Sermons on Personal Edification:

Everything Held Captive Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 23, 2009

Introduction to Colossians plus exposition of Col 1:1-2.

The game ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ first came to light in 1974. Players of D&D create characters which they live out in an alternative reality. And so D&D is a fantasy role playing game where players embark upon imaginary adventures in a created world. Although there’s a few variations of the game, a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-2

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Then Will We Have?

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 24, 2008

Gaining authentic riches means embracing the way of life over the way of death. The way of life means constant companionship and reconciled relationships, all in the risen Christ.

They promised me an income of up to ten thousand dollars a week. It would come in the easiest of ways; all I would have to do would be to sit at home and wait for it to pour in. They said the money would mount up effortlessly. Up to ten thousand dollars a week, made by promoting certain ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30

Denomination: Baptist

No Pain, No Gain Series

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 25, 2008

C.S. Lewis wrote: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Luke 8: 40-56 What motivates you to make changes in your life? Think back to a time when you made a change in your life and ask the question, “What motivated me to make that change?” I’ve always been interested in what motivates people to make changes in their lives so this past week I did a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:40-50

Denomination: Baptist

Lord Of My Rocking Boat Series

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 25, 2008

If Jesus isn’t Lord before you get in the boat, He can’t be the Lord of your rocking boat.

The super tanker, Edmund Fitzgerald was built in 1958 at the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, MI. Possessing an overall length of 729 ft. it was the largest tanker ever to sail the Great Lakes. On Nov. 9, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald left her port in Superior, Wisconsin en route to a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

True Values: Biblical Preaching And Teaching Series

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Oct 27, 2008

We value Biblical preaching and teaching because it is God’s instruction manual for His Church.

True Value: Biblical Preaching and Teaching Text: 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Tim. 4:1-4 Introduction 1. The second core value has to do with our source for faith and doctrine: the Bible. 2. Illustration: The Department of Social Services in Greenville County, South Carolina sent the following ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Prayer As A Spiritual Discipline

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Oct 27, 2008

Prayer and what it means for our spiritual life. Part 10 of 13 on Spiritual Disc.

Spiritual Disciplines: Prayer Sermon Number 10 March 2, 2008 There’s a story about a small town that had been historically “dry,” it was alcohol free. A bar was going to open on Main Street and upon hearing the news, the only church in town organized an all-night prayer meeting, asking God to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Joy In Fasting Series

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Oct 27, 2008

Fasting is the least practiced discipline, but is doable. part 12 of 13 on Spiritual Disc.

Spiritual Disciplines: Fasting Sermon Number 11 March 16, 2008 About two weeks ago, we were watching something on television and there was a commercial for the Olive Garden restaurant. Zachary commented “the food looks so good!” He was ready to dive in and eat another dinner. The commercial ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Remedy For Rough Times

Contributed by J Bernard Taylor on Oct 28, 2008

Our country is going through hard financial times--maybe you’re going through rough times. But there is a remedy.

A Remedy for Rough Times I hold in my hands a copy of the cover of Time Magazine for October l3th. The heading is “The New Hard Times”. It contains a picture of men lined up at a Soup Kitchen during the days of the depression in the l930’s. I was a young child during the depression. ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Brings Good From Evil Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Oct 29, 2008

God points us through the cross to the wonder of his glory in order to understand evil and suffering in this present world.

Scripture Introduction Who killed Jesus? The Apostles’ Creed says he “suffered under Pontius Pilate.” Or maybe the blame belongs to the soldiers who drove the nails? Or should we condemn the Jews who demanded freedom for the criminal Barabbas and death for this one called, “Christ,” and then ...read more

Scripture: John 13:18-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Are You Doing In Your Walk With Jesus? Series

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Oct 30, 2008

Accept God’s way, turn away from your way, then follow His way.

How are you doing in your walk with Jesus? Are you growing? Are you making any headway in your growth as a disciple? Does God ever whack you on the side of the head to get your attention? Has He been doing it lately? As we have been studying Scripture together, particularly in Luke, we have seen ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-21

Denomination: Baptist

David: A Man After God's Own Heart

Contributed by Dr. George Calhoun on Nov 1, 2008

When we understand that the Lord desires for us to come to Him with “unveiled faces,” completely open, honest, and unvarnished, a wonderful transformation begins to take place and we begin to see things as they really are.

A college student had two problems common to many: low grades and no money. Knowing that her parents wouldn’t look kindly on her dilemma she devised an ingenious plan to soften the blows of reality and wrote this letter: Dear Mom and Dad, Just thought I’d drop you a note to let you know how I’m ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Encourage The Tithe - Are You Robbing God? Series

Contributed by Bobby Stults on Nov 3, 2008

God instituted the tithe, not to get your money, but to reveal your heart in service to Him. All believrs are called to give a tithe back to God.

Sermon Brief Date Written: November 3, 2008 Date Preached: November 02, 2008 Where Preached: OPBC (AM) Sermon Details: Sermon Series: A Series On Tithing Sermon Title: Encourage the Tithe Sermon Text: Malachi 3:8-12 (NKJV) 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Is Your Faith Working??

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 7, 2009

People have differing views about how faith is expressed and what it looks like when it is expressed. Faith to remove a problem and faith to endure a problem are both illustrated in Hebrews 11. Habakkuk’s struggle with faith is also addressed.

Is Your Faith Working? Hebrews 11 7-19-09 Intro I want to begin this morning with a question. Is your faith working? Since the Bible says, “The just shall live by faith” I would consider that question extremely important. Are you living by faith? Martin Luther applied that verse to justification. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40

Denomination: Charismatic

The Time Is Now

Contributed by Gerald Steffy on Sep 7, 2009

Jesus shares in His first Inaugural Address that now is the point in history for Jesus’ ministry of redemption to begin and do God’s will.

THE TIME IS NOW-- Luke 4:14-21 Proposition: “Jesus shares in His first Inaugural Address that now is the point in history for Jesus’ ministry of redemption to begin and do God’s will. Objective: My purpose is to challenge people to realize that the time is now to trust Christ as Savior and to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:12-21

Denomination: Baptist

Applying God's Word Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Sep 7, 2009

In our last three messages in Nehemiah, we’ve seen what it takes to understand God’s Word the way He would have us to. The fact is, most of the time our problem isn’t understanding God’s Word. Most of the time our problem is applying all the things that w

We have spent the past few Sunday nights talking about what it takes to understand God’s Word. The first 12 verses of chapter 8 have given us one of the best examples in Scripture of God’s primary design in making His Word understood. In that text, we’ve seen how it takes the right message for ...read more

Denomination: Baptist