank will introduce a $50 billion note -- enough to buy just two loaves of bread – as a way of fighting cash shortages amid spiraling inflation. Zimbabwe is grappling with hyperinflation now officially estimated at 231 million percent, and its ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

Bold Faith

Contributed by Ben Foley on Jun 15, 2021

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9

Did you know there are 365 times in Scripture where we are told something along the lines of "do not be afraid?" That is one "do not be afraid" for every day of the year! We live in times of great fear. Some of our fears are rational, others irrational. My wife, for example, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9

How God’s Plans Interfere With Our Plans (Christmas Sermon)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 17, 2022

One thing that gets us upset, is when we have things all planned out and someone comes along and ruins our plans.

For example, suppose you had plans for Saturday. You were going to take the family to the lake, and have a nice family picnic. You had all the details worked out, and then the boss man comes up to you on Friday, before you leave to go home and says, “I hate to do this to you, I know you had plans ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Thorn In The Flesh

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 17, 2022

We know that God is able to heal, but sometimes we aren’t healed. This message looks at one possible reason why, as we examine an illness that the apostle Paul wrestled with for most of his Christian life - his "thorn in the flesh."

This evening we are going to look at a passage of Scripture that is related to the subject matter of healing. In the Scripture we discover that our God is a God of healing. He says in Exodus 15:26, “I am the Lord who heals you.” We also read that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, heals us as well, for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

We Are Pilgrims

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 18, 2022

In one of the December issues of People Magazine, there was an article about Christina Onassis.

The article stated, “I'm sure we all felt bad over the tragic death of Christina Onassis at the age of 38…” Her stepsister Henrietta Gelber commented: "She lacked a sense of achievement; what she was striving for was just to be a normal human being with normal family relationships, which ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Times Down

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 18, 2022

Naaman was commanded to dip in the Jordan River seven times. He finally did and was healed of his leprosy. But beforehand, he put up quite a fight. His preconceptions about how God works, and his pride, both got in the way.

Many years ago, I attended Shoutfest, which is a Christian music festival held in Somerset, Kentucky; and I heard a new band perform called “Seven Times Down,” which I thought was really good. The band got its name from the passage of Scripture that we’re going to look at this morning. I liked ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

A God Of Second Chances

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Feb 27, 2022

The account of Jonah provides a picture of the love, forgiveness, and compassion of God. This overview of Jonah reveals the second chance the Lord is longing to extend to all people through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.

Our sermon for this morning is entitled “A God of Second Chances.” In “Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie,” there is a scene where Jonah is sitting in the belly of a whale, and some angels appear out of nowhere and begin explaining to Jonah how God wanted to give him a second chance to be obedient; and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3, Jonah 1:4, Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2:1-2, Jonah 2:10, Jonah 3:1-6, Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

"Picking Up From What Was Started In This New Season” Pt. 1 Series

Contributed by Sean Dees on Mar 3, 2022

We have to share and write the vision in clear and simple ways so that the believers can see it and run with it. We have to get them to see what we are seeing from the Lord.

Intro: This is the first message in a series entitled “Casting the Vision.” Today I want to begin with “Picking up from what was started”, the text I chose is in no disrespect to those that have formerly served behind this pulpit, but is commending those that have served in the past. Everything ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-8

The Depths Of Despair

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 6, 2022

This message looks at some Bible passages on the cave of despair. How do people tend to act when they find themselves in such a dark place? What do we need to do, in order for God to deliver us into a place of hope and life?

I want to get us started with our message this morning by sharing an illustration that I’ve used on numerous occasions: Back when I was in college, I used to go cave exploring with a friend as often as possible. Sometimes we went about twice a week. Well, one evening we followed a lead for a new ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-10, 1 Kings 18:4, Psalm 142:5-7, John 11:38-44

Denomination: Baptist

God Is A God Of Righteousness And Judgment Attributes Of God ( 9 Of 10 Sermons)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 9, 2022

In 1994, in Union, S. C., a twenty-three-year-old mother strapped her two young sons in their car seats and drove them into a lake and drowned them.

Then she appeared before the national television news broadcasters and lied, saying a black man jumped into her car, made her get out, and drove off with her two sons. Later, when they found the car with the little boys in it, she confessed that she had done this horrendous thing herself. When it ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

"Peter, Feed My Sheep” (11 Of 21)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 11, 2022

:We can become sluggish in our bodies and go to the doctor, and after a thorough examination he might conclude that our bodies are lacking in calcium, iron, potassium, or some other particular vitamin.

In the passage of scripture under consideration, it seems as though Peter has examined us and has discovered we all have a deficiency when it comes to having the proper attitude toward certain things. One's attitude is how one thinks toward a certain thing. Our thinking can be correct or ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Refiner’s Fire

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 13, 2022

In this passage, Ezekiel described the Babylonian exile as being the crucible in which Israel was melted down, and the godly (the silver) were separated from the unrighteous (the dross). The purpose of the refiner's fire is spiritual purification.

I wish to begin our message with an illustration: There was a dedicated Christian woman who once visited a tourist attraction, which happened to be a working replica of a pioneer village; and one of the manned displays she observed was a silversmith shop. The woman watched the silversmith as he ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:17-22

Denomination: Baptist