Sermons on Poking:

When God Calls Your Name: Saul / Paul Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Sep 11, 2021

How would you respond if God called your name not once, but twice? In the Bible, God calls plenty of people often by name, but I’ve only found seven times where God calls out someone’s name twice in a row. In each instance, what follows is a life-changing encounter with the God of creation.

When God Calls Your Name… Twice: Saul/Paul Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 9/4/2016 After church one Sunday, a pastor stood at the front of the church greeting people as they left. A sweet, little, elderly woman stopped and said: “Pastor, please speak louder. I can’t hear ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-10, Acts 26:14

Denomination: Christian Church

Expectations – General And Specific – Great And Small Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 16, 2022

Expectations keep us hoping if they are good, and fearful if they are bad. There are many examples in the bible of expectations but I have selected only a few, then we look at Christian expectations. Even cricket is touched on.

EXPECTATIONS – GENERAL AND SPECIFIC – GREAT AND SMALL I wonder how many are familiar with the novel “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. Pip the orphan boy relates his story that is based around what expectations wait for him, surprises, incorrect assumptions, tragedy and a lot more. Well as ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:8-16, Genesis 48:11, 1 Kings 2:15-16, Job 30:26-29, Isaiah 5:2-4, Matthew 11:2-3, Luke 21:25-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What It Takes To Be A Soldier (Veterans Day)

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Apr 6, 2022

Many folks are ignorant about the national holidays this country has set aside for us to observe. Veterans day is one of them.

If you ask some why we observe this day as a national holiday, they know it has something to do with the military, but they do not understand the significance of it. Illus: They remind me of a young man that took his girl friend to her first football game. They arrived at the game when the two ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Thank You For Serving!

Contributed by Je Layugan on Apr 11, 2022

Why is serving very important and what should be our motivation? The answers lie in that very powerful scene in which Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Jesus mandated us to live by (symbolically) washing one another’s feet, (literally) serving one another.

INTRODUCTION – The 80/20 Rule in the Church We loved to be served. - We tend to get angry when we ordered something and not served on time. - We demand to talk to the manager when we are not satisfied with the service provided to us. - We grumble when our expectation of service is not met. To be ...read more

Scripture: John 13:14-17

Denomination: Pentecostal

Different Gifts - All Useful

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 4, 2022

The greatest gift we can receive is the gift of salvation. But God's gift giving does not end there. God provides us with gifts that enhance our lives and build up the body of Christ, the church.

Alba 5-1-2022 DIFFERENT GIFTS – ALL USEFUL Romans 12:3-8 In December of 2004, Dave Barry, a columnist for the Washington Post, wrote his comments about the typical male in the first week of December. He wrote, “Your standard man, at this point in the Christmas season, has purchased zero gifts. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preaching From Philippians #2

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 28, 2021

One of the reasons that it is a sin for Christians to take drugs or drink alcoholic beverages is because these are substances that control our behavior.

These are things that will ruin our lives and cause us to make fools out of ourselves. There is no way that a Christian can be controlled by the Holy Spirit if they are controlled by these substances. But these are not the only things that control Christians. For example, there are many ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

New Wine, Skinny Jeans Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Apr 8, 2021

How does the gospel relate to our lives, our religions, and our methods?

Introduction I want to open this morning with a challenge for you. No matter who you are, your position or title; no matter what kind of degree you hold, or how long you’ve been coming to church. No matter how much or how little you read your Bible, no matter if you think I’m right or I’m wrong; ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:33-39, Matthew 6:2-6, Matthew 6:16-18, Acts 19:1-7, 1 Corinthians 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

Some Things To Show Before We Go

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 18, 2022

There are a lot of jokes about growing old. For example, it has been said:

We're over the hill but don't feel sad This side of the hill ain't all that bad. So give us "five" and then a smile To us who have been here for awhile. With by-pass pain and mended hip And plumbing fixtures prone to drip; We all may seem a sorry lot, But we rejoice for what ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

"Let’s Go To The Potter’s House”

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 23, 2022

Israel had some serious problems, and the Lord wanted to take them to the Potter’s house to teach them a lesson.

Illus: From an article in Reader’s Digest: A friend of mine awoke one morning to find a puddle of water in the middle of his king-size waterbed. In order to fix the puncture, he rolled the heavy mattress outdoors and filled it with more water so he could locate the leak more easily. The enormous ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:8, 2 Corinthians 4:7

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching From Philippians #2

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 31, 2022

One of the reasons that it is a sin for Christians to take drugs or drink alcoholic beverages is because these are substances that control our behavior.

These are things that will ruin our lives and cause us to make fools out of ourselves. There is no way that a Christian can be controlled by the Holy Spirit if they are controlled by these substances. But these are not the only things that control Christians. For example, there are many ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-26

Denomination: Baptist

No Longer Condemned

Contributed by Lee Houston on Jan 31, 2025

A history of slavery and segregation sometimes explode. Some may remember the riots in South Central Los Angeles in January 1993. People were burning buildings and looting stores. During all of the confusion an unsuspecting truck driver, named Reginald Denny.

Title: No Longer Condemned Scripture: Romans 8:6, “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Our history of slavery and segregation sometimes explodes. Some may remember the riots in South Central Los Angeles in January 1993. People were ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:6, Colossians 1:21-22, Ephesians 2:6-9, Titus 3:4-5

Recognizing Jesus

Contributed by Delray Lentz on Sep 6, 2024

Did the world see Jesus in you this past week? If so, how did the world respond? If not, why not? Did you see Jesus in the world this week? How did you respond?

This week, I’d kinda gonna begin where we left off last week. This isn’t a second part of a series, simply a quick tie-in. John 21:9 “Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.” John 21:12 “Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” ...read more

Scripture: John 21:12, Psalm 51:10-12

"What Does This Milestone Mean?” Series

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Sep 17, 2024

Today as we mark the celebration of the milestone of 50 years let’s answer the question that Joshua predicted his people would ask when they saw that pile of stones next to the Jordan River.

Although we no longer use literal stones to mark the miles along our roads and highways, we all understand the reference to “milestones.” Tracing their history back to the Roman Empire when they were called “miliarium” they were used to mark distances along their vast network of roads. Yes, they ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:4-7

Denomination: Lutheran

God's Grace Is With Us! Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Aug 13, 2023

By God’s grace the “what ifs” of life and their associated doubt can be casted into the sea and replaced with the glorious truth that the Lord will grant any request we have as long as it is done in His name and in accordance with His will!

God’s Grace is With Us! Exodus 4:1-12; Mark 9:24; Romans 8:14; Luke 12:12 If the Lord appeared to you tonight in a dream like He did king Solomon and said, “ask for whatever you want” (1 Kings 3:1-15), what would be your request be? For some maybe you would ask for a larger bank account, for ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:1-12, Mark 9:24, Romans 8:14, Luke 12:12

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom Day

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 5, 2023

All our days were given by God and belong to God; but on the Sabbath day he gives us freedom as well.

Leah didn’t know why she kept coming to the synagogue. She counted the days up in her head... every seven days for eighteen years, it had to be at least 400 times, she thought. At first people were sorry for her, and someone would take her arm to help her up the steps to section reserved for the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed