Sermons on Sam Cooke:

Ministry - Loving Your Neighbor As Yourself

Contributed by Matthew Cook on May 11, 2005

Outreach - A Church Expense or a Church Investment?

Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself Center Point Baptist Church May 11, 2005 Introduction What is a good investment today? Several strong companies that enjoyed a superior reputation not long ago are now struggling to survive - or have gone bankrupt. Companies like Enron, Nextel, Worldcom, Delta, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:29-34

Denomination: Baptist

We Are Not Alone Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

1st in series on meaning of Pentecost. It was a pilgrim holiday, to draw near to God. Acts 2 shows us God drawing near to us.

Acts 2:1-13 – We Are Not Alone On June 18, 1815, twelve miles south of Brussels and two miles from the Belgian village of Waterloo, the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was soundly defeated by Arthur Wellesley, better known as the Duke of Wellington. At the time of this victory, though, things ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Heart These Days Is Hard To Find Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

2nd in series on what Pentecost means. Instead of the Law written on tablets of stone, it’s now written on our hearts.

Acts 2:1-11 – A Good Heart is Hard to Find (Many of the conclusions, including the wording, set forth here flow from John Eldredge.) In his book The Moral Intelligence of Children, Harvard professor Robert Coles told a story about Marian, one of his students several years ago. She had arrived ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

God Uses Reverse Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

3rd in series on what Pentecost means. Here Babel is contrasted with Pentecost, from judgement to mercy

Acts 2:1-36; Genesis 11:1-11 – God Uses Reverse A few years before John Newton, the writer of the song “Amazing Grace”, died, a friend was having breakfast with him. Their custom was to read from the Bible after the meal. Because old John’s eyes were growing dim, his friend would read, then ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Firstfruits Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

4th in series on what Pentecost means. It was also called the Day of Firstfruits, and this shows that we become the offering to God.

Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-4 – Firstfruits Today we are continuing to look at the festival of Pentecost, from the eyes of a 1st-century Jewish Christian. The Acts 2 Pentecost changed the world, but since all the early converts were Jewish, what did the holiday mean to them? We looked at the idea ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Will Sing Of My Redeemer Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

5th in series on what Pentecost means. This was also a Mother’s Day sermon about the need to have a Redeemer. Ruth had Boaz, we have Jesus, as evidenced by Pentecost.

Galatians 3:10-14 – I Will Sing of My Redeemer Turn with me to the book of Ruth. Today’s message was fairly difficult to bring together. Not because there’s not much to say on Mother’s Day, but rather there is so much to say. We’ve been looking at the holiday of Pentecost. That in itself is ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:10-14

Denomination: Baptist

Fire Inside Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

6th and last in series on what Pentecost means. This contrasts Acts 2 with Exodus 19, showing that even though the fire was once only for Moses, it’s for all believers today.

Acts 2:1-4 – Fire Inside Three ladies had a bible study and were talking about being refined by the fire. They did not understand about being refined in the fire like silver. One volunteered to go to the silversmith and see what that meant. When she went she did not tell the silversmith why ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Eyes Wide Open Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

1st in series showing Jesus’ priorities on earth. People are important to God, and they need to understand the full extent of His personal care and involvement in their lives.

John 4:1-42 – Eyes Wide Open This week we are starting our series designed for the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Our theme for the year is “Declare His Name: Aligning Our Lives with Christ’s Passion”. It’s about looking at who Christ is, and what He came to earth to do. So, for the next few ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-42

Denomination: Baptist

We Are Family Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

2nd in series on Jesus priorities. This describes what the church should be with alliteration.

Ephesians 2:14–19 – We Are Family You’ve heard me quote many times a book that has changed my life, which is What’s So Amazing About Grace? In it the author, Philip Yancey quotes Mark Twain. Apparently Twain used to say he put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment, to see if they ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:14-19

Denomination: Baptist

More Than Forgiven Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

3rd in series on Jesus’ priorities. This shows we all hurt, and God wants to heal us.

Mark 2:1-12 – More Than Forgiven It’s hunting season and two friends were out hunting. One was always bragging about what a good shot he was. About that time a duck flew over. He took aim and fired… the duck flew on unscathed. He paused a minute and said, "My friend, you are now witnessing ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

New Wine Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

4th in series on Jesus’ priorities. Jesus took the common, and took the customs, and used them for God’s glory.

John 2:1-11 – New Wine I heard about an unfortunate event that happened some time ago at a wedding. A young couple, very much in love, were getting married. Sue, the wife to be, was very nervous about the big occasion and so the pastor chose one verse that he felt would be a great ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

What The Master Needs Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

Last in series on Jesus’ priorities. It’s about giving our donkeys - really, ourselves - to the Master.

Luke 19:28-38 – What the Master Needs (NOTE: these are not original thoughts to me. Most of this cmoes from another sermon of the same name.) Christian author Philip Yancey, in his book The Jesus I Never Knew, described Palm Sunday this way: “The triumphal entry has about it an aura of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-38

Denomination: Baptist

Follow All The Way

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

Resurrection sermon about Jesus’ call to follow: through His life, to His death, and in His resurrection.

John 21:15-19 – Follow All the Way Guiseppe Garibaldi was an Italian soldier who lived during the 1800’s. His father dreamed of his entering the priesthood, but Guiseppe had dreams of being a sailor, and the Navy was the way to do it. His leadership abilities caused him to rise quickly in the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Denomination: Baptist

War Is Hard

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

Preached after the Asian tsunami. It shows that we have an enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy.

Job 1:6 -21 – War is Hard Well, a week ago I had planned to start a series on the life of David, from now until the Lent season. As the week progressed, I felt the growing need to speak about the situation in Asia. Three years ago, after 9-11, I preached on, ”Why, God?” And after the tsunami ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:6-21

Denomination: Baptist

Starting Over Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

1st in a potentially very long and thorough series on Joshua. Also a good New Year sermon. This 1st one deals with faith and courage.

Joshua 1:1-9 – Starting Over Jeffrey Anselmi wrote these words: “I am the new year. I am an unspoiled page in your book of time. I am your next chance at the art of living. I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months. All that you sought and ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Denomination: Baptist