Sermons on Slums:

Consequences Or Freedom Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 15, 2003

Jesus gave Barabbas the chance not just for a shortened sentence, but for a rebuilt life. When we break the law, we will face consequences; but our experiences can become the basis for redemption from what has happened to us.

Let’s play Jeopardy this morning. I’ll be Alex, you can be the contestants. The category is institutions. The answer is: The following people all spent time in this kind of institution: the prophet Jeremiah; Al Capone; the apostle Paul; Marion Barry; Bugsy Siegel; Nelson Mandela; John Dillinger; ...read more

Scripture: John 18:38-40

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

A Mile Wide And An Inch Deep Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Oct 14, 2007

31st in a series on Ephesians. Paul gives Christians some instruction on how to avoid a faith with no depth.

Artemus Ward, an early American humorist, once described the South Platte River in northeast Colorado as “a mile wide and an inch deep”. It would be a considerable river, he mused, if it were turned on its side. Unfortunately, Ward’s description of the South Platte River could just as easily be ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

The More Excellent Way

Contributed by Justin Imel on May 19, 2008

An exegetical sermon of 1 Cor 12:31-13:3

A. A teacher in an adult-education creative-writing class told her students to write “I love you” in 25 words or less, without using the words “I love you.” 1. She gave the class 15 minutes. 2. A woman in the class spent about ten minutes looking at the ceiling and wriggling in her seat. 3. The ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Welcome To Adulthood! Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on May 20, 2005

Paul’s sequence of thought in this sermon may be summarized as follows: "Once we were slaves. Now we are sons. How, then, can we turn back to slavery?"

Scripture In the 1998 Disney movie Parent Trap, identical twins who were separated at birth by their parents’ divorce accidentally meet 11 years later at summer camp. Together the twins plan to switch identities, so each can meet the respective parent she’s never known and try to bring their ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Hope Waits Series

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Feb 12, 2005

Our hope in heaven gives us the ability to endure the struggles of life.

Hope Waits Revelation 21: 1 - 4, 15 - 27 Three weeks ago we began a series of messages on hope. In the first we talked about the power of memory. Our hope for the future depends upon our memory of the past. When we recall God’s faithfulness through the ages we can face the future with hope. In the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-27

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Unexpected Saviour Series

Contributed by James Jack on Mar 3, 2005

Jesus brings a new age in the way people relate to God: he gives us living water and spiritual renewal that transcends place and race so that all the true worshippers may worship in spirit and in truth.

John 4:4-42 Main point: Jesus brings a new age in the way people relate to God: he gives us living water and spiritual renewal that transcends place and race so that all the true worshippers may worship in spirit and in truth. Unexpected Conversations When I inherited my classroom at school, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-42

Denomination: Anglican

The Values Of True Fellowship

Contributed by Gerald Steffy on Sep 11, 2009

The value of true friendship includes encouragement, endearment and enjoyment in being the kind of example in the family of God with Jesus as our best Friend since He is our Lord and Savior.

THE VALUES OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP Philippians 2:19-30 Proposition: The value of true friendship includes encouragement, endearment and enjoyment in being the kind of example in the family of God with Jesus as our best Friend since He is our Lord and Savior. Objective: My purpose is to challenge God’s ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:19-30

Denomination: Baptist

Our Commander In Chief Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 27, 2009

God always makes powerful statements on top of mountains like this, but what was He trying to tell us at the Mount of Transfiguration and what should we do about it?

ILLUS: A crowded airliner was just about to take off when a five-year-old boy began to throw a temper tantrum. His embarrassed mother does to tried to calm him down, but the boy continued to kick and scream. Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, an Air Force General slowly walked up the aisle. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Double Your Money

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 4, 2010

We think that we must protect what we have, and do not see those in need as brothers and sisters in disguise. But God puts back in our sacks more than enough when we walk on a mission of mercy and a journey of faith, caring for the hungry and needy.

Takoma Park Baptist Church, Washington, DC, October 16, 1988 (World Hunger Sunday) Somehow, when our whole orientation is consuming and enjoying and entertaining ourselves, we pay no attention to anything beyond today. What we have today we use, and assume that tomorrow will take care of itself. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Our Relationship To God. Series

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 30, 2010

Our Relationship to God. (PowerPoint slides to accompany this talk are available on request - email: gcurley@gcurley.info)

Session 1: Our Relationship to God. Reading: Romans chapter 12 verse 1-3. • Newspapers contain a number of things - for example ‘Headlines’; • Here are a few that they would probably have changed. Ill: • “Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case” • “Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge” • “Safety ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8

Denomination: Brethren

How To Deal With The Enemy Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Feb 21, 2010

Jesus says I have to love my enemies. But there’s a reason they’re my enemies - I don’t like them! So why should I do this?

OPEN: The military apparently understands the need to make their instructions memorable and so they occasionally resort to humor to explain the basics. For example: Instructions printed on Rocket Launcher tells soldiers to "Aim towards the Enemy." U.S. Marine Corps tells its recruits that when it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Outside Of Ourselves Series

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Jan 24, 2007

Christianity is rooted in moving outside of ourselves – to the oppressed and the powerless. If we are going to go where God desires we will need to move outside of ourselves and move into the lives of others. In chapter 2, James provides two illustrations

Outside Of Ourselves James 1:26-2:26 Caring for unwanted children, building hospitals and schools, providing financial assistance to needy families, providing food for the hungry and homes for the homeless, advancing literacy, caring for widows, championing the abolition of slavery, advocating the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

#8: A Whale Of An Experience Series

Contributed by Archie Luper on Jul 7, 2007

I heard the story of a lady that went to church one day and got into a discussion with a very cynical man. He spoke in kind of a mocking tone about the miracle stories in the Bible. She took all of it she could and finally began to defend the inspiration

I. INTRODUCTION Today we’re going to study one of the most amazing revivals in history. The revival that took place at Ninevah under the preaching of the prophet Jonah. I heard the story of a lady that went to church one day and got into a discussion with a very cynical man. He spoke in kind of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wanted: Dead And Alive! - Easter

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 11, 2009

The ones who wanted Him dead were afraid that He was alive, and the ones who wanted Him alive assumed He was dead! But no one was neutral about Jesus. ’Cross Examination’ style investigation of the facts of the case. Link to text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Wanted: Dead AND Alive John 20:31 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Wanted.html No one was neutral that day about Jesus. They either wanted Him to be dead or to be alive. Even after He arose, all that the leaders of the land had to do in order to squelch Christianity was to produce the dead body, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:31

Denomination: Baptist