Sermons on Retreats:

Plastic Bubbles Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Aug 30, 2021

Isolated. Convinced but confined. What if we busted our bubble and shared hope, faith and the source of it all . . . Jesus? It is time to be Bubble Busters!

Bubble Busters Pt. 1 - Plastic Bubbles I. Introduction It grabbed my attention. I was riveted to the screen. I don't remember many dramatic tv shows from my youth but this one I remember vividly. I saw this in 1976 when I was 8 and I can't forget it. The plot was a young man, played by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:9-35, Acts 10:44-48

Denomination: Pentecostal

When God Calls Your Name: Peter Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Sep 11, 2021

How would you respond if God called your name not once, but twice? In the Bible, God calls plenty of people, often by name, but I’ve only found seven times where God calls out someone’s name twice in a row. In each instance, what follows is a life-changing encounter with the God of creation.

When God Calls Your Name… Twice: Simon Peter Scott Bayles, pastor Blooming Grove Christian Church: 8/28/2016 For the last several of weeks, we’ve been talking about how you might respond if God called your name—not just once, but twice. As I mentioned before, God calls plenty of people in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-34

Denomination: Christian Church

Following Jesus: Mark 16 Series

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 19, 2022

Part 16 of 16: In this series, we follow Jesus chapter-by-chapter through the Gospel of Mark. This is Mark 16.

Following Jesus (16) Scott Bayles, pastor Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 Blooming Grove Christian Church: 4/16/2017 Good morning, welcome to the Grove and Happy Easter. I’m reminded of a preacher who spotted a young man he recognized at church on Easter Sunday. On his way out the door, the preacher ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Christian Church

The Essenes Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 2, 2022

The Essenes were a devoutly religious group (similar to an order of monks) who emphasized spiritual purification and frequent praying. They were a mystic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that flourished from the 2nd century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E.

The Essenes were a devoutly religious group (similar to an order of monks) who emphasized spiritual purification and frequent praying. They were a mystic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that flourished from the 2nd century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E. The Jewish historian Josephus ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:1

Denomination: Baptist

Let Jesus Pilot Your Boat

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 3, 2022

In our voyage through life, we will encounter both smooth sailing and tempestuous seas brought on by raging storms or trials. We must realize that the Captain, Jesus Christ, is the only One who can pilot our boat safely into harbor.

The first line of a well-known hymn says, “Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly. While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high: Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past. Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.”(1) Charles Wesley ...read more

Scripture: John 6:15-21

Denomination: Baptist

Life Is One Big Test

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Mar 23, 2022

Someone said, “Life is a test”. Life is one big university that is in session 365 days a year.

I do not know about you, but I have never enjoyed taking a test. Now I can remember when I was in college. It seemed as if some of my classmates enjoyed taking a test because it gave them a chance to show off how smart they were. But I never had a lot to show off, so I never enjoyed taking a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:5-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirituality Trap

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Feb 24, 2023

We have a tendency to see the shining mountaintop moments or the depths of despair as being the most spiritually significant. But genuine spirituality surfaces - and matures - in the daily decision to forgive, to tell the truth, to resist a temptation or to hold our tongues.

My mom tells me that when we were little she could dress my sister and me up for church in starched white petticoats and send us out to play in the yard until time to leave for church and be absolutely certain that we wouldn’t have a spot on us. We LOVED to dress up. There was no way we were going ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36, Exodus 34:29-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Paul's View Of Discipleship Series

Contributed by Hugh W. Davidson on Jun 13, 2020

Here's the dying words of a hero

Paul’s view of discipleship 2 Timothy 2:1-7 I’ve been told, the secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. So, I shall do my best. We’re going to look at the first seven verses 2 Timothy 2 but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

A Time For Everything

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 12, 2021

A good thing done at the wrong time can be a bad thing. That is, it can actually do more harm than good.

Art Linkletter tells of the young woman who married a wealthy old man. She was apparently quite fond of him in the beginning, but then she started to focus on the demands of maintaining a home. She told her husband that the garden looked shabby. All right he said spend some money to take care of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Successful Prayer

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 13, 2021

If success is pleasing God, and God is not pleased with all kinds of external forms and activities, where the heart is far from him, than it follows that the only road to spiritual success is the road to inner space.

Henry Brown prayed for a way to escape. He was a slave in Richmond, Virginia, and desperately wanted to be free. He finally felt his prayer was answered when he was inspired by a unique idea. He had the plantation carpenter construct a box the same size of the largest boxes that were shipped in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-8

Breaking Free Of Controlling Habits!

Contributed by John Gaston on May 26, 2023

A controlling habit is something you find yourself doing even though it is destructive. The top 10 are: Materialism, Pride, Self-centeredness, Laziness, Anger, Bitterness, Sexual Lust , Envy, Gluttony, Lying.

BREAKING FREE OF CONTROLLING HABITS! Galatians 5:1-2 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Sometimes being close isn’t good enough. Like Bill, who ordered a cord of firewood to be delivered for $100. 2. When the firewood was delivered, Bill got upset. “That’s not a full cord of wood,” Bill objected. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-2

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Waiting For Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

We need to remember, Christmas is a celebration, not of what might be or of what we hope to see happen, it is a celebration of a sure thing that has already happened. God has come down to man to dwell with him.

In 563 BC, a son was born to a ruler in India. The local astrologers predicted he would either be a great ruler or a world renowned ascetic. His father wanted to prevent that, so he sheltered his child from all contact with suffering of any kind. The little prince was to never see life's ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:1-9

Absalom Takes Jerusalem, David Regroups At Mahanaim Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Sep 25, 2023

The Lord God almighty is sovereign and in control of this situation. Similarly, he is in control in your life. You can trust Him completely.

Absalom is leading a rebellion against King David and at least as of the time being, he is succeeding. King David and his leaders have fled Jerusalem, in tears of sorrow. Absalom has moved in and taken the capital. So now we’re going to see Absalom being advised by two men, Ahithophel and Hushai. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 16:21-22, 2 Samuel 17:1-2

Denomination: Salvation Army

A Call To Courage

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Oct 11, 2023

If courageous believers are going to be successful in their Christian endeavors, they must be alert to the actions of their enemies, be mindful of their relationship with Christ, be courageous in their attitude and be strong in their fortitude. This mindset is a matter of choice.

Sermon: A Call to Courage Scripture - 1Corinthians 16:13-18 “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece, and they are spending their lives in service to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13-18, Ephesians 6:10-11, Matthew 15:14, Ephesians 5:14-18

Denomination: Methodist

From Experience = Living And Coping With Injustice And Hurt - (Fourth And Last Part) – Guidelines And Conclusion – (The Retribution Of God – Part 9 In The Series) Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 25, 2023

This is the final posting in the series. Practical coping strategies continue, looking at the mind and physical activity and the whole matter of self-esteem. The subject is The Retribution of God and we covered many aspects. God bless you all.

FROM EXPERIENCE = LIVING AND COPING WITH INJUSTICE AND HURT - (FOURTH and LAST PART) – GUIDELINES AND CONCLUSION – (THE RETRIBUTION OF GOD – PART 9 IN THE SERIES) [10]. WATCH YOUR SELF ESTEEM The bible warns us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, but we must not allow ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:23, Psalm 119:27-28, 1 Timothy 4:8, 1 Peter 1:13, Colossians 3:1-2, Philippians 2:5-9, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Revelation 21:3-4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational