Sermons on Russ Blowers:

Unleash The Boldness Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 13, 2017

Be bold for Jesus by embracing risk, enhancing prayer and elevating our expectations.

October 22 Unleash the Boldness (Acts 4:27-31) While at Wheaton College in Chicago, Jim Ellot met a former missionary to the Quichua Indians of Ecuador. This is where he first heard of the remote and much-feared Waorani tribe; totally isolated from the gospel. He and a group of young men ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:27-31

Denomination: Baptist

Unleash The Freedom Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 13, 2017

Experiencing freedom in Jesus by gaining a proper perspective, Acquiring a surrendered attitude and taking a step of faith.

October 29 Unleash the Freedom (Acts 10) You probably already know how they train elephants, right? Any professional elephant trainers amongst us? Well, let me tell you then. When the elephant is a baby, they let it out of the cage and tie a rope around its neck. And of course the elephant ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Unleash The Surrender Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 13, 2017

Being fully surrendered means we are honest with God, honest with ourselves and honest with others.

November 5 Unleash the Surrender (Acts 5:1-11) In 2005, Grammy Winning rapper Lil Kim was arrested and sent to prison for lying about what happened in a gunfight outside a night club. She lied to protect a friend. She was fined $50k and sent to prison. Before the sentence was handed down, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Unleash The Commitment Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 13, 2017

Committing completely to God by sending, contagion and generosity.

November 12 Unleash the Commitment (Acts 11:19-30) 4 min Song 1 4 min Intro to Commitment Sunday Well, today is Commitment Sunday! I can hardly believe it’s here. Today is going to be a life-changing day in the life of our church, I thrilled that you’re here to be a part of it. If you are ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

Created For Community Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 13, 2017

Fundamentals of community are: God exists in community, humans were created to exist in community, human choices have broken community with God, and God has acted to restore broken relationships.

September 10 Created for Community Genesis 1-3 God said,  “Let Us  make man in Our image, according to Our likeness The fundamentals of community: 1. God exists in community The triune God exists in community We are created in God’s image and God exists in community 2. Humans were ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Community Requires Commitment Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 13, 2017

Being committed to each other means we are committed to each other's well-being, to love and good works and to the gathering to encourage one another.

September 17 Community requires Commitment Hebrews 10:19-25 Fun LG testimony of committing something to do together. Or..story of First Responder acting to help his teammate Turn to Hebrews 10:19-25 This morning we continue our three-part series, Better Together. That’s one of the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Denomination: Baptist

Commitment Brings Connection Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

The evidence of our connection with Jesus is our loving connectivity with each other.

September 24 Commitment brings Connection The evidence of our connection with Jesus is our loving connectivity with each other. We are called to biblical connectivity: 1. Biblical connectivity is inconvenient 2. Biblical connectivity is messy 3. Biblical community is ...read more

Scripture: John 4:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Bring Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

To see the Wonder of God, we need bring our faith.

Bring August 6, 2017 Mark 9:14-29 1. When people aren’t experiencing God’s power, they begin to argue 2. When Jesus shows up, arguments turn to amazement 3. When we suffer in this broken world, the result can be excruciating 4. When we try to overcome brokenness in our own strength, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Denomination: Baptist

Invite Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

So many wonderful things happen when we invite Jesus into the routines of our lives:

Invite Luke 5:1-11 Wonderful things happen when we invite Jesus into the routines of our lives: 1. Jesus uses our routines for His higher purposes 2. We get a fresh glimpse of who He is Confronted with the wonder of God, we more clearly see our own frail and flawed humanity Being ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Release Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

When we release what we have and who we are to Jesus, wonderful things happen.

Release Luke 9:10-17 August 20, 2017 Action: We’re here. Background: All that we have, Jesus entrusted to us. Crisis: Our resources are not enough to meet the demand. Resolution: When we release what we have and who we are to Jesus, wonderful things happen. Consequence: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:10-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Higher Path: Jesus Our Model Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

If Christ is our model we should model His attitude, actions, and path.

June 4 The Higher Path: Jesus Our Model Philippians 2:5-11 The lower we bend, the higher we fly. If Christ is our model, how shall we model Him? 1. We are to model His attitude vv.5-7a John 1:1; Revelation 1:8 Every pride we have, every anger we experience, every irritation we notice, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Our Great Struggle With Pride Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

Pride is an inaccurate and malformed understanding of one’s self-image and self-worth. It places our perspective above God, believes we know better than God, and propels us toward tragic consequences.

June 18 Our Great Struggle with Pride The lower we bend, the higher we fly. Pride is an inaccurate and malformed understanding of one’s self-image and self-worth. 1. Pride places our perspective above God’s. 2. Pride believes we know better for ourselves than God Critical connections: ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Great Life Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

What is the Great Life? The Great Life is a life given to the glory of God.

June 25 The Great Life Matthew 16:13-18 This morning I want to talk about The Great Life. As I researched the topic, I found a number of websites dedicated to The Great Life. One was a site helping people become entrepreneurs (logo of www.thegreat.life: build, live, enjoy). One was a site ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-18

Denomination: Baptist

Outfitting For Ministry Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

The way of Jesus is the way of humble service to Him, His church, and others. God has given you gifts to build up the Body of Christ; to beautify the Bride of Christ.

July 16 Outfitting for Ministry The way of Jesus is the way of humble service to Him, His church, and others. God has given you gifts to build up the Body of Christ; to beautify the Bride of Christ. Four important truths from this verse: 1. These gifts are from the Spirit “A ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Denomination: Baptist

Where Is Your Faith? Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Nov 14, 2017

Faith counts on something being true even when it doesn’t appear to be so. “Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” There is the physical world and there is the spiritual world.

April 23 Where is Your Faith? Luke 8:22-25 A couple of insights about faith Faith counts on something being true even when it doesn’t appear to be so. Hebrews 11:1 Everyone has faith. The question of faith: Where is your faith in the ordinary routines of life? v.22 If faith ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Baptist