Sermons on Russel Carter:

Living Like An Alien

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Nov 1, 2011

Using Judah in the Old Testament as an example, this message explains how God's people are to live as "aliens" in this world while we await the return of Christ and eternity in our true, eternal kingdom.

INTRODUCTION * A hot topic in politics: illegal immigration = “aliens” - a resident born in or belonging to another country - a foreigner; unlike one’s own / strange or difference * We, as God’s people, are aliens in a spiritual sense (not new: the people of God in the OT ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Stay In The Boat

Contributed by Russell Lackey on Aug 10, 2014

It has been said that "you will never walk on water if you do not get out of the boat." And yet, too often we fail to think about the next step. This sermon is meant to encourage those afraid to step out in faith as well as those who are sinking!

Many centuries ago, a man named Peter stood on the edge of a boat in the Sea of Galilee. Like all people who find themselves on an edge - whether physical or metaphorical - a decision had to be made. Peter’s choice was to either to step out onto the water or remain in the boat. Not an easy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Lutheran

Friends Along The Way

Contributed by Russell Lackey on Sep 3, 2014

This sermon is about the importance of friendship. We are called to be friends. The greatest way to be a friend is to bring people to Jesus (who is our greatest friend)

Many years ago there was a man who wanted to meet Jesus. Everyone in that day wanted to meet Jesus. This man hoped Jesus would heal him. There was a problem. He could not walk. Even more, there were too many people blocking the way to Jesus. How would he get to there? The local government ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus, According To Paul Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Aug 4, 2011

This sermon explores the Apostle Paul's understanding of the person of Jesus Christ

INTRODUCTION * Paul’s life before Christ and after Christ - from persecuting the church to planting churches - from arresting Christians physically to arresting unbelievers spiritually - from hindering the work of Christ to hindering the work of Satan - from being openly opposed to Christ to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:13-41

Denomination: Baptist

Are You A Spectator Or A Participant? Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Aug 4, 2011

This sermon focuses on whether believers will simply watch others accomplish God's mission or if they will actually take part in accomplishing the mission of God

INTRODUCTION * Difference between a spectator and a participant: - Spectator doesn’t understand all that’s involved in the game = participant does - Spectator doesn’t understand the true goal = participant does - Spectator falsely believes that he can make a different in the game ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:42-52

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Or Bust

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Aug 4, 2011

This sermon explains several qualities that are required if a believer is going to have "The Gospel or Bust" attitude

INTRODUCTION * Midwest, 1930s = livelihood of farmers became almost non-existent; many set out on Route 66 for California with the phrase “California or Bust” written on signs attached to trucks * The phase “or bust” has continued to be used by people in different contexts ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Doing The Impossible Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 6, 2011

This sermon explains how the disciples (and the church today) were able to do a seemingly impossible task: taking the Gospel to the world

* Assignment from Acts 1:8 is impossible in Acts 1 because the disciples have no spiritual power to help them * Explain Holy Spirit’s role, pre-Acts 2 (came upon isolated individuals or small groups for a specific purpose or on a special occasion) * Disciples know the facts about Jesus but lack the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Divine Dynamite Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This is a sermon on the power of God (divine dynamite) and what it can do

* Dynamite = power // Divine Dynamite = power of God * What we mean when we say we need to "live in the power of God" or we need to have the power of God: the ability to act in a situation so as to produce an effect or to exercise authority over something or someone * Living in God’s power means ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:22-41

Denomination: Baptist

Why You Need The Church Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon explains three reasons why every believer needs the church

* The church doesn’t need us in order to be the church nearly as much as we need the church in order to be the person God created us to be. * The importance of the church is based upon its mission * Wrong question: "What can the church do for me?" // Right question: "What can I do for the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

A Changed Church Changes The World Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon explains a few lessons about how a changed church can change the world

* Change: to make the form, content, future course, etc., of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone; a transformation or modification; alteration * Change is often resisted in the church. Yet one could sum up a church’s purpose with one word: change - We must ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Dealing With Difficulty Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon focuses on the first persecution of the church and helps us understand how to deal with difficulty today

* When something big happens, new people come out (i.e, winning the lottery) * There’s both a positive and negative reaction when God does something big (he just did something big in the first church) * Jesus warned that persecution and adversity would occur (John 15:18-19) * Text: First ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:1-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Message Of The Church Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 7, 2011

This sermon examines what the message of the church should consist of.

* The "real" message a church sends determines that church’s reputation - If always bickering and fighting, the message is sent: "We don’t like each other...or you." - If always doing things for self, the message is sent: "It’s all about us, not you." - If never reaching out, the message is sent: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:11-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Facts Of Church Life Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 13, 2011

Acts 4:32 - 5:11 reveals some facts about church life, both the good and the bad.

* "You take the good, you take bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life." * Scripture does not omit the "bad" aspects of various people (i.e., Noah, Moses, David, Jonah, Elijah) * The church in Acts has been all "good" so far: the Holy Spirit’s arrival; multiple conversions; ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How The World Was Won Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 13, 2011

By studying how the church in Acts won so many souls the church today can learn how to be faithful and fruitful in our mission.

* The primary task of the church must be to carry on the work that Christ began. * His work = Luke 19:10 * Of all the "work" the church does, evangelism (reaching the world with the gospel) is the only duty of the church that cannot be better done in heaven! * The church in Acts understood their ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Denomination: Baptist

Growing Pains Series

Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Mar 13, 2011

The early church’s response to an internal problem teaches the contemporary church some valuable lessons.

* The dramatic growth of the early church: last count (4:4) around 5,000 men (probably around 20,000 total) * Such growth led to a “good” problem: many more needed to be ministered to than there were people to minister * The 12 did not have the ability to both effectively deliver the Word and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist