Sermons on Shine For Jesus:

Lofty Lord, Live Lips, Long Layby

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 28, 2009

Where do we get the motivation to keep doing what the Lord wants us to do? We affirm that we are called by a God of power, who is able to equip us; He will give us victory eventually even though it may come slowly (Deacon Ordination Sunday).

This evening two very good football teams will face each other under the dome. The outcome will hinge not only on physical condition and coaching strategy and just plain luck; it will hinge also on motivation. Who really, really wants to win? Who is hungry to win? One of the great personal issues ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

What Was She Thinking?

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Jan 29, 2009

Mary has a specian and yer probably stressful day when that Angel gove her God’s message.

In the past I used to go and pick up the kids from school. I would usually say, “so how was your day?” Normally I would get grunts and groans. Sometimes I would receive a word like boring and occasionally ok. I don’t recall more than a couple of occasions when there was any excitement in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Denomination: Congregational

Spiritual Symptoms You Should Never Ignore Series

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Jan 30, 2009

Symptoms of spiritual neglect that need to be diagnosed as exhibited in the life of Haman in the book of Esther.

I’ve known people, people I loved, family and friends, who would probably still be alive today if they had not ignored symptoms of poor health. If they had only gone for a checkup sooner. I’m sure some of you have had a similar experience. I think fear and misinformation keep a lot of people ...read more

Scripture: Esther 7:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Moose Dislodged Series

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 10, 2009

It is incredibly encouraging to realize that God hears and reacts to everything we experience. We are not alone!

I don’t know if the television station was local to Chicago or one of the national news networks, but I can’t forget what I saw. It wasn’t my television. I was just walking by, but I can’t get the image out of my mind. A large moose had fallen through thin ice and was freezing to death because its ...read more

Denomination: *other

More Than Meets The Eye Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Feb 23, 2009

8th in a series from Ecclesiastes. We need to base what we think about God on His Word, not on what we observe in this world.

In 1984, James Ealy was convicted in the 1982 brutal murders of 33 year old Christine Parker, her two children and one grandchild. Two years later, the Illinois Appellate Court overturned the conviction - even as justices acknowledged Ealy almost certainly was guilty. They said police had arrested ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Denomination: Baptist

Lost In Wonder, Love, And Praise

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 26, 2008

We have a tendency to get lost in activities, especially church activities. The church that is worthy of getting lost in focuses on Christ, serves people, and calls for specific new commitments.

The other night I caught a TV show that featured people showing off the peculiar talents of their pets. One man brought a tiny little dog and proceeded to wind up its tail, sort of cranking the tail, much as you used to have to wind up a mechanical toy. Then he let go and the poor puppy ran round ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A World Crying From The Quicksand

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 26, 2008

We get bogged down by responsbilities. The way out is first to act responsibly, second to tell others what God is doing in you, and ultimately to yield to our Savior.

One afternoon I came by the church to pick up a few things. I parked around the back, and there discovered two of our members, plus our sexton, in major trouble. These men had purchased a heavy-duty safe for the church office, and were intent on moving it inside. The safe had been hauled here on a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Healed Hearts His Home Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Dec 7, 2008

Two obstacles must be removed before we may receive the peace God wants to give us, so long delayed and frustrated: our false pride and our negative spirit of self-accusation. Then His victory will be ours.

The neighborhood, if you could call it that, was one of the most rundown and poverty-stricken in the city. For fifty years the housing had decayed, and, as the original residents left, absentee landlords jammed far too many people into the old dwellings. Diseases became epidemic, and fires not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 57:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

When Life Doesn't Make Sense Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jan 5, 2009

First of a a series from Ecclesiastes. This is an introduction to the book.

Several years ago, Donald Miller wrote a popular book titled Blue Like Jazz. I haven’t read the book, but I was intrigued by the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book: I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn’t resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

When All Is Said And Done, It Isn't

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 10, 2009

We come to a point when we feel depressed and think our lives have no meaning. Then God blesses us with physical, spiritual, and emotional sustenance, and sends us out to bless someone specific.

"What are you doing here?" What a question! Has anyone ever asked you that? "What are you doing here?" You were some place where nobody expected to see you, but you turned up, and that was the reaction. I have heard it in the grocery store. I cannot go to this Safeway up here without running into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

First Response Series

Contributed by Jim Drake on Jan 10, 2009

How do you respond when you’re hit with distressing news? Do you respond in anger? Do you respond in fear? Do you respond by immediately jumping up and trying to fix the problem? None of those responses were Nehemiah’s first response.

http://brushforkbanner.blogspot.com A few years ago, I remember sitting in my office in Asheville, NC, one quiet Tuesday morning. Of course I was in uniform. As an Air Force recruiter, I spent most of my time in uniform. But as my office partner and I sat there that morning taking care of some ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Preacher Who Sorrowed When Sinners Were Saved

Contributed by David Moore on Apr 10, 2008

This is an overview of the book of Jonah in which the emphasis is on the futility of escaping God’s will, and the compassion that God has for all mankind.

The Preacher Who Sorrowed When Sinners Were Saved Aim: To show through Jonah the compassion of God for all men, Jew & Gentile, young & old. Text: Jonah 3:5-4:1 Introduction: This morning we are encounter to a man whom most people are familiar with. Even the unsaved can largely recount the story ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Facing The Broken Image Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Apr 14, 2008

How the image of God is marred by the Fall

FACING THE BROKEN IMAGE Genesis 3.1-11 What do you see when you look in the mirror? One of the most remarkable things about people is how little insight they have to themselves. We are often able to see flaws in other people that we are blind to in ourselves. We are often able to have insight ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-11

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Prayer Of Moses

Contributed by Ben Peak on Jan 3, 2008

God is angry with the children of Israel, but, as he does several times in this book, Moses pleads with the Lord on behalf of the people.

Maybe you’ve heard the story about a pastor who woke up from his after-dinner nap one late February Sunday in no mood at all to preach in that evening service. When he stepped out onto his porch his desire to preach lessened even more as he felt the nice warm air that had been missing from his ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:9-17

Denomination: Holiness

Dispute And Debate In The Church

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Jan 12, 2008

From this text, we get a few ideas of what to do whenever disputes arise in the church. 1- Legalism always leads to trouble 2- Trouble should be handled by the leaders 3- Leaders must always follow God’s Spirit

INTRO.- ILL.- A married couple were arguing with one another. The husband said, "Don’t you remember promising to love, honor and obey me?" His wife, "Yes, but what else could I do, I was in church!" ILL.- A wife said, "Dear, could I have some spending money?" Husband, "Money, money, money. If ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ