Sermons on Personal Invitation:

To Protect And To Serve

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jan 7, 2015

We invited the local Chief of Police to speak to our congregation and to our youth. After his talk, this is the short message we gave to close the service.

TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE That motto is used to describe the original description of our federal government’s purpose. It is primarily to protect "we the people" from those in our society that would hurt us so that Americans can live in the pursuit of happiness. That being said, it would be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:4

Denomination: *other

The Difference Resurrection Peace Makes

Contributed by Bob Hunter on Apr 2, 2002

The words "Peace be with you" explored and applied to everday life. This Easter Sunday message will not only challenge the seeker, but encourage the believer. Written invitation offered at the close.

"The difference Resurrection Peace makes" Easter Sunday 2002 (Recommended Drama: "These Parts" by Judson Poling 1991 Willowcreek.com) Today I want to talk to you about this! Something of what you just saw acted out. No surprise, today we’re dealing with the topic of the Resurrection. ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-23

Denomination: Holiness

You Cast, You Come, You Follow

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on May 1, 2007

Jesus extends three invitations ¡V the disciples are drawn closer and closer to Him with each one ¡V and the intimacy and responsibility grow deeper each time.

The story of our text today has the familiar theme of Peter’s restoration. Peter had denied Christ three times outside Pilate’s house during Jesus’ trial. In this reunion by the sea Peter confesses his love for Jesus three times. It is heartwarming to think about the big fisherman being received ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-19

Denomination: United Methodist

The Addictions That Destroy Series

Contributed by David Mcclain on Jul 22, 2018

The Spirit of God frees a person from the addictions that destroy marriages

OPENING SENTENCE: On Facebook the other day I ran across a post that reveals the heart of a young girl toward her father. INTRODUCTION: It reads: Dear “Dad", Don’t worry, I'm fine. You were a good dad when you were clean. but you could never seem to stay that way. It seemed like even I wasn't ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Peace The World Can't Give PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 22, 2025

Jesus offers his own unshakeable peace to calm our anxious hearts, inviting us to trust his presence instead of giving in to fear or panic.

Some days the headlines hit like hail on a tin roof. Bills stack up, calendars crowd in, and our hearts hum with hurry. We lie awake staring at the ceiling fan, counting worries like sheep that refuse to sleep. We wonder if peace is a myth, a mirage on the horizon of a hurried life. Is there a calm ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Topics: God's Peace, Peace

Make The Devil Pay

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Nov 27, 2017

When a person dies, especially a young person, we celebrate the life at the person's funeral. We shouldn't be celebrating a life that has been taken far too soon. Instead, God's children should make the devil pay for taking that life.

Recently, I delivered the eulogy for my niece who was killed in a car accident in Memphis, Tennessee. Patricia, her mom asked me to do the eulogy and I said I would. So my wife flew down to Memphis that Friday and I drove down the following Monday. There was something stirring in me over that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:19-21, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Genesis 1:26-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Encouraging Dads To Tell Their Story Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 8, 2021

You see, the gospel is not just something you hold onto but the gospel has its hold on you. The power of the Gospel on a person is most evident when you see its hold on a person.

Happy Father’s Day! Dads, there are too few good fathers around. Dads, I want to speak to encourage you to deepen your commitment to living a life of integrity in Christ. To know Jesus is to have a story of how you came to know Jesus. This story is often referred to as your “testimony.” In fact, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

The Lukewarm Church PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 20, 2025

Jesus lovingly exposes our self-sufficiency, invites us to deeper dependence on Him, and offers restoration, hope, and true riches for our lukewarm hearts.

Some of us walked in today with a smile for the foyer and a sigh for the soul. Bills on the counter, deadlines on the calendar, questions on the heart. And yet, here we are, gathering around a Letter from Jesus to an ancient church in a city called Laodicea—a church with polished doors and tepid ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-21

Topics: Lukewarmness, Laodicea, Disgust

The Word Gives Life PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 2, 2025

Jesus’ promise gives present assurance of eternal life, freeing us from guilt and fear, and inviting us to trust fully in His finished work.

Some words rearrange a room, don’t they? A doctor says, “It’s benign,” and shoulders drop. A coach calls your name, and you run to the field. A judge declares, “You’re free to go,” and the hallway home seems shorter. Words can wrap around us like a warm blanket on a windy night. And then there are ...read more

Scripture: John 5:24

Topics: Abide, God's Word, Power

Confusion In The Church PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 20, 2025

God brings peace and order to our lives and church, inviting us to trust His presence and follow His clear, simple guidance with settled hearts.

If you walked in today with a heart that feels hurried, with thoughts that scatter like leaves in a gust of wind, you’re in good company. Life has a way of turning up the volume. Deadlines stack up. Conversations get clipped. Sleep runs thin. And then Sunday comes, and we find ourselves in the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:33

Topics: Clarity, Christ

Advent 2 - Peace

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Dec 13, 2018

This message explores the advent theme of peace; peace rooted in the person of Jesus Christ.

Sermon – Advent II – Peace in the Storm – December 9, 2018 Have you seen those Facebook relationship settings. You can say you’re: In a relationship, single, divorced, or it’s complicated. It’s interesting how social media has become a relationship tool. You may have seen things like this: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5, Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dealing With A National Disaster

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Mar 27, 2010

How do we deal with Disasters - whether National or Personal?

Intro: 1. September 11: Chronology of terror September 12, 2001 Posted: 12:27 PM EDT (1627 GMT) 8:45 a.m. (all times are EDT): A hijacked passenger jet, American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, Massachusetts, crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center, tearing a gaping hole in ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

When Jesus Says ’come’, You’d Better Go

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 2, 2006

7 Invitations Christ has extended to people...and the offer is still good today! Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Template.

WHEN JESUS SAYS “COME” YOU’D BETTER GO! Mark 1:17-18 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WhenJesusSaysCome.html When I was very young my dad taught me that when he or my mom said, “Come, ” I’d better go. And if the command was to jump…well, you know the rest! [how high?] In the Word of God the word ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

Anchored In Hope When The World Feels Uncertain PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 14, 2025

Prayer is our refuge in anxiety, inviting God’s peace and strength to guard our hearts and renew us amid life’s worries and uncertainties.

Some of us walked in today with a knot in the stomach and a weight on the chest. Worry whispers at 3 a.m., bills pile on the counter, diagnoses arrive in sterile envelopes, and the what-ifs line up like storm clouds on the horizon. Our hearts try to outrun our thoughts, and our thoughts try to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 46:1-3, Isaiah 40:31

Topics: Jesus-Reflectors, Change, Living

Don't Touch The Mountain (And Encounter With God) Series

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on May 19, 2018

The Israelite arrive at the mountain - but still do not have a permanent change of how they live - they want to "touch the mountain." Concludes with invitation to turn life over to God

Exodus 19:3-6, 16-19 3 Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: 4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:3-6, Exodus 19:16-19, Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed