Sermons on Sad Stories:

Advent: Joy

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Dec 9, 2007

The good news of great joy for all people is shocking news that we dare not get used to.

Humans are complex creatures, aren’t we? Those we love we tend to hurt. We love God and yet we sin against God. We have goals and aspirations that are noble and strong , and yet we get tripped up by our own weakness along the way to fulfilling our goals. We can never seem to outrun the allure of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-44

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Growing Generosity Series

Contributed by Kevin Mccarthy on Dec 12, 2007

Open your heart and grow greater generosity.

Giving the gift of “me:” Growing Generosity, Open Before Christmas series, Message #1, December 2, 2007. Did you shop on black Friday? Over 130 million of us hit the stores on the day after thanksgiving (dubbed “Black Friday”). Would you rate your experience a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down?” ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Buried Under The Oaks Of Shechem

Contributed by Fred Parker on Dec 15, 2007

As we peer into the subdued shadows of our pasts, it is often extremely difficult to discern those indiscriminate things that are disturbing our devotion to God in the present. ___ E. Fred Parker (November 6, 2004)

BURIED UNDER THE OAKS OF SHECHEM Written by Rev Fred Parker November 6, 2004 FOCUS As we peer into the subdued shadows of our pasts, it is often extremely difficult to discern those indiscriminate things that are disturbing our devotion to God in the present. ___ E. Fred Parker (November 6, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 35:1-4

Denomination: Apostolic

The Father Of Faith Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 18, 2007

Abraham, Pt. 8

THE FATHER OF FAITH (GENESIS 22:1-18) At 3:00 a.m. one cold morning a missionary candidate walked into an office for a scheduled interview with the examiner of a mission board. He waited until 8 a.m. when the examiner arrived. The examiner said, “Let us begin. First, please spell baker.” ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Who's In Charge? Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 19, 2007

Joshua, Pt. 3

WHO’S IN CHARGE? (JOSHUA 3:1-17) Famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawabest’s black and white movie “Ikiru” certainly makes one ponder about life’s meaning and purpose. The story is about the choices a dying man faced and made upon learning he had cancer. Kanji Watanabe, the Chief of the Citizens ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Choices And Consequences: Unfaithful Series

Contributed by J John on Dec 20, 2007

Anyone who builds a relationship on anything less than openness and honesty is building on shifting sand. There are moments in our lives that change everything.

--note-- 2002, 20th Century Fox Director: Adrian Lyne Starring: Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Olivier Martinez - - - - - Unfaithful is directed by Adrian Lyne, and set in the suburbs of New York City. That’s where Edward and Connie Sumner (played by Richard Gere and Diane Lane) live with their ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:14

Denomination: *other

Wash Basins

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Dec 20, 2007

This is a message about Pilate and his work at the wash basin.

WASH BASINS TEXT: Matthew 27:22-24 Matthew 27:22-24 -- Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:22-24

Denomination: Pentecostal

Win The War, Not The Battle Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

Saul, Pt. 3

WIN THE WAR, NOT THE BATTLE (1 SAMUEL 13:5-15) There are many tests in life: death of loved ones, getting the pink slip and losing a stable job, to name the most stressful. One of the most stressful periods of my life was when I returned to full-time continuing theological education. My savings ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 13:5-15

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The King Of Glory Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

God of Wonders, Pt. 5

THE KING OF GLORY (PSALMS 24:7-10) A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them in some way to communicate ideas about God. Here are some of the results from the kids: God is like BAYER ASPIRIN ... He works miracles. God is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 24:7-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Great Is Thy Faithfulness Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

God of Wonders, Pt. 7

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS (PSALMS 89:1-4) God’s faithfulness to me can be summed up by my wife’s grievance against me: “God drops everything on your lap for you - including me!” She was right. God gave me a godly, loving, smart and wonderful wife. On hearing me speak for the first time, my Ph. D ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 89:1-4

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Champions Are Made, Not Born Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 20, 2007

David, Pt. 2

CHAMPIONS ARE MADE, NOT BORN (1 SAMUEL 17:21-49) Hockey’s Great One, Wayne Gretzky, was asked, “What is it that separates great champions from the near-great?” He replied, “My goodness, I don’t know. If I did, I’d bottle it up and sell it.” (“What do Jeff Gordon, Martina Navratilova, Bob Knight and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:21-49

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Does Faith Overthrow The Law? Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Dec 21, 2007

In this sermon we learn that faith does not overthrow the law but, rather, upholds the law.

Scripture Let’s read Romans 3:27-31, to get the context of Paul’s comments, bearing in mind that today’s text is Romans 3:31: "27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Does It Mean To Be "Perfect?"

Contributed by James Cloud on Dec 21, 2007

Exploring the principles that make us more Christlike.

What Does It Mean To Be Perfect? Illustration: (There was a young boy who had been writing God a note on how good he had been throughout the past year. He began by writing, “Dear God, I have been good for six months now and I think I deserve a good gift for Christmas.” Upon thinking about it he ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Denomination: Anglican

All Is Vanity Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Solomon, Pt. 3

ALL IS VANITY (1 KINGS 11:1-14) A Jewish story tells of Alexander the Great’s presence before the gates of paradise on his journey home after he had conquered the whole world. Seeing that the gates would not open for him, he asked for a token to prove that he was there. All he got was a human eye. ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Easy Come, Easy Go Series

Contributed by Victor Yap on Dec 22, 2007

Parables for Seekers, Pt. 3

EASY COME, EASY GO (LUKE 12:13-21) From figures acquired from New York Times, I have broken down the worst financial losses from October 9, 2007, to September 12, 2008, according to percentage: JP Morgan - $18.8 billion, or 11.7 percent Bank of America - $86.3 billion, or 36.5 percent Morgan ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible