Sermons on Probing:

Sick Religion And Healed Hearts

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 29, 2003

Religion is sick when it is system-only, salvation-only, or self-only. Christ gives us instead a relationship with Himself, a model of life, and an embracing compassion.

Religion is either one of life’s greatest blessings, or it is one of the sickest things we do. Religion can be wonderful. I assume that because you are in church today you agree with that. Religion can be fulfilling, it can be instructive, it can be inspiring. Religion has driven so much of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Jeremiah 7:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Made To Serve God Series

Contributed by Brian Moon on Mar 14, 2003

Part 5 of this series that is looking into the purpose’s of life and how to live them out. This message shows how we were made to serve God.

Living a Purpose Driven Life part 5 (Made to Serve God) Brian A. Moon (Based on the book Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren) Welcome to week number 5 of the 40 Days of Purpose! We have been taking an in depth look at why on earth am I here, or what is the purpose of life. We discovered that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10, Job 10:8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When We Don't Know What To Pray Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Aug 12, 2007

You’re not alone when you’re in the ’groan zone.’

When We Don’t Know What to Pray Romans 8:26-27 Rev. Brian Bill 8/12/07 www.pontiacbible.org On August 1st, a terrible tragedy brought strangers together to pray. I’m reading from the StarTribune.com out of Minneapolis-St. Paul (8/6/07): “Lori Peterson, jogging on the path on West River Parkway, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-27

Denomination: Baptist

No Creed But Christ Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 15, 2007

What does it mean to have "no creed but Christ?"

OPEN: Years ago I supply preached for a small country church that had about 35 in attendance. They weren’t part of our brotherhood, but they liked me and asked me to consider becoming their preacher. At the time I was candidating for another church, but that church hadn’t yet made up their minds to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Building A Dream Team Series

Contributed by Rick Duncan on Sep 24, 2002

When rebuilding something that’s broken in your life or ministry, you’ll need help from others. This message pulls out principles from Nehemiah’s life that can help us learn to build a team and motivate others.

I’ve asked you in recent weeks to think about what’s broken in your sphere of influence. It could be a relationship with a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend. It could be that something is broken in your career or ministry. Identifying the broken places helps us see what job God wants us to do ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:9-20

Denomination: Baptist

You Were Made For A Mission

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Nov 17, 2002

The fifth purpose for our lives is to share the gospel.

(Note: The title and some of the ideas for this message came from the Rick Warren sermon of the same name.) Today we turn to the fifth and final purpose for our lives, which is to carry out our mission in the world. Now, as we saw last week, we each have a ministry to other believers, to those in ...read more

Scripture: John 20:21

Denomination: Baptist

Parables Of The Father's Love Series

Contributed by John Hamby on Dec 10, 2002

Jesus tells three parables illustrating what it means to be lost, heaven¡¦s joy when the lost are found and how the loving Father looks to save people.

A Study of the Book of Luke Sermon # 41 ¡§Parables of the Father¡¦s Love¡¨ Luke 15:1-32 As we open our study of Chapter fifteen, the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling again. ¡§Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

A Supplicating Supplicant Suffers Shame Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Jun 3, 2007

He came running to Jesus, fell at the Master’s feet, and professed great spiritual hunger. When asked about his lateral dealings with his fellow man, he assured Jesus he was spotless and holy regarding these issues of his life.

MARK 10:17-22 A SUPPLICATING SUPPLICANT SUFFERS SHAME I. THE SUPPLICANT: * MARK 10:17, 20 A. Show. Mark 10:17 B. Sincere. Mark 10:20 C. Successful. Mark 10:20 II. THE SAVIOUR: ** MARK 10:18, 19, 21 A. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22

Denomination: Methodist

The Wise And The Otherwise (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Nov 23, 2005

In today’s text we have what some have called "God’s Wisdom Test." This is a kind of personal exam by which you can see how wise or otherwise you really are in all your relationships. James lists 6 distinguishing marks of wise person.

Scripture Robert Fulghum wrote a book titled "All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." Listen to what he wrote: Most of what I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, ...read more

Scripture: James 3:17-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Defender Of The Weak

Contributed by Timothy Cooley, Sr. on Dec 9, 2005

The Woman taken in Adultery: Jesus is the Defender of the Weak, the Healer of the Bruised, and the Mender of the Broken.

The Feast of Tabernacles was a grand celebration. Food! Reunions! Parties! According as the Lord had commanded, families constructed special temporary shelters and camped out in them — to remind them of the travels of their forefathers through the Wilderness. Along with the great feasting came ...read more

Scripture: John 8:2-11, Exodus 15:2

Denomination: Holiness

Rollercoaster Depression Series

Contributed by Steve Akins on Oct 5, 2006

“Depression is a state of existence marked by a sense of being pressed down, weighed down, or burdened, which affects a person physically, mentally, spiritually, and relationally. In other words, depression is not a state of mind but a state of being.”

Definition: “Depression is a state of existence marked by a sense of being pressed down, weighed down, or burdened, which affects a person physically, mentally, spiritually, and relationally. In other words, depression is not a state of mind but a state of being.” According to Psychiatrists Frank ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Baptist And Baptism

Contributed by Larry Breeden on Oct 26, 2006

An understanding of scriptural, historical and traditional Baptism.

Baptist and Baptism Matt 28:18-20 INTRO: *mud hole baptism After the great rainstorm the other night. A There was a good size hole of water in the back yard of two little boys. A 5yr old and yes younger brother was back there playing in the water. Mom looking out the kitchen window, when the older ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

Jonah - A Case Study In Anger And Suicide

Contributed by Bruce Morrison on Oct 27, 2003

The Book of Jonah is the story of a man whose greatest struggles were not with a big fish or a pagan city - they were battles within his own heart.

We are first introduced to Jonah the prophet in the Book of Second Kings. "In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-3, 2 Kings 14:23-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The One And Only God Series

Contributed by Dan Jackson on Jul 9, 2005

The first commandment is not a hand-wringing tactic of a vulnerable deity. It is an invitation from the one, unique God of the universe to enter into relationship with Him.

“THE ONE AND ONLY GOD ” (Exodus 20:3) Someone wrote with biting sarcasm: I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of him to make me love a black man ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:3

How Shrewd Are We?

Contributed by Jeeva Sam on Sep 24, 2001

Jesus calls his disciples to be shrewd

HOW SHREWD ARE WE? Congregational Participation Question: How would you define the word “shrewd”? Can you think of something that you or someone else did that would qualify to be called “shrewd?” Here are some definitions from the dictionaries: Cambridge: possessing or based on clear ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-8

Denomination: Methodist