Sermons on Rich Ruler:

Attributes To Admire Series

Contributed by Rich Dunbar on Jun 14, 2005

This sermon identifies four attributes worth admiration in Paul and Barnabas. These same attributes ought to be present in us as fathers.

Admiration is an interesting thing. The dictionary defines it as “a feeling of pleasure, wonder and approval”. I think that most men want their children to admire them in one sense or another. I mean I want my children to take pleasure in me as their father, I want them to have a sense of wonder ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:8-18

Denomination: Baptist

This Is My Church!

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 21, 2005

Church just doesn’t happen. The church will be vibrant and fruitful if I (all of us) make it happen.

This is my church Purpose: The work of the church won’t just happen. It takes all of us doing what God would have us do. 1. Nehemiah bullets · Background of the fall of Israel (God had promised Israel that if they would obey him, He would always protect them and prosper them. But after David came ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Offer Them Water

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 21, 2005

To refocus the church on our primary job: taking the Water of Life to a world without Jesus.

Offer them water Purpose: To refocus the church on our purpose: "Go into all the world, preaching the Gospel." 1. (Hold up an ordinary glass of water) Let’s talk about water for a minute. A regular lukewarm glass of water isn’t very appealing. It doesn’t sound very good, does it? But run 4 or 5 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Denomination: Nazarene

Why The Miracles?

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 21, 2005

A sermon based on the book, "Surprising Insights from the Unchurched" by Thom Rainer. Jesus’ miracles drew a crowd. Why isn’t the church drawing a crowd?

Why the miracles? Purpose: Jesus cared for people enough to do something about it. People saw his love in his actions and responded to him personally. 1. Why did Jesus perform miracles? Why did he heal the lame, the blind, the diseased? It was just a few here and there. He couldn’t have healed ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Nazarene

Confession: Reasons And Excuses

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 21, 2005

God doesn’t want our excuses or reasons. He desires a pure heart and real confession. Both Saul and David confessed. One was real.

Confession: Reasons and Excuses Purpose: To better explain full confession 1. Cheating reasons: a young man comes from a very poor farming family. The only way he can go to college is on scholarship. He wants to study agriculture so he can return home and help the family increase the productivity ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-30

Denomination: Nazarene

Just A Happy Meal

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

To illustrate how Jesus can do so much with our little. God doesn’t ask how much we have. Instead, like He asked of Moses, He asks "What do you have I can use?"

Just a Happy Meal Purpose: To illustrate how Jesus can do the impossible with our little. 1. Read John 6:1-5. Why did Jesus ask Philip? Of all the disciples, why Philip? Philip was from Bethsaida, a town just nine miles away. If anyone would know a human solution to this problem, it would have ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-13

Denomination: Nazarene

The Bible - A Light And A Map Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The first of a three-part series on the Bible. Without God’s Word we’re lost in the world. Using the illustration of a little boy who gets lost in Mammoth Cave, this message shows the importance of having a light and a map. (General Sermon, but used on

Bible - A light and a map Purpose: To illustrate the importance of the Bible 1. Max, the lost Boy Scout in Mammoth Cave. Max’s Boy Scout troop took an end-of-the-summer trip to Mammoth Cave. They didn’t take the lame 90-minute family tour. They took the 6-hour "Wild Cave" tour. In this tour, the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:19-130

Denomination: Nazarene

The Bible - Is It True? Can We Trust It? Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The second in a series on the Bible. Every Christian must answer the question: Is the Bible true? When we accept its truth, we must obey its instruction.

Bible - Is it true? Can we trust it? Purpose: Showcasing the absolute truth of the Bible. 1. There is a great push in today’s world for tolerance. Tolerance used to mean, "Everyone has a right to an opinion." · Some people like the Red Sox, some like the Yankees. · Some people like Mexican food, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Denomination: Nazarene

No Rules! Just Right! (Life Without The Rulebook) Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

Third in a series on the Bible. This message looks at life without the guidelines found in the Bible. We might think we want a life of complete freedom, but without boundaries we creep into danger.

No rules. Just right. (Life without the rulebook) Purpose: To illustrate life with no rules (living outside the truth presented in God’s Word) 1. Ever play Monopoly? (hold up Monopoly board) What if you had never played Monopoly before, you had never even seen it, and somebody gave you a board, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-32

Denomination: Nazarene

Where's God?

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

There will always be times where we’d like to know where God is and why isn’t He paying attention. We have to believe, however, and have faith that he is always watching and always in control.

Where’s God? Purpose: To encourage us that God is there 1. I would ask if you’d ever asked the question, "Where’s God?" But anyone who has a few years of adulthood under his belt has asked that question. So I’ll challenge you, this morning, to think of a time in your life when you asked, "Where’s ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Can You Walk The Walk?

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A sermon used before communion. Like the disciples at the Last Supper, we can talk the talk about the Christian life. But Jesus wants to know who will walk the walk with him.

Can you walk the walk? Purpose: To challenge those who call themselves Christians to obey God’s commands. 1. You’ve heard the phrase, "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk." · NCAA Basketball Tournament (this sermon was preached during the tournament): I can talk a pretty good game. ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-35

Denomination: Nazarene

Never Again Without The Presence Of Jesus

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A simple Easter sermon used in at sunrise. What must it have been like between Jesus’ death and resurrection? To be without the presence of Jesus must have been utter emptiness. To be with him again must have been utter joy.

Never again without the presence of Jesus Purpose: To reflect on Jesus’ presence and challenge the people to be the presence of Jesus to a world that needs Him. 1. Read John 20:1-21 2. Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to actually be in the presence of Jesus? What would it have felt ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene

You Don't Have To Go (To Hell)!

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

Easter Sunday. A strange place to end up on Easter Sunday, but where God led. The Gospel message: You don’t have to go to Hell. Close with invitation.

You don’t have to go (to Hell) Purpose: Evangelistic invitation. 1. Struggled this week to find the perfect thing to share with you this morning. Unlike Christmas, which enjoys worldwide attention most of November, all of December and even parts of January, Easter kind of comes and goes without a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Denomination: Nazarene

Ownership And Obedience Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The first in a month-long stewardship series. Financial giving boils down to obedience. Who owns your stuff?

Stewardship I - Ownership and Obedience Purpose: 1. Read I Kings 17:7-16 2. (This story is an adaptation from an illustration from Leonard Sweet) Let me tell you about a trip Grant and I made to McDonald’s last spring. Dana and Jackson were on a field trip to Hendersonville … and it was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-16

Denomination: Nazarene

Lose The Weight Of Complacency Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The first in a series used at New Year’s. We Christians can get used to a routine of "being good." We need to break free from complacency and push ourselves to spiritual excellence.

Lose the weight of complacency Purpose: To challenge us to break free from status quo personal Christianity. 1. These are a few of my favorite things: · Chocolate Ice Cream sprinkled with dry coffee grounds, anything that begins with the words Little Debbie, any restaurant that ends with the word ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 1:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene