Sermons on Rigidity:

A Partnership Of Parental Prayer

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 27, 2010

Family healing starts when we name the problems honestly. Things may get worse before they get better. but ultimately Christ will heal when we pray even in fractured faith.

Clifton Park Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD, June 18, 2006 When there is a problem to be solved, we will do everything to solve it except the thing that works best. Have you noticed that? When something needs to be fixed, we will try all sorts of complicated approaches. But the simplest and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Unthankful Thinking

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Dec 6, 2010

Fixing our “thanking” errors can help us fix many of our “thinking” errors.

Overcoming Unthankful Thinking 1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Intro: Life’s circumstances are often unpleasant, unfair, and may not automatically invoke a sense of gratitude. Sometimes when we face trying circumstances ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Prepare For War

Contributed by Brian Mann on Jan 4, 2011

Brothers & Sisters there needs to be a battle cry going forth from all the churches in the world today. And it must originate in the hearts of the Pastors, and it must be sounded aloud from the pulpits across this land! We must prepare the battle station

~Prepare for War~ Mark 9:14-29 (New King James Version) 14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Snapshots In An Autumn Album

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jul 15, 2009

Contrasting Koheleth and Paul in the later season of their lives: one blames the young, the other gathers them; one mourns broken things, the other invests in ideas; one is anxious, the other trusts God for every need.

This past weekend, as a part of our brief getaway, my wife and I spent two nights in an old farmhouse. The farmhouse dated from 1704 and was partly furnished with antiques. Now my wife loves antiques; I guess that’s why she puts up with me. So we took the tour of the house, especially the parlor ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Strength Of The Triangle

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 22, 2009

We like to think we can support our lives on love alone; but we first need hope, a healthy self-love; and fundamentally need faith, trusting in God’s empowering us.

With the summer coming on, we began to think about getting our deck ready for some serious use. It was built several years ago and needed a little repair work. Now I had been reading about some problems with deck construction. I had read of decks that had collapsed, and how the building ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Earth Yielding Increase

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 24, 2009

For Worldwide Communion Sunday: How can we, like the Psalmist, be optimistic in the face of international conflict, national dispute, racism, church tension, our personal conflicts? The Cross is God’s reaching out to heal.

It was an awesome ruin. A hulk of stone, a pile of rubble. Smoke stains clearly visible. Jagged edges its roofline. What once had been a magnificent building lay now exposed to the open air, useless, a scar on the horizon. What terrible thing had happened here to create this ugly defacing of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Fruit Of The Spirit "Joy" Series

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 4, 2009

This kind of Joy is really a "cheerful, calm, delight, and Christians should experience this joy more than any other people.

Well, we still have the Joy book, Philippians, fairly fresh in our minds from this winter. And as we talk about Joy as a fruit of the spirit we are talking not so much about jumping up and down for joy like when you win the lottery, though it might be like that I suppose. Sometimes I think people ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

United We Stand – Divided We Fall

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Nov 20, 2010

We are not truly a "church" if we spend our time fighting. God blesses churches that are unified under His leadership.

"The Battling Baptists" ... that's the reputation Baptists have, according to Walter Shurden. Baptists are born fighters because they were born fighting. Early Baptists were known as law-breakers. Shurden writes, "They broke the laws in England and they broke the laws in America. And they broke ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Sweet, Sweet Spirit Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 28, 2008

Why does a successful church do what it does? Is it because they do everything right... or is it something else?

OPEN: Sesame Street has been a popular children’s educational show for years. With the exception of a few “human” actors, the show revolved around the learning experiences taught by hand puppets called “Muppets”. Kermit the Frog, The Cookie Monster and Bert and Ernie have all been favorite ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:1-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Scandal Of The Cross Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Sep 30, 2008

God delivers his people from the failure of self-sufficiency by the work of Messiah.

Scripture Introduction We enter an “inner sanctuary” when we open our Bibles to John 13. J. C. Ryle: “In every age the contents of these chapters have been justly regarded as one of the most precious parts of the Bible. They have been the meat and drink, the strength and comfort of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Terms Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

There is a huge difference between an encounter and a Close Encounter. In this 4 part series, learn the ingredients that are necessary to have a Close Encounter with God. You will be challenged by this series.

“Close Encounters” Pt. 2 - The Terms Review – I want to spend just a moment in review so you will remember what we discussed last Sunday since it is the foundation of where we are going this morning. I remind you of the Passion Process – our mandate is simply to Encounter, Equip, and Engage. We ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5:11-14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Restoring Foundational Truths Of Our Sexuality Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 10, 2009

To reach what is good, perfect, and pleasing…including what is good, perfect, and pleasing (fulfilling) as sexual beings… involves transforming our perceptions. In this case it may mean deciding that the movies and magazines really can’t tell us who we re

Restoring Foundational Truths of Our Sexuality Series: Restoring the Gift of Our Sexuality Brad Bailey – March 22, 2009 Intro – This past week my wife was facilitating a group of mothers who have been discussing sexuality… and in this particular week… imparting healthy sexuality to children ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Waiting On God Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 21, 2016

Don't go ahead of God. Instead, wait on Him

An article in Time.com a few years ago noted that ketchup flows out of a glass bottle at a rate of .028 miles per hour. That's slower than a Galapagos tortoise, which, according to the San Diego Zoo, zips along at a blazing 0.16 miles per hour, or almost six times faster than ketchup. However, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 16:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Long Empty Prayers Series

Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Oct 28, 2016

Among the religious there is often a tendency toward long prayers, particularly in public. Too often people measure prayer by its fluency and length, thinking that length means devotion.

Introduction A. Brother Dave Said that some people believe that prayer ain’t nowhere and meditation is a stroke. But, beloved, prayer is asking for it and meditation is waiting. 1. Turn to Ecclesiastes 5:2 B. Among the religious there is often a tendency toward long prayers, particularly ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-8

Denomination: Baptist

Life As It Really Is Series

Contributed by Leighton (Lee) Vary on Dec 27, 2016

Jesus met the demon possessed men and healed them. The demons begged leave to enter the swine. The citizens of the region begged Jesus to leave the area.

Introduction A. A husband and wife were at a party chatting with some friends when the subject of marriage counseling came up. "Oh, we'll never need that. My husband and I have a great relationship," the wife explained. "He was a communications major in college and I majored in theater arts." "He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:28-34

Denomination: Baptist