Sermons on Preparation To Serve:

You're Fired

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 30, 2008

Pentecost: When the Holy Spirit comes, He fires us from past traditions, old exclusivism, and tepid temperatures,and gives us passion for the future.

If you have ever suddenly and unwillingly joined the ranks of the unemployed, how did that feel? When you got that pink slip, what was that like? Oh, you jumped up and down and shouted, "Oh, goody, I don’t have to get up early tomorrow morning! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord, I’ve always ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Well Witnessing, Part 1: The Pattern Of People Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Jan 3, 2009

People are different in so many ways, but in many ways, they are also the same. But no matter how similar or different people are, they all share the same core problem with the need for the same solution.

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com The fourth chapter of John is a very familiar event to us. Most of us are very familiar with the woman at the well. So we should just be able to fly right past it, right? Wrong—because, like every other event in this book, this one is rich. It is full of ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

Resolving To Know Christ

Contributed by Ned Bartlebaugh on Jan 4, 2009

This New Year resolve to know Jesus Christ personally, intimately and experientially.

“Resolving to Know Christ” INTRODUCTION Good morning and Happy New Year. This is a time of year when we anticipate what the next year will bring. We have traditions of celebrating the previous year with family and friends. We also have traditions of setting expectations and hopes for the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-16

Denomination: Baptist

When Life Doesn't Make Sense Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jan 5, 2009

First of a a series from Ecclesiastes. This is an introduction to the book.

Several years ago, Donald Miller wrote a popular book titled Blue Like Jazz. I haven’t read the book, but I was intrigued by the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book: I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn’t resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Time For A New Thing

Contributed by Randy Hamel on Jan 5, 2009

Message looks at Ezekiel 36:24-32. God moved and brought the people back to the land and to Himself spiritually. God is calling us today to renewal. Are we ready to heed the call?

I am really excited and trusting God for great things in 2009. When we ask the Lord in faith to build an area wide church reaching hundreds for Jesus that is only something He can do. It is rooted in scripture because lost people matter to God. That is why in Acts 1:8 Jesus last words were “Acts ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:24-32

God's Power To Change Your Life Series

Contributed by Stephen Collins on Jan 6, 2009

Part 12 of "Being the Church," focusing on the reasons why we don’t experience more of God’s power in our daily lives, and how God overcomes them when we allow Him.

Stephen N. Collins Millville – 8/31/08 Being the Church God’s Power to Change Your Life Scripture: Acts 19:8-20 Icebreaker: I was browsing in a souvenir shop when the man next to me struck up a conversation. Just as he was telling me that his wife was getting carried away with her shopping, a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:8-20

Denomination: Church Of God

With A Little Help From My Friends Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Jan 8, 2009

This continues my expository series through the book of Acts.

I. Traveling :18-21 From Corinth to Ephesus and Beyond :18 – After Gallio’s favorable decision, Paul stayed on in Corinth awhile longer, teaching and preaching freely and without fear. God had affirmed his ministry and the fact that he’d be protected by the hand of God. Then, taking with him ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:18-26

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Ruckus In Ephesus Series

Contributed by Byron Harvey on Jan 8, 2009

This continues in my expository series through the book of Acts.

Christians, and perhaps particularly evangelicals in particular, are undergoing what seems to me to be a bit of an identity crisis. What word fits us? o “Christian” – Unfortunately, that’s a loose term, a bit of a “catch-all” which is used to encompass anyone professing allegiance to Christ, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Making Good Decisions (And Getting Over Bad Ones) Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Jan 9, 2009

Five practical precepts for making good choices based on Esther chapter two.

Some of my favorite reads online are the stories of dumb criminals. Last week a masked man actually stood in line to rob a bank! Police in Stow, Ohio, near Akron, say 24-year-old Feliks Goldshtein of Highland Heights was arrested minutes after his mask-wearing episode on Thursday, following a ...read more

Scripture: Esther 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Or Disciple 1

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Jan 11, 2009

Does being a Christian automatically make you a disciple? Can you be one without being the other?

Throughout the gospel accounts we read about a couple of different groups of people interacting with Jesus. Sometimes it talks about those in the crowd and other times it talks about Jesus’ disciples. When you think disciples what are you first thoughts? Do you think of someone with a circle of ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Denomination: Wesleyan

Time-Lies Series

Contributed by David Flowers on Jan 11, 2009

Fifth and final in series Slowing Down. This message looks at the illusions and distortions we hold regarding the use of our time and how they keep us from being available.

Time-lies Slowing Down, part 5 Wildwind Community Church David Flowers November 8, 2008 Today we’re in the last message in our series called Slowing Down. Last week I gave you five specific ways you can slow down your life. Today I want to talk to you not about your schedule but about your ...read more

Scripture: John 3:20-21

Denomination: Free Methodist

If It's Light, Let It Lead Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 18, 2009

MLK Sunday: to work in the darkness, we need light, lots of it, but it may show us things we don’t want to know. The Bible is light for life; the church makes us see its truth in ways that claim us; and Christ leads us to a healthy integrity

If you are going to work in the darkness you need light. There is only so much you can do by feeling your way. You need light and lots of it. Last Wednesday night as my wife and I left Montgomery Hills Church, I noticed some poor soul in the driveway of the house next door. He had the hood of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

I-Give Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 18, 2009

The early church sold their lands to help the poor and needy amongst them. Were they setting the pattern for a communist commune? Were they socialists? Or was there something more basic going on here?

OPEN: The past two weeks we’ve been talking about iPods. Ever since Apple Computers began marketing these miniature music machines in 2001 they’ve been a popular item with both adults and kids alike. iPods have been marketed in various shapes and sizes and colors, and there are all kinds of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:15-37

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Kingdom Call

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jan 19, 2009

An introduction to the Kingdom parables of Matthew 13.

Walking in the Reign: A Study of the Kingdom of God Introduction – January 18, 2008 Introduction: Begin a new series on the Kingdom of God, called Walking in the Reign The kingdom is a dominant theme in the Bible from the Old Testament through Jesus’ preaching and in to the rest of the NT OT – ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:10-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Take A Load Off

Contributed by Jordon Leblanc on Oct 17, 2008

Learning to know God so intimately that we can trust Him completely and rest in Him fully.

Not many of you have had a chance to visit our apartment since we moved in, but if you have, you’ve probably been in our spare bedroom. Right now, it’s a haven for our foster cats. We have 9 foster cats right now, including 7 8-week old kittens. In that bedroom, we also have a single bed so we can ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Wesleyan