Sermons on Poverty:

As We Come, So We Leave

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 30, 2016

Exploring the purpose of wealth through reviewing Solomon's dark book.

“There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

What's Fair About That?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 1, 2018

God's overwhelming generosity is difficult to comprehend, though every Christian has experienced that generosity. We must avoid attempting to cast God in our image, learning instead of the extravagant grace with which He showers each of us.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Deacons? Who Needs Them:

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 14, 2013

Discovering the process for appointing deacons through reviewing the account of the appointment of the seven in the first congregation.

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Where Should We Spend The Tithe?

Contributed by Catharine Rhodes on Mar 10, 2023

Tithing and charity are cornerstones of our faith…but are we helping the right people?

Money and Tithing (Roughly 30 mins) Outline Challenge: we ask people to give money to the church arbitrarily Solution: consider the tithe a payment for good works Projection: if we are doing the work and reporting honestly, we will be supported. “Give money to the church”…why? What work ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32, Leviticus 27:30-34, Deuteronomy 14:28-29

Denomination: Methodist

The Friend Of God - James 2:20-24 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 6, 2021

We are often told to trust God. But this passage makes trust seem more desirable by casting it in the context of friendship. This message defines friendship and explores what it means to have that with God.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical ...read more

Scripture: James 2:20-24

Moving Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 10, 2019

The child of God is encouraged to seek His presence and His power so that they can excel in life. We must never permit ourselves to live at less than our best to the praise of His glory.

“The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, and Penuel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Stress Points In The Hands Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Oct 9, 2022

Jesus didn't come to just solve our stress points. Jesus came to transform our lives. Jesus came to do something much deeper in our lives. He came to do something for our souls.

We're going to study over the next several weeks Jesus. Now really, every week we study Jesus because you can find Jesus on the page of every chapter of the Bible. But in particular, we're going to look at Jesus through the eyes of John as he wrote the gospel of John. We're going ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Character And Commitment Series

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Jun 6, 2003

This is an adaptation of a book by John Maxwell on Leadership.

I. Two weeks ago I talked about the need for leaders, and the need for us all to get involved doing what it is that God has gifted us to do, to see that this church becomes what God wants it to be, and has the impact on this community that God intends it to have. A. It would be unfair to ask you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:62, Matthew 20:25-28

Denomination: Baptist

Praying At Midnight

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Jun 10, 2003

We must pray as those who are desperate for bread.

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed to call someone for help in the middle of the night, at a time when you knew they would be fast asleep in bed? Perhaps a medical emergency of some kind – your wife is going into labor, or your husband is having chest pains and you need to drive ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-13

Denomination: Baptist

Universality Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 11, 2003

Thanks to Constantine’s move, the church gradually began to think of its universality as power rather than as an evangelical mandate. Christ is to be lord of our political life, our cultural life, our everyday life -- every aspect.

Christ is lord of all! What a bold statement! Maybe even an arrogant statement! Lord of all? Do we believe that? It was said of one preacher that “for tender minds he served up half a Christ.” Behind that lie two realities – first, that many of us don’t want the full gospel, we’d rather just ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 1:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Canadian Idols

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Jun 16, 2003

Canadian Idol looks at different idols we worshipping using the television program as the theme.

You may think that the show Canadian Idol had it’s roots in the hit American Idol which debuted last summer on the Fox Network in the US. The truth however is that like many American television shows the concept was first seen in the UK. In this case it was a wildly popular British Program called ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:6-14

Denomination: Wesleyan

I Believe In Pontius Pilate Series

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 13, 2003

1. Jesus Christ humbled himself. 2. Jesus Christ surrendered himself. 3. Jesus Christ gave himself to save us.

The Apostle’s Creed, which we are studying, is a creed of contrasts. Listen to the stark opposites to which we profess faith: “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.” From that great pronouncement of Christ’s uniqueness, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-27

Denomination: Methodist

Yearning To Breathe Free

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 14, 2003

We yearn to be free. In Christ we can be transformed from a slave mentality, we can become agents of liberation, and we can come forth from self-imposed bondages. For Transfiguration Sunday and for Black History Month; uses poems (not replicated here)

The plan of God is that all should be free. All free. Free from the things that keep us from what God intends us to be. Free from oppression, free from hostility. Most of all, free from sin and death. That is the ultimate plan of God. We who have yearned to breathe free have not been ...read more

Scripture: John 11:38-44, Ecclesiastes 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

The Giver And The Gifts Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Mar 15, 2004

I take a look at the gifts that were given to construct the temple.

There was a sense of excitement in the air. For hundreds of years the people of Israel had worshipped their God in a tent. But that was going to change, they were at the beginning of a process that would culminate in a house of worship that would be known throughout the world and throughout ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:10-17

Denomination: Wesleyan

Place Your Life Before God

Contributed by Jay Mcphearson on Mar 19, 2004

You can’t commit unless you surrender

A little over 9 years ago, I met Amanda. Her friends set us up. We were talking about when we first met, there was a swing in front of my dorm on the campus of Ozark Christian College. She said that she sat right in the middle so that she could tell if I liked her or not. I asked her to go ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ