Sermons on Rites Of Passage:

Is Christmas Good For The Economy?

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 25, 2023

In the well-known "A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie, who is upset about the commercialism of Christmas cried out: "What is Christmas all about?" How would you answer him?

Is Christmas good for the Economy? 1 Peter 3:15 It’s that time of the year again. Black Friday sales are everywhere. We are beckoned to go out and buy gifts for our loved ones. Businesses everywhere are hoping for good sales this season. It is known as Black Friday because it is during this season ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's Tender Mercies

Contributed by Michael Stark on May 29, 2008

God does discipline His children who approach the Lord’s Table with unholy attitudes. This is does as an act of love. If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:31, 32 GOD’S TENDER MERCIES “If we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. When we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” No doubt the title of the message appears strange to some people. How can discipline be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

Denomination: Baptist

The Supreme Ministry Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 27, 2014

1) The Source (Col. 1:23c, 25a), 2) Spirit (Col. 1:24a), 3) Suffering (Col. 1:24b), 4) Scope (Col. 1:25b), 5) Subject (Col. 1:26–27), 6)Style (Col. 1:28a), 7)Sum (Col. 1:28b) & 8)Strength of the ministry (Col. 1:29)

For those mountain climbing, the time they are in most danger is right after they reach the summit. In striving so hard for so long, after the point to which they reach their goal, they are most likely to put their guard down and lose their way. We've just celebrated the pinnacle of our year in the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:24-29

Denomination: Other

Seek & Find: Seeking The Kinsman-Redeemer Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 19, 2009

In seeking our Kinsman-redeemer we must look for: 1) The Right Purpose, we must go to 2) The Right Person 3) We Must Make the Right Preparations and finally 4) We Must be at the Right Place

A curious phenomena occurring more and more these days is the ever increasing relationships between two people of differing age brackets. For some noteworthy examples, it can be decades apart. A French court is currently examining whether the elderly heiress to the L’Oreal fortune, Europe’s richest ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-5

Denomination: Other

Obedience Versus The Wisdom Of This Age

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 31, 2010

Christians are called to obedience. In fact, God equates obedience to His will with love for Him. To fail to obey Him is to demonstrate that we love self more than we love Him.

DEUTERONOMY 5:32, 33; 6:24, 25 OBEDIENCE VERSUS THE WISDOM OF THIS AGE “You shall be careful … to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Battles To The Very End Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 14, 2016

Though believers in the Lord are engaged in battles to the end of earthly days, they are assured of victory in Christ.

“Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-18

Denomination: Baptist

But Contemporary Music Brings People To Jesus! Right?

Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 16, 2015

A consideration of the role of worship in salvation, focusing especially on how we worship.

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, ‘By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.’ Thus ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25

Denomination: Baptist

Why Would You Not Join The Church? Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Sep 3, 2020

Christians are expected to unite with a congregation of the faithful in order to fulfil the ministry God assigns each follower of Christ.

“Those who received his word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-44

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Conflict Series

Contributed by Ryan Akers on May 7, 2009

Conflict is unavoidable and spiritual conflict is no different. This message looks at how Paul deals with spiritual conflict amongst the religious and how we still today battle between being religious and being saved by faith alone.

Illuminate Part 6- Conquering Conflict Pastor Ryan Akers Have you ever felt like no matter what you do you will never be good enough? Job- no matter how hard you work, how many extra hours you put in, how much you give up to be the best you always seem to get passed over for promotions, or your ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11

Denomination: Wesleyan

There Must Be Factions Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Nov 4, 2007

Worship at the Lord’s Table may either be focused on Christ, or on the individual participating. Paul cautions against trivializing the Lord’s Table to suit oneself.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:17-20 THERE MUST BE FACTIONS “In the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-20

Denomination: Baptist

Preaching Christ Crucified

Contributed by Bradley White-Findeisen on Mar 1, 2011

Thoughts on preaching

When a person is called to “trial preach”, he has a dilemma. How can he go into a church that he doesn't know in a community that he doesn't know and preach a sermon that is relevant to people he doesn't know? I'm at an advantage here because I live in this community and I'm active in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Denomination: *other

Demoniac Of Gadara Series

Contributed by Rev. Dr. M. J. Joseph on Jun 10, 2017

This sermon talks about the responsibility of the parents in nurturing their children in God's way.

Demoniac of Gadara Mark 5:1-9 I went to a parish in connection with the CSSM mission. I was invited to the residence of a member of that parish. As I reached there, I asked about the family members. The father of the family told me that he has 4 sons. The eldest one is a doctor. He lives ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-9

Denomination: Episcopal

I’m Outta Here Series

Contributed by Thomas Swope on Oct 26, 2015

A study of the book of 1 Samuel 4: 1 – 22

1 Samuel 4: 1 – 22 I’m Outta Here 1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-22

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Getting Serious About Our Worship Series

Contributed by Dean Rhine on Aug 5, 2019

Ezekiel sees the false worship of the Jews

Ezekiel 8 - Getting Serious about Our Worship - March 11, 2018 Turn with me this morning to Ezekiel 8. Ezekiel is one of the major prophets of the OT. The books are called Major prophets because they are much longer books that the Minor prophets, which tend to be books with only a couple of ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Triumphal Entry Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 2, 2018

The record of Jesus' last week begins here. The time had arrived for Him to present Himself openly to the Jewish people as their Messiah-King. He would do this in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.

-Sunday- Bethany, Jerusalem, Bethany (Title) Triumphal Entry (Zech. 9:9), Matt. 21:1-9, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44 (Focal Passage), John 12:12-19 28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44

Denomination: Baptist