Sermons on Seals Opened:

A Rebuke Turned Back Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 22, 2009

Jesus turns from silence about His achievements to open speaking about His death. He will not follow the ambition path, the pleasure path, or the easy spirituality path.

You can admire Jesus, you can think well of Jesus, you can even love Jesus. But you cannot domesticate Him, you cannot tame Him, you cannot make Him sweet and nice and pretty. He is who He is and He says what He says, and sometimes it’s hard to take. In my experience, just about everybody out ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:31-38

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom From Fear Series

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Mar 22, 2009

All of us have to face death, but not all of us have to fear death. A valley is not a dead-end or a cul-de-sac, but rather a tunnel opened on both ends.

The late great trumpet player Louie Armstrong tells a story about while growing up in Louisiana, having to go down to the pond and getting water for Allie May. He gets down there and is about to scoop the water out of the pond and all of the sudden coming out of the water are these two huge eyes ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4

Denomination: Baptist

Empty Words From Empty Hearts

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Sep 6, 2005

How do we pray? Opening skit, showing that it is better to have no words in your heart than it is to have no heart in your words. Are we hot, cold, or lukewarm?

(THIS SERMON OPENS WITH THE FOLLOWING SKIT) Billie is standing at the pulpit, with her head bowed as she is praying. (This script is in front of her.) The pastor is in the back of the sanctuary, with a microphone. (He is the voice of God.) Billie: Our Father Who Art In Heaven. Pastor: ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-17

Denomination: *other

Tearing Down The Temples Of Hell Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 13, 2005

Paul had an open door of OPPORTUNITY. There were many OBSTACLES. God helped him to OVERCOME! Link included to Formatted Text version, Handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Tearing Down the Temples of Hell Acts 19:8-27 Paul stayed in Ephesus for 3 full years…not his normal pattern. There was much work to be done there, and w/ a pop. of 300,000 people, it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. 1. Paul’s opportunity I Cor. 16:8-9 But I will tarry at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:8-27, Acts 19:23-41

Denomination: Baptist

Can Humans Have Integrity?

Contributed by Douglas Vincent on Nov 22, 2005

Satan challenges God asumption that Job is righteous. The open question of Job is, "Can humans serve God for who he is?" Can they have real integrity.

When I was a child my mom had to promise me she would give me a prize if I was good in the grocery store. I didn’t get that many prizes. But the motivation for my goodness was a prize. As I matured my Mother would ask me to be good in the store out of respect for her and the other shoppers. ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1-22

Denomination: Methodist

Prayer Changes Lives

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on May 8, 2012

Intercession for the lost does not guarantee salvation but it opens tremendous doors for those that we intercede for and the Lord is calling us to faithfully pray and follow that up with our testimony of love.

Last week we looked at the foundational parts of having a close encounter with God. (Close Encounters with God) We saw how God wants to meet with us every day and that face to face encounter begins with our welcoming him. Then we worship him. We pour out our hearts to him. And finally we ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:20-33

Denomination: Lutheran

A Sane Perspective Upon Discipline And Compassion Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 27, 2012

Walking with God means we must be willing to mix discipline with compassion in the right ratios and in the right situations. There is a time to be firm and buckle down and a time to open your heart.

A Sane Perspective Upon Discipline and Compassion (Proverbs 19:14-15, 17-18) 1. Discipline and compassion are connected. For example, if teachers do not keep a class under control, students cannot learn and that affects their futures. 2. A school teacher injured his back and had to wear a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:14-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Prayer Makes The Difference Series

Contributed by Charles Jones on Mar 4, 2012

Prayer is that activity whereby a person who is trying to live the life of a beleiever seeks to open up his or her mind and heart to the promised help and guidance of God the Father.

by Bishop Charles C Jones Matthew 6:5-8 Text verse 7 There can be no doubt at all that when it comes to the activity of what we call Prayer we will find that it is the very heart beat of every saved beleiver. It is the defining mark of every believer that say's to those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Be Led By The Spirit

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on May 25, 2013

We need to be open to the leading of God’s Spirit. We can so easily be bound by religion and follow rules that are either man-made or man-interpreted.

Be led by the Spirit Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Peter was bound by religion and in order for him to be open to change, God showed him a vision of unclean animals that descended from heaven. God told Peter to eat the unclean animals, but ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14

Denomination: Charismatic

Things Aren't Always As They Seem Series

Contributed by Stu Hodges on Jun 11, 2013

God sometimes has a bigger purpose, something you cannot see behind an open door you walked through or behind that door that closed so abruptly on you.

Have you ever had to say this to someone in your house? I have to say this to my kids all the time because my kids have this tendency to stand right in front of our tv. I mean, they just stop dead in their tracks, it’s like they’re hypnotized by what’s happening in that moment on ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus From The Beginning

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Dec 7, 2013

Jesus' redemtive mission is hinted at even in the vey beginning chapters of Genesis. This message explores the Christmas Story in light of prophetic scriptures. It is a real encouraging and eye opening piece.

JESUS FROM THE BEGINNING (part 1) Pastor Eric J. Hanson December 1, 2013. At this time of year, believers in Jesus Christ need to take time to reflect on the wonderful things God has done through the Lord Jesus. First of all, God became a man. This is the very heart of what is called “The ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Idol Of Laissez Faire: Pergamum Series

Contributed by Ken Pell on Nov 2, 2009

The Pergamum church was accommodating those within its body that taught doctrines and lived lives which offended God; their open-minded, laissez-faire attitude was a cancer on the church.

AMERICAN IDOLS: LOOKING AT OURSELVES AND OUR LOYALTIES THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS THE IDOL OF LAISSEZ FAIRE: PERGAMUM REVELATION 2:12-17 Sermon Objective: The Pergamum church was accommodating those within its body that taught doctrines and lived lives which offended God. Their open-minded, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Nazarene

Born Old

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 29, 2010

To experience new life, even in the senior years, means using old knowledge to gain new knowledge; to set aside pride in order to learn; and to be fully open to Christ.

We had been talking about a mutual friend. We had laughed a little at how rigid he was, how staid. We had commented that he didn’t like change; he could easily be "all shook up" when something didn’t go his way. I asked the other person in this conversation, "How long have you known John? Has he ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

"Stressed Or Blessed?" Series

Contributed by Kendall Hicks on Apr 25, 2016

This series is loosely based on a series by the same name offered by Life.Church. You can find their materials at open.church. There you will find videos, transcripts, outlines, and graphics.

A pet store delivery truck was making its way through town when the other travelers couldn’t help but notice the peculiar behavior of the truck’s driver. Every time the truck came to a red light or stop sign, the driver would jump out of the truck with a baseball bat in his grasp, run ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You A Piece Of Merchandise?

Contributed by Kelly Durant on Jul 16, 2016

Deceitful pastors are on the rise and are a serious problem as we often lose members to false churches. Here is a way to deal with the situation to open eyes to appreciate the freedom and truths they have/

Are you a piece of Merchandise? Capt. Kelly Durant 7-06 The fleecing of the sheep by deceiving pastors! 2 Peter 2:3 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. John ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:3

Denomination: Salvation Army