Sermons on Sam Cooke:

Lose The Weight Of Complacency Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

The first in a series used at New Year’s. We Christians can get used to a routine of "being good." We need to break free from complacency and push ourselves to spiritual excellence.

Lose the weight of complacency Purpose: To challenge us to break free from status quo personal Christianity. 1. These are a few of my favorite things: · Chocolate Ice Cream sprinkled with dry coffee grounds, anything that begins with the words Little Debbie, any restaurant that ends with the word ...read more

Scripture: Zephaniah 1:1-12

Denomination: Nazarene

Lose The Weight Of Fear Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

We move in this world according to what we can see. And sometimes what we can see give us cause to fear. But God doesn’t want that in our lives. He’s in control. Because he’s in control, we can live without fear.

Lose the weight of fear Purpose: To challenge people to move away from fear and toward faith. 1. This month we’re trying to lose the weight. Hebrews 12:1 says, "let us take off every weight that slows us down." 2. This morning we’re going to talk about fear. Fear can weigh us down day in and day ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Nazarene

Lose The Weight Of Debt Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A sermon in the "Lose the weight of ..." series. This message challenges the church to live lives of financial contentment. We shouldn’t bind ourselves in debt, trying to live a life we can’t afford. Debt cripples the church.

Lose the weight of debt Purpose: To challenge our people to live contented lives financially with the money got has entrusted to us. 1. Why even talk about debt? Hebrews 12:1. · Debt isn’t a salvation issue. But the way we view money is a spiritual issue. 2. Banker illustration (from radio ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:7

Denomination: Nazarene

Lose The Weight Of Unforgiveness Series

Contributed by Rich Cook on Jun 28, 2005

A final sermon in the "Lose the weight of ..." series. This message looks at what forgiveness is and what it isn’t. A tough message for those dealing with forgiveness issues, but a challenging one for those seeking spiritual health.

Lose the weight of unforgiveness Purpose: To illustrate the destructive nature of unforgiveness and to give opportunity to forgive. 1. This month we’re trying to lose the weight. Hebrews 12:1, "Let us throw off everything that hinders." 2. (I started this message with a personal story of friends ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Nazarene

Though He Slay Me...

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 6, 2005

Funeral message for a Christian lady who died of cancer.

The scripture was read earlier: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” I heard this verse preached as a funeral message many years ago, when a friend of mine lost her mother far too soon to cancer as well. And the verse has always appealed to me, because it’s such a great statement of ...read more

Scripture: Job 13:15

Denomination: Baptist

Got Any Rivers? Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 22, 2005

6th in long series on Joshua. This speaks of having the courage to cross the rivers that build up before us.

Joshua 3:1-17; 4:10-18 – Got Any Rivers? Today we are continuing through our studies in the OT book of Joshua. Today we are looking at chapters 3 and 4, which make up one of my very favorite Bible stories. Let’s read 3:1-17 and 4:10-18. Now, the Israelites are poised at the eastern side of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Memory Enhancers Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 22, 2005

7th in a long series on Joshua. This speaks of placing memorials in our lives to remember what God has done for us.

Joshua 4:1-9, 19-24 – Memory Enhancers I like the joke about the guy named John, who had a really horrible memory. One day John ran into a friend whom he had not seen in a long time. He greeted him and said, “Bill, do you remember what a bad memory I had?” Bill answered, “Yes, I certainly ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Mighty Expensive Stew

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 22, 2005

Father’s Day sermon about trading important and eternal things for cheap and temporary things.

Genesis 25:19-34 – Mighty Expensive Stew (Got lots of help, including some direct quotes, from other preachers on SermonCentral for this one. Thanx, guys!) In the summer after my 1st year of Bible college, I hung around a lot with 2 girls. One of them I knew from Bethany, Christina, and the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

Denomination: Baptist

Precision Cutting Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 22, 2005

8th in long series on Joshua. 1st of 2 sermons on mass circumcision in ch.5. This deals with cutting the sin out of our lives, execution-style.

Joshua 5:1-9 – Precision Cutting (I got some good info from another SermonCentral preacher. Good stuff!) An ancient story is told about a slave who traveled with his master to Baghdad. As he walked the busy streets he found himself in the market place where he saw Death in human form. Death ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Family Ties Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 22, 2005

9th in long series on Joshua, 2nd of 2 on mass circumcision in ch.5. This deals with being a part of a family, using the well-used illustration of a flock of geese.

Joshua 5:1-9 – Family Ties (Nowheres near an original thought, but good nonetheless...) Today I’d like to do something different. Today’s a bit different from most, so I’m putting a twist on my scripture today, out of the ordinary for me anyway. Let’s read Joshua 5:1-9. So the Israelites ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Leadership 101 Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 22, 2005

10th in long series on Joshua. This speaks of his listening to the Lord’s leadership in all he did. What does it take to hear the voice of the Lord?

Joshua 5:13-15 – Leadership 101 In his book "Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life", the author Charles Swindoll tells a story about the 19th century agnostic Thomas Huxley. Some of you may know that name – Huxley promoted Darwinism and Humanism as he attacked the Christian faith. Now, Huxley ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:13-15

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Obstacles Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 22, 2005

11th in long series on Joshua. This speaks of conquering our own obstacles (like Jericho), even though sometimes God’s commands seem foolish or wasteful.

Joshua 6:1-27 – Overcoming Obstacles There is a story told of ancient times. Once upon a time, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

The Tapes Of Our Lives

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 22, 2005

A topical Bible study on how the lives of believers will (or will not) be judged.

This was a Bible study borne from a question the previous week. I had been taught that in heaven, "tapes" or replays of our entire lives would be seen "on a big screen", for everyone to watch. Apparently this was a new theology to my small but attentive audience, and they called me on it. So I did ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:12

Denomination: Baptist

Here Comes Trouble Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 24, 2005

12th in long series on Joshua. This deals with sin in a believer’s life, which will cost him spiritual victory.

Joshua 7:1-26 – Here Comes Trouble Today we continue our journey through Joshua. The whole book is about taking new territory. As Christians, God leads us on a journey, a walk into new places. Some people never get out and stretch their spiritual legs. They are still the same people as they ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

You Can't Handle The Truth Series

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jul 29, 2005

13th in long series on Joshua. This sermon speaks about Achan’s sin, and the relevance of truth telling. Ties together Prov.23:23 (the cost of the truth, and the value of it) and Eph.4:15 (doing it in love) as well.

Joshua 7:19-20 – You Can’t Handle the Truth Max Lucado, in his book Just Like Jesus, tells this story. A man received a call from his wife just as she was about to fly home from Europe. "How’s my cat?" she asked. "Dead." "Oh, honey, don’t be so honest. Why didn’t you break the news to ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:19-20

Denomination: Baptist