Sermons on Rivers In The Desert:

The Memorial Altar In Gilead Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 12, 2025

Israel had taken control of much of Canaan. Two and a half tribes lived east of the Jordan River and decided to build a memorial altar for a witness of unity. When asked to explain, they replied honestly.

The Memorial Altar in Gilead (This message is based on a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO on Sunday evening, May 25, 2025 and is not an exact transcription). Introduction: Well-meaning things aren’t always perceived that way. In this message, we’ll see that a gesture of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joshua 5: Time To Take Care Of Some Things Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 21, 2024

Joshua chapter 5 reflects a couple of items Israel hadn't done in nearly 40 years. Israel had crossed the Jordan River, ready to claim their Promised Land, but they had to take care of a couple of items first.

Introduction: Israel had crossed over the Jordan River and now they were camping in Canaan, the Promised Land! God had kept every promise He had made to Israel. Israel, though, had not kept every promise they had made to God. One of those promises was to circumcise (definition omitted here but ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Looking Back And Moving Forward

Contributed by David Elvery on May 6, 2009

A Sermon for a church standing on the brink of a new era.

“Looking Back and Moving Forward” – Josh 1:1-11 Gladstone Baptist Church – 19/11/06 am S1 - Standing on the brink of something new is scary – there is uncertainty & fear. Have you ever been faced with something new and been scared? I can remember when Deanna and I were thinking about moving ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

"I Am" Is All That You Need!

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Jul 25, 2011

There is no higher authority to be had! He spoke the world into existence with His words, One moment in His marvelous light, with His Grace and Favor shining down on you is all you need to go on!!

"I Am" Is All That You Need! Exodus 3:14 MSG. 14. God said to Moses, "I Am who I Am. Tell the People of Israel, ’I Am sent me to you.’" Whatever it is that’s challenging you today, whatever it is that’s got you stressed! The Great I Am, declares to you this morning, I Am Whatever you need me ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Quench Your Thirst With Living Water!

Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Mar 6, 2023

Water and thirst. Those are two powerful pictures that we find in Jesus’ interaction with a Samaritan woman at a well. May God the Holy Spirit enable us to recognize the insatiable thirst that sin gives us. And every day, let’s quench our thirst with living water.

This reading from John 4 uses something from everyday life that is intended to give us a powerful connection to spiritual truth. It’s supposed to touch our head and our heart and impact our emotions. But I fear that it is lost on us. What am I talking about? It’s just plain water. Well, I ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-26

Denomination: Lutheran

Found Faithful Series

Contributed by Frank Lay on Sep 20, 2004

The first readers of the book of Hebrews were Jewish believers, in danger of deserting their faith and reverting to the old system of law. The author was challenging them to be faithful to their faith in Jesus Christ. That challenge is now given to us as

FOUND FAITHFUL Hebrews 10:19-25 The book of Hebrews teaches us about the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way to God. God spoke in the past many different times and in many different ways. God’s final revelation was through His Son, Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

(Lesson 4) Elijah: An Encounter Out Of Discouragement

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Apr 10, 2003

Elijah ran into the desert because Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. He encountered God, not in a mighty force to destroy the evil rule of Jezebel, but in a still, small voice to send Elijah back into service.

A. INTRODUCTION: I KINGS 19:3-18 1. Miraculous food. God provided for Elijah’s needs. "The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook" (I Kings 17:6). 2. Miraculous source. "The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:3-18

Denomination: Baptist

David And His Line In The Sand

Contributed by Rick Kallstrom on Jun 9, 2003

It was a cool, brisk morning in the desert area of Shocock in the land of Judah. This would be a very special day filled with much adventure and real danger. The year was 1020 B.C. and the clouds of war were in the air.

It was a cool, brisk morning in the desert area of Shocock in the land of Judah. This would be a very special day filled with much adventure and real danger. The year was 1020 B.C. and the clouds of war were in the air. The battle lines had been formed with the mighty Philistines standing on one ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Save A Life

Contributed by Tim Diack on Aug 22, 2012

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert so the Son of Man must be lifted up! Sin brings death but by God's grace the sinner recieves life! Message ends with the sharing of the Lord's Supper.

To Save A Life - Numbers 21:4-9 / John 3:14 - July 1, 2012 Communion Sunday Folks, if we’re honest this morning we’re going to admit that there are many things that God has done throughout history, and continues to do in our day, that we can’t fully wrap our minds around. ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9

Denomination: *other

Trials And Temptations

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Apr 25, 2024

God tested the Israelites in the desert to know what was in their hearts, and tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. God allows external hardships or difficult situations produce good qualities in us.

Opening illustration: Illustrate the difference between Temptation and Trial. Introduction: In the New Testament, the same Greek word (peirazo) is used for trial, test, and temptation. The basic meaning of peirazo is to test something to determine its response, value, or character. When peirazo is ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Of The Roller Coasters

Contributed by Robert Fox on Jan 26, 2006

Uses Elijah’s mountaintop experience on Carmel followed by his pity-fest in the desert to talk about the highs and lows of life. You can’t live on the mountaintop. Fortunately, our God is God of the valleys also. Student Ministry PowerPoint format.

[Living in the Valleys] Slide Graphic - photo of tall mountain and deep dark valley Slide Text - Elijah came to a juniper tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4) I love mission trips! I had such a good time on this ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Philip And The Ethiopian Eunuch Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Mar 29, 2017

Philip is leaving a place where there has been a great movement of the Spirit of God, to go into a place, a desert, where there is nobody. However, when he gets there, he finds that God does have someone to whom he is to witness.

February 16, 2014 By: Tom Lowe Topic #III: The Church Scattered into Palestine and Syria (8:4-12:25) Subtopic A. The Ministry of Philip (8:4-40). Lesson III.A.2: Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (8:26-39) Introduction The first mentioned of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-39

Denomination: Baptist

Obstacles On The Way Series

Contributed by Robert Massey on Jun 13, 2002

Life is filled with obstacles. Israel encountered the obstacle of a flooded river. Here in Joshua, there were three directives given to Israel before the crossing of the Jordan. I believe that there is application value in these directives for us as we

OBSTACLES ON THE WAY Joshua 3:15-17 Obstacles. The dictionary defines obstacles as “something that stands in the way or opposes”. Something that is between where you are, and where you want to go. Life is filled with obstacles. Some of them will be small, such as maybe a road block on the way ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:15-17

Denomination: Church Of God

Created For Power

Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Jul 29, 2002

We were created in Christ Jesus as New creatures to carry the power and anointing of God in our lives, that this power may flow out of us as rivers of living waters, to the lost the hungry the thirsty, the dying.

Acts 1:8 We serve a God who makes his presence known (He manifests himself in supernatural ways). In Exe. He appears to Moses as a flame of fire in a bush He manifests himself as a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud He is the rock that followed the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Isaiah 43:7

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Do These Stones Mean?

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 24, 2008

When God took the children of Israel across the river Jordan he called them to set up memorial stones. The stones caution us to remember, they challenge us to recount, and they call us to respond.

Intro: There was a rumor circulating in Washington some time ago that Osama Bin Laden had died and gone to Heaven. As the story goes, when he arrived in Paradise, Osama was greeted by George Washington who slapped him across the face and yelled, "How dare you attack the nation I helped conceive!" ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-24

Denomination: Baptist