Sermons on Pushing And Pulling:

Avoiding Spiritual Amnesia Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 27, 2004

Knowing the Bible helps us remember how to navigate through life issues, how to interpret what is happening in our lives, and how to find hope in bleak times.

At the very end of the longest chapter of the Bible, 176 verses about God’s word, comes this stout declaration, “I do not forget your commandments.” “I do not forget your commandments.” That is a tall order, to promise that you will not forget. How can you promise that you will not forget? ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:167-176

Denomination: Baptist

But Nails Hurt! Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

Nails were distributed to the congregation, so that they could test: if you wish to endure, you have to endure some pounding. Holes may be punched in you, too. But if you persist, ultimately you will be built up.

If you really want to grow, it’s going to cost you. If you truly expect to be built up, there will be some pain involved. No growth ever takes place without pain. That’s a law of life. That’s not negotiable. No pain, no gain. No hurt, no growth. No rough edges, no building up. If you truly ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Church Growth - How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days Series

Contributed by Ken Kersten on Jun 3, 2003

The title of this message is “How to lose a guy in ten days". Unfortunately, most churches usually lose them in about 10 minutes. Let’s explore why that happens.

How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days Matthew 28:18-20 True story – Football team getting killed – guy fumbles and it rolls over by a teammate. The guy that fumbles yells, “pick it up” to which his teammate responds, “You pick it up. You dropped it.” Well, I’ll tell you what, God is looking for some ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 122:1

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Bless Us With Victory

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Aug 1, 2005

We need victory over the troubles of this life.

INTRO.- ILL.- Someone said, "Life is unfair. I lost my car keys at a ball game and never found them. I lost my sunglasses at the beach and never found them. I lost my socks in the washing machine and never found them. I lost three pounds on a diet -- I found them and five more." Life does ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Values For Christian Excellence In 2005

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Aug 2, 2005

Many who come into a local church think it looks more like a porcupine ball than a tightly knit family.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Pentecostal

Show Me

Contributed by Tim Zukas on Apr 2, 2005

Doubting Thomas (Judas Thomas) and dealing with doubt

A defendant was on trial for murder in Oklahoma. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Is No Substitute

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 8, 2004

Mothers’ Day sermon: We need the structure of the home, for there is no substitute for moral living, which means there is no substitute for authentic religious teaching, which in turn means there is no substitute for responsible parenting.

Lord, help the poor soul who serves as a substitute teacher. When I was a schoolboy and our teacher had to be away, we plotted what we were going to do to that substitute. There was something about the idea that we would have her for only one or two days and would likely never see her again. ...read more

Scripture: Judges 17:1-13, Judges 17:11

Denomination: Baptist

Why Cling To A Beggar's Cloak?

Contributed by Marilyn Murphree on Apr 10, 2007

What keeps us from responding to Jesus when we have the opportunity? What beggar’s cloak are you unwilling to let go of?

April, 2007 Why Cling to a Beggar’s Cloak? “Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.” Mark 10:50 NIV INTRODUCTION: The story of Bartimaeus tells of a man who had been blind for many years--perhaps all of his life. He wore the official beggar’s garment, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:50

Denomination: Methodist

Without Excuse Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Apr 13, 2007

This sermon answers some of the excuses that we make in our failure to acknowledge, seek and worship the true and living God.

Scripture Recently, I read the following announcement that presumably appeared in a church bulletin: To make it possible for everyone to attend church next Sunday, we are going to have a special “No Excuse Sunday.” Beds will be placed in the foyer for those who say, “Sunday is my only day to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Choose Life!

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 21, 2007

In response to Virginia Tech: we have choices -- to choose to live in the here and now; to choose to give life to our children by contradicting this violent culture; and to choose life eternal for ourselves.

“I had no choice.” Of all the things we heard this past week from the deeply disturbed mind of Cho Seung Hui, that stands out for me as key: “I had no choice.” Cho Seung Hui felt trapped and cornered. He felt driven to do this terrible thing. In his mind, every victim was to blame – they were ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Blessing In Poverty Series

Contributed by Chip Monck on Feb 26, 2008

As we continue our series on the Sermon on the Mount, we dive into the descriptions of a Christian’s character as defined by Christ in the Beatitudes. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

For the next three weeks we are back to our in depth study and look at the Sermon on the Mount. If you have accepted the challenge to do some scripture memory as a part of this journey together, then you would be up to Matthew 5, verse 3. And depending on your translation, you will have memorized ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Denomination: Wesleyan

We Have, They Need: Formula For Life Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 28, 2002

First of a series based on the Johannine letters: our response to overwhelming need is first of all a discovery of who we are; then a commitment to maximum effort; and finally a discovery of where our passion lies. This will energize us.

I invite you today on an imaginary trip. Let’s walk through just one day in a needy world. Just imagine a few hours in a world that asks us for more than we can possibly give: You are awakened early by the phone’s insistent ringing; you hear the voice of a member of your family. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:11-18, 1 John 3:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Hooker Mom

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Dec 9, 2002

A look at the Prostitutes who came to Solomon to decide the fate of their child

She was just a hooker, a lady of the night. And normally we wouldn’t even consider her to be in the running for “Mother of the Year” but then again, it’s not wife of the year we are looking at, it’s mother of the year and the two aren’t always the same. Maybe you know the story, maybe you don’t. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:16-28

Denomination: Wesleyan

Outside Of Ourselves Series

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Jan 24, 2007

Christianity is rooted in moving outside of ourselves – to the oppressed and the powerless. If we are going to go where God desires we will need to move outside of ourselves and move into the lives of others. In chapter 2, James provides two illustrations

Outside Of Ourselves James 1:26-2:26 Caring for unwanted children, building hospitals and schools, providing financial assistance to needy families, providing food for the hungry and homes for the homeless, advancing literacy, caring for widows, championing the abolition of slavery, advocating the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Didn't God Answer My Prayer Series

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Apr 30, 2007

3 of 4 on tough questions. This message deals with prayer and why God sometimes does not hear us.

Tough Questions � Real Answers Why Didn’t God Answer My Prayer? April 29, 2007 A pastor named David Asch often went to the library to study. On a recent trip he saw a car with a bumper sticker was parked in the first space, so it was unmistakable � you saw it the moment you pulled into the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ