Sermons on Salvation Focus:

Loving Your Neighbor: A Broader Perspective (Exodus 21:28-36) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Nov 12, 2022

Loving your neighbor includes: (1) watching over your goring ox (and mean dogs), (2) taking warnings about dangerous things seriously, (3) putting a fence around your pool. Take safety seriously.

Quite a few of us, if we were asked to name the ten words/commandments, wouldn't be able to come up with all ten. But for sure one of the ones we would name, is "Don't murder." At first glance, this command is straightforward. God doesn't want his people to kill someone ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 21:28-36, Mark 12:30-31, Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Luke 10:27, Galatians 5:14  (view more)  (view less)

The Great Confusion - Mark 8:27-34 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Nov 19, 2023

The question, “Who do you say I am” is important, but it’s not everything. Equally important is the question, “What does the way you listen to the hard words of Christ say about who you really believe he is?"

Mark 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-34, Matthew 16:13-24, Luke 9:18-23

Finders Weepers Losers Keepers - Mark 8:34-38 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 16, 2023

What does it mean to deny yourself and take up your cross? And how does it help you in your daily battle with sin?

Excerpt #1: You are a radical, fundamentalist, extremist Christian or you are a non-Christian. Excerpt #2: People title this passage, "The Cost of Discipleship," but it could just as well be called, "The Cost of Non-Discipleship." Jesus wants us to compare costs. Excerpt #3: ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38, Matthew 16:13-27, Luke 9:18-26

Not Your Name; My Name - Mark 9:36-41 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Dec 31, 2023

Do you long for a greater experience of the presence of God? In this passage Jesus teaches how to attain that while bringing honor to Jesus and accruing eternal reward.

Mark 9:33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:36-41, Matthew 1:5, Luke 9:48-50

Go To Your Room - Matthew 6:5-6 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 28, 2024

Why does God promise reward for private prayer? And how can you make your daily prayer time the most enjoyable part of your day, instead of a drudgery or chore that is dry and boring? This message will help you actually look forward to your prayer time each day and come away closer to God.

Matthew 6:5-16 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-6

Our Father - Matthew 6:9 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 1, 2024

The Lord’s prayer is an outline for prayer to show us priorities. The invocation reminds us that we are speaking to a person, who that Person is, and what He is like.

Matthew 6:5-15 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9

Kingdom Praying - Matthew 6:10a Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Sep 1, 2024

What can we learn about our culture from the Santa Clause story?

Matthew 6:5-15 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:10

God's Offer (Exodus 23:20-33; Jude 5) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jan 2, 2023

God's been setting up the framework for a new covenant with Israel. Having described what it means to obey God (Exodus 19:5), God now unpacks his offer-- What will God do for his people?

The past several weeks, while working through the Book of the Covenant in Exodus, we've seen God set out his expectations for how his people will live toward him, and toward each other. Some of these expectations have been straightforward rules. God has specific do's and don'ts for ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 23:20-33, 1 John 3:21-24, Romans 12:1-2, Jude 1:5

The Man Who Honored The King’s Son - Mark 15:40-47 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 1, 2024

Why do all four gospels make such a point about the details of Jesus burial? His death matters, his resurrection matters, but why is his burial so important? And what are the implications for us?

Mark 15:40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. 42 It was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:40-47, Matthew 27:55-61, Luke 23:48

Ministry Glasses - Philippians 2:25-30 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jun 17, 2024

If you saw your ministry through God's eyes, you would be staggered.

Philippians 2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs (lit: and your apostle and minister of my needs). 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30

The Cost Of National Sin Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 29, 2024

God does judge nations. God's judgement of Israel serves to warn the nations in this day not to presume on God's goodness and mercy.

Sin is expensive! You can’t afford the price demanded when you embrace sin! Though you may play with sin, you are playing a game that is rigged to ensure that you cannot win. You deceive yourself when you imagine you can afford the price you are going to pay. We are warned against inviting sin ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 2:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

Yours Is The Kingdom Of Heaven - Matthew 5:3b Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 3, 2024

This message explores what the kingdom of God is, and what it means that it belongs to you.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Comfort For The Brokenhearted - Matthew 5:4 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 4, 2024

How can you find comfort from God in the midst of deep suffering? This message will help you understand what it looks like to be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10) by receiving God’s comfort in the midst of your suffering.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

The Sooners Vs. The Soft - Matthew 5:5 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Jul 4, 2024

This passage describes one of the virtues of Jesus that he explicitly drew attention to because of how important it is, and yet it’s one of the least desired virtues even among Christians. This message reveals the meaning of meekness, and how to become more meek.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5

Chastisement And Compassion Series

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jul 6, 2024

Even in the midst of national judgement, the follower of Christ the Lord is comforted by the hope Christ gives.

“This hurts me more than it hurts you.” Are those words familiar to you? Do they bring back memories from your childhood? I don’t know if your dad ever spoke those words to you, but my dad said these words more frequently than should ever have been necessary. And I readily admit that I gave him ...read more

Scripture: Lamentations 3:1-33

Denomination: Baptist