Sermons on Shrink Back:

Emerging Or Returning Church?

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 19, 2009

Isn’t Christ’s church good enough? Do we need to dress him up to get people through the door? Perhaps we should get back to what the church should be rather than trying to figure out new ways to make it work.

Emerging or Returning Church? Ascension Sunday Revelation 1:12 – 3:22 May 24, 2009 We talk a lot about Jesus birth, his death, his resurrection, but we tend to pay little attention to his ascension to the throne in heaven. So I began to wonder, what if Jesus had just been resurrected and not ...read more

"Looking Up At Hell"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 9, 2010

In Luke Chapter 15 Jesus paints us a vivid picture of the Love of God through the story of the Prodigal Son. How can we celebrate God’s party of love in such a way as to welcome not only the younger brothers who have come back from the dead, but also the

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 “Looking Up at Hell” By: Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN “There was a man who had two sons.” One—the youngest—comes to his father and demands his share of the inheritance. That may sound odd to our ears, but it’s not completely ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: United Methodist

"The Donkey Who Thought He Was A Horse"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Mar 24, 2010

In Luke, when Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, the crowds cheer Him--though they have no idea what the next few days will bring. Tne King has come to pay a ransom: the ransom for human sin. So, let us cheer His triumphal entry, but be a

Luke 19:28-40 Luke 23:1-49 “The Donkey who Thought He was a Horse” By: Ken Sauer, Pastor of East Ridge United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN There is nothing dignified about a donkey! We can look at him from any angle and we will fail to find what we might call a sense of ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

The Boldness..of "Hope"

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Nov 24, 2014

The kind of Hope were talking about this morning, is “a hope that springs from the heart of God,” It's the ULTIMATE HOPE and He is willing to back it up, with His unearned, unmerited Favor that He freely gives to His children,through Jesus His Son...

The Boldness of Hope Romans 5:5 NKJ 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Hope defined: the feeling of wanting something to happen and thinking that it could happen : a feeling that something good will ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Floating Axe Head

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 9, 2014

This story from 2 Kings 6:1-7 is an Old Testament illustration pared with a New Testament admonition from Revelation 2:4-5 about losing your first love. If you lose your cutting edge, how can you get it back?

The Floating Axe head Revelation 2-3; II Kings 6:1-7 INTRODUCTION: Last week, Richard preached the last sermon in our 30-week series called The Story. That series took us all the way from Genesis through Revelation. In our last Pueblo group we were discussing the last lesson … from the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Are His Hands

Contributed by Darrin Fish on Oct 2, 2009

• We are Jesus ambassadors to others here on this earth. • We are His hands and his feet to be a blessing to all those we come in contact with. • It’s my hope as we get ready to go back out into the world • That we recognize that we are Jesus hand an

We Are His Hands Michael Jordan is considered by some to be the greatest athlete of all time. • He finished his star-studded career with an incredible performance. • Time was winding down on the NBA championship game. • The Chicago Bulls were down by one basket. • The ball was passed to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-40

Denomination: Christian Church

Crossing Over

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jan 21, 2012

Moses tells Joshua not to be afraid, or not to fear his enemies. “Wow, now that’s the pot calling the kettle black!” Are maybe it’s Moses’ experience speaking; experience can be a great teacher. Someone who failed, but he got back up, and desires hi

Crossing Over Deuteronomy 3:22-29NLT   Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the LORD your God will fight for you.’23 “At that time I pleaded with the LORD and said, 24 ‘O Sovereign LORD, you have only begun to show your greatness and the strength of your hand to me, ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 3:22-29

Denomination: Pentecostal

Acceptable Worship Series

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Aug 20, 2012

The joy and satisfaction which so many Christian lack can be received only by surrendering back to the Lord what He has already given to us. When we surrender our body, mind and will to God as a living sacrifice, then we can truly render spiritual worshi

ROMANS 12: 1-2 ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP A tearful distraught young woman approached a pastor who had been speaking on worship at a conference and told him that she could not live the Christian life the way she should. She said, "I'm frustrated. My worship experience is not meaningful and fulfilling ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Little Things Are The Big Things In Life! Series

Contributed by Josh Foster on Mar 18, 2014

Mary’s song re-orients our attention back to what is most important about Christmas. . The main thing is that the Lord God chose to do a wonderful thing by sending His Son. He is Mighty and Merciful, and we are so in need of His strength and mercy!

Why Christmas Is a Big Deal: The Little Things Are the Big Things in Life! Scripture Text: Luke 1.39-45 INTRODUCTION The whole atmosphere in sports-stadiums is something-to-behold! When my wife and I went to watch a professional football game, …people all-around-us were severely ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-45

Denomination: Nazarene

Faithful In The Lord's Work

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Sep 11, 2023

Tomorrow is Labor Day. The history of this day goes back to 1882, when a union leader named McGuire suggested a national holiday to honor the country’s working people. In September of that same year, workers staged the first Labor Day parade in New York City.

Alba 9-3-2023 FAITHFUL IN THE LORD'S WORK Ephesians 6:21-22 Tomorrow is Labor Day. The history of this day goes back to 1882, when a union leader named McGuire suggested a national holiday to honor the country’s working people. In September of that same year, workers staged the first Labor ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:21-22

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Recovering Stolen Property

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Oct 2, 2022

There is something that is desperately needed within the church and our lives; our need to recover what has been stolen. God has a way of getting back what has been ripped off! Learn more about this theft and how to recover what Satan has stolen.

Recovering Stolen Property 1 Samuel 30:1-8 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yzYA8OcS3Q There is something that is desperately needed within the church and within our lives, and that is our need to recover what has been stolen. Question, how many of have been robbed or have had something ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-8, John 10:10, Matthew 6:19-21

Denomination: Foursquare

The Boy’s Sneeze And The Mother’s Joy (October 9, 2022)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Oct 6, 2022

Today we are looking at how God works beyond our ability to understand! In our scripture for today, we hear about a childless family who had a child and later lost that child until God showed up and showed out and brought that child back to life!

THE BOY’S SNEEZE AND THE MOTHER’S JOY (October 9, 2022) Text: 2 Kings 4:18 -21, 2 Kings 4:28 – 37 2 Kings 4:18-37 When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. (19) He complained to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:18-21, 2 Kings 4:28-37

Denomination: United Methodist

Refresh My Heart

Contributed by Larry Grant on Oct 30, 2022

Here is the history of a saint who has been greatly wronged and is called upon to put it all behind him and forgive. Here is also the history of a sinner running from his past who found grace with God and was told to go back to what he ran from.

Philemon 1:8-20 Refresh My Heart October 30, 2022 The Plea for Onesimus. This short letter is one of the greatest of Paul’s writings. Even unbelievers have seen the power of this small excerpt of history. It speaks of a request for redemption and reconciliation. ILLS: The Setting. Here is ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Paradox Of Victory Through Surrender

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on May 3, 2021

William Booth said: "The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender." That statement is what you call a paradox. How can power flow from surrender? Keep that statement in the back of your mind as I share my story.

William Booth said: "The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender." That statement is what you call a paradox. How can power flow from surrender? Keep that statement in the back of your mind as I share my story. One of my first memories, was as a child, around age 4 ...read more

Scripture: John 1:4, John 8:32

Denomination: Salvation Army

Let Us Alone That We May Serve ….

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Feb 9, 2022

Have you noticed that many things in life do not seem to change? For example, in our text, God delivered the Children of Israel from Egypt. But once they were delivered from Pharaoh, he changed his mind and decided to pursue after them and to bring them back.

When the Israelites saw them in pursuit, the Bible says, “…They were sore afraid…” In that fear they turned to Moses and said something that was very disturbing. We read, “…And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:10-12

Denomination: Baptist