Sermons on Ray Stedman:

Father, Forgive Them

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 5, 2007

There is another way to say it. Jesus forgives people we wouldn’t forgive if we were God. And he saves people we would immediately send to hell.

Father, Forgive Them Luke 23:34 Here is part of an email from a friend: Do you have any suggestions for getting rid of bitterness? What do you do when you are dealing with a situation where you cannot go to the person and discuss the issue with them? Of course, we both know that that is the ideal ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Where Is Jesus When We Need Him?

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 5, 2007

It is Sunday. Jesus is dead. And they are going home. Their question is our question, only slightly rephrased. Where is Jesus when we need him? Where did he go? Why did he leave us?

Where is Jesus When We Need Him? Luke 24:13-35 Earlier this week I took a bike ride along the Natchez Trace. Exiting at Friendship Road, I rode a mile or two and came to Friendship Baptist Church, a neatly-kept brick building at the intersection of two country roads. Behind the church there was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Christians Disagree

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 5, 2007

Christians disagree about almost everything. And when we disagree, we usually start a new church.

When Christians Disagree Acts 15:36-41 Christians disagree about almost everything. And when we disagree, we usually start a new church. Which reminds me of a story I heard a few years ago. A Scottish Presbyterian is rescued after many years of living alone on a desert island. When he is picked ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ballistic Christianity

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 5, 2007

If God ever truly begins to do things we’re not used to, the world as we know it will be turned upside down.

Ballistic Christianity Matthew 9:35-38 It must have been about twenty-two years ago that our family attended a week-long Bible conference at a Christian conference center near North Platte, Nebraska. A family in the church I pastored in Garland, Texas paid for all our expenses so we could make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Finding God's Treasure

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Oct 12, 2007

The Proverbs writer instructs us to search for wisdom and understanding as if you were searching for hidden treasure.

Finding God’s Treasure -In God’s Word- Proverbs 2:1-8 There was a man called Heinrich Schliemann, who as a boy read a translation of Homer’s account of the defeat of Troy by the Greeks. In the latter part of the last century scholars largely held that Homer’s "Iliad" was entirely fictitious and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 2:1-8

Denomination: Free Methodist

God Our Creator

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Oct 15, 2007

The creation of man was unique in all of God’s creation. Only in the creation of man did God breathe a living soul.

God Our Creator Genesis 1:1-5, 26 In the beginning God In the beginning God created In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.” When you look at the vastness of the universe, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26

Denomination: Free Methodist

Noah Found Grace

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Oct 22, 2007

All of us are in deep debt from sin. There is no way we can pay for our debt of sin. Just as Noah received Grace from the Lord, we also can receive God’s grace and accept God forgiveness of sin and live a life of victory.

Noah Found Grace Genesis 6:5-8 A couple weeks ago when I was working on topics and scripture for this month I listed “Noah Found Grace” as the topic for this Sunday. Gay, my secretary, looked at the title and asked, “After Noah Found Grace” then what did he do. My first response was, “He lived ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:5-8

Denomination: Free Methodist

To See Who Jesus Was.

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Nov 2, 2007

To show that the grace and love of Christ creates the miracle of the new birth in unlikely people.

TO SEE WHO JESUS WAS... Luke 19:1 “Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 19:2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 19:3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 19:4 So he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Plant A Thanksgiving Garden

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Nov 19, 2007

Psalm 100 and I Thessalonians 5:16-18 give guides on planting a family Thanksgiving Garden.

Plant a Thanksgiving Garden Psalm 100 I Thessalonians 5:18 Someone e-mailed me what love means to 4 to 8 year old children. “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: Free Methodist

Cowards Can Become Leaders

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Nov 26, 2007

Many of us are just like Joshua. We feel inadequate for the task of leadership.

Even Cowards Can Become Leaders Joshua 1:1-9 Joshua is exhibit A of a reluctant leader. In fact when it came to taking the leadership baton from Moses he was a coward. Listen to the words of the Lord to Joshua: Joshua 1:6, 7, 9 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Denomination: Free Methodist

A Great Gift You Can Give"

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Dec 6, 2007

Wise men brought gifts and presented them to Jesus. We celebrate Christmas by giving gifts to family and friends. I want to suggest a great gift you can give this Christmas to your family, "A Christ Honoring Attitude."

A Great Gift You Can Give Matthew 2:9-11 - “Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7

Denomination: Free Methodist

One Stop Shopping

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Dec 24, 2006

There is only one place I know where we can go for one-stop shopping and fill the void in a person’s heart and life. The place is actually a person – Jesus.

“One Stop Shopping” Isaiah 9:1-7 At our stage of life with 4 children and 14 grandchildren Carollyn and I try to keep our Christmas shopping simple. When our children were younger we would race from store to store trying to buy the latest toy for our children. Do any of you remember the Cabbage ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

Jesus The True Light Of Christmas

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Dec 24, 2006

Ever since the brightness of heaven flooded the hills of Bethlehem; and the far off twinkling star guided Eastern wise-men to the new born King…Christ has been the Light of the world, and we have celebrated Christmas with colorful lights.

Jesus the True Light of Christmas John 1:1-9 Isaiah 9:1-2 The Apostle John in his Gospel the first chapter gives us a description of the person and work of Jesus Christ. :”In the beginning was the Word, (Jesus) and the Word (Jesus) was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-9

Denomination: Free Methodist

Unwrap The Gift Of Joy This Christmas

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Dec 24, 2006

The angel said, “I bring you good news.” Christ is our good news of great joy.. Regardless of the circumstances, the pain, or problems, we look to Jesus, He is our good news. In Christ we can face life with optimism and joy.

Un-wrap the Gift of Joy this Christmas Luke 2:10 “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” The angel said, “I bring you good news.” Christ is our good news of great joy.. Regardless of the circumstances, the pain, or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10, Luke 3:10-11

Denomination: Free Methodist

Develop Your Life Plan For 2007

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jan 8, 2007

There are five areas of your life you can set goals as you develop your life plan and map for the coming year.

Develop Your Life Plan for 2007 -Living the Life God Meant for you to live- James 4:14-15 Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you,, plans to give you hope and a future.” Proverbs 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Free Methodist