Sermons on Press Forward:

The Crescent, The Star & The Cross Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 12, 2009

Paul contrasts two sons, two mothers, two covenants and two Jerusalem’s between Legalism and faith.

As Israeli tanks are advancing on Gaza and Hamas militants continue to fire rockets at Israel, both sides continue to ignore international calls to stop the conflict. Israel has even warned it would escalate its assault. Since the present Israeli military advance on Gaza, the Palestinian death ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:21-31

Denomination: Other

Know The Word Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 16, 2016

1) The Confidence that Faith Furnishes (1 John 5:13), 2) The Prayer that Faith Enables (1 John 5:14-17), 3) The Understanding that Faith Grants (1 John 5:18-21)

Life in this fallen world is filled with uncertainty, with few guarantees and little that can be depended on. Jobs vanish as companies downsize and outsource. The volatility of the stock market, the fluctuations of the economy, and increasing taxes create further uncertainty. Relationships come and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-21

Denomination: Other

"Christian Perfection"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Oct 5, 2002

Is there such a thing?

Philippians 3:4-14 "Christian Perfection" By: Rev. Kenneth Sauer, Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA Michelangelo was once putting what appeared to be the finishing touches on a sculpture when a friend dropped by for a visit. Days later, the friend dropped by again and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: United Methodist

There's Rest At The Rock

Contributed by Jerome Cade on May 24, 2005

When your heart is overwhemled God will lead you to the Rock that’s higher than yourself. Jesus is bidding that you come and receive what He has to offer at the Rock.

There’s a gospel song that’s being played over the airwaves; it says, "…when my heart is overwhelmed... lead me to the rock, lead me to the rock that’s higher than I." What an awesome song! We are all overwhemled during various stages of our lives and God has a place he wants to lead us to; ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 62:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Call Of The Father Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 19, 2017

God shows the loving Call of the Father in declaring His actions in 1) The Past (Hosea 11:1-4), 2) Present (Hosea 11:5-7) and 3)Future (Hosea 11:8-11) dealings with His children.

If you spend time around groups of kids, be it in sports, music, social or other setting, you will quickly notice some interesting interactions. One that I have seen repeated time and time again revolves around how parents treat their own children when other children are around. If they are in a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 11:1-9

Denomination: Other

The Good Employer Series

Contributed by Kevin Brady on Sep 13, 2021

The owner of a vinyard pays all of his workers the same amount. How can this be fair? The motivations of the employer are explored within the cultural context of the first century.

The Good Employer (Matt. 20:1-16) Harvest time. The morning sun burned just below the hillside and backlit the ancient vines rising up from the even more ancient earth. The ground was parched and packed. Only the grapes held the promise of moisture, the pulp near bursting through their skins. A ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

I Was Made To Be Up There

Contributed by Pastor Dempsey Daniels on Dec 31, 2002

Made For The High Places

“Made For The High Places’ Philippians 3:12-14 Introduction : A Danish philosopher gave a powerful lesson in a story concerning wild geese. He tells us that the geese came and went with the seasons as their ancestors had done for centuries. One day some of the geese, on their annual trip, landed ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

Gethsemane

Contributed by Randy Croft on Dec 21, 2009

Reflections on Gethsemane

When have you been closest to death? ILLUS: I seem to come close every time I play softball with (name of parishioner)...especially when I’m on Third base and he lines a sharp foul ball...or playing paintball-- I remind everyone that I’m a noncombatant, but that doesn’t work either... ILLUS: I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Place Of Favor With God (Exodus 33:1-17) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Feb 14, 2023

After the golden calf, the future between God and Israel is murky, and unsettled. Into that, enter Moses, a man who has God's favor, and who God knows by name, and who has a close relationship with God.

Today, I want to read through three separate, but related, episodes in Exodus. Each of these three, by themselves, would make a great devotional, or sermon. There's something in each of them that is worth stopping, and just thinking about. But when we combine them, like I think we are ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:1-17, Luke 2:52

The Right Attitude Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 16, 2007

In a closing litany of exhortations the apostle leads his readers to consider essential Christian attitudes of: 1) submission, 2) humility, 3) trust, 4) self-control, 5) vigilance, 6) fortitude, 7) hope, 8) worship, 9) faithfulness, & 10)Love

Ralph Waldo Emerson said: ‘A man is what he thinks about all day long.’ How could he possibly be anything else?” Why? An old maxim states: “Thoughts produce acts, acts produce habits, and habits produce character.” The Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius said, “Our life is what our thoughts make ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-14

Denomination: Other

I Am The Light Of The World Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 17, 2016

1) The Area in which the conflict took place (John 8:20), 2) The Lord’s Assertion (John 8:12), 3) The Leaders’ Accusation (John 8:13), 4) The Lord’s Answer to that accusation (John 8:14–19), and 5) His Announcement of their impending judgment (John 8:21).

Just in time for winter, Hydro One said it is working to reconnect power for hundreds of customers who are in the dark, because they had their electricity cut off due to unpaid bills. The power provider says it is reaching out to roughly 1,400 residential customers who failed to pay their bills in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12-21

Denomination: Other

Jonah’s Journey Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 18, 2016

1) Jonah’s Commission (Jonah 3:1–4) 2) Nineveh’s Confession (Jonah 3:5–9) and 3) God’s Compassion (Jonah 3:10)

If you are a fan of classic comedies, you are probably a fan of the classic: “Ground-hog Day”. In this 1993 comedy, “a weather man (played by Bill Murray) is reluctantly sent to cover a story about a weather forecasting "rat" (as he calls it). This is his fourth year on the story, and he ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10

Denomination: Other

The Blame Game Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Nov 6, 2017

A study of the book of Acts 5: 12 – 6: 7

Acts 5: 12 – 6: 7 The blame game 12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added ...read more

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Be Intentional #6-How To Have An Effective Prayer Life (Pt. 1) Series

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 22, 2003

First in a two-part series on prayer.

Be Intentional #6 - How to Have an Effective Prayer Life (Part 1) Philippians 4:6-7 February 23, 2002 Introduction Today we are beginning a 2-part series on prayer. I assume that all of you understand that prayer is extremely important. But too often we don’t really think on why it’s so ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Wesleyan

Don't Compromise Your Prayer Time Series

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Jul 17, 2002

Part of a series on Daniel 1-6 called compromise. Sermon deals with prayerlessness.

[Note: This sermon was adapted from a chapter in John R. Rice’s book, Prayer: Asking and Receiving. I don’t agree with everything in the book, but I liked much of what he had to say in his chapter on prayerlessness.] Daniel 6 In this chapter we find one of the most famous Old Testament ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-10

Denomination: Baptist