Sermons on Rational Development:

Facing Life's Problems Together Series

Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Nov 17, 2004

You don’t find this kind of closeness and support in every church today -- but in the early church, everyone was serious about doing life together, no matter what. How can we develop that in our church? *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

*NOTE: I am indebted to Rick Warren for the outline containing the "Fortify Your Faith" , etc. in this sermon. Please see "The Purpose Driven Church" (Zondervan, 1995) for more info. Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Holiness

What's So Great About Gratefulness?

Contributed by Don Jaques on Dec 1, 2005

When we choose to give thanks to God in all circumstances, we reap the benefits of God’s blessings. The hearer will understand WHY he/she should give thanks to God and be motivated to develop the discipline of grateful living.

INTRO In “The Hiding Place”, Dutch woman Corrie ten Boom wrote of her family’s experience undergoing the trial of concentration camps under the Third Reich in World War II. Though not Jews themselves, she, her father, and her sister, Betsie, were sent to a series of prison camps for harboring Jews ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tested By Fire Series

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Jan 8, 2011

When a Christian is born again receives spiritual nourishment on the Word of God. As a baby is first fed with milk and latter in life as the baby grows starts eating solid food. Paul is telling the Christians of Corinth that their normal development stopp

Today we continue studying the book of 1st Corinthians Last week we read that the Church of Corinth was struggling with a problem of division. People where tearing the congregation apart by choosing factions. Chapter one addresses this issue. Chapter 2 talks about the importance of the preaching ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Questions Of Homosexual Desire Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 11, 2009

As the homosexual movement has developed a strong political voice, the response from traditional conservatives has become equally impassioned. A deep animosity has grown between portions of the homosexual community and many who represent a Christian unde

I want to address a topic that is as difficult as any topic we could address today…. that of sexual identity and homosexuality. It’s a subject that has become the most politically and personally polarized as any in our lifetimes. As the homosexual movement has developed a strong political voice, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27-28

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fellowship: The Power Of Friendship Series

Contributed by Andy Payne on Oct 13, 2010

As believers we need to fight the urge to become insular and ward by only relating to our own kind – other believers. We need to be outward focused – developing a concern for those who are disconnected from the Father

Fellowship 1 John 1:3 Fellowship with other believers Fellowship with (or communion with) God the Father and his Son Jesus Two English words for fellowship 1. from Latin communio (sharing in common). 2. in Greek is κοινωνία, which is often translated as ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Three Stages Of Spiritual Growth

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

Three stages of spiritual development are given: "children," "young men" or teenagers and "fathers" or adults. These stages have no relation to the physical age or gender of a person. A Christian who is 70 years old in the flesh may still be a spiritual b

Intro: Three stages of spiritual development are given: "children," "young men" or teenagers and "fathers" or adults. These stages have no relation to the physical age or gender of a person. A Christian who is 70 years old in the flesh may still be a spiritual baby. A Christian lady of 30 years old ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-14

Denomination: *other

The Need Of Patience

Contributed by Pastor Yolito De Gracia on Sep 17, 2006

One of the christian virtues that God wants to be developed in the lives of the saints is Patience. We need patience because there is in us a great tendency to complain and quit during tough times; Man by nature is liable to sink under sufferings. Patien

Title: THE NEED OF PATIENCE Text : Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Apostle Paul was encouraging the Hebrew Christians who experienced intense sufferings and persecutions because of their Faith in Christ ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-36

Denomination: Baptist

Identity Crisis

Contributed by Derrick Bunnell on Nov 15, 2005

The speaker laid out a four part process to effective outreach programs. The first step in the process was to develop an identity. This got me thinking about the identity of the Adventist church and more specifically this church. Identity is much more t

I met with the pastor this week to discuss the mission and purpose of the church. We discussed many things to help the church grow and to make known to the world that Jesus is coming soon. We mulled over outreach ideas, mission statements, etc. One of the things that stood out in my mind was a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5

Denomination: Adventist

The Priority Of Life

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jul 20, 2007

Jesus did the will of the Father and finished His work. He knows His purpose in life, set the right priority, and has a passion for the lost. We want to know our purpose, set the priority and develop the passion exemplified by Christ.

Jesus says, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” • Of course, this couldn’t mean that Jesus do not have to eat. • Jesus uses this incident to highlight to His disciples what is important. Someone said, “The greatest danger in life is in permitting the urgent ...read more

Scripture: John 4:27-38

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Proof Of Purchase

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Aug 5, 2008

Explore the message that the early Christians recieved to give them hope while facing Nero’s insane persecution. Discover the three proofs of faith which can help you truly know if you are developing as a follower of Christ.

Opening Skit: Stamped For Eternity (available upon request) VIDEO INTRO: PROOF (available upon request) Introduction: We struggle to believe what we cannot see, but we cannot see, because we are not really looking. We all hope for the best most of the time. Even when the odds aren’t quite in our ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Expecting The Best Series

Contributed by Randy Hamel on Sep 8, 2008

Sermon looks at faith and challenges the church to expect God to be faithful because God is faithful. The church will memorize one verse each week and seek God in faith for changes in their lives. Acknowledgement: Series originally developed by Rick W

EXPECTING THE BEST 50 Days of Faith - Part 1 of 8 – Sept. 7th, 2008 We’re beginning a new series today called 50 Days of Faith. Have you ever thought ‘how do I get God’s approval?’ Is it by being more good than bad? No. By keeping the Ten Commandments? No. By being religious and going to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:29

A Good Name

Contributed by Paul Hammons on Mar 13, 2007

Companies spend billions of dollars on commercials telling us how good their products are because they want us to trust them. If they are proven to be untrustworthy they lose business and billions of dollars because they have developed a bad name, they’ve

A Good Name; Proverbs 22:1 What do you think of when you here the names Adolph Hitler or Joseph Stalin or Saddam Hussein (evil dictators) what about the name Charles Manson (Brainwashing killer) what about Timothy McVeigh (OKC bomber) What about Osama Bin Laden (Terrorist). What about Judas ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1

The Face Of Jesus

Contributed by Greg Addison on Apr 2, 2007

This is a sermon designed to help you in your devotional life—that time when we develop intimacy with the Savior. Today we are going to use numerous scriptural passages to help you look into the face of Jesus in an intimate way.

The Face of Jesus Introduction This is a sermon designed to help you in your devotional life—that time when we develop intimacy with the Savior. When I have a special time of closeness or intimacy with my wife or with my children, I usually am looking deeply into their eyes and we are ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Let Peace Rule

Contributed by Brien Sims on Apr 8, 2008

1) A new sense of well-being and peace 2) A guiding line for life’s sporadic moments 3) new life means a centered life 4) Truly developing world peace, starting with our own homes

Would anyone else here define the current state of the world as insane? Take a good look at the state of the world right now. The Middle East is still at war all over the place and America is just standing in the center this time. Korea wants massive nuclear devices. The United Nations keeps trying ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Does He Fuel Your Fire? Series

Contributed by Daniel Devilder on Oct 1, 2007

This is the 3rd of 8 "Health Signs" of a Growing church, "Passionate Spirituality." Our Pursuit of him makes all other pursuits pale in comparison. This series adapts the theology and theory of the work "Natural Church Development" by Christian Schwarz,

Does He Fuel Your Fire? Philippians 3:7-11 Healthy Condition #3: Passionate Spirituality (Had this listed on a power point) If you’ve been calling yourself a Christian, you should stop. If you have ever encouraged someone to become a Christian, you should never do that again. WHY? "85% of the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ