Sermons on Rite:

“flunking Out” Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 20, 2011

Man's religion is at war with God's revelation.

Introduction “God has no grandchildren is an old saying that expresses a life and death truth.” In the early days of the Congregational Churches in Puritan (Separatist) America, a matter in close connection to this statement arose. The half way controversy arose over the matter of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29

Denomination: Christian Church

The Holy Spirit Is Not For Sale Series

Contributed by Chris Surber on Dec 20, 2011

Man's religion is at war with God's revelation.

Introduction “A king who wished to express his affection for a private soldier of his army gave him a richly jeweled cup, his own cup. The soldier, stepping forth to receive the gift, exclaimed shamefacedly, "This is too great a gift for me to receive." "It is not too great for me to give," ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Christian Church

The Castle Or The Wall

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Dec 28, 2010

As a church, we have certain options. We can spend our time, energy, and resources building the wall…and forfeit the church. Or we can invest our time, energy, and resources building the church and forfeit the wall. Wall or church …which will it be?

In Robert Frost's Poem "Mending Wall," the poet says, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall." We can identify with that statement, can't we? We detest walls. Walls divide. Walls hide. Walls even kill. Remember the Berlin Wall that split families, a city, and a country? But don't we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

New Wine

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Jan 3, 2011

The underlying reason for all of Jesus' mighty works is clearly stated in John 2:11, “In order that they might see, and seeing believe.”

Out of the vast amount of material available to John, the writer of the Gospel, he has carefully chosen his material as an eyewitness of all Jesus did and said, In his writing he has a clear, guiding purpose. John 20:30-31 tells us, "Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Church.... Why We Do What We Do.

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Jan 12, 2011

To share some areas that we need to look back at and understand the reality of why we do the things we do. God desires each of us to follow Him not blindly but boldly and intelligently.

Illustration: A story is told about a wife cooking a roast. She cuts the end off of the roast, puts it on a pan and then in the oven. The husband asks her "Why did you cut the end off?" she replies "Because my mom always did." The next day the wife talks to mom and asks "Why did you cut the end off ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:3-4

Denomination: Other

Ritualism Versus Spiritual Reality Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 20, 2010

God desires to curb the trend toward formalism in religion which is satisfied with meeting external observation. To obey the moral precepts & principles of the word is infinitely more important than ceremonies & man-made traditions.

ZECHARIAH 7: 1-7 RITUALISM VERSUS SPIRITUAL REALITY [Ezra 6:1-11] The seventh and eighth chapters are the third distinct division of the prophecy. In the first portion was the call to national repentance and turning to the Lord for His Covenant blessings. After a national turning to God ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 7:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

What God Wants On Sunday Morning

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jun 16, 2010

We are incurably religious, thinking that if we use the right formulas, we will be acceptable to God. But God wants our personal involvement and our investment in understanding Him.

Our most persistent sin is that we are religious. Of all the sins that men and women commit, of all the wrongheaded directions we take, of all the wayward wanderings on which we go, none is more persistent than this: that we are religious. As someone has put it, we are incurably religious. ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-26

Denomination: Baptist

Friend Of The Full Heart Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Oct 23, 2009

Christmas is a time for full hearts: weary, guilty, anxious, sad -- past, present, and future. Mary felt the same things, but Christ comes to forgive our past, empower our present, and assure our future.

Christmas is an emotional time. All kinds of feelings are involved with the celebration of Christmas. If you don’t feel some tension, some excitement, or some pressure, something at this time of the year, you are either dead or you’ve been watching the Redskins, which is about the same thing. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Bondage Verses Freedom Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Aug 12, 2009

The proposition that only those who by faith accept God’s promise are children of God is given its last defense with an appeal to Scripture interpretation. It appeals to Scripture to again prove that Christians are not under law.

GALATIANS 4:21-31 BONDAGE VERSES FREEDOM [Genesis 16:1- 4; 21:8-12] How you interpret the facts is important. A worldly young Southern Baptist went to the racetrack for the very first time. He saw a priest in the paddock give a horse a blessing. The boy took the horse’s number, placed a ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:21-31, Galatians 4:26-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Blessed List:: Cravings Of The Heart Series

Contributed by Michael Snow on Aug 20, 2008

2nd in a 4 part series on the Blessings and Woes of Luke 6

The Blessed List: Cravings of the Heart Luke 6 17-20a; 21a; 25a Dr. Michael Snow August 17, 2008 I want to begin this morning with a little quiz. I want to see if all of our contemporary advertising really works. See if you can identify the following products by their advertising slogans. Easy ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:17-26

Denomination: Baptist

An Offer To God

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Mar 27, 2009

God does not want sanctimonious platitudes and feel-good ritual; He wants us, and our praise to Him needs to reflect true righteousness and thanksgiving.

An Offer to God Griffith Baptist Church – 3/29/09 P.M. Service Text: Psalm 50 Key verse: Psalms 50:23 – Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. Premise: God does not want sanctimonious platitudes and feel-good ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Finding The Hope You Need Series

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Nov 19, 2009

You need hope to cope. Where can you find the hope you need in this mixed-up world? Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:15-23.

A Study in Ephesians: WHERE TO FIND THE HOPE YOU NEED Ephesians 1:15-23 ________________________________________ The Ephesians were exhibiting ample amounts of faith and love but were coming up short in hope. Paul praised the Ephesians for their faith and love but prayed for their hope. As a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Denomination: Baptist

B Thankful Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 22, 2009

God repeatedly tells me I should be thankful for all things. But there are times I don’t want to thankful. There are times I don’t FEEL thankful. So how can I obey God when that happens?

OPEN: I read the true story of GIs stationed on Leyte in the Philippines during WW II. Although the region was secure, sometimes the enemy tried to infiltrate their food storage area. One such adversary, dressed in GI clothing, had worked himself into the noontime chow line. But the camp cook ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Worship Is A Verb Part 1 Series

Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Jan 10, 2009

This series focuses on our need to enter into true worship of God.

Worship Is A Verb Part 1 Scripture: Psalm 34:1; 51:14-17; Hebrews 13:15 Introduction: Many years ago when I was elementary school, we learned to diagram sentences. I am not sure if they still do that today, but when I was in school we had to and I hated it. The first thing you had to know in ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Superficial Religion And Supernatural Regeneration Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on May 1, 2013

Rules, busy-ness versus a new heart, the Spirit

SUPERFICIAL RELIGION AND SUPERNATURAL REGENERATION John 14:6 (752) April 28, 2013 INTRODUCTION: The most popular Rock and Roll song of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine is Led Zeplins “Stairway to Heaven”. Rewritten by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant…Page said, ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ