Sermons on Relational Failure:

Presumption

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 9, 2007

Religion does not create a relationship with God, nor does ritual. It is refinement born of repentance that shapes that relationship. Repent, relate, and receive.

“Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Famous words supposedly spoken by journalist Henry Morton Stanley somewhere in Tanganyika at the end of his expedition to find the missing explorer. “I presume”. It means, “I think I know what I am doing. Would you please confirm it for me? You look like what I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Fellowshipping Together Series

Contributed by Todd Stiles on Dec 13, 2006

Discover two keys to better relationships as Todd breaks down the early church’s relational habits found in Acts 2.

“Fellowshipping Together” Welcome everyone, and if you’ll take out your teaching tool and open your Bible to Acts 2, I’d like help you understand some important things about the concept of fellowshipping. Or another word well use this morning interchangeably is belonging. What does this word mean? ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-42, Acts 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Consider Jesus Series

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Jul 31, 2008

Exposition on Hebrews 3. Have you been a Christian for a while? Are you wavering in your faith? The Hebrew believers can relate.

Consider Jesus: Hebrews 3:1-19 Introduction: What is it that is having you waver in your faith? When we first put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and acknowledge our need for a Savior, we get filled with joy and confidence. We are “on fire” for the Lord. Many of us start wavering in our faith ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Godly Surface Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 21, 2008

The underlying problems of God’s people are related to attitude, not behavior. The two are definitely correlated; our behavior reveals our attitudes.

The Godly Surface (Malachi 3: 7-15) 1. When we do not pay attention, we create problems. 2. A police officer in a small town stopped a motorist who was speeding down Main Street. "Officer," the man began, "I can explain." "No explanation needed!" snapped the Officer. "I’m going to let you cool ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:7-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Close Encounters Of The God Kind (Pastor Jose Gomez Jr)

Contributed by Jose Gomez Sr. on Mar 8, 2006

In order to build effective relationships, there must be a desire to be close. This is what drives every good relations, friendship, marriage, and devotion to God.

Premise: Relationships are the most important things in life. They connect people in ways allow us to express God’s love through taking our mind off of ourselves. However, in order to build effective relationships, there must be a desire to be close. This is what drives every good relations, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Narnia: Finding Hope In Christmas Series

Contributed by Daniel Driggs on Dec 23, 2005

An examination of some of the prophecies related to the birth of Christ and how C. S. Lewis included them symbolically in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

TITLE: Narnia: Finding Hope in Christmas TEXT: Matthew 1:20-2:23; Galatians 4:1-7 PREINTRODUCTION: I don’t know about you, but somehow Christmas never lives up to my expectations. Perhaps I’ve seen “Miracle on 34th Street” too many times, or heard the song “Holly, Jolly Christmas” once too often. ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Tragedy Of The Innocents

Contributed by David Simpson on Dec 16, 2012

A message in response to the tragedy of the school shooting in Connecticut and its relation to the killing of the innocent children of Bethlehem by Herod after the birth of Jesus.

Sermon Lanier Christian Church December 16, 2012 David K. Simpson The Tragedy of the Innocents Matthew 2:13-18 The unspeakable happened on Friday. Twenty Innocent children and six of their teachers, all women, were murdered. As the Connecticut governor said: "Evil visited this community." It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Denomination: Christian Church

Caution: We Are In The People Zone Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 23, 2011

In order to grow in social and relational wisdom, we must understand what is likely; fortunately, Proverbs gives us a divine perspective.

Caution: We Are In the People Zone (Proverbs 18:1-4) 1. Wisdom not valued much in modern society, so wisdom literature not popular in our culture; In the past, Aesop’s fables–which are amazing– used to be a common resource for popular wisdom. But in the ancient near east, wisdom literature ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Signs, Signs, Everywhere A Sign Series

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Jul 6, 2011

This is the 30th sermon in an expository series we are doing on the book of Genesis. In this sermon we examine circumcision and how it relates to communion.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign (Genesis part 30) Text: Genesis 17:9-14 By: Ken McKinley (Read Text) Anthropologists will tell you that signs are one of the most important things in human society. And believe it or not, that’s one instance where I happen to agree with them. Just think ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:9-14

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Knowing Who I Really Am Series

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Jan 20, 2010

Who I am is not defined by what I do but who I relate to, beginning with God as my heavenly Father.

KNOWING WHO I REALLY AM – EPHESIANS 1:1-14 INTRO Christmas and New Year bring into focus just how much the vast majority of us value our relationships more than anything else. This is a continual source of either our joy or our pain – For at Christmas time we become acutely aware of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Anticipating Messiah -- His Passion Series

Contributed by David Welch on Dec 29, 2008

Third in the Advent series bulding anticipating for Messiah’s Coming by examining the prophecies related to His saving work; His Passion.

3rd Sunday of Advent “The PASSION of Messiah” How will help us? INTRODUCTION Christmas commemorates the first advent; the first coming of Jesus Christ. Advent means arrival, start, coming, beginning, dawn. This year we have revisited the Christmas story by focusing on the prophecies concerning the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-12

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Different Kind Of Legacy

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 19, 2009

Our legacy is not in monuments, but in a spiritual and relational community, one which is ultimately redemptive. Washington Plaza Baptist Church, Reston, VA

The older I become the more interested I am in those who have gone before me. Before I join my ancestors out there, I’d like to know more about them. It might make for some very interesting conversation up on Cloud Nine if I know about not only my parents and my grandparents, but also some of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Expelling Anger Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 28, 2009

Anger, unchecked and uncorrected, affects: 1) Our View of Ourselves, 2) Our Worship of God, and 3) Our Relation to Others.

One of the most shocking crimes a society deals with is when a child kills. Sometimes it is a swarming of a child by a group of kids (Rena Verk), sometimes it is the killing of parents by children (Menendez brothers) and more recently the killing of a girl directed by a rival girl M.J. (Mellissa ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

Denomination: Other

Applying Wisdom To Anger Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 21, 2012

How do you learn to tame anger? How should you relate to angry people? The one-word answer is “Wisdom.”

Applying Wisdom to Anger (Proverbs 19:8, 10-13, 16,19,20) 1. I knew a guy in high school who was a friend of a friend. 2. He was a big guy, and he seemed nice enough, but he had an anger problem. 3. After we graduated, he got a part time job at McDonald’s. One day, he got so angry at his boss ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:8-20

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Triumphant Joy #4: Rejoicing In Loving And Serving People Series

Contributed by C Jordan on Aug 11, 2013

God created us as relational beings who experience abundant joy when we focus on loving and serving other people.

TRIUMPHANT JOY #4: REJOICING IN LOVING AND SERVING OTHERS INTRO TO SPEAKER: This past week, Liza and the family and I went camping at Wild Oaks. INTRO TO TOPIC: This summer, we are studying the Book of Philippians, a letter written from the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. The letter is all ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Denomination: *other