Sermons on Raise The Bar:

Amos: God’s Prophet

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 10, 2023

Just two years before the earthquake, God raised a prophet. He was a layman, a sheep breeder who had been reared with a divine message from God. The prophet suddenly came on the scene. He was from Judah, but his prophecies mostly concern Israel.

The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. Amos 1:1 Just two years before the earthquake, God raised a prophet. He ...read more

Scripture: Amos 1:2

Don’t Forget!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 11, 2023

God raised up Moses to lead his people to freedom, to make a distinct nation of them, giving them His commands & laws to guide them. Many of these laws & commands dealt with the functioning of a family. And I want to highlight a few of them.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK TEXT: Deuteronomy 4:9-10, 20; 5:15-19; 6:5,10-12; 11:2,18-21; Judges 2:10; Joshua ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:9-20, Deuteronomy 5:15-19, Deuteronomy 6:5-12, Deuteronomy 11:2-21, Judges 2:10, Joshua 24:14-18, 1 John 2:16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Meaning Of Jesus' Resurrection Series

Contributed by William Baeta on Feb 12, 2025

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20 ESV)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith and without the resurrection there can be no Christianity. It is significant because when Jesus rose from the dead, He proved that He was exactly who He claimed to be, the Son of God, and had accomplished what He came to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

No Doubt Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 3, 2021

The famous opponent of Christianity - Voltaire - actually believed the dead could be raised. He believed in a famous scientist of the day who maintained he had done just that. Voltaire rejected Jesus and His real resurrection and embraced a scientist and his false claim.

Back in 1694, a man named Voltaire was born in Paris France. Voltaire was a famous writer, philosopher and intellectual of the day, but he was best known for was his hatred of the church of his day. He devoted himself to attacking and ridiculing Christianity at every opportunity, and he was a ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Any Day Now Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Mar 6, 2022

Both Peter and Paul raise the same question: what should we be doing when … not ‘if’ but ‘when’ … the Lord appears? How do you want Him to find you? Vigilant? Full of hope and expectation? Prepared? Ready to greet Him? Or scoffing? Asleep?

[Hold up cell phone.] Yep … we talked a little bit about this handy device last week. More accurately, we talked about one of the apps … the GPS. But there is another little handy app that I use all the time to help me plan my day … The Weather Channel’s Ten Day Weather app which, as the name ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 16:1-3, Matthew 24:29-31, 2 Peter 3:3-4, 2 Peter 3:8-12, Psalm 139:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

"is There No Balm Or Leadership In Gilead?"

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Hulse on Mar 15, 2024

"Israel's failure to listen to God's prophet despite repeated warnings, symbolized by the balm of Gilead, raises the question of whether the current church leadership also lacks the necessary foresight and willingness to repent. Are they repeating the same mistakes?"

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES (Jeremiah 8:20-22) "[20] The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." [21] "For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:20-22, Jeremiah 46:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Lord Our Righteousness Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jul 17, 2022

The name of the king, Zedekiah means the righteousness of Jehovah. Jeremiah predicted he would be cut off and a branch would be raised up called, Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord is our righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:6). Jeremiah was the true prophet and proved to be right on both accounts.

There is a famous quote of Abraham Lincoln when some said to Lincoln, I hope that the Lord is on our side. Lincoln replied, that does not concern me, whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side Lincolns reply gives us an insightful perspective of the contrast between ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:6

Denomination: Baptist

David - God's Sovereign Choice (1 Samuel 16:1-13)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Jul 4, 2024

David, an anonymous shepherd boy living in the hills of Judea, was the person whom God would raise up to be Israel's greatest king, the author of numerous psalms, and be referred to as "a man after God's own heart".

Three thousand years ago, the LORD God chose a young man by the name of David to be the king of Israel. Out of all the sons of Jesse, God's favor came to rest on David. He was the youngest son of Jesse, a poor farmer from the tiny hamlet of Bethlehem. David, on the surface, was a nobody ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Matthew 1:1, Acts 13:22, Hebrews 11:32

Denomination: Baptist

A Sermon To Die For Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 28, 2025

Eutychus fell asleep during church... and he woke up dead. Why was Eutychus at church that night, and what can we learn from his experience?

Someone once noted that falling asleep has often had unforeseen consequences. Adam fell asleep and woke up married and missing a rib! Samson fell asleep and woke up bald and beaten! Jonah fell asleep in the boat and woke up wet! Eutychus fell asleep and he woke up dead! Like Eutychus, people ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:6-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Serve One Another Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on Mar 18, 2003

If we want to be truly great, we must be sincere servants. Let’s focus on serving one another as we anticipate what God will do in the next 35 years at PBC!

Serve One Another This Tuesday marks the 35th anniversary of Pontiac Bible Church! As we celebrate three and a half decades of servanthood, I’d like to read from an early church document entitled, “Progress Report.” “The desire to see the Word of God presented as a positive solution to the needs ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:25-28

Denomination: Baptist

What's Love Got To Do With It? Series

Contributed by Tim Diack on Jul 9, 2013

Love is meant to be the defining characteristic of the Christian. What’s that look like in the context of your life?

What’s Love Got To Do With It? - 1 John 2:7-11 - June 30, 2013 Series: That We May Know – Life With Jesus - #6 I’ll invite you to open your Bibles with me this morning to the book of 1 John as we continue in our series entitled, “That We May Know – Life With ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:7-11

Denomination: *other

How To Be Humbled And Exalted

Contributed by David Cramer on Sep 1, 2019

How to be humbled and grow in the Lord

How to be Humbled and Exalted Stand and lift up your bible and repeat after me. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I can do what it says I can do. I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be. Today I will learn more of the word of God. The indestructible, never ending, living word ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus' Bff Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 26, 2020

Jesus showed up 4 days late for Lazarus' funeral. Why? And what can that mean to us as Christians?

Social Media (texting/twitter/etc.) has created a whole new set of terms. These terms are called “acronyms”, and they’re basically abbreviations of common phrases. For example “LOL” means (wait for the audience to respond) – that’s right “Laugh Out Loud.” LOL is simply shorthand for a term that ...read more

Scripture: John 11:32-53, John 12:1, John 12:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Pioneering Spirit

Contributed by Donna Kazenske on Jun 24, 2003

While meditating about the faith and works of some of God’s pioneers from previous generations, I began to petition the Lord to raise up more true pioneers; men and women of God who are not willing to take “no” for an answer; men and women of God who are

By: Donna J. Kazenske While meditating about the faith and works of some of God’s pioneers from previous generations, I began to petition the Lord to raise up more true pioneers; men and women of God who are not willing to take “no” for an answer; men and women of God who are willing to go the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:22-23, John 10:35-37

Denomination: *other

Funeral: Hope Secured By Knowledge And Faith

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Feb 14, 2007

This message is based on the story of Jesus raising Jarius’ daughter. Several illustrations are from Ron Mehl’s book Surprise Endings and one from Max Lucado. Death does not care about race, gender or age.... but we have the sure promises of Jesus, guar

In Jesus Holy Name September 21, 2005 Text: Luke 8:41-42 Funeral Redeemer “Hope, Secured by Knowledge and Faith” There is a story in the Bible about a name named Jairus. He was the ruler of a local Jewish synagogue. His daughter, age 12 was gravely ill. She was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:41-42

Denomination: Lutheran