Sermons on Recitation:

The Goodness Trap

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 9, 2007

The goodness trap: 1- a human question 2- A human response 3- The divine way

INTRO.- ILL.- A young boy traveling by airplane to visit his grandparents sat beside a man who happened to be a seminary professor. The boy was reading a Sunday school take-home paper when the professor thought he would have some fun with the boy. "Young man," said the professor, "If you can tell ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Live And Let Live (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jan 9, 2007

Jesus offers community as a corrective to individualism.

LIVE AND LET LIVE (PART 2) Mark 3:1-6 Sermon #5 of “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America” This is the fifth sermon (and sixth week) in our sermon series, “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America” from the first six chapters of Mark. Prior to Advent we looked at four from Chapters 1 & 2 of the book. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-6

Denomination: Nazarene

Be Righteous, Not Self-Righteous

Contributed by David Hicks on Nov 15, 2006

Jesus with humor tells us to watch out for the plank in our own eyes before removing the speck in our brother’s eye.

Be Righteous Not Self-Righteous Matthew 7:1-6 When you watch American Idol, do you sit there and criticize the singing ability of people who have made it to the finals, when you have never sung anywhere but in your shower with only God and the dog having to listen to you? Men, do you criticize ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Denomination: Holiness

Barriers And Antidotes To Healthy Relationships

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Nov 15, 2005

Our goal as a congregation is to build healthy relationships so together we can make a greater impact upon our surrounding community.

Barriers and Antidotes to Healthy Relationships Philippians 2:5-11 Romans 12:5 “Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other.” (God’s Word Translation) For the past month we have been involved in “40 Days of Community.” The goal of our study has been to build healthy ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Free Methodist

Jephthah — Reject! (Promises, Promises) Series

Contributed by Timothy Cooley, Sr. on Dec 2, 2005

Jephthah tasted being a Reject, then a Spare Tire. He craved for Acceptance, got it, then Oops, he made a foolish vow. Worse, he kept it! His daughter willingly devoted herself whatever the cost. She rejoiced in his victory. Vow, but vow wisely. Vo

Jephthah stood at the door of his wilderness house. He had things pretty well fixed up, like he wanted them. After all, there was a day he would have liked to live in town, but that had been impossible. You see, it was because of his mother. The Bible says his mother was a harlot. Some ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-40

Denomination: Holiness

What Makes Satan Tremble?

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Nov 17, 2003

A recent Gallop Poll stated that 90% of Americans say they pray. Americans pray five minutes a week and the prayers are usually about some crisis in life. What makes the Devil tremble and shutter is prayer that connects with God the Creator of the Univer

“What Makes Satan Tremble?” Matthew 6:5-15 James 2:19 A recent Gallop Poll stated that 90% of Americans say they pray. Americans pray five minutes a week and the prayers are usually about some crisis in life. Often the prayer is a memorized prayer. My first prayer was a prayer before meals: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 6:5

Denomination: Free Methodist

Go Tell It On Mt. Sinai Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 6, 2003

Being a Christian is not a negative thing, nothing but thou shalt nots; it is first of all a relationship with God, but marred by fear. So God gives us boundaries to receive as a gift, not a burden. That’s good news worth telling.

The instant some people hear anything about Christianity they begin to conjure up negatives. For too many being a Christian is defined by what they are not allowed to do. “I don’t drink and I don’t chew and I don’t go with girls who do.” For too much of the world, being a Christian is a joyless, ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:1-21, Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Righteousness: Vegetarian Jesus

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 1, 2007

What is it that really makes me a spiritual person? If I act good for long enough, will it no longer be an act, will it then become real?

Two missionaries were on their way through the jungle when they were captured by a group of cannibals. The two missionaries, Harrison and Thompson, were brought to the village with much fanfare where they were presented to the chief. The village chief stepped forward and said in perfect English, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Protecting Our Sin: Happy Birthday Herod Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Sep 2, 2007

Herod and Herodias will do anything to protect the sin they love so dearly, and we will too. Stop protecting your sin, repent, and receive healing from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of a minor infraction, a sailor aboard the USS Reeves, bound for Japan, was busted one rank, fined and given extra duty for three weeks. He was looking forward to celebrating his 21st birthday on July 22, and so he consoled himself every night during his extra duty by reciting this phrase ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

24:13 God Cares Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Sep 23, 2007

The first part of the Lords prayer deals with our obedience and physical needs

How’s your prayer life? What I mean is how are your prayer habits? Do you pray much? After all Jesus said, when you pray. now he seemed pretty definite at this point, he didn’t say, if you pray, instead he said when you pray. He seemed pretty convinced that Christians would pray. And he said ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:6-13

Denomination: Wesleyan

Believing While Not Knowing Where

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 24, 2007

The first of a three part series, ‘Do You Believe?

Several years ago a friend e-mailed me a humorous and poignant reminder about the aging process and what aging entails. It is entitled, ‘What I Want in A Man’ (Slide 1) What I Want In A Man, (at age 24) 1. Handsome 2. Charming 3. Financially Successful 4. A Caring Listener 5. Witty 6. In Good ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:8

Denomination: Church Of God

Changing & Challenging Years Of Adolescence Series

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Mar 13, 2007

Parenting teens.

Jesse is the envy of all the young men in his senior class; he is tall, handsome and naturally gets good grades. He lettered in three varsity sports and still seems to have time to be the president of his church youth group and help out at the local nursing home. He sings first tenor in the a ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:3-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Excellence In Evangelism Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Oct 14, 2003

Three books have meant so much to me when it comes to the topic of evangelism and how I can best do this. One is by Joseph Aldrich, “Life-Style Evangelism.” He talks about crossing traditional boundaries to reach an unbelieving world. Another book is by R

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: After about 10 total years in ministry, I have learned that my spiritual gift-mix seems to include skills in teaching, training, equipping, encouraging, discipling, and leadership development among those who are already in the faith. However, I have found that being ...read more

Scripture: John 20:30-31

The Decision And The Promise Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 29, 2006

Four truths about Abraham’s faith and how they relate to our commitment to giving our offering to God.

OPEN: Several years back a woman wrote this letter to Ann Landers “Dear Ann Landers: The letter from the woman married to the tightwad …reminded me of my wonderful aunt. Aunt "Emma" was married to a tightwad who was also a little strange. He made a good salary, but they lived frugally ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Be A Good Parent Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 2, 2004

Would you like to be a successful Christian parent? Would you like to raise your children so that they’ll please God? Paul gives us powerful guidelines on how to make a difference in our child’s life.

OPEN - I read a poem several years ago that went this way: If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours... If it doesn’t, it never was. But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff, eats your food, takes your money, and doesn’t appear to realize that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ