Sermons on Safe Towns:

40 Days Of Purpose: Week 5: Ministry: You Were Shaped For Serving God

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Aug 30, 2004

“You were put on earth to make a contribution. You weren’t created just to consume resources – to eat, breathe, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life” -Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

Review: Week one: Why am I on earth? Existence. Week two: What has God planned for me? Significance. Week three: How must I get along with others? Sharing. Week four: What is God doing in my life? Character. Week five: What does God want me to do? Serve. MEMORY VERSE “Each one should use whatever ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:30-37

Denomination: Baptist

40 Days Of Purpose: Week 6: Evangelism: You Were Made For A Mission

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Aug 30, 2004

“Jesus calls us not only to come to Him, but to go for Him.” -Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life

Review: Six words 1. Purpose: God has a plan for us. 2. Worship: bring pleasure to God. 3. Fellowship: living with others. 4. Discipleship: becoming like Jesus. 5. Ministry: serving others. 6. Evangelism: sharing the good news. MEMORY VERSE “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

Denomination: Baptist

Stories Of Christmas: Lesson 1

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Aug 31, 2004

Stories of Christmas

A. THE FIRST WORD FROM HEAVEN IN 400 YEARS. LUKE 1:3-22 1. Why did God choose Elizabeth and Zacharias to be parents of John the Baptist? - Because they were godly. “Both were righteous before God, walking in all the commandments . . . blameless” (v. 6). - To raise a godly son. - To reward them ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:3-22

Denomination: Baptist

Stories Of Christmas: Lesson 2

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Aug 31, 2004

Stories of Christmas

A. WHERE ELSE WOULD A KING BE BORN? LUKE 2:1-7 1. Why did Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem? - Commanded by Caesar. “A decree went out from Caesar Augustus . . . so all went . . . everyone to his own city” (2:1, 3). - Predicted. “But you Bethlehem . . . out of you will come . . . the One to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

Stories Of Christmas: Lesson 3:

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Aug 31, 2004

Stories of Christmas

A. IN SEARCH OF THE KING. MATTHEW 2:1-2 1. Why were Mary and Joseph still living in Bethlehem? - So their son could be near the Temple. - So their son could identify with David. Bethlehem is the city of David and the angel predicted Jesus would sit on David’s throne. - Rumors in Nazareth. - The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Palm Sunday Journey

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Sep 1, 2004

Jesus’ Palm Sunday Journey

1. The road was well known, but this journey was unique. - Jesus had been on this road many times. - Offers Himself as King. “Behold your King is coming to you, lowly and sitting on a donkey” (Matt. 21:5). - We may know our road, but Jesus knows our journey. 2. Why a donkey for this journey? - ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:3-11

Denomination: Baptist

How To Love Your Mother

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Sep 3, 2004

How to love your mother

1. Tell her you love her. There are at least three languages of love. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (I John 3:18). a. Attitudes. This is loving in attitude of truth. b. Actions. This is loving in deeds. c. Words. This is verbal communicaton of ...read more

Scripture: John 19:26-27

Denomination: Baptist

Firstfruits Of All Thine Increase: Lesson 1-Tithe Your Talent

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 20, 2003

"All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree is the Lord’s" (Lev. 27:30).

A. INTRODUCTION 1. What does the Lord expect from each one of us? The tithe. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Host, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Firstfruits Of All Thine Increase: Lesson 2-Tithe Your Time

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 20, 2003

"All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree is the Lord’s" (Lev. 27:30).

A. INTRODUCTION 1. What does the Lord expect of us? The tithe. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Host, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12

Denomination: Baptist

Firstfruits Of All Thine Increase: Lesson 3-Tithe Your Treasure

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 20, 2003

"All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree is the Lord’s" (Lev. 27:30).

A. INTRODUCTION 1. What does God expect of you? Tithe. "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of Host, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

Mary – The Example Of A Godly Woman

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 20, 2003

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a godly example throughout her life. Notice the characteristics of a true woman of God.

A. INTRODUCTION: LUKE 1:26-38; 46-56 1. Sixteen years. How old was Mary when Jesus was born? 2. She needed a Savior. What is our reaction to the claim Mary was born without sin? "My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" (1:47). B. HOW WAS MARY AN EXAMPLE OF A GODLY WOMAN 1. Mary was living a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Baptist

Fear At Christmas

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 30, 2003

Fear: What it is and how you can overcome it.

A. FEAR AT CHRISTMAS “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Experiencing Renewed Vision (Lesson 5)

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 31, 2003

Series: What Happens When the Church Prays?

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Go everywhere. Where had Jesus told them to go? “Go ye into all the world” (Mark 16:15). 2. Evangelize. “What had Jesus told them to do? “Preach the gospel to every person” (Mark 16:15). 3. Followers in every nation. What results did Jesus expect? “Make disciples in every ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Experiencing Release (Lesson 4)

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 31, 2003

Series: What Happens When the Church Prays?

A. PROBLEMS FACING THE CHURCH 1. Politics bring trouble. When Caligula was Caesar, he took Emperor worship seriously, putting a statue of himself in the Jewish Temple. This resulted in Jewish struggles and Roman persecutions. “The church had rest” (Acts 9:31). When Claudius became Caesar in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Experiencing Reconciliation (Lesson 3)

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jan 31, 2003

Series: What Happens When the Church Prays?

A. EXPECT OFFENSES 1. Aggressively ministering. What were the Christians doing? “Daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42). 2. Oblivious to problems. Some Christians can be so busy – and diligent – serving Christ that they are unaware ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist