Sermons on Ray:

Stress Can Save Your Life

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Aug 20, 2007

If someone tells you that he is free from all stress or anxiety, he is either a fool or a liar. We all have to learn to live with a certain amount of stress and tension.

Stress Can Save Your Life Psalm 55 Have you heard the Jamaican song: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!” Can you picture a Jamaican man who is enjoying a stress free life? He lives a life always on vacation. There’s no stress, no concerns, no bills to pay, no children to shuttle from place to place, no ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:1-22

Denomination: Free Methodist

What Faith Is

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Aug 20, 2007

From the Faith Chapter, a reminder that faith comes from hearing God’s word and obeying it.

What Faith Is Heb 11:1-16 Introduction This is the great chapter on faith. It is the greatest example of faith in the whole Bible. In the last few verses of the previous chapter, the writer outlines how the Hebrew Christians in Rome needed to persevere in their faith. “Therefore do not cast away ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Living A Generous Life

Contributed by Ray Ellis on May 21, 2008

There are two ways to approach life, with a clenched fish or an open hand. A clenched fist person says: “All I have, I have gained on my own.” An opened hand person says, “All I have, God has provided and blessed. I am just a manager of all God has gi

Living a Generous Life Exodus 4:1-5 It took God speaking to Moses from a burning bush to get the attention of Moses and make a life-changing impact on Moses. Moses was about 40 years old when he left Egypt and fled to Midian and there he worked as a Shepherd 40 years for the Priest of Midian, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:1-5

Denomination: Free Methodist

Deliverance

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Aug 27, 2007

To show that modern thinking distorts the biblical message and does Satan’s work for him. That Christ is Lord and our battle must be fought using the spiritual power that He gives us.

Sermon: Deliverance! Lk 13:10 “Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 13:11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 13:12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

Your Greatest Freedom

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jul 2, 2007

This message responds to the 21st century views in America that believe all truth is relative.

Your Greatest Freedom -Truth Will Set You Free John 8:31-36 As we celebrate the 4th of July this week we need to praise God that for now we are still “A Nation under God.” We live in a country founded upon the principles of freedom. For the past 230 years America has been led for the most part ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-36

Denomination: Free Methodist

Hold Lightly What You Value Greatly

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 3, 2007

God orchestrates the affairs of life—both the good and the bad—to bring us to the place where our faith will be in him alone.

Hold Lightly What You Value Greatly Luke 12:16-21 The land of a rich man produced plentifully and he thought to himself, "What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?" And he said, "I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-21, Luke 12:32-40

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When You Pray, Never Give Up

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 3, 2007

It is good and important that we not give up. God is greatly glorified when we do not give up.

When You Pray, Never Give Up Luke 18:1-8 My goal in this sermon is very simple. I hope to convince you of the importance of persistence in prayer. I want you to see that God is greatly glorified when we continue in prayer over a long period of time. Or to say it another way, I want us to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Lessons For Modern-Day Sowers Of The Word

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 3, 2007

Most messages on this parable discuss it from the standpoint of the four soils. I want to look at it in terms of what it teaches us about doing ministry today. I find at least eight principles that both challenge and encourage us.

Lessons for Modern-Day Sowers of the Word Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23 The last few days I have been meditating on the famous parable of the seed and the sower. It is obviously important because is found in three different places in the gospels (with Jesus’ explanation in parenthesis): Matthew 13:3-9 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Is A Christian?

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 3, 2007

So what is a Christian? The answer is not as easy as you might think. Everything depends on how you define the word.

What is a Christian? 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 A friend sent me an email telling about a question posed to her by a co-worker. Here is the exact text of the question: How is a Christian defined? It used to be that if you were not Jewish or Hindu or Buddhist, you were a Christian, whether Catholic or ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Grumblers Anonymous

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Jul 3, 2007

I have done a lot of thinking about the problem of how to evaluate your own success in the ministry. We can say that we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others. That’s true, but we do it anyway.

Grumblers Anonymous Matthew 20:1-16 (I preached this sermon at the Spring Bible Conference at New Brunswick Bible Institute, April 26-29, 2007. The conference ended with the graduation ceremonies. This message was part of my series on the parables of Jesus.) I want to make a few predictions ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

Mother's Open Arms Of Love

Contributed by Ray Ellis on May 12, 2008

What brand would you put on a Christian Mother? “Love” – The branding for Christians is Love.

Mother’s Open Arms of Love I Samuel 1:24-28 Matthew 23:37-39 Companies that do well are the ones that are able to brand their products. A well-developed brand is recognized worldwide. Nike – check mark Disney – round shape with two big ears Apple – Apple with bite McDonalds – Golden ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist